CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 281

The room had gone quiet, heavy with shock and tension. Victoria stood frozen, her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but even she dared not interrupt the fury pouring from her father’s mouth.

Then, slowly, Robert’s father turned away, pacing a few steps in the room. He raised his voice again, louder this time. "No! I’ve kept quiet long enough. I’ve tried to let you handle your nonsense and find your own path but it seems you want to lead this family into shame. So fine! I will take matters into my own hands now. It’s time I deal with this myself."

He paused, his voice colder now, deliberate. "I will go and meet that lady face to face. That good-for-nothing witch of a lady... I’ll deal with her personally. But not the way you did it, sneaking behind closed doors like a coward. I’ll do it openly. And amicably? Well, that depends on whether she knows how to walk away from fire when she sees it burning."

At that moment, upon hearing what his father just said, Robert took a deep breath and stepped forward, his tone calm but firm.

"Father, please," he began, trying to keep his voice from rude, "don’t go there. It’s too risky, and it’s not necessary."

His father, Oliver, glared at him but didn’t interrupt yet.

Robert continued, "The election is around the corner. You’ve said it yourself how important public image is right now. Any scandal, even the tiniest one, could be used against us. Just imagine what the media would do if they caught wind of you storming into Cora’s life to cause trouble."

He paused for a second, watching his father’s expression carefully.

"I’ve told you already. I’m done with Cora. I don’t want her anymore. I’ve moved on. I want to focus on what the family planned between me and Abigail. I’m serious about it now. So what else do you want from me? Why stir things up when things are already settling?"

But his face didn’t soften. Instead, his jaw clenched tighter. His fists curled slightly by his side.

"And from the look of things..." Robert added slowly, "...it seems Cora too doesn’t want peace. She’s looking for trouble. So the best thing to do is stay away from her. That’s what I’ve been doing since—"

"Shut up," he snapped.

Robert froze mid-sentence.

"I said shut your damn mouth," his father barked again, raising his voice even louder now, his eyes burning with anger. "Do you think I don’t know what I’m doing? Do you think I don’t know what’s at stake? You think keeping quiet and letting people like her disrespect this family is strength?"

Robert clenched his jaw but didn’t reply.

He pointed a warning finger at him. "Don’t test me, Robert. I’ve let you speak too much already. One more word out of that mouth, and I’ll shut it for you myself."

At that moment, Robert’s father couldn’t contain the rage that had been slowly building inside him. His voice came out sharp and cutting, his tone filled with utter disappointment as he stared directly at his son.

"I have given you more than enough chances, Robert. I have closed my eyes when I shouldn’t. I’ve allowed you to handle things the way you said was best, thinking maybe you’re finally becoming the man I hoped you’d be," he continued his eyes narrowing.

He took a step forward, his finger now pointing toward Robert’s chest. "But what did you do with that trust? You went behind my back. You had the audacity to storm into Abigail’s office and threaten her. Do you even hear yourself? And now you stand there claiming you want to love her? That you’re ready to move on with the marriage plan?"

His voice rose slightly. "Who does that, Robert? Who in their right mind threatens a woman just hours ago and then suddenly wants to profess loyalty? You think she’s going to forget everything just because you say you’ve changed your mind? You think she’ll feel safe beside you?"

His jaw clenched tightly as he let out a slow, heavy breath. "She will see you as unstable. A man who flips his words like coins. A man who cannot be trusted. And you know what I hate more than anything in this world?" His voice dropped low. "A man who is not true to his word."

He turned slightly, glancing between Robert and Victoria, then back at his son. "All this time, I’ve been waiting for you to take control. To lead. To prove me wrong about all the doubts I’ve had. But this?" He scoffed bitterly. "This is not how a man acts. This is cowardice, dressed up as confusion."

Then he took a deep breath and folded his arms, voice cold and final. "So, for everything that has happened every single thing you’ve done and said just know this: I’m done sitting back. I will not fold my hands anymore. I will not let you drag this family into disgrace and drama any longer."

He pointed sharply toward the door.

"This ends the conclusion. Now... get out of my sight."

At that moment, upon hearing what his father just said and seeing the fire in his eyes, Robert could no longer hold himself. He slowly stood up from the couch, his expression a mix of regret and quiet frustration. Everyone in the living room had gone completely silent again. All eyes were on him. Even Victoria had paused, arms folded across her chest, waiting for what he had to say.

With a low voice, but one that still carried across the room, Robert said, "Dad... I’m sorry. I truly am sorry for what happened today. I wasn’t thinking straight. But I want you to believe me I’m serious about making things right with Abigail."

He swallowed hard, looking down briefly before lifting his gaze again.

"Yes, I went to her office, and I let my emotions take over. But it wasn’t because I wanted to hurt her. It was because I didn’t like what I found out. Why would Victoria and Abigail team up to go threaten Cora like that? That’s not right. I hated that."