Chapter 83

That jerk Tarquin’s been covering for this guy. No wonder Mom wants to divorce that scumbag. If he’s protecting this bald–headed troublemaker, he’s no good either!”

Tarquin sneezed loudly somewhere in the distance, as if on cue.

“And that woman, Isn’t she the one who harassed Emmett at the airport? Birds of a feather flock together. They’re all cut from the same cloth! No way I can let Mom take this lying down! I’m going to take them down! I’ll blow the Slater family sky–high!”

Evan wasn’t just talking big. He opened his suitcase, pulled out a few marble–like objects, and stuffed them into his pockets. He turned to head out and settle the score with Gage.

Elliot grabbed him and said, “Don’t be rash.”

“How can I not be rash? Look what he’s done to Mom! Our dear sweet Mom, the one we’d treat with kid gloves because she’s so precious, and he dares to lay a hand on her! He even had the nerve to choke her! Damn it! His whole family deserves to pay!”

Evan was so angry he was nearly in tears. He adored his mother too much.

Elliot said, “He’s connected to Tarquin…”

“I know! And I’m not afraid of him. Nobody messes with my mom!”

“It’s not about being afraid. It’s because he’s connected to Mom. If we make a big scene now, the past scandals could resurface. Without the truth about Mom’s supposed ‘adultery‘, bringing up old dirt will only lead to more insults. It’s Mom who will get hurt. again! Gossip doesn’t hurt physically, but it can drown you. Otherwise, Mom wouldn’t. have left the city she loved so much.”

Elliot didn’t want to escalate things, not before he had all the facts.

Evan was stomping his feet in frustration. “So what do we do? Just stand by and watch that creep bully Mom and do nothing? We can’t avenge the past right now, but we can’t just ignore what’s happening to Mom, can we?”

Elliot, brow furrowed, said, “Of course we can’t ignore it! I’ll take care of this grudge today. Trust me, I won’t let Mom suffer for nothing. Just give me a bit more time to figure everything out.”

He couldn’t let Evan get involved; his brother was too impulsive.

The full story behind Mom and Tarquin was still unclear, and now Gage was under Tarquin’s protection.

If they went after Gage, it could draw Tarquin’s attention.

Elliot had been investigating the past events.

Tarquin had been abroad since marrying Elysia. He hadn’t even come back for the wedding day. In those two years of marriage, he hadn’t once met with Elysia. Yet during that time, he seemed to have treated her well, never skimping on her living expenses. And on the day he returned to the country, the first draft of the divorce settlement offered her a substantial sum. But then suddenly, he accused Mom of adultery and left her with nothing.

There had to be some misunderstanding…

And how could two people, who supposedly never met, have conceived them?

Evan was pacing anxiously. “But we already know what happened, right? That jerk Tarquin and the Thorne family bullied our mom!”

Elliot, still typing rapidly on the keyboard, suddenly stopped. His eyes went wide as he stared at the computer screen.

“I’ve got it, I’ve got it, I’ve got it!” he exclaimed, emphasizing his shock.

Evan and Emmett, tears forgotten, looked at him with red eyes. “What do you know?”

Elliot explained, “When Tarquin returned to the country, Mom went to the airport to pick him up. Not long after, Tarquin publicly accused her of infidelity. A month later, Mom found out she was pregnant.”