As Hana finished speaking, tears streamed down her face, her delicate, tear-streaked expression tugging at the hearts of everyone present.
Her performance was flawless-too flawless. Watching her narrate and emote simultaneously, Kayden almost felt like clapping. If there were awards for this kind of thing, she’d win them all: Best Actress, Best Screenplay, maybe even Best Manipulator.
“Oh, my God! Did you all hear that?” Neve’s voice cut through the room like a knife, sharp and brimming with fury. Her hands trembled as she pointed at Kayden. “This-this is the man you want as the heir? This is a disgrace! No, worse than that-this is barbaric!”
She turned to the others, her voice rising with every word. “I warned you! I told you not to let him set foot in this house! The moment he walked through that door, I knew-knew-trouble would follow. And now, look at this! Look at how he treats his brother’s wife! What kind of man does that? What kind of leader does that?”
Her voice cracked, but she pushed on, her anger snowballing. “And what about Brodie, huh? When he gets married, do you think this brute will respect his wife? If this man becomes the head of the Scott family, what do you think will happen? Chaos! Utter chaos!”
“Heaven has no eyes-none at all!”
The room buzzed with Neve’s indignation. Her shrill, relentless voice felt like it would shatter the crystal chandelier above. Her manic energy was a jarring contrast to her refined exterior.
Her words lit a spark among the gathered family members, and soon, whispers snowballed into a chorus of condemnation.
“This is outrageous!”
“How could someone like him even think he’s fit to lead?”
“A disgrace! An utter disgrace to our name!”
“He should be expelled from the family-immediately!”
The accusations came fast and furious, each more damning than the last.
And yet, in the eye of the storm, Kayden stood still, his face unreadable. His calmness only fueled the others’ anger-and Hana’s anxiety.
Why wasn’t he reacting? Why wasn’t he defending himself or fighting back? His indifference gnawed at her, and a pit formed in her stomach.
Vicente, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His deep voice cut through the noise like a blade. “Hana, is what you’re saying true?”
The room went quiet.
Neve’s face twisted into a scowl. She glared at Vicente, her voice dripping with contempt. “What are you implying, Vicente? Are you accusing Hana of lying? Do you think she’d make up something so serious? A woman’s virtue is everything, and you think she’d throw that away just to frame him?”
“I knew Kayden was trouble the moment I saw him,” she continued, her voice trembling with righteous anger. “A man raised without discipline, running wild all his life-of course, he’d bring this kind of scandal to our family. If this gets out, where will the Scott family’s reputation stand? We have no choice but to cast him out!”
Hana stood silently, allowing Neve’s tirade to shield her. But as Neve spoke with fiery conviction, Hana’s lips curved into the faintest of smirks, gone before anyone could notice.
Vicente frowned and turned to Jason, who had been sitting quietly, his brow furrowed in thought. “Father,” Vicente began, his voice cautious. “This matter concerns the family’s honor. If we don’t address it-”
“Enough!” Jason’s voice thundered through the room, silencing everyone. He stood with slow, deliberate authority, his piercing gaze sweeping over the family. “I know what you’re all thinking. I’m not blind. But let me make one thing clear-my decision is final.”
The weight of his words settled over the room like a heavy fog.
“Even if Kayden had done what you accuse him of-which I highly doubt-I would still name him the heir. And I certainly wouldn’t cast him out of this family.” His tone was sharp, unyielding. “Save your petty schemes for someone else. I may be old, but I can still see through lies.”
The room fell into stunned silence. Jason’s words struck like a hammer, shattering any hope Hana or Neve had of swaying him.
Neve, however, wasn’t ready to back down. Her voice wavered, but she pressed on. “Father, are you saying Hana lied to you? You think she’d make up something like this? She might deceive you about other things, but not this!”
Jason raised a hand to silence her, his expression colder than ice. “If you truly believe her, then ask her yourself.”
All eyes turned to Hana.
Jason’s steely glare bore into her, and for the first time that evening, she faltered. Her head dipped, her eyes darting to the floor.
Her silence spoke volumes.
Kayden let out a derisive chuckle, breaking the tension. “Well, that settles that,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I tried to play nice, but clearly, this family isn’t worth the effort.”
He turned to Jason, his tone hardening. “I’ll find out the truth about my parents’ deaths-whether you were involved or not. And when I do, you’ll pay for your cowardice.”
Without another word, he strode out of the room, his footsteps echoing in the stunned silence.
Jason watched him go, then turned back to the others with a final, cutting glare. “This is the last time I’ll tolerate this nonsense. If any of you try something like this again, you’ll regret it.”
With that, he left the room, his authority lingering in the air like a storm cloud.
The remaining family members exchanged uneasy glances before slowly dispersing, their whispers fading into the distance.
Only Brodie and his immediate family remained.
“Hana, you lied?” Neve’s voice was soft, almost disbelieving.
Hana avoided her mother’s gaze, her voice low. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t expect Grandfather to side with him so completely. I just wanted to help Brodie. I didn’t mean for it to backfire.”
Neve sighed heavily, her anger giving way to exhaustion.
Vicente waved a hand dismissively. “It’s done. Leave it.”
He left the room, Neve trailing after him.
Hana turned to Brodie, her voice firm. “Brodie, don’t you dare blame me for this. Everything I did was for you. I wanted to protect your place in the family!”
Brodie placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression unreadable. “I know. It’s fine.”
Hana huffed, crossing her arms. “Grandfather’s so blind. All this loyalty to Kayden-what’s so special about him, anyway? Sure, he’s a soldier, but the Scott family could train someone else for that in no time!”
Brodie didn’t respond. But his jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with determination.
It was time to take matters into his own hands.