Chapter 523

“Hello? Sanford,” Liora said.

“Mom,” Sanford blurted out. On the other end of the line, Liora demanded anxiously, “Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?”

Sanford sighed, “I’m in Nareigh.”

Liora snapped, “What? Why aren’t you listening to me? Didn’t I tell you not to go to Nareigh? Get back here right now.”

“Mom, you don’t have to hide it from me anymore. I know everything now.” Sanford stared at the DNA test report, enunciating each word clearly.

“My father is Yorick, isn’t he? He left us for a woman named Irene. He had a son with her, Jonathan. He’s now the CEO of Horizonlead Group.”

Liora sighed helplessly, “It’s not like that. Yorick and I are over. He’s not your father.”

“Why are you still denying it, even now?” Sanford pressed.

“Mom, I’ve already done the DNA test. I am Yorick’s son,” Sanford declared.

Liora was stunned into silence for a few seconds. “What? Who did you get to do the DNA test?”

“I did the DNA test with Jonathan’s kid. I’m related to that boy. It proves I’m his uncle, because we both carry the Lynn bloodline. Why have we been stuck hiding out all these years, instead of coming home? Why does the guy who ditched his wife and kid get off scot-free?”

Liora gasped sharply on the other end. “Sanford, please come back to Shaville first. Let me explain everything to you slowly,” Liora pleaded.

“Mom, you’re not in good health. Just leave this to me. Don’t worry about it.” With that, Sanford was about to hang up.

“Sanford, listen to me,” Liora pleaded urgently on the other end. “Please, don’t do anything rash. Just wait for me. I’ll come to you and explain everything because Yorick really isn’t your father!”

“Mom, I just don’t get it. What else are you hiding from me? If Yorick isn’t my father, then why did you name me Sanford? You chose that name because you missed him, didn’t you?”

Liora cut in urgently, “No, that’s not it!”

“Exactly.” Sanford cut in stubbornly, and hung up before Liora could finish. His eyes hardened.

Meanwhile, at Donald’s parents‘ house, Werner and Cathy had just returned from personally apologizing to Irene.

Surrounded by her socialite friends, Irene sipped her afternoon tea with deliberate indifference, not even glancing in Cathy’s direction.

Under Werner’s insistent gaze, Cathy reluctantly apologized to Irene for calling her a widow. Now that Gordon had passed away, she hoped there would be no more conflicts or estrangement between them.

Irene remained stone-faced throughout. In the end, Werner had to step in as the peacemaker, urging her not to hold it against Cathy. To curry favor with Irene, he belittled Cathy as tactless and incompetent, just to make Irene look better.

Finally appeased, Irene declared with feigned magnanimity, “I’m not the petty, vindictive sort.”

Back home, Cathy impatiently shook off Werner’s arm around her.

“Alright, are you satisfied now?! Ever since I married you, I’ve had to kowtow to Irene at every turn. I am no pushover. Why is it always me who has to grovel and apologize to her?”

Werner sighed, “You have to think about the children. Donald’s wedding and so many other things were sponsored by Jonathan. Do you really think he’s foolish to give us so much money?

“He does it so that when he’s not around, we respect Irene. If we don’t treat Irene well, we’re the ones who will suffer.”

Hearing this, Cathy flared up. “Well, if you actually made more money, do you think I’d have to put up with all this crap?”

Werner snapped, “I’m already past fifty. How much more do you expect me to earn? Isn’t six thousand good enough? I’ve never short-changed you, have I?”

Cathy took a sharp breath. “I’m no slouch myself. I just can’t stomach this. Why do you always have to berate me in front of her and then make me apologize to her?”

Cathy was furious at Werner’s refusal to stand up for her. This wasn’t the first time. Every time Cathy clashed with Irene, or whenever Irene showed the slightest displeasure, Werner would immediately make Cathy apologize first.

Back home, Werner would then play the good guy and try to console her, claiming, “I can’t be harsh to my late brother’s widow. Just endure it, Cathy.”

But before Cathy married Werner, she had never felt so wronged. The issue was always just one word—endure. She was the youngest and always doted on. After marrying Werner, his response to big issues was always just one word–endure.

He completely disregarded her feelings. Cathy was angry, sad, and felt wronged. Just like before, Werner acted as if nothing was wrong and went to cook. And just like before, he tried to placate her with little trinkets.

Cathy pushed her plate away, unable to eat another bite. “Werner,” she snapped, “if you’d just stood up for me even once in front of Irene, I wouldn’t feel this miserable. I should’ve seen through you long ago. I want a divorce!”

Werner thought Cathy was making a mountain out of a molehill. “Come on, we’ve been married for decades. You’re really talking about divorcing me over something this trivial? What would people say? It’d be mortifying if word got out.”

“Why should I always be the one to back down? Does Irene ever treat me like your wife? She gives me small favors when she’s happy but tramples on my dignity when she’s not.

“My son’s wedding was ruined by her family, and she barely apologized, only doing so reluctantly. It makes us look like we owe her something.”

Werner’s eyes flickered, as if some long-buried memory had resurfaced, twisting his expression into something unreadable. He finally sighed and said, “Come on, Cathy, it’s just a trivial matter. Drop it already, it’s all water under the bridge.”

He handed her the fork again, his brow furrowing in mild irritation.

“I don’t want it.” Cathy swatted his hand away.

Werner sighed, “Look, I’m only doing this for you and the kids. If you and Irene get along well, you know Jonathan will be the first to help whenever Donald and Cheryl need anything. Wouldn’t that be great? It’d save us so much worry.”

“It all boils down to your incompetence. Your father put all his hopes in you and sent you out to make your fortune, but you failed miserably and came crawling back. Honestly, it would’ve been better if he’d sent your brother to study abroad instead!”

Werner’s face abruptly darkened, his tone turning sharp. “Will you ever stop? Why dig up all that old crap now?”

“That’s just who you are—all talk and never willing to take responsibility,” Cathy snapped, then slammed the door and stormed back to her room. Fuming, Werner slammed his fork down on the table.

Chapter 524