Chapter 147
“Jeez, the Haywood family’s daughters are Interesting. A hypocritical delicate beauty, huh?” Melissa sneered.
Garner took a deep breath and walked over, pressing a hand over Melissa’s mouth.
“Zip it. Let’s not stir the pot, okay?”
Melissa batted her eyelashes at Garner flirtatiously. “Darling, are you worried about me?”
“I…” Garner felt a tingling sensation in his palm. Melissa was clearly baiting him.
He jerked his hand away and stood behind Melissa with a stern expression. “Boss, keep it professional, will you?”
“Not a chance.” Melissa leaned back against Garner, letting her full weight rest on him.
At this point, if Garner stepped back, she would tumble to the ground.
But she dared to practically lie in his arms.
Garner, fighting the urge to react, stood straight and helpless.
Melissa tilted her head back and continued to tease Garner, acting as if she wasn’t the one who had caused a scene with Adrienne, just an innocent bystander watching a play.
“Rhett,” Richter scolded in a deep voice, taking the stance of an elder. “You know Hertha’s condition better than anyone. Whatever happened between you two, I need not remind you. Now that your father has agreed to the marriage between our families, you better weigh priorities.”
It was clear he was confident that Rhett would marry Hertha.
“Holcomb’s agreement has nothing to do with me,” Rhett murmured softly as he patted Summer’s back to comfort him. “He’s tired. As an elder, you should know to keep your voice down. It’s a matter of manners.”
“You!” Richter was visibly upset. “Holcomb, look at your son!”
Holcomb was ashen, but he was somewhat at fault due to the incident with Nicola at Harborside Haven and couldn’t be too assertive. “Rhett, step outside. Now.”
Rhett showed no intention of heeding Holcomb. “Do you think what Adrienne did was right?”
Holcomb darkened his face further at being questioned.
‘Didn’t Richter tell you that you’ve halted all dealings with the Haywood family? What do you mean? For an outsider…” Holcomb couldn’t keep up his facade as Rhett refused to leave. “Outsider? Who’s the outsider? Shouldn’t you be very clear on that? Or are you saying that when you need my help for Vincent, I’m family, but now that Vincent is out, I’m an outsider?” Rhett reminded Holcomb that Kristin was a member of the FitzGerald family, something he
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knew very well.
Hadn’t Holcomb asked him to agree to marry Kristin to drop the charges?
“Rhett!” Holcomb, losing control, gestured for him to stop talking nonsense. “Both sides are at fault here, Adrienne has been hurt and has paid a price. Call our partners immediately and sort out the company affairs! For some illegitimate child, you’re trying to make me angry.”
Holcomb believed he understood Rhett. The stir he caused upon returning from Harborside Haven wasn’t for Kristin or the child.
It was clear Rhett was opposing Holcomb over Nicola to make Holcomb suffer.
But now, with his guilt, Holcomb could only seethe with barely suppressed rage.
“Impossible,” Rhett stated firmly.
“Rhett, you’re being unreasonable. Are you trying to destroy our family?” Abigail looked at Rhett in shock. “Rhett, Richter and I have always had high hopes for you. You and Hertha are well–suited. We are family. What are you doing?”
“Let Adrienne publicly apologize, confess her sins, and acknowledge all the harm she’s done to Kristin in front of the media. Whether it’s bullying, slander, or assault, she must come clean. apologize sincerely, and promise never to harm Kristin or her family again. Let Adrienne leave Silvergrove City and never appear before me again. I might consider letting this go,” Rhett said, holding the sleeping Summer, his voice not loud but filled with a deterrent force.
Kristin hid behind Rhett and looked up at him, her eyes reddening. She turned away, unable to hold his gaze.
Even if the Haywood family disagreed, Rhett’s willingness was enough to make her grateful.
She had once begged James to acknowledge Adrienne’s misdeeds and call off their engagement, but he refused…
Yet Rhett was willing to force a public apology from the Haywood family.
“Rhett, your demands are too much. The Haywood family is a respected lineage in Silvergrove City. How can you expect them to show their faces?‘ Holcomb rubbed his temples. Rhett was being too hard on the Haywood family.
People in their circle valued their reputation, both the FitzGerald family and the Haywood family alike.
Forcing Adrienne to publicly admit her wrongdoings was more insulting than a slap in the face. “You’re out of line…” Richter trembled with anger. “Our family isn’t just allied with the FitzGerald family. We’re also connected to the Bryce family of Crescendo Town. Adrienne’s issues are complicated. We’re at fault this time, and I’ll have her apologize. But Rhett, let’s not be too stubborn. Let’s both take a step back. Right, Kristin?”
Richter turned the focus to Kristin, challenging her.
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Chapter 147
“Not at all…” Kristin fell silent for a long while, her voice hoarse as she began to speak. “Every vile thing Adrienne has done is because you all enabled her…”
Richter darkened his face with anger. Kristin was getting all bold now.
“Kristin, a smart woman knows when to go with the flow. When your rock crumbles, no one can protect you forever,” Richter warned her, implying that the day might come when Rhett wouldn’t stand by her side.
Kristin straightened up, her voice raspy as she spoke again. “This has nothing to do with anyone else. Even if you break my backbone, I will never forgive Adrienne in this lifetime. Your know best what she and the Haywood family have done to me.”
Back in Crescendo Town, it was Abigail who had Vincent take her to the outskirts warehouse. She had nearly lost her life there.
Richter snorted. “Rhett, this isn’t much of your concern. Don’t make a spectacle of both our families.”
“This is the best I can offer. If Adrienne won’t publicly apologize, admit her wrongdoings, and leave Silvergrove City, then I’ll expose all her misdeeds myself. I’ll call a press conference and express my dissatisfaction with the Haywood family’s upbringing because of Adrienne, which will also reflect poorly on Hertha, won’t it?” Rhett had been looking for a reason to clarify his relationship with Hertha.
Using Adrienne’s scandal as an excuse didn’t seem like a bad idea.
Hertha reddened her eyes, her complexion pale.
Rhett was using Adrienne’s mess as a way to distance himself from her.
She had deliberately provoked Adrienne to confront Garner and Summer, thinking that withi James in the picture, nothing too serious would go awry… But she hadn’t expected Rhett to be so ruthless.
For Kristin and that child, he could go to such lengths.
“Rhett, what are you doing…?” Abigail was terrified. Once Rhett spoke out, the Haywood family would be ruined! Who would dare to marry such a woman after this?
If this blew up, it wouldn’t look good for Carter either. If the Bryce family also called off the engagement…
“Richter, what do we do? Convince Holcomb to talk some sense into Rhett!” Abigail was close
to tears.
Her two precious daughters were at stake.
“What’s the rush?” Richter scoffed, clearly holding a trump card. “James is still in Silvergrove City. He’ll be here soon. He’s Adrienne’s fiancé and has to deal with this family matter!”
Even if the FitzGerald family didn’t respect the Haywood family, they had to give a face to the
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Chapter 14/
Bryce family. If Aurora Tech severed ties with the FitzGerald Group, the loss would be more than Rhett could afford at this stage.
Everyone knows Rhett’s position is precarious. Would he risk it all for Kristin and that child?
No one was a fool here. They just need to give each other a way out.
At the mention of James, Kristin shot up her head in alarm, looking at Rhett.
She didn’t want Rhett and James at odds, which would be detrimental to Rhett’s standing in the
company.
