Chapter 157

Chapter 157

“Mr. FitzGerald, your meals are all prepared to standard and brought up to you. What are you doing coming down here to cook…” York muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper.”

Dining with Kristin should have been a quiet affair.

“From now on, Kristin eats with me. Work has been hell, and I can’t afford to be without a secretary by my side,” Rhett said, his voice deep and firm.

York took a deep breath, feeling the familial bonds teeter on the edge. “Mr. FitzGerald, count me In! I’ll join you for a meal.”

Rhett’s personal chefs hailed from Michelin–starred restaurants, not average Joe’s dinner plate.

“Go to the restroom.” Rhett instructed York.

“What for?” York asked, puzzled.

“Take a look in the mirror.”

Kristin nearly choked on her laughter, trying to maintain composure as she bowed her head and focused on her rice.

York, feeling slighted, hung his head low and concentrated on his meal.

In the exclusive club.

“Mr. Bryce, our families are allied through marriage, a union acknowledged in the press. We sink and swim together. Regardless of whether you and Adrienne share a romantic foundation, you are her fiancé and future husband. You’re duty–bound to protect her,” Hertha explained as she met with James. As for Summer, whether or not the child belongs to the Bryce family, you and Adrienne will have your children in the future.”

James leaned back on the couch, eyeing Hertha. “Ms. Haywood, are you here today to have me intercede with Rhett once again?”

“That’s your responsibility,” Hertha said, meeting his gaze.

James looked at her pointedly. “Ms. Haywood, it seems you’re not seeing the situation clearly.” Hertha furrowed her brows.

“The child shares my bloodline, and Adrienne is merely a fiancée,” James reminded her, making it clear that without value to him, Adrienne meant nothing.

“Mr. Bryce, our family and the Bryce family have been close for generations. You can’t just ignore this…” Hertha took a deep breath. “This time, we implore you to step in.”

Finally, Hertha dropped her airs and was indeed there to plead with James.

1/4

11:29

Chapter 157

“So, Hertha, might you be so inclined to discuss with me your relationship with R straightened up. his eyes piercing as he focused on her.

“To my knowledge, six years ago, you were found in Rhett’s room, but it seems he nev returned there that night.”

James‘ words carried weight.

He had been in Silvergrove City, having people investigate events from six years ago,

He needed to determine who had left Kristin’s room that night or who was Summer’s biological

father.

He had to find out before Summer’s paternity was exposed.

“You’re inquiring about me.” Hertha clenched her fingers tightly.

“I don’t have the patience to beat around the bush with you.” James pressed.

Hertha knew of his capabilities and after a long silence conceded, “Right… he didn’t return to his room, but Rhett doesn’t know that. He thinks he did, so he always assumed the person from six years ago was me.”

She knew she couldn’t fool James, but James wouldn’t expose her. He still saw her value.

“Whose room did Rhett enter?” James asked, his tone heavy.

“Not sure.” Hertha shook her head. “I also had someone check it out. That night, the only woman who stayed on the same floor was the star Patty who didn’t seem to have that kind of relationship with Rhett though. If it was Patty, she couldn’t hide from Rhett.”

James naturally found out.

“Is it possible that Rhett went to another floor?” That night, Rhett was framed, and it was possible that he had been drugged in his wine and entered the wrong room.

“It’s too long to check again.” Hertha shook her head.

“We can’t find it, and Rhett either. In this way, I insist that it is me, he will fail to argue with me unless the woman comes out to dispel rumors in person, or… she is pregnant with Rhett’s child at one time.” Hertha spoke again.

Otherwise, it can only be her.

Rhett owed her for the rest of her life.

“For six years, if that woman had this scheming, she would have come out to clarify, I guess she who happened to Rhett didn’t know it was Rhett at all.” Hertha looked at James,

James darkened his face.

Now, what he feared most was that Rhett went into Kristin’s room.

Coincidences like that didn’t just happen.

2/4

11:20

Rubbing his temples, James spoke gravely, “il you wish to win theit over; td slnick 764 16 Met swiftly and ensure Kristin and Summer are unlistmed when you persuade her to leave Rhett

It was to avoid any further complications:

“You mean…” Hertha was sharp, instantly grasping James implication:

She gasped, “Are you suggesting that Summer might be Rhett’s child?

“Summer is my son James said firmly

Hertha frowned, choosing to say no more.

“Adrienne really overstepped this time, she didn’t even share a child. Seems like her stint in detention didn’t do her any good. If Rhett chooses to coms at her, there’ll be no one to save her. So, if you care about your family’s safety. I’d suggest you cut lies.”

With a stern warning, James stood up and left.

Hertha inhaled sharply, understanding that James was suggesting the Haywood family abandon Adrienne,

The Haywood family was on the brink of a public relations disaster, and the only Way Out Was a drastic one. They had to expose Adrienne’s misdeeds and shin her off overseas.

James, in all likelihood, would break off the engagement if they did.

But if they hesitated and Rhett went public with the dirt he had on them, it would spell catastrophe for the Haywood family, and James would call off the wedding anyway.

The fallout would drag them all down with it.

If the Haywood family went down, they’d be finished. It was a Case of desperate times calling for desperate measures, Adnenne was the fool

Even though Adinenne was her flesh and blood, Hertha couldn’t afford the luxury of sisterly affection right now, it was every woman for herself in this cutthroat world,

After a long, silent spell on the couch, Hertha’s chilly fingers dialed Adrienne’s number. “Can you get a lock of James hair?

f

“Hertha, he won’t even see me,” Came Adrienne’s frantic voice. “What do I do?”

“handle it. You just book a flight out of Silvergrove City and leave tomorrow.” Hertha instructed her to flee.

“But Hertha…” Adrienne protested,

“Do you want to ruin our family, or just lie low abroad for a few years?” Hertha reminded her

“Why should … Adrienne began, the resentment clear in her voice.

*Bacase it’s fonett we’re dealing with!” Hertha Snapped with fury.

1129

Scared silent, Adrienne had nothing more to say. Everyone knew that crossing Rhett was a one–way ticket to ruin. If Rhett set his sights on destroying the Haywood family, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Hertha, please help me. I don’t want to break it off with James,” Adrienne sobbed.

“Now you beg for mercy with not a single thought in your head,” Hertha said, massaging her temples with frustration. “James is going to dump you, but if you lay low abroad for a while and wait until Rhett tires of Kristin and this whole mess blows over, you can come back. At least our family would be safe.”

Adrienne wept on the other end of the line.

Irritated, Hertha ended the call, her fingers trembling as she reached for a cigarette. Lighting it, she felt her heart pounding with anxiety.

James had been cryptic today, and she had read between the lines.

It seemed she had to do more than just arrange a paternity test between Summer and James. She also needed to use Summer’s hair to test against Rhett’s DNA.