Chapter 63

"No way?!"

Glynnis and her mother froze in shock, one forgetting her rage, the other her tears.

"Thaddeus! You're defying me!" Frederic's face darkened with fury, his blood pressure spiking.

This illegitimate son, who had barely resisted him his entire life, now dared to refuse him as CEO?

Even Thaddeus was surprised by his own firmness.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You were the one who wanted to divorce her in the first place! You insisted on marrying Acacia! Now I'm ordering you to end this farce, and you're refusing? Do you think marriage is some kind of joke?!"

"A joke?" Thaddeus smirked, his voice laced with bitterness. "Maybe. Like father, like son."

"You ungrateful brat!" Frederic stormed forward and struck him hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed through the study, making Glynnis flinch.

A red handprint bloomed on Thaddeus' cheek.

"Frederic, please! We can talk this through!" Elspeth rushed to his side, feigning concern while secretly relishing the scene. "Thaddeus is young and impulsive. Hitting him only drives a wedge between you!"

"Elspeth, you've always coddled him too much. That's why he turned out like this!" Frederic's palm stung, his face flushed with anger.

"I just wanted to be a good mother to him," Elspeth sniffled, her voice trembling. "He never truly accepted me, so I had to be extra kind..."

Every word dripped with false sincerity, each one stoking Frederic's rage further.

Thaddeus watched coldly. He'd seen through her act since childhood. If not for his older brother's illness, he'd never have been given this position.

Some children could cry all they wanted—no one would care.

"Thirty years old, and still acting like a child!" Frederic jabbed a finger at him. "Two things. First, divorce her immediately and make her apologize to Glynnis. Second, clean up this mess online!"

Thaddeus' lips curled into a chilling smile. "Is this how you negotiate, Father? Slap first, demand later?"

"What did you say?!"

"Even between father and son, business is business. I won’t divorce her yet—I promised Grandfather I'd wait until after his birthday. As for the scandal, Glynnis will apologize publicly. That’s my final offer."

"Thaddeus—!" Frederic raised his hand again, but this time, Thaddeus caught his wrist mid-air.

"Thirty years old, Father. You can’t hit me anymore." His grip was ironclad, his gaze icy.

Frederic's pupils contracted, pain shooting through his wrist.

"No! I won’t apologize!" Glynnis shrieked, her face twisted in defiance.

"Gordon," Thaddeus called sharply. His assistant entered immediately, bowing.

"Show him the documents."

Gordon hesitated but complied, handing Frederic a thick file.

"What is this?"

"Moonlit Treasures' financial reports for the past three years." Thaddeus' voice was calm, detached. "Managed by Elspeth and Glynnis. Ten million in losses annually, all covered by company funds."

Elspeth paled. Glynnis' mouth fell open.

"If Glynnis refuses to apologize," Thaddeus continued coolly, "I'll shut down Moonlit Treasures as CEO."

Shut it down?!

Elspeth's eyes burned with hatred. She clutched Frederic's arm, tears streaming. "Darling, you gave me that boutique! You can’t let him—!"

Frederic's jaw clenched. The evidence was undeniable.

"I’ll overlook this—on one condition. Glynnis apologizes publicly, and Elspeth repays the misused funds. Otherwise, I’ll expose everything at the board meeting." His tone left no room for argument.

Elspeth seethed. She couldn’t lose Moonlit Treasures—not when she had bigger plans.

"Glynnis," Frederic said through gritted teeth, "you’ll hold a press conference tomorrow."

Defeated, Glynnis slumped like a deflated balloon.

As Thaddeus left, the sound of shattering glass and wailing followed him.

Gordon frowned. "Sir, why back down now? We worked hard for this leverage."

"Because it’s enough."

An image of na flashed in his mind—her bright eyes, the warmth of her breath. He shook his head.

He told himself it was the surveillance footage, Glynnis' arrogance, that changed his mind.

But was that really all?

Why had he reacted so fiercely when they insulted her?

"Still, it feels wasteful," Gordon muttered.

"Doesn’t matter. Frederic would cover for them anyway." Thaddeus exhaled, forcing her face from his thoughts. "This is just... repayment. I owe her that much."

His chest ached faintly.

A debt he refused to carry.