CHAPTER 247

"Clive wants his parents to get a divorce?" Madeline frowned. "Why?"

"Survival," Sam answered. "The boy and his mother crossed the Harts, so they want them out of the family. Cutting all ties with them is the only way to keep the Shrivers safe."

"I see." Madeline nodded. "I have no idea they would do this. I don't want Jayden's parents to get divorced either, but Sebastian is the one handling this. He spent a lot of time and effort to protect the kids. I can't tell him what to do. All I can do is persuade him to stop. I can't do anything else."

"I understand." Sam nodded. "Jayden might have done the wrong thing, but he doesn't have to be punished this much. Breaking his family up for a little banter is too much, don't you think?"

"Why didn't you tell me we had guests, Maddie?" A melodious voice rang out. Sebastian descended the stairs. Even the air seemed to sing in his presence. He was as beautiful as a painting, and he elegantly came to Madeline's side. He then smirked at Sam. "Ah, fancy seeing you here, Mr. Taylor. You're a busy man, and yet you still took the time to visit me, and not for nothing, I'm sure. Let me think…" Sam wanted to say something, but Sebastian did not give him the chance. "You're here to help the Shrivers, aren't you?" he asked politely. His voice alone was a delight to hear, but Sam could tell that he was mocking him.

Still, Sam was a patient man. He was the most easy going guy among the Taylors, and he did not mind Sebastian's mockery. Sam stood up and answered, "Yes, that's why I'm here. Jayden's mother is my cousin. I've heard what happened. Yes, what Jayden said was wrong, but it's starting to get too serious at this rate. I'm here to negotiate. I hope you can show them a little mercy, Mr. Hart."

"Let's sit down and talk." Madeline asked the men to take a seat. She told Sebastian, "The Shrivers want to break up Jayden's parents to keep their family safe. I think it's a bit too much as well." Jayden did go too far with the insults, but Sam was not wrong either. It would be too cruel to destroy a boy's family over this.

"I know what you mean. You're just too kind, and someone exploited that kindness." Sebastian smiled. "The Shrivers are the one who want this divorce, not us. Why should you feel guilty about it when they don't?"

Madeline froze. H-He has a point! I never wanted them to break the boy's parents up. They did! Why should I feel guilty about something I didn't do?

"Slightly incorrect, Mr. Hart." Sam looked at Sebastian. "You pressured the Shrivers into this decision. Clive wants to break Jayden's parents up so you and Madeline will forgive them. You and Madeline are why they're doing this. Tell them you'll let this slide, and Clive will take back his decision. He wouldn't want to break his grandson and his wife up and force Jayden to grow up in a broken family."

"So we're talking about why and how this whole thing happened now?" Sebastian nodded. "Very well. Then let's talk about the reason. Mr. Taylor, do you know why Jayden called my sons something that crude?"

Sam froze. He thought it was difficult to answer, but he had to say something. "The boy didn't know better. He must have heard it from someone in his household."

"Precisely." Sebastian nodded. "Jayden only said that because he learned it from his mother. And Queenie called my sons even worse things. Do you want to know what she said?"

Sam was feeling awkward now. "No. Queenie is at fault here. I can take them to you and ask them to apologize to Madeline and the boys."

"We can talk about that later." Sebastian waved him down. "We're talking about how Jayden learned those words, right? He learned it from his mother. And who told Queenie those things, Mr. Taylor?"

Sam's face fell. Who told her that? Who else? Isabel, of course. Goddammit, Isabel! You're putting me in a pinch here.

"Ah, I see you know who told Queenie all about my sons." Sebastian chuckled. "Well, now we know how Jayden learned that insult. That brings us to the end of this little discussion. You told me this punishment is a bit too much for an innocent child, and I agree. I'm willing to let this slide and accept their apology, but you should try to keep your sister in check, don't you think?" Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Sam felt like screaming. He had never felt this embarrassed and awkward before. Aldo and Buddy were born because he needed saving, but his own sister insulted them with every single slur under the sun behind their backs. To add insult to injury, he supported Isabel's lavish lifestyle and even sent a group of servants, bodyguards, and drivers to serve her after her exile. He failed Madeline and the boys just by doing that alone.

"Everyone thinks highly of you, Mr. Taylor. They call you a perfect gentleman, a soft-spoken man, a paragon of virtue. But if you ask me, you're nothing but a shameless scoundrel." Sebastian smirked. The look in his eyes was calm, but Sam could see the disdain behind it. "Isabel and her mother abused Madeline until she was an inch from death, and she was forced to bear two children before she was even married just to save you. I'm grateful she gave me the boys, but do you have any idea how hard it was to raise them all by herself? She was unmarried, and nobody was even willing to lend her a hand back then. She suffered for many years. I feel sorry for her every time I think about it, but you and your

whole damn family take her sacrifice for granted."

"No, I do not!" Sam retorted indignantly. "I've always been grateful for her help, and I owe the boys a lot. I've tried my best to take care of them. I've always tried to make it up to them—"

"Really?" Sebastian cocked his eyebrow. "By supporting the lavish lifestyle of the same woman who almost killed her?" He shook his head and sneered. "If that's your way of making things up to someone, it's creative. Too creative. I can't even begin to understand your philosophy."

"What do you expect me to do?" Sam was agitated. He had always been patient and soft- spoken, but now he raised his voice. "She's my own sister! Do you expect me to stand by while she gets wasted?"

"No. She's your sister, and I can't tell you to ignore her. But for Pete's sake, keep her in check. It's your responsibility to tell her what's right and what's wrong. It's your job to tell her who's the victim here. I don't want her slandering my wife behind our backs," Sebastian answered gently but firmly. He looked Sam in the eye and asked, "That's a reasonable request, don't you think?"