Chapter 221
Chapter 221:
Brad wandered out of the study, one hand buried in his pocket, aimlessly drifting into the garden. His steps slowed when he came upon a trash bin, where he stopped and pulled out a tiny, fragile box. Resting inside, the necklace Rylie had given back caught the light, glinting beneath the soft streaks of sunlight.
“Way too flashy,” he mumbled, barely above a whisper. As his hand hovered, ready to toss it, a voice suddenly piped up.
“It’s so pretty!” Zaylee popped up beside him, her eyes glued to the glittering chain, like she’d stumbled on buried treasure. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that sparkly before.”
He pulled the necklace back from the brink of the trash. “You like this?”
Zaylee gave a quick nod. “Who’s the lucky girl? Bet she’s over the moon.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s yours now.”
At the Wesdown International Piano Competition, Paola was accused of cheating and framing Rylie. The news hit Kendrick like a slap in the face. Furious, he called for a family meeting. All of Rylie’s brothers were present. Together, they made a clear decision—Terrance, his wife, and their children had to go.
Terrance’s face turned pale. The cup in his hand slipped and shattered on the floor, hot coffee splashing across his trousers. But he didn’t even flinch. “I’ve given my life to the Owen family!” His voice trembled. “Years of loyalty and hard work—and this is how it ends? Over something so trivial?”
“Trivial?” Felix shot up, his voice sharp. “Your wife bribed judges. Your daughter accused Rylie of plagiarism. They disgraced her in front of the world. And you call that trivial?”
His eyes darted to Laurel. “And let’s not forget, someone here forged evidence and spread lies.”
Laurel’s grip on her handbag tightened. Her face flushed red. “Felix! What are you suggesting? Paola had nothing to do with it! It was me. I planned it all.”
“Enough,” Kendrick said, lifting a hand. His voice, though aged, carried weight. “Terrance, I’ve shown you nothing but fairness. Serenity Manor was handed to Rylie a long time ago. That’s the truth. You have one week to leave.”
Laurel stood suddenly, her carefully pinned hair slipping out of place. “How can you be so cruel? You’re still Paola’s grandfather. If people find out she’s been kicked out of Serenity Manor, her name will be ruined!”
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“Hmph.” Deandre flicked his lighter with a smirk. “Did you think about reputations when you schemed against Rylie?”
Marcus spoke softly, “The decision stands. Terrance, we’ll give you fifty percent of Detour Inc’s shares for your years of service. The rest belongs to Rylie. Please return it to her. If you refuse, we’ll take other steps.”
Terrance’s face turned ghostly white. He had always followed Kendrick’s lead. He wanted to fight back—but didn’t dare.
Laurel bit down on her lip, then burst out, “Paola brought glory to this family! She’s known everywhere as the Owen family’s star. She’s done charity work in our name. How can you ruin my only daughter?”
Felix walked over slowly. His presence alone made Laurel back down. He spoke coldly, his face unreadable. “The Owen family made Paola what she is — not the other way around. Everything she had was meant for Rylie. I didn’t care if she used the family name — as long as she truly accepted Rylie as her cousin. But now… You’ve crossed the line. The evidence is in my drawer. If you want it all dragged into court, just say the word.”