CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427: MARRY ALEX

Mary flinched at grandma’s sharp voice sliced through the tense silence.

Though everyone else might have thought it was anger, she knew better; this was bargaining.

Grandma Lovely was testing them, and if Adam truly dared to walk away now, the situation would spiral into disaster.

The thought alone made Mary’s stomach twist.

Just as the atmosphere thickened, Grandma Lovely let out a weary sigh and said in a softened tone,

"Fine then, five hundred thousand dollars. I’m willing to settle for that."

Both Adam and Mary exhaled in relief and quietly sank back into their chairs.

Their shoulders loosened ever so slightly.

They knew too well that what they were doing was a gamble, a dangerous one.

If they had truly walked away just now, there was no telling how Grandma Lovely, Uncle Milo, or Hans might retaliate.

Extortion was something this family had mastered over the years.

But Mary and Adam weren’t fools. They understood the kind of people they were dealing with.

As long as this ended with the payment and they kept their children’s names out of it, they would gladly lose half a million.

Money could be earned again , their children’s peace could not.

To them, this entire incident was like being bitten by a rabid dog; there was no reasoning, only retreat.

However, if Grandma Lovely or Hans decided to use their Adam’s secret against their kids, the damage would be irreversible.

Theodore was already in the public eye as a rising celebrity. If people ever discovered Adam’s past, the petty thefts, and the compulsive stealing he had once struggled with, it could ruin Theodore’s career in an instant.

And not just him. Olivia, Lucas, Adriana, Alex, and Aurora... all of them would be dragged through the mud because of Adam’s shameful history.

Adam sat stiffly, trying to keep his composure, but guilt pressed heavily on his chest.

He wasn’t a bad man, just a broken one.

Back in those days, his mental condition had been severe; stress pushed him to act irrationally, stealing without realizing it.

It had taken years of therapy and effort to overcome those impulses.

But what if his family’s dark greed brought it all to light again? What if the world refused to see the man he had become and saw only the thief he used to be?

No. He couldn’t let that happen.

Still, his face remained calm, an unreadable mask he learned after becoming the CEO.

Seeing this, Lovely leaned back with a sigh of false relief, her painted lips curling into a smile.

"Good. Five hundred thousand... acceptable," she said slowly, then tilted her head. "But that’s not quite enough, don’t you think?"

Mary and Adam stiffened.

"How about this," Lovely continued, her voice laced with cunning sweetness.

"You give us five hundred thousand, and in return, Hans will get a job at your company. Oh, and one more thing , introduce Milo’s daughter, Amara, to a good, rich man. Once those are done, we’ll burn all the evidence right in front of you."

The words hung in the air like poison.

Adam’s pen froze mid-air, and Mary’s fists clenched tightly on her lap.

"That’s not possible," Mary said firmly, shaking her head.

"Hans has a background in law. If he’s capable, he can find work elsewhere. Our company’s legal department is already full. As for introducing Amara," she took a slow breath, "we don’t even attend high-society parties. We hardly know anyone that wealthy."

Lovely’s lips pursed.

For a moment, her eyes darkened before a slow, chilling smile crept across her face.

"You don’t need to attend parties," she said casually.

"I already did my research. Mary, you have a son from your first marriage, don’t you? Alex. One of the most eligible bachelors in the city. His net worth is in the millions. Why not introduce him to Amara?"

Mary’s eyes widened, her blood running cold.

Lovely leaned forward, her tone mockingly soft.

"After all, he’s not connected to us by blood. Wouldn’t that make it a perfect match? If Alex marries Amara, you’ll have nothing to worry about. The video and the documents will be destroyed permanently. Otherwise..." she trailed off, the threat hanging unspoken.

Adam’s jaw tightened as he looked at Mary, who sat frozen, trembling slightly.

They exchanged a glance; fear, disbelief, and disgust were mirrored in both their eyes.

Just how much had Lovely investigated? How far had she gone to dig into Mary’s past and her son’s life?

Finally, Mary straightened her back, her voice low but firm.

"I won’t do that. I won’t drag my son into this mess. He has suffered enough because of me. If you think I’ll sacrifice him again, you’re mistaken."

Lovely chuckled dryly.

"Suffered enough? Mary, dear, you’ve been living a dream life. A life you didn’t deserve in the first place. Perhaps it’s time you paid it back."

That was the last straw.

Adam slammed his hand on the table, the sharp sound echoing through the room. "Enough!" he thundered, his voice shaking with fury.

"If you dare to insult my wife again, this negotiation ends here. You’ll see me in court!"

Lovely flinched, clearly startled by his sudden outburst.

Adam’s glare was fierce, his entire being radiating protectiveness.

He had married Mary out of love... deep, unwavering love.

She had been his solace, his redemption.

Now that he finally had the strength and status to defend her, he would never allow anyone, not even his mother, to humiliate her.

On the couch in the living room, Aurora heard everything. Alex sat beside her, his brows knitted in discomfort.

Aurora leaned closer and chuckled with a teasing smirk,

"Out of all the people in the world, Grandma Lovely had to pick Alex. Guess that means our dear brother must look quite the catch."

Alex rolled his eyes, flustered, while Theodore, sitting on the other end, frowned and shouted, "I’m the most handsome one here, not him."

Aurora snickered. "Sure you are, Theo."

Their brief banter broke the tension for a moment, drawing a small chuckle from Alex. But beneath that fleeting levity, his mind raced.

He couldn’t... wouldn’t... agree to this arrangement.

Especially now that Adeline had become such an important part of his heart. He could never betray her like that.

As his thoughts spiraled, Grandma Lovely’s patience began to crumble.

She took several deep breaths, trying to keep her composure. Adam’s defiance stung like a slap to her pride.

This was the son she had raised, the same boy she had clothed, fed, and disciplined.

Now, he dared to challenge her for a woman she had always considered beneath them.

Did he truly think he could build a life defying the hand that had once fed him?

Her heart fumed, but she kept her voice sweet and deceptive. "Adam, my dear," she said softly, "don’t misunderstand me. I only spoke out of concern. I might’ve said something harsh, but that was only because I want what’s best for you both."

Her eyes flicked toward Mary. "As Adam’s wife, you should understand your duties. You owe this family something."

Adam’s patience snapped. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping back across the marble floor.

His hand found Mary’s, firm and resolute. "We’re leaving," he said coldly. His eyes gleamed with steely determination.

He had made up his mind. He no longer cared about his so-called reputation or their threats. He would protect his family, even if it meant starting over from scratch.

If they wanted to ruin him, so be it, but they would never again insult the woman he loved.

Lovely panicked as she saw Adam turn toward the door. "Wait, Adam!" she called out desperately, her voice cracking with alarm.

But Adam didn’t even glance back.

Mary, however, stayed still. Her heart ached as she looked at him.

Over the years, Adam had given her everything , love, stability, protection. He had never once made her feel small or unwanted.

Every dream she had whispered, he had made real. Even when their life was hard, he’d made sure she smiled.

And now, when he needed her most, could she really walk away without trying to help?

Tears pricked her eyes as she took a step forward. "Adam..." she whispered.

He turned to her instantly and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

His voice softened, trembling slightly.

"You don’t have to sacrifice anything, Mary. You’ve already done enough by marrying me, by standing by me. I won’t let you compromise anymore."

Mary’s chest tightened. She clutched the back of his shirt. "But I want to do something for you," she whispered.

Before Adam could answer, Lovely interjected sharply, having caught enough of their exchange.

"If not Alex, then perhaps Alex can introduce Amara to one of his wealthy friends," she said, her tone suddenly casual, as though she hadn’t just blackmailed them minutes ago.

Mary bit her lip, frustration swirling inside her. "I can’t decide that for him," she said quietly but firmly. "You’ve already investigated us so deeply. Then you must also know that my relationship with my son isn’t perfect. I can’t force him into anything. But I will speak to him."