Chapter 1035 The Legendary Callahan Family Rules
On the way to the kindergarten, Anthony looked serious as he gazed out of the window at the scenery that was constantly retreating.
He asked Zack in a low voice, "Does grandma know about Alistair's situation?"
"She took your sister out shopping and hasn't come back yet, so she probably doesn't know about Alistair," Zack replied.
If she did know, Paloma probably wouldn't have had the mood to go shopping.
Anthony fell silent for a moment before instructing Zack, "Try not to let news of this get back to the Callahan family just yet. Let's inform the butler first and keep it from Paloma and Rebecca for now."
"Understood, Mr. Callahan," Zack nodded.
After more than ten minutes, Anthony arrived at the kindergarten and was directed by the principal into a teacher's office.
He saw little Alistair sitting by a chair against the wall and looking uneasy because he had been asked to invite his parent over. His small hands kept fidgeting with his pants legs.
As soon as Anthony entered, he noticed him right away and walked over to him in two steps before lowering his gaze down towards him.
Those familiar expensive shoes caught his attention immediately.
Alistair lifted up his head nervously and called out softly, "Daddy..."
Anthony squatted down next to him and noticed immediately that there was a red swelling on one side of his mouth. He touched it gently with his fingertips, asking, "Does it hurt? Where else are you injured?"
He shook his head, saying, "I'm okay."
Hearing how gentle Anthony sounded made all of Alistair's anxiety disappear instantly, instead feeling proud as if saying, "Don't worry Daddy! I didn't lose! I won!"
However, Anthony's eyebrows tightly furrowed and his complexion became darkened after he heard those words, which made everything quiet without any further conversation happening between them both for some time afterwards...
The principal walked up behind them, politely asking, "Mr. Callahan... the medical staff has already checked over Alistair. There is only minor skin damage... would you mind talking to me?"
Anthony withdrew his hand from touching Alistair, standing up and following the principal into an adjacent office space nearby. Then everything around them suddenly became quiet once again...
"This fight incident happened because Alistair threw punches first. It ended up injuring a pair of twin brothers here at school." The principal explained, handing over two pieces of paper containing medical examination results and adding, "These are their test results if you want to take a look."
Anthony read through each result carefully twice, and was unable to believe what he had read. "Left leg fracture? Nasal collapse? Intracranial hematoma?! How could this be caused by my son fighting?"
The principal nodded, confirming, "Yes indeed... there is surveillance footage available within our campus grounds if you would like see."
A surveillance video was taken, and it happened to capture the movements of a few children in the corner. It was indeed Alistair who made the first move, punching the younger twin brother. The older brother saw his younger sibling get hit and immediately became unhappy, retaliating against Alistair.
Alistair had studied Taekwondo and executed a clean shoulder throw, but unfortunately slammed the older twin onto a hard rock with his left leg breaking as a result.
The fight lasted no more than five minutes during break time before the principal and teachers noticed what was happening and rushed out to stop it from escalating further.
With surveillance footage available, even if Anthony wanted to defend Alistair, he wouldn't have any arguments.
"This is my son's fault," said Anthony. "I will educate him properly when we get home. The Callahan family will take full responsibility for all medical expenses and compensation for those twins' injuries. They can make whatever demands they want."
Children's bones were still forming at such an early age so fractures like this could easily affect them for life. Anthony didn't argue about paying for everything on behalf of his wayward son.
The principal looked troubled as he sighed deeply before speaking again, "Mr. Callahan, I know that your family is one of Crana's three major wealthy families, so compensating them financially isn't an issue at all, but this incident goes beyond just money."
As the twins suffered serious injuries, their parents didn't come to kindergarten but stayed in hospital accompanying their children during check-ups. Before leaving, they had some suggestions given to him by them.
"Alistair is considered very dangerous here in school now due to this situation," continued the principal. "They hope that besides compensation fees and medical expenses being paid off, you would also consider having Alistair withdraw from school."
Anthony remained silent while Zack interjected, "It was just kids playing around after all. Nobody wants something like this happen unexpectedly! Mr. Callahan junior has always been well-behaved. He has never been involved in fights until now! We'll make sure he learns his lesson when we go back home so nothing similar happens again... but withdrawing from school?..."
"I'll consider withdrawal," replied Anthony, taking over where Zack left off.
Putting away their examination papers on top of table, both men turned around walking out together without another word spoken between them.
Zack followed silently behind him as they passed by an office window where little Alistair sat leisurely swinging both legs back-and-forth and looking quite relaxed despite everything that had happened earlier today...
Anthony was furious that he had committed such a big mistake and yet still had the audacity to take credit for winning. He held back his anger and coldly instructed Zack, "Take Alistair to the hospital for a full body check-up before returning to the Callahan Residence."
"Okay," Zack replied obediently.
Anthony left without looking back. Meanwhile, Zack went into the office to find Alistair and said, "Alistair, let's go."
Alistair blinked his blue eyes in confusion and asked, "Where's Daddy?"
"Mr. Callahan has some business at the company and left earlier. You should be able to see him when you get home later," Zack explained calmly.
"Okay," Alistair said as he hopped off his small chair with his short legs and allowed Zack to lead him out of the building.
Half an hour later, after finishing his medical examination at the hospital, Alistair returned home. As soon as they arrived at the gatehouse entrance of their estate, their butler personally opened up their car door for them.
"Alistair, Mr. Callahan wants you to go visit our ancestral hall," said their butler.
"But it's not a special day for any ceremonies or anything like that today. Why would Daddy want me there?" asked Alistair curiously.
The butler sighed heavily, knowing how naive young child can be sometimes before warning him gently, "Mr. Callahan came back half an hour ago with a very unhappy expression on his face, so please try your best not make things worse by saying something wrong."
"I understand," replied Alistair confidently. Even though he didn't quite understand why Anthony was upset with him, he thought that winning two against one fight would make him proud of himself.
When they arrived at ancestral hall entranceway which had its own unique threshold design feature, little shivers ran down Alistair spine from feeling its chilly atmosphere all around them.
The incense smoke rose from three sticks burning below Mavis' name plaque on one side of ancestor altar where Anthony stood silently, staring ahead.
"Daddy?" Alistair, who was confused, called out as he walked up behind him slowly, tilting head sideways and trying figure out what was going on.
Anthony turned around abruptly. His face was stern with anger and he commanded, "Kneel down."
A frightened look crossed over poor little Alistair's baby face. He quickly scanned around, looking for something soft like cushion or pillow so it wouldn't hurt too much if knelt down directly onto hard floor surface instead.
"Daddy... there are no cushions here..." Alistair protested softly, hoping Anthony might change mind about this punishment if given enough reasons why kneeling wasn't comfortable option right now.
Without showing any emotion whatsoever, Anthony repeated more forcefully this time, "Alistair, I won't say it again."
Feeling scared beyond belief now, little Alistair reluctantly dropped onto both knees while holding hands together tightly in front of the area.
"I'll just do it. Daddy, don't be angry..." he muttered softly, obediently kneeling on the ground.
Anthony reached into the nearby bucket and pulled out a vine whip, shaking off the water droplets from its tip with force.
With a few sharp swishes through the air, Alistair's entire small body trembled in response.
He had been so focused on his father earlier that he hadn't noticed the bucket next to him with two soaked vine whips lying inside. They looked terrifying.
The butler had once mentioned to him about the Callahan family's rules and regulations. So this was what they meant by "family rule"?
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