Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1449

Over in the corner, Martin and Sabrina were on the verge of a total breakdown.

Sabrina's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Are we seriously going to drop to our knees to grovel in front of everyone?

Martin, I'm telling you, absolutely not.

Everything I endured at Halfridge Villas was already pushing my absolute limits. I refuse to concede an inch further."

Martin felt the exact same way.

Unfortunately for them, a second later, Eleanor's patience officially ran out.

Who could realistically expect a madwoman with the emotional regulation of a three-year-old to possess any patience?

Eleanor stood up—right onto the seat of her chair.

Lillian immediately bolted over, tightly gripping the back of the chair to ensure her mother wouldn't lose her balance and fall.

Ethan flanked them like a loyal bodyguard. "Don't worry, Ms. Mercer. I won't let Madam Eleanor fall."

Lillian gave a curt nod, but the faint amusement had completely vanished from her face.

Brandon felt a jolt of panic.

He knew better than anyone that Lillian was no longer the pushover she used to be. The moment her smile disappeared, things were about to get incredibly dangerous.

Brandon lowered his voice. "Lillian... do you actually want to see them apologize?"

Lillian countered with a piercing question. "Tell me, when people ask a child if they love their dad or their mom more, do you finally have an answer at your age?

Or do you simply dislike both your father and your stepmother?"

Brandon understood perfectly.

Lillian despised both her father and the mistress who had ruined her family.

Since she hated them, of course she was more than happy to watch them be publicly humiliated.

The grim reality was that Lillian enjoyed watching them burn.

But...

They had already endured days of groveling—giving up now would mean all their previous suffering was for nothing.

That would be burning their own bridges.

And with the Mercer Group currently teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, this was quite literally a matter of life and death.

Brandon marched directly over to Martin.

Martin looked at him, a desperate glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Sabrina looked equally hopeful, assuming that even if Brandon hated her, he would at least protect his father. After all, they were all Mercers. They were a united front.

Instead, Brandon dropped a bomb. "Dad, do you want all the agonizing effort we've put in so far to go to waste?"

Martin's face drained of all color. "What... what are you saying? You want me to perform The Kneeling Penance for that madwoman in front of all these guests?

Brandon, you ungrateful bastard, do you have any idea what the consequences will be?

If I do this, how will I ever show my face in this circle again?!"