Chapter 566:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Hayley, his voice low but steady. “They won’t protect you. I will.”

Hayley looked up, meeting his unwavering gaze as a fragile smile broke through her tears. “We started out as strangers, you and I. But now… you feel more like family than they ever have.”

“No.” Kaden swept a cold glare across every face in the room. “The moment we were married, I became your family. And now,” he said, his voice dropping with absolute finality, “I’m the only family you have.”

His tone was glacial, and a chill seemed to settle over the room.

𝖩𝘰𝗂n 𝗍𝘩e 𝘤𝗈𝗆𝗆𝘂𝗇𝘪𝘁𝘺 𝘢𝗍 𝗴𝗮𝘭n𝗈𝗏𝗲l𝗌.𝖼𝗈𝗺

“From this day forward, anyone who dares to harm you is my enemy.”

“Kaden!” Walter’s brows knotted in fury. “Are you defying me?”

Kaden let out a cold laugh. “Walter, the moment you chose Uncle Darin over me, you forfeited any right to dictate my life. I’m grateful for the guidance you gave me over the years, but that debt was paid in full with Darin’s life. From now on, I owe you nothing.”

“You ungrateful—!” Walter’s face contorted with rage, his entire body trembling.

Kaden didn’t spare him another glance. With his arm still around Hayley, he strode out of the Morgan estate.

“Do take care of your health, Mr. Evans,” Emmalyn said sweetly to Walter’s back. Then she hurried to his side, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “Mr. Evans has been manipulated by Hayley. That’s the only reason he’s acting out like this. Maybe, if she were sent back where she belongs, Mr. Evans would come to his senses.”

Walter drew a slow breath, his eyes hardening. “It seems pushing for this marriage was a mistake.”

“Walter, we’re in the same boat,” Clinton said with a heavy sigh. “Perhaps it’s time we took action. Time to teach those two ingrates a lesson they won’t forget.”

Walter nodded, his gaze shifting to Emmalyn. “Tomorrow’s broadcast, I’ll make sure it goes national. I want the full weight of public opinion to come crashing down on that girl. I want her back behind bars.”

“Don’t worry,” Emmalyn said, her smile as sharp as a blade. “Tomorrow, she’ll pay for her arrogance and ignorance. I’ll make sure of it.”

She glanced at Harold, and the two exchanged a knowing look. They were certain of it. Hayley and Kaden storming in like that had been startling, yes, but it also sent a clear signal. Hayley was desperate. She was out of moves. This was her last-ditch effort, bringing Kaden in to pressure them into canceling tomorrow’s broadcast.

But she had overplayed her hand. Not only had she failed, but she had also burned her bridges with both patriarchs, losing what little protection she had left. Tomorrow, she would be…

The night wind cut sharp, sweeping dead leaves across the courtyard.

Hayley stood in the wind, the brief flash of fury in her eyes cooling into something hard and unyielding.

With a slight wave of her hand, Leland and the security team in black suits moved forward in silence, assembling behind her at attention, their breaths held.

.

.

.