Chapter 19 Cutting Ties Cleanly

Finished

Madeline held onto Ste’s hand, bas /bif she wanted to say more. But Ste’s stance was firm. “Madam Madeline, I’m sorry, bEthan /bis not someone I can entrust my life to.”

Madeline fell silent..

Ste continued. “I never expected his undivided loyalty, but he hasn’t even bgiven /bme the bare minimum of respect,”

Madeline sighed. “This…”

but

She couldn’t deny it. Ethan hadn’t bshown /bSte even the most basic respect. Even as his mother, she couldn’t blindly defend

him.

“But what will you do? Without Ethan, your life in the Reed family will be even harder.”

Madeline reminded Ste of her standing in the Reed family. Even though everyone now despised Lillianb, /bthey still had to Jacknowledge that she held ba /bsignificant position within the family.

Ste lowered her gaze without responding.

Madeline pressed on, “bYou /bdon’t need to answer me now. I’ll talk to Ethan, and Lillian v

will be sent away as

as soon as possible.”

She was beyond furious. What hold does Lillian have over Ethan to make him so utterly bewitched?

The thought of Ste and Ethanpletely breaking things off, leaving Ethan free to be even more reckless with Lillianb. /bmade her blood bboil/bb. /b

“The Reed family favors Lillian. If you keep pushing back against Ethan, things won’t be easy for you.”

She was advising Ste to endure it. As her future mother–inw, Madeline was making it clear–she would always be on Ste’s side.

Everyone assumed there was no ce for Ste in the Reed family and that the Keene bfamily /bwas her only refuge.

Ste nced at Madeline. I’ve gotten through tough times before, haven’t I? bMadam/b, bthis /bis the end for bEthan /band me.”

Things had alreadye this far–there was no turning back. Ste’s tone was bresolute /band final.

She had no intention of leaving even a bshred /bof hope for anyone. Simply put, she hated unnecessary trouble. She wanted to cut bthings /bclean band /bmove on.

Madeline bsaw /bher unwavering attitude and felt slightly embarrassed. “You child…”

She had humbled herself band /bsaid everything she could, yet Ste bwas /bstill this stubborn?

Her tone carried ba /bbhint /bof dissatisfaction

now.

Ste didn’t want to waste any more time. “I’m leaving.”

With bthat/b, she shoved the ne firmly binto /bMadeline’s bhands /band turned to leave.

Madeline had more to bsay/b, but seeing Ste’s determined posture and then looking at the bne /bin her hand, she could only bstomp /bher foot in bfrustration/b.

The butler appeared bbehind /bher. “Madam Madeline. What bis /bshe being so proud about? Who else would take her if not

Ethan?”

bShe /bwas engaged to Ethan. Who else in Rivermount’s elite circle would be foolish enough to marry her bon /bshort notice? And as for the Reed bfamily/b..

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Chapter 19 Cutting Ties Cleanly

The butler nced in the direction Ste had left. b“/bShe’s young. She can’t swallow this humiliation.”

To him, Ste’s reaction was purely driven by the injustice she felt over Lillian..

Madeline thought the same.

Finished

She scoffed. “If she wants to make a scene, she should at least pick the right ce. She can fight with the Reed family all she wants, but acting bself/b–righteous in front of me?”

If not for Nicole insisting Ethan had to marry Ste–iming Ste’s birth chart was exceptionally auspicious–Madeline wouldn’t have even considered epting a daughter–inw from the Reed family.

Her frustration only grew. She was bfurious /bat Ethan for being tangled up with Lillian, but she was even angrier that Ste had been the one to call off the engagement.

Now the Keene family had lost all face–both publicly and privately.

And to make things worse, Nicole had given her a strict order–which was to get Ste bback/bb. /b

But with the way Ste carried herself, fearless, untouchable, how am I supposed to do that? Madeline’s expression darkened with

anger.

“This is infuriating! Where is Lillian hospitalized?”

The butler replied, “Rivermount International Medical Center.”

Ste walked out of Keene Estate.

Just as she reached her car, a horn honked from nearby. Looking up, she saw Ethan’s Rolls–Royce Phantom parked not far away.

He’s still here?

Ethan stepped out, a cigarette between bhis /bfingers.

His tall, lean figure exuded natural dominance, an aura of authority that kept bothers /bat a distance.

Truth be told, he was undeniably handsome.

In just a year, he had doubled Keene Group’s market value, and he was also lial and respectful toward his belders/b.

Everything about him was impressive–except for his taste in women. Absolutely Mind.

When Ste met his bgaze/bb, /bshe showed no kindness.

Ethan was the first to speak. “Give your car keys to bJason/b. He’ll drive it back to Kingston Heights. You’reing with me.”

“I can driveb.” /b

Ste scoffed, her voice dripping with bsarcasm/b. Those three words were a deration of independence. I would never be the one left behind.