Divorce and Freedom No More Homemaker for Him novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Family Secrets

Draven was untouchable. No one dared to cross him.

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But in Bria’s eyes, Ayla was nothing more than Troy’s maid. Back then, Ayla would do whatever Troy asked, always cager to make him happy. Now she had the nerve to push back.

It was infuriating.

Martin asked Lincoln to pour the drinks.

Troy shook his head. “Grandpa, my stomach has been acting up lately. I’ll skip the alcohol.”

Martin didn’t press. He turned to Draven.

Draven didn’t refuse.

“It’s been three years since we saw each other,” Martin said, his eyes soft with affection. “Tell me what you’ve been doing all this time.”

Draven spoke simply about his work overseas, but there was enough detail to satisfy.

Martin nodded along, his stern face warming with rare smiles. It was clear–having Draven back home meant the world to him.

His cold had just cleared, but Martin was drinking freely again.

For every glass Martin drank, Draven matched him, always lowering his glass below his grandfather’s.

Their bond was genuine.

From one of Ayla’s visits, she had once overheard the backstory while Martin chatted with Lincoln.

Eric had played two sides. He juggled two women at the same time and got them both pregnant.

Draven’s mother, Kayla Storm, was a wealthy heiress from Zheron. Eric’s handsome face fooled her. She bore him a son only to discover she was the side chick. She stormed into the Winston estate and made a huge scene.

Troy’s mother didn’t come from immense wealth, but her family still carried weight in the city. She wanted an explanation too.

Eric was incapable of fixing the mess, so Martin had to step in.

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Chapter 22 Family Secrets

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Carmen had climbed up the social ladder by marrying Eric. She was already eight months pregnant at the time, and she refused divorce. Carmen was only demanding a proper apology and a promise Eric wouldn’t stray again.

That left Martin to calm Kayla.

She hadn’t expected to be tricked by a pretty face. Rage consumed her. She wanted Eric ruined and the Winstons bankrupt. She tried many tricks up her sleeve to make sure of it.

Through his own digging, Martin learned that Kayla’s father had died, leaving the siblings fighting for control of the family assets.

Kayla was ambitious, but in those days, sons had the advantage. Her chances to win the inheritance were slim. Martin offered her help. If she won the inheritance battle, the scandal with Eric would be wiped clean.

In the end, Kayla rose to power as head of the Storms.

Naturally, Draven had to return to his mother’s side.

But with her new role, Kayla had no time or energy to raise him. After such a bloody family internal struggle, she trusted no one in her clan.

Instead, she placed her faith in Martin, Draven’s grandfather.

She agreed on one condition–Eric was never to see Draven again.

From the day Draven was born until he turned seven, he lived with Martin in the estate.

Someone his age once asked Martin if it didn’t bother him that the boy he raised didn’t share his last name.

Martin didn’t mind at all. He said those seven years were what made him Draven’s real grandfather.

If you don’t raise a child, a name alone won’t make you care. Even if he had kept his father’s surname, it wouldn’t have mattered.

And in fact, after all these years, Draven still came back to visit Martin regularly, even though he wasn’t close with Eric or Troy.

That proved something simple: the strongest bond between people is love.

Ayla and Troy had a marriage certificate, but without love their bond could break just like any other.

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Chapter 22 Family Secrets

Ayla stayed quiet at the family dinner as usual and listened to Martin and Draven talk.

Draven told Martin, “I’ll be staying in Trensea for a while.”

Martin was overjoyed to hear it.

Ayla looked down at her plate. Troy gripped his fork so hard his knuckles showed.

Sure enough, Troy was upset.

Martin asked everyone to stay the night. Ayla didn’t speak up because Troy didn’t refuse.

After ten, Martin went to bed.

Around eleven, Bria slipped out, planning to drive away quietly.

She didn’t want to have breakfast with Draven the next morning.

Each guest room in the estate had a study next door.

A double door connected the bedroom and the study, and the door was closed.

Troy stayed in the study with Martin, talking about the company business.

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Before she left, Bria slipped in to find Troy. She couldn’t help complaining. “Troy, can’t you control Ayla? She’s been picking at me lately. She’s getting bolder and bolder. If you keep letting this go, soon I’ll have to tiptoe around her at the estate.”

“If that day comes, I’d rather die,” she added, dramatic as always. “You decide. If Ayla doesn’t “If that day comes, I’d rather die,” she added, dr. change, then get a new sister–in–law for me.

“In my eyes, you’re the perfect brother. No woman is good enough for you. But if I had to pick, Skyla would work.”

She sighed. “It would have been easier if Ayla had never been around. Grandpa likes her so much; swapping her for a new sister–in–law is such a hassle.

“If only you two had made things official before Skyla left to study abroad,” Bria went on. “Who knew you were just friends? If you had been a couple back then, even if Ayla had saved Grandpa a hundred times, she wouldn’t have had the chance to take advantage of the situation.”

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