Chapter 564:

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“Grandfather, you were the one who pushed me to marry,” Kaden said. “I did as you asked. Hayley and I are registered. We are legally bound.” His voice was quiet, but each word carried undeniable weight. “And now my wife has been wronged, bullied by her own family. Am I supposed to just stand here and do nothing?”

“You ungrateful boy!” Walter’s voice shook with rage. “That girl is tearing this family apart. She isn’t worth it. I don’t care about the marriage anymore. Divorce her. Immediately.”

Clinton sighed heavily, shaking his head with practiced sorrow. “I’m getting old. My judgment isn’t what it used to be. I thought Hayley would bring honor to the Morgan name, but instead, she’s become the destroyer of this family.”

He looked at Kaden. “Your grandfather and I are in agreement. End this marriage tomorrow.”

Under the weight of both elders’ demands, Kaden’s expression hardened, becoming unreadable. The air around him seemed to chill.

𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮

“Quite the family gathering.”

Hayley strode into the room, her hair pulled into a high ponytail, a fitted black blazer sharpening her silhouette. She carried herself with quiet authority, unintimidated by Walter and Clinton’s presence.

“Hayley.” Kaden’s expression softened for a moment. He moved to her side, and a silent look passed between them. They stood as one against the rest.

Hayley stepped forward, her eyes locked on Walter and Clinton. “You two arranged our marriage. We did as you asked. Now you snap your fingers and order us to divorce? Do you think you’re the gods of matrimony, deciding when we marry and when we part?”

“Young lady, watch your mouth,” Clinton snapped, his face darkening. “We are your elders. You will show us respect.”

Hayley scoffed. “Oh, so now you remember you’re elders. But has anything you’ve said tonight been remotely decent? Instead of protecting us, you’re siding against us, telling us to divorce just to protect your own interests. Is this how you treat your own family?”

Her words struck them like a slap. Walter and Clinton’s faces flushed with anger and embarrassment.

But Hayley wasn’t finished. She pointed at Harold, her eyes fixed on Clinton. “Grandfather, your son is trying to destroy me. Tomorrow, he plans to parade so-called victims from four years ago in front of a livestream to publicly condemn me.” She let the words hang in the air. “They want to use public opinion to throw me back into that hell and ruin me completely. And instead of speaking up for me, you chose to cut me loose. Is this what it means to be an elder in this family?”

Clinton drew a sharp breath, his knuckles whitening around the head of his cane. The truth was, he already regretted his decision. No one could have predicted Hayley would produce the original surveillance footage and manage to sway public opinion. But it was too late. He had chosen his side, and there was no turning back. He had to see it through to the bitter end.

“Hayley, if you hadn’t been so relentless, you and your father would never have reached this point,” Clinton said. “You brought this entirely on yourself. If you had just shown some humility and played the part of a proper young lady, none of this would be happening.”

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