Owen Churchill never expected his son to push back so fiercely.
He quickly tried to backtrack. "I wasn't suggesting Yolande become a stepmother against her will."
"I simply meant she could meet Jude Thatcher."
"If she doesn't like him, we'd never force it."
Padgett leveled a cold stare at his nephew. "Yolande is young and beautiful. She can have any man she wants."
"Even if this Jude Thatcher were the best guy on earth, he's still a divorced, older man."
"Not to mention, he already has a son. Even if the kid is abroad, that's still his flesh and blood."
"Don't even entertain the idea of setting Yolande up with him."
"I absolutely forbid this arrangement!"
Padgett stated firmly, shooting a glacial glare at his brother, Pike. "If you continue to
let your son and his wife run wild, I'll strip you of the Churchill name and throw you out!"
Pike gaped at him.
"Padgett, I'm an old man!"
Was threatening him with exile at his age really necessary?
Absolutely.
Pike was from a secondary branch, while Padgett was the true patriarch.
Padgett ruled the Churchill dynasty with an iron fist.
Being ousted by his older brother at this age would be a humiliating death sentence to his social standing.
"Age hasn't given you wisdom," Padgett snapped.
"And your son can't even manage his own household. If you can't keep Tiffany in
line, then Owen Churchill should just divorce her!"
Padgett had long despised his nephew's wife.
But as an uncle, he usually refrained from micromanaging their marriage.
However, the Churchill heirs were his absolute bottom line.
Tiffany's willingness to sacrifice her own children to benefit her maiden family had finally crossed it.
"Divorce..." Owen Churchill trailed off, hesitating.
He glanced at his son.
Over the years, Tiffany's behavior had slowly eroded any affection he once held for her.
He had only tolerated her antics for the sake of their children.
He had been clinging to the fading memories of their early romance.
Seb waved a dismissive hand. "Don't look at me, Dad. This is between you two."
"Even if you decide to divorce her, I'll respect your decision."
"Just don't try to pin the blame on Yolande or me if you stay together."
Hearing the deep resentment in
Seb's voice, Owen Churchill realized
how much Tiffany had alienated her
own son, compounding his
frustration over how she constantly
manipulated Yolande.
If she hadn't tried to auction off Yolande to please her relatives, Seb might not have exploded like this.
"Divorce isn't a word to throw around lightly," Owen Churchill muttered.
"I'll sit down and talk with her first."
"But if she insists on prioritizing her relatives over her own flesh and blood, I'll end
it."
Owen Churchill had nothing to lose, as he didn't hold many liquid assets.
The bulk of the wealth was controlled by Padgett anyway.
A divorce wouldn't leave Tiffany with much.
Tiffany definitely wouldn't want to sign the papers.
But since she had alienated even her
own children and disgusted the main family, Owen Churchill refused to let her slide anymore.
He knew he wasn't the most capable man, but his kids were exceptionally talented.
He couldn't let Padgett's hatred for their mother ruin their standing in the family.
The children's futures depended on the dynasty's backing.
He couldn't provide them with a billionaire's lifestyle on his own, so he refused to be their stumbling block.
Padgett was still vibrating with rage.
The Churchills were fiercely
protective, and in his eyes, Tiffany had entirely overstayed her
welcome.
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Sensing the escalating tension, Claire reached out and gently tugged Padgett's
sleeve. "Padgett, I think Owen has a valid point."