Chapter 1049:

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“I can’t stand Kyla, but that baby is innocent,” Amanda said carefully, after weighing her response. Truly, she hated the thought of scandal in the Brooks household. Since Kyla was already expecting and Cathryn was desperate for a child, she had chosen to honor her granddaughter-in-law’s wishes.

Andrew turned pale with rage. “Cut the crap about the kid being innocent,” he spat. “You just want a great-grandchild to dote on.”

Amanda had never heard him use such a tone with her. She pulled her brows together in a deep scowl. “Is that really how you see me?”

“Prove me wrong,” Andrew sneered, his glare unyielding. “You claim Cathryn is like family to you. If she were your actual flesh and blood, would you really force her to raise her husband’s mistake? Does that not turn your stomach?”

Wade felt the need to step in. “Mind your tone,” he said firmly.

“I’m not finished with you yet!” Andrew roared, snapping his head toward Wade with a lethal look in his eyes.

Wade went still. Ever since he had moved into Brooks Manor, he had kept a respectful distance from Andrew — never forcing a false warmth, yet never letting things turn cold between them. Andrew would usually give him a brief nod whenever Cathryn was nearby, and the two men had managed to live under the same roof in complete peace.

This was a turning point. For the first time, Andrew was showing Wade genuine hatred.

“How dare you shout at him!” Amanda snapped, her eyes hardening on Andrew.

Andrew let out a dismissive snort. “I only show that man respect because of Cathryn. He really ought to look in the mirror and ask himself whether he even deserves to be her grandfather. Frankly, it’s a good thing that Cathryn never fully acknowledged her ties with the Fuller family.”

Without warning, Amanda’s palm slammed hard against Andrew’s face. The blow landed directly over the bruise already forming there, causing his skin to swell immediately. He ran his tongue over his lip and tasted blood.

𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Regardless of her age, Amanda still let her emotions lead. Rather than defending her granddaughter-in-law, she had chosen to fight tooth and nail for her husband.

“Tell me exactly what Wade has ever done to hurt Cathryn,” Amanda demanded, her gaze burning with icy intensity. She was not going to let Andrew speak ill of Wade — not when Wade had done everything in his power for Cathryn.

Andrew shut her out completely. If anything, the fact that she had chosen the child over Cathryn this time cut him far deeper than any blow.

He turned a freezing look on Wade. “You really think I’m clueless? I know you’ve been pushing for me to leave Cathryn so I can marry Kyla. Is that how a good grandfather is supposed to act?”

Wade’s chest tightened at Andrew’s words, as though someone had reached in and squeezed his heart raw. That private conversation he’d had with Amanda had somehow found its way to Andrew.

Cathryn was his granddaughter, and the thought of her getting hurt was something he couldn’t stomach. What terrified him most was this: if Cathryn couldn’t have children, the Brooks family might turn on her.

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