Chapter 321 Whose Dignity Was It, Really?

Linda quickly grabbed Taylor’s arm. “Taylor, dear, you young people need to stop acting so rashly. Think about your elders. Your father isn’t young anymore. If you go back like this, won’t that just worry your whole family?”

Linda offered her a suggestion. “Why not just say things are busy at work and you can’t make it home today? Let your father have a happy birthday. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Paul looked at Taylor nervously. He really was afraid of her blowing this out of proportion.

But Taylor wasn’t about to play along. “If my dad doesn’t see me, he won’t celebrate.”

Linda frowned.

The old master’s voice dropped an octave. “Enough with the performance. Stop making a fuss. Just say what it is you want, and maybe then you’ll calm down.”

Taylor didn’t fear the old man’s temper. After all, she had the entire Kendall family behind her.

So, seeing that the old man was softening, Taylor raised her demand directly. “It’s simple. I want Paul to take back every asset he’s ever given Elsie. If he does that, I’ll let this go.”

The old man’s face darkened. So this was all just jealousy?

He’d never liked Elsie anyway, so naturally, he wouldn’t care about her. He waved it off impatiently. “If you want to take it back, then take it back. If she won’t give it back, sue her. Just stop making both families lose face!”

Paul protested, “Grandpa!”

The old man didn’t even look at him.

Taylor glanced at Paul smugly and added, “Today’s your father-in-law’s birthday. Even if you’re dying to divorce me, today you’re still coming back with me to the Kendall house. We’re putting on a good show as a loving couple—that’s an order.”

Meanwhile, the Saunders family was just about to get into their car when Luke stopped them.

His tone was all business. “Regarding the Powell family’s assets that are currently under Ms. Elsie’s name, we’ll be assigning someone to handle the transfer and recovery. If the assets are not returned within three days, a formal legal notice will be issued.”

Elsie couldn’t accept what she’d just heard. She rushed after Luke and asked, “Is Paul the one who wants to take them back?”

“The cards Mr. Paul used for Ms. Elsie’s expenses all came from company accounts. Powell Corporation has every right to reclaim them.” In other words, not even Paul could control the outcome.

If the Powell family wanted to pursue it, they would get it back.

Elsie collapsed. She had coaxed Paul for three years, served him for three years, let him use her however he wanted for three years—only to be told now that the assets were merely held in her name temporarily?

But she wasn’t the only one who broke down. Lily had just stepped out of the car when she overheard the news.

The Powell family’s gates were already closed. Yunice had gotten exactly the result she wanted. She turned to leave, but Lily, overwhelmed and emotional, grabbed her hard.

“You’re not going anywhere!”

“You tell me what the hell is going on! Why is the Powell family taking Elsie’s money back? Was it you who stirred things up behind the scenes!”

Oscar stepped forward to stand in front of Yunice. “Mom, Owen was the one who brought Elsie to the Powell family to cut ties. It was his idea to return the money. Yunice even fell down trying to help him. And now you’re blaming her?”

Lily looked like she was going to collapse. Clutching her chest, she demanded, “Why would you do that? That’s your sister’s three years of youth! She gave everything to Paul. What’s wrong with asking for a little something in return? You’re just handing your sister over to a man for nothing!”

Oscar said coldly, “If you’d taken that money, people would’ve said you pimped out your own daughter.”

The moment Lily heard that, she exploded. “Only whores don’t take money! Yunice let Paul use her for years, didn’t get a dime, and still acts all pure and proud. Even when she got locked in the psych ward, we paid for her hospital bills! And Paul? Nothing happened to him. He went on living like a damn prince!”

“Yunice sold herself and didn’t even get paid—now she wants Elsie to follow her example and play fake ‘purity’ too!”

Her words were cruel and utterly aimed at Yunice.

Owen’s original intent in returning the money was to show Paul they were done with him.

He had expected Paul would refuse the assets, but he hadn’t accounted for Taylor or the Powell family stepping in.

Now, the whole thing had backfired.

But in truth, Owen and Lily shared the same logic—if they didn’t get any of the money, then what had Yunice and Elsie’s youth even been worth?

But it was too late for regrets.

Yunice looked at Lily’s resentful expression, listened as she called her cheap, as she accused her of spending the Saunders family’s money.

She sneered. “I’ve already proven what kind of garbage Paul is. But you all insisted on thinking you’d found gold—rushing to offer the same man who hurt your daughter to another one of your daughters.”

“Tell me, who’s the one with no shame?”

Lily froze, staring at Yunice with a conflicted expression.