Dumping My Fiancé For His Uncle

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"No matter how reckless Duncan is, he wouldn't dare risk offending the Langstaff family by getting involved with Emmalie," said Thea.

Even with Thea's reassurance, Teri's face remained dark. "Just thinking about how I once actually cared for that scumbag makes me sick to my stomach."

Thea felt the same. Suppressing the nausea that rose in her throat, she gave a cold, mocking smile. "Ms. Langstaff, the reason I'm holding you back from releasing the video right now is purely selfish. In the public's eye, Sparkle Rocks is still tied to the Rowland Group." If the video were to be released, the Rowland family's reputation and stock prices would take a massive hit Thea was fed up

any further with those two disgusting guys and had no intention of letting herself be dragged down by them

"If we're going to release it, it has to be after the Langstaff Groupland Sparkle Rocks finalize their partnership, and after you've regained control of the Langstaff Group.. Otherwise, neither of us will get out unscathed," Thea said.

Teri knew Thea was right. Both of them were too deeply entangled with Duncan, and society was especially harsh on women in situations like this. Plus, Duncan and Emmalje were both masters of manipulating public opinion.

One wrong move, and they'd both be caught in the crossfire. As nauseating as it was, they had no choice but to suppress this repulsive matter for the time being.

After meeting with Teri, Thea didn't return to her small apartment. To take better care of her, Nicolas had bought a large unit next door. This made it convenient for him to be close to Thea at all times, and if any emergency arose, he could be there instantly. Many of his responsibilities with Hendrix Group had been shifted to remote management. At least during Thea's recovery, Nicolas wouldn't leave her side easily.

When Thea opened the door, a rich aroma greeted them. Nicolas was glancing at a recipe on his phone, brow furrowed, moving clumsily in the kitchen Thea didn't expect that Nicolas actually suffered a loss one day and it was in the kitchen.

Her pent-up nausea vanished instantly. She threw herself into Nicolas's arms, her voice filled with deep affection. "Nicolas, let me hold you."

Thea's petite frame clung to him tightly. Nicolas sensed her emotional turmoil, his brow creasing slightly. "You can hold me for as long as you need."

He remained still, letting Thea wrap herself around him. The warmth of her breath against his neck was both a comfort and a subtle torment.

Nicolas never pressured Thea to reveal everything. They were married, the closest of confidants. If Thea wanted to open up. he'd always be there to listen. But if she held back, he'd never push her.

"You know? Duncan used to be my protector, my dear brother," Thea finally said, lifting her head with a choked voice after an indeterminate silence.

Nicolas looked at her with infinite patience, yet Thea couldn't accept her own vulnerability at that moment.

She wasn't accustomed to displaying so much emotion. Just as she attempted to pull away, Nicolas held her tightly, pressing her head to his chest. "He didn't know what he had, Thea. Losing you is the Rowland family's biggest regret." "Tell me. What's Duncan done this time?" Nicolas's voice carried a hint of danger.

From his steady presente, Thea felt a deep sense of reassurance With Nicolas, she didn't need to tiptoe around anything "But... can I really rely on him? Thea wondered. After a moment's hesitation, she looked away. Td like to handle the Rowland family's issues on my own" If Nicolas got involved, things might take a very different turn. Nicolas's gaze turned serious. "You still don't trust me? Darwin has already uncovered some leads. Emmalie's true background is close to being revealed."

This news was undeniably tempting to Thea. But she shook her head. "This feud is long-standing. What they owe me, I want to settle myself. I won't rely on a man for that

It was to avoid giving Emmalie any more ammunition. Thea had seen countless times how adept Emmalie was at twisting things around.

should In the end, Nicolas didn't say much. Instead, he gave Thea's soft, unruly hair a firm, reassuring tousle. "Thea, you brace yourself. When Emmalie came to the Rowland family at such a young age, she couldn't have manipulated the doctors into falsifying her genetics on her own. There had to be someone backing her

"Who could it be?' Thea wondered.

When Thea looked up, her eyes were alight with resolve. "All the better. I want to see the looks on my so-called family's faces when the truth finally hits them."

Will they be kneeling before me, begging forgiveness? Thea thought and doubted it. Everyone in the Rowland family held their heads high as if they were reaching for the sky.

Meeting with Nicolas had lightened her mood significantly, and as Thea returned to the apartment she shared with Joyce, she carried a roasted chicken in hand. Joyce?" Thea called, finding the living room empty.

Joyce's door was slightly ajar, and through it, Thea heard Joyce's restrained yet furious voice. "What do you want me to do? Are you only satisfied if you drive me to death? You chose to abandon me back then, so you should know that you have no right to act like my mother now."

Though her tone was firm, Joyce's voice carried a tremor of grief. Thea decided not to intrude. Joyce's mother was also muddle-headed..

"No right to act like your mother now? I set you up with such a good match in the Rowland family, and you turned it down without a second thought. I didn't hold that against you..."

Thea turned around and was about to leave when Kelly's shrill voice sounded from the phone. "But it was you, with the endless talk of your undying love for Corey, and now I've finally gotten you a chance to marry into the Xander family, and you're not even willing? Joyce, you shouldn't be so ungrateful."

Joyce let out a cold laugh. The bullet from back then finally entered the space between her eyebrows, yet she knew Kelly's actions were never about letting Joyce be happy with Corey.

Joyce didn't buy it for a second. "As far as I know, when the Xander family came knocking, they specifically asked for my younger sister. A mistress's daughter for a mistress's son, no one would object to such a match. And you're asking me to marry him in her place? What are you really after? Do I need to spell it out?"

Kelly is trying to marry Joyce off to Corey? Thea's eyes narrowed as she wondered, feeling a rush of urgency. This mess involved her, and she couldn't just sit back.

Kelly's relentless tirade continued over the phone, punctuated by Ethan's attempts to soothe her. His tender tone, though meant to be comforting, only drove the knife deeper into Joyce

Gu.

"Joyce, I put everything into gaising you to be respectful, obedical, and filial, and now you dare talk back to mother? Ethan's voice was cold.

your own

The father and daughter had relied on each other for so many years, but in his eyes, it was not as stubborn as the feelings Ethan had for his sweetheart. "Your mother's right. Lily is still beer than you in some ways." Joyce's expression was one of sheer disbelief.

Tears began streaming down her face. "Dad? I'm your own daughter, and you'd stand by and let me walk into this disaster? You can't possibly be unaware that Corey and I only ran away together so I could escape an engagement... and now you're forcing me to marry him? All for the Maddox family's partnership with the Xander family?"

Ethan bristled, clearly wounded. "You're a daughter of the Maddox family. I've put everything into raising you, and the one time I ask something of you, you hesitate? Joyce, you don't get a say in this marriage. Whether you want it or not, you'll be marrying him."