CHAPTER 244

Most people were the same. They could shrug most things off if it only involved them, but when it came to their children, things would be different. They would do anything to protect their kids. He was a parent as well, and he loved his own children. He knew how the Harts felt. He knew it was impossible to settle this peacefully after he found out what happened. A simple apology won't suffice.

His great-grandson had insulted Sebastian's sons. To make things worse, he had even beat the boys. The Harts would destroy their entire family if they did not do something. There was only one thing he could do now; he had to sacrifice someone.

The Harts were a lot more powerful than they were. They didn't even have to attack the Shrivers themselves. All they had to do was tell everyone they disliked the Shrivers, and everyone would stop working with them just to please the Harts. The Shrivers would become public enemy number one. They would be plunged into a crisis and go bankrupt in mere moments, and they would no longer exist. The Harts were fast approaching. He had no time to hesitate, and he came to a difficult decision.

He turned to look at Damian. "Damian, you have two choices. One, take your wife and child and leave. Cut all ties with us. I'll exile you and your family. From today onward, you and your family are no longer associated with us."

"Grandpa!" Damian stared at Clive in disbelief, and he blanched.

Clive continued, "Two, divorce Queenie and let her have custody of Jayden. The alimony's on you."

"You can't do that, Grandpa!" Damian shouted in protest. "It's just some boys getting into a fight! It's not that serious. I'll take Jay to Sebastian's place and make him apologize! That'll be enough, right?" He refused to get the divorce, nor did he want to be exiled. He was born on a silver platter and grew up in

luxury, but he would lose everything if he was exiled. He refused to make a choice.

"You can't settle this with a simple apology," Clive said coldly. "Put yourself in Sebastian's shoes. What would you do if your son's classmates call him a b*stard?"

Damian shut up. He would do nothing if the father of the kid who insulted his son was more powerful than he was. However, if the guy was weaker than him, he would teach his family a lesson they would never forget. If he was as rich and powerful as Sebastian was, he would not stand for it if anyone were to insult his son.

Clive sighed. "We have no choice. I can't let your wife and kid drag the whole family down."

Damian turned around to look at Queenie.

Queenie was shivering in fear, and she shook her head violently. "No, I don't want a divorce. I'm sorry, Damian. I won't do it again! I promise! I-I'll get my cousin to help me out! I'll make sure Sebastian forgives me!"

"Oh yeah! We can call Queenie's cousin!" Damian's eyes shone. "If he'll help us out, I bet the Harts would let us off the hook."

"That's one way to go about it." Clive did not want to see his grandson get a divorce either.

He never liked Queenie. He thought she was arrogant, mediocre, and foolish. Alas, she was beautiful enough to charm Damian into marrying her. The Gastons were just upstarts, but Queenies' mother was Sam's mother's cousin. Thanks to that, Queenie got along well with the Taylors.

The Shrivers were only a small aristocratic family in Dusktown, but the Taylors were one of the top families. Having Queenie as a part of their family meant they were connected to the Taylors as well. Putting Queenie's lackluster personality aside, the marriage was a profitable one. He only agreed to it thanks to that.

Queenie indeed had hooked the Shrivers up with the Taylors after the marriage, and they made a lot of money from that. It was the only reason why Clive did not think too badly of her despite the fact that he thought he was spoiled, arrogant, and stupid.

Nobody in the Shrivers would cross her either, since she was connected to the Taylors. She lorded over everyone in the household, thinking that she was better than anyone here. That was why she spoiled her son. Jayden took after her, getting into fights and insulting his classmates, thinking it was nothing to worry about.

At this moment, Clive regretted not restricting Queenie. I shouldn't have been scared of her connection with the Taylors. None of this would have happened if I did that. It was too late for regrets though. All he could do now was hope that the Taylors would help Queenie out.

Queenie quickly said, "I'll call Isabel!" Isabel was her best ally among the Taylors. There were a lot of things she had to keep a secret from Damian and Clive, so she went to a quiet room and locked the door, then she called Isabel. She cried the moment it went through. "You have to help me, Isabel! I'm in trouble!"

She was scared. She had never been this terrified. It was clear that Clive would make Damian divorce her if she failed to get the Harts' forgiveness. Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

She had crossed the Harts. If Damian were to divorce her, the Gastons would never let her back due to their fear of the Harts. She would turn from a woman of wealth to a homeless pauper. That was a nightmare for her.

This is too much! It's just a little banter between kids. They can't do this to me just for that! They're destroying my family! Damn you, Harts! You'll pay for what you did! Curse you! She cried and complained to Isabel about what happened.

Isabel cursed Sebastian and Madeline after she heard what happened as well.

"You have to help me, Isabel!" Queenie sobbed. "Jay only called the kids that because he heard what we said when you came over! He only fought the little b*stards to defend you! You have to help me, or Clive will make Damian get a divorce with me!"

"Calm down, Queenie. I'll help you," Isabel assured her. "I'll call Sam. He hates bullies like them! I bet he'll help us out!"

"Thank you, Isabel," Queenie thanked her profusely. "But be quick. I'm scared."

"Yeah, I know," Isabel answered. "I'll call Sam right away. He'll talk to Madeline and Sebastian."

She hung up and called Sam. As usual, Isabel embellished the story and complained, "You have to help Queenie, Sam. Sebastian and Madeline went too far! It was just a little banter. They can't attack the Shrivers just for that! That's practically bullying! Sebastian thinks he can do anything just because he's rich enough to do it! That's power abuse! And that Madeline! She thinks she's so great because she married Sebastian. Everyone thinks she's just a poor, helpless damsel, but she's really a witch! All Jayden did was argue with her kid, but she wants to destroy his family over that! That's cruel!"