Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 26

Lillian flinched at the sound of Brandon’s voice. Whose brother was he, anyway? But it didn't matter. He’d already cast himself in the role of Bella’s brother long ago.

Brandon strode forward, positioning himself to force her apology. At the same time, Hannah moved to his side and looped her arm through his. Only then did Lillian understand. Hannah was involved with Brandon. And since she was on Bella's side, it made perfect sense that she would target Lillian. They were a united front, all of them wanting her out of the family.

In the next moment, Hannah was cooing at Brandon, shaking his arm playfully. “Brandon, I just realized she’s your sister. But... has she not attended many events like this? Doesn’t she know that everyone here shows Bella a certain level of respect?”

Brandon was a chauvinist at his core. A woman clinging to him and calling him in that soft, pleading voice was all it took. He would have fought her battles even if she were in the wrong. And in this case, he had just heard Lillian insult both Sabrina and Bella. Now that the two of them were living in the Mercer house and his father valued Bella so highly, Brandon felt it was his duty to maintain harmony. If that meant his own sister had to be wronged a little, so be it.

Most of the time, he believed his own family should be able to take a small loss. Besides, it was just an apology, a few sincere words. It wasn’t a big deal. But Lillian was staring at him as if he were a monster. Her gaze stung him.

“You’re not a child anymore. Are you still in your rebellious phase? I told you to apologize. Didn’t you hear me?”

There was a time when Lillian believed she held an important place in her family’s heart, a time when she had proudly and defiantly walked into that prison. But now, she knew better than anyone where she stood. A person can be a fool, but she would only be a fool once.

Lillian’s voice was hard as she shot back, “Apologize? For what?”

Brandon retorted, “I know what kind of people Ms. Ward and Bella are. And here, Bella holds a position of great importance. You should apologize to her for her character and her accomplishments alone.”

Nathan chatted with others from time to time, but his fork was always busy, making sure Lillian had enough to eat. This scene, of course, did not escape the notice of Sebastian, who was sitting directly across from them. He had been drinking far more than usual tonight, with almost no appetite for food. He just couldn’t understand it. How could Lillian have such a hearty appetite, eating food served to her by another man, right in front of her husband? How could she stomach it? A married woman, acting so intimately with an unmarried man in public—did she have any sense of wifely decorum?

The angrier Sebastian got, the faster he drank. When Bella returned to her seat, she saw it clearly: Sebastian would glare at Lillian, then throw back a large gulp of wine. He’d finish one glass and immediately pour another.

Bella, still fuming from her confrontation, felt a new wave of bitterness wash over her. She raised her glass and clinked it with the CEO of another company sitting nearby. That CEO had been trying to poach her for a while, and he was also pursuing her romantically. Bella engaged him, hoping to pull Sebastian’s attention back to her.

But instead, Sebastian suddenly slammed his glass down, stood up, and looked as if he was about to march straight over to Lillian’s table...