CHAPTER 289

Rachael had never suffered such a big blow to her ego throughout her life.

Not only was Madeline younger and prettier than she was, Madeline had two gorgeous sons, and was surrounded by bodyguards whose good looks were comparable to Brian's.

Just how much more could someone possibly win in life?

And why am I not blessed with a life like hers? Rachael fumed as jealousy consumed her. Her next words were far from pleasant to listen to. "Miss Taylor, why do you want to rob someone else's son when you have two of your own? I have heard of a tradition in Dusktown for the rich to adopt children. Adopting might sound like it is a nice thing to do, since the children will become half a young master or miss. But in fact, they will become slaves who have no human rights, and they have to quietly and obediently serve the biological children of the adoptive family when they grow up. Now that you are trying to snatch Alex away, are you trying to make my son your sons' lackey?"

Madeline frowned and argued, "I have never planned on adopting Alex. I—"

"I am willing to be Aunt Madeline's adopted son!" Alex interrupted her before she could finish her words. "I want to stay here even if I am Aunt Madeline's adopted son who will serve as Aldo and Buddy's slave when we grow up. Just give up! I won't go back with you!"

Hearing that, Madeline softly reprimanded him. "Don't talk nonsense, Alex. You, Aldo and Buddy are classmates and friends, and you are also someone younger who I care for. You are not a slave."

"Yeah!" Joel ran in front of Alex and held his hand. "We are friends, Alex. You are not a slave. Your stepmother is such a meanie. She is as mean as Snow White's stepmother!"

At this point, Rachael was so angry her face had turned pale but as she was about to speak again, Laine stopped her just in time.

Laine wasn't an eloquent person, and she was far behind Rachael when it came to articulating her thoughts. With that in mind, she had let Rachael speak, only for her daughter to unexpectedly bring the conversation to ruin.

She had been preempted by Rachael a few times when she was going to talk, but by the time she had thought about what to say, the air was already thick with awkwardness because of her daughter.

Left with no other choice, Laine could only try her best to mediate the dispute. "Ray doesn't have the best choice of words, but despite her sharp tongue, she has a good heart. She only wants to take Alex home and reunite him with Brian. Although what she said may not be very pleasant to hear, her intentions are true and straightforward. It is only proper for a father and his son to live together. It is not right to live in someone else's house. They will surely be criticized by others. I have also heard about the adoption of children by the rich, but what I heard is that the adopted children are orphans who have lost both their parents. I have never heard of someone adopting a child whose birth father is still alive. Also, Brian has been paying for Alex's monthly expenses. Strictly speaking, Alex is under Brian's care. It makes no sense for Brian to raise Alex with money out of his pocket, only for Alex to recognize someone else as his parents."

"Didn't Grandma clearly write all about this in her will? Why are you still bothering Aunt Madeline?" Alex's face had flushed red as his anger boiled up. "It is true that he is giving me living expenses. I even record how much money he is giving me. I will pay him back every penny when I grow up! Grandma said that it is his obligation to support me before I turn 18, and if he doesn't support me, I am

allowed to sue him!"

As Alex spoke, his eyes started to turn red. "He shouldn't have allowed me to be born if he doesn't even want to give me the money! Now that I am here, he has the obligation to raise me!"

"No, Alex. You misunderstood what I meant," Laine said quickly. "I am not saying that your father shouldn't pay for child support. What I mean is that since your father is the one who is raising you, you shouldn't become someone else's adopted son. You should come home and reunite with your father. You are his biological son, and everything will be fine once you clear up the misunderstanding. How can family members hold grudges against each other? It would be great if the family is whole. Am I right, Alex?"

"No!" Alex's handsome face was still flushed as he glared at her fiercely and growled, "Grandma wouldn't have passed me to Aunt Madeline if you are good people. Grandma only let me stay with Aunt Madeline because you are all evil! I will listen to Grandma, so stop it! I hate you! I would rather become a beggar on the streets than go home with you!"

After he blurted that out, Joel reached out and patted Alex with his small hand. "Alex, don't be sad. I like you. Just live in my house and don't go anywhere. Mommy won't let you go become a beggar on the street. Right, Mommy?"

As if he was the one who was about to be cast into the street as a young beggar, Joel suddenly flashed his big eyes and looked at Madeline pitifully.

Not knowing whether to laugh or weep at her son's antics, Madeline stroked his little head and comforted Alex in a soft voice. "Don't be disheartened, Alex. What other people say doesn't matter, so

don't take it to heart. Since I promised your grandmother that I will take care of you, I will definitely do as I promised. Nothing anyone else says will ever change my mind."

"I believe in you!" Alex looked up at her and said firmly. "Aunt Madeline, I know that you are different from them. You are a good person. You, Aldo and Buddy are the most important people to me from now on. I will make sure to repay you when I grow up!"

At that moment, Rachael's vision turned dark, and she felt like she was about to faint as her blood pressure increased from rage.

Since when did this brat get so good at buttering someone up?

She wouldn't have hated him as much as she did if he had been sweeter to her when he was still living with them.

She figured that Alex must have carefully, and calculatively, dipped his words in honey because he wanted to stay here to become a young master of the family after he saw what a well-to-do family the Taylors were.

Sly little fox!

Losing her mind from her anger, Rachael rushed to Alex and she grabbed him by the wrist. "Let's go! You must go back with me! No matter how good this place is, this is not your home. You must go back with me to your own home!"

There was no way Rachael would leave Alex here to let him enjoy the life of a rich young master. On top of that, she needed to take him home to save his relationship with Brian. Alex had to go back with

her.

Madeline's face fell as soon as she saw Rachael making a move. Without needing a signal from Madeline, Emory had already taken a step forward to take hold of Rachael's arm. "Ma'am, please keep the conversation civil," he warned.

He didn't seem to be exerting any force, but just by grabbing Rachael's wrist casually, Rachael felt as though her bones had been fractured.

As the pain hit her, she abruptly let go of her grip on Alex as she struggled out of Emory's hold. "What the hell are you doing?! Let go!"

Emory swiftly released Rachael after seeing that she had removed her grip on Alex, and he stretched out an arm to shield Alex behind him.

Right at this moment, Joel trotted to Emory's side as he glared at Rachael with his plump cheeks inflated. "How can you get rough just because you lost the argument? Meanie! Slimeball!" Joel huffed and puffed.

With his baby babble, he still sounded so sweet that Emory could melt even though the child was going off at Rachael.

Joel was too cute for Emory to not squeeze him! Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

Finally succumbing to his urges, Emory put his hand on Joel's head and ruffled his hair a few times. "Don't worry, little young master. With me here, no one can take away Young Master Alex."

Young Master Alex?

Rachael's eyes immediately went wide as her temper flared after hearing those three words.