Stefan turned on his heel and walked away.
After a few steps, he turned back to his younger brothers and said, "What are you guys still doing here? Come on in!"
The kids looked at each other, none of them eager to be the first one to follow Stefan.
"If you keep dilly-dallying here, I'll make you run up the mountain for three hours," Stefan warned.
At that, they quickly followed, not wanting to be punished by running up the mountain.
The mountain path was full of loose pebbles. Running for three hours would surely leave their feet bleeding.
"Good morning, Stefan."
"It's not morning anymore."
"But it's still morning now."
Stefan huffed and gave his brother a side glance. The man who said so could only touch his nose, chuckle awkwardly, and keep his mouth shut.
Stefan gathered all his brothers inside, then called Campbell and Judson out and pointed them out, "Line up by age!"
They sprang into action and quickly formed a line.
After they were all lined up, Stefan went to Lucinda and gently told her, "Lucy, these are my brothers, all nine of them are here."
All nine of them thought, "He's so harsh on us but so gentle with Lucinda. Stefan is indeed two-faced."
Lucinda looked at the nine handsome faces in front of her, some of them looked a lot like Stefan. She guessed they all took after their father since they were full brothers.
"Did you all lose your tongue? Say hello to Lucinda and introduce yourselves, so she can recognize you in the future."
Stefan ordered his brothers to greet Lucinda.
"Hello, Lucinda!"
Nine voices chorused a greeting.
"Hello, everyone." Then she whispered to Stefan, "I didn't prepare any gifts for
asked his brothers loudly, "Who asked Lucinda
so formal. Lucinda, you don't need to prepare any
the quickest to
had met Lucinda a few times and knew that Stefan treated
her own accord, they wouldn't
others quickly
No gifts needed.
said, "Lucy, you see, they said you don't
his brothers at home, because they
introductions, Stefan told his brothers coldly, "You should go
rushing them
want
lively among them, wanted to join when he heard Stefan and Lucinda
other brothers turned to look
their gaze, had
out and get
join us, he can.
Stefan's face darkened.
said to Lucinda with a smile, "Lucinda, Judson forgot he has some things to deal with. So he can't come with
have
Judson looked puzzled.
after that. His brother wouldn't harm him. If he said he had things to deal with, then he would deal with them. Stefan was pleased, no
a set of car keys and
"Stefan, I'll get going."
"Stefan, I'm leaving too."
nine young
really smart!" Stefan
"Stefan, do you always bully your brothers
bully my brothers? They're just pretending to be bullied by me to win your sympathy, so you'd defend them and
he
heard what Stefan said, they
to them, they
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