"No matter how old you get, you''re always your dad''s kid. If he thinks you''ve
screwed up, he''s gonnay down thew."
"But Mr. Huber hasn''t really lost his temper in years. Whatever Keaton did this
time must''ve really crossed a line."
Elysia turned to him. "What do you think happened?"
Tarquin thought for a moment.
"Jess said it had something to do with Beatrix. So, rtionship drama, probably."
"Mr. Huber''s old-school, very traditional. Keaton, on the other hand, is all about
living wild and free. They argue all the time because their worldviews don''t
match."
Winona piped up, "Who''s Beatrix?"
Elysia answered, "I''ve met her-she''s Keaton''s fiancée. Their families are
nning a big engagement party at the end of the year."
"But Jess said Keaton isn''t actually into her. He only agreed to the engagement to
keep his parents happy."
Winona raised an eyebrow. "Does Beatrix even like him?"
Elysia shrugged and looked at Tarquin. "What do you think? Does Beatrix like
Keaton?"
Tarquin shook his head. "No idea. Keaton''s never mentioned it."
Winona continued, "Isn''t Beatrix that academic superstar with a bunch of
degrees?"
"Yeah, she''s got an impressive résumé," Tarquin confirmed.
Winona nodded knowingly. "I know her! No wonder Mr. Huber isn''t a fan-she''s
definitely not his type."
Keaton always went for girls who were either drop-dead gorgeous, adorably
sweet, or had that untouchable ice-queen vibe. Beatrix, with her schrly
reputation, just wasn''t his style.
Elysia frowned.
"If he didn''t like her, he shouldn''t have agreed to it in the first ce. Sure, it''s
tough to say no to your parents, but saying yes and then backing out is even
messier."
Winona pressed her lips together. "Looks like Mr. Huber really misjudged this
one."
...
When the three of them arrived at the Huber estate, the entire house was
shrouded in anxiety. People whispered nervously in the halls.
The master of the house was ready to give his son a serious beating-everyone
was terrified.
When Elysia and Winona walked in,
the old butler did a double take,
surprised that Tarquin had brought
them. But after a second, he
refocused on Tarquin, looking at him
like he was a knight in shining
armor.
"Mr. Bradford, thank goodness
you''re here! Please, you''ve got to talk
to Mr. Huber. He''s dead set on
teaching Keaton a lesson this time!
Mrs. Huber''s fainted twice from
crying, but nothing''s getting through
to him!"
Tarquin frowned. "What exactly happened?"
"I''m pretty sure it''s got something to
do with Ms. Sutton, but I don''t know
the details. As soon as the Suttons
arrived this morning, Mr. Huber
kicked all of us out of the room."
"The Suttons are here too?"
"Yeah. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton both looked furious-must be something about the
engagement."
Tarquin asked, "Where''s Keaton now?"
The butler''s eyes were red.
"He''s in the chapel. Mr. Huber made him kneel there all morning, from dawn until
noon."
"Half an hour ago, Mr. Huber went in to talk to him. Who knows what was said, but
the next thing we know, he''s threatening to use the family cane!"
"Mrs. Huber was so terrified she started pleading for Keaton, but Mr. Huber
wouldn''t listen. She literally fainted, and he still wouldn''t stop."
"You know the Huber family''s old traditions-when they say ''family discipline,''
they mean it. I don''t even want to imagine what shape Keaton''s in by now."
The butler had been with the family for decades, practically raised Keaton himself.
His worry was palpable.
Tarquin''s frown deepened. "And the Suttons?"
"They''re still in the living room. I heard Mr. Sutton say they''re not leaving until
everything gets sorted out."
Elysia couldn''t help but jump in-