Betrayed and Dumped She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 484

Chelsey just sat there, lost for words. She closed her eyes, her voice barely steady. “How did things end up like this? So, what are you going to do now?”

Stephen let out a dry laugh. “Honestly, I have no idea. I’m just figuring it out as I go.”

“And Rebecca? Are you giving up on her?”

Stephen didn’t answer. The silence hung between them, heavy and sad. Chelsey couldn’t bring herself to push him any further. No matter what, he was still her son.

She stood up and headed for the stairs. “It’s late. Get some sleep.”

Halfway up, she paused and looked back at Stephen. The worry in her eyes said everything. “This is all over the news. I’m sure your grandfather knows by now. You should be ready for that.”

“I know. I’ll handle it,” Stephen said softly.

He stayed on the sofa for a while, staring out the window. The night outside was thick and black, almost like ink spilled across the sky. Two tired streetlights flickered, barely lighting a narrow path below. It was as if someone had tried to hide a secret in the darkness, but the secret was leaking out, little by little.

Stephen let out a slow breath and finally went upstairs.

Two days later, George got in touch. The butler called. “Sir, Mr. Duncan wants you at the estate for dinner tonight.”

Stephen raised an eyebrow. “How’s he doing?” He meant, was the old man calm?

The butler hesitated. “He’s… alright.”

That night, Stephen canceled a meeting and drove over early. Just as he pulled up to the estate, he spotted Brett arriving in his own car.

Stephen rolled down his window, grinning. “What are the odds? I figured Grandpa only invited me. Guess he wants a crowd tonight.”

They parked and walked to the main entrance together. As they got close, something flew past them with a sharp whistle. A cane clattered to the ground. If Stephen had stepped inside a second earlier, he’d have been hit.

George was furious. “I wanted a proper great-grandchild, not a child born out of wedlock! Just tell me the truth. Is the kid yours?”

Stephen leaned forward, grabbing a grape from the coffee table. He popped it in his mouth, taking his time. “We did a paternity test.”

George’s eyes went wide. “So it really is… You… you… you fool! I never approved of that girl, and you…” He couldn’t even get the words out. His face turned red, and he swayed like he might pass out.

The maids and the butler rushed over. “Sir, please calm down. Should we call a doctor?”

George waved them off, looking heartbroken. “This is a disaster. Just tell me what you’re going to do now.”

Stephen shrugged, as if none of it was a big deal. “Not much. I’ll just go with the flow for now.”

Before George could respond, Brett’s frown deepened. “So you’re just going to walk away from them?”