Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 156

Damien cut her off, his tone icy.

"And don't you dare insult Grace with money."

"My entire fortune has already been transferred to her name."

"Right now, she's the one supporting me."

At this, the three people in the room froze.

Even Grace looked up in astonishment at his broad back.

When did he…

Harold was so furious he nearly had a heart attack. "You… you ungrateful son! You gave the family fortune to an outsider?!"

"She is not an outsider."

Damien turned around and, right in front of his parents, took Grace’s hand, lacing their fingers together tightly.

"She is my life."

"If you can't accept her, then you can't accept me."

"We won't be staying for the holidays."

With that, Damien started to pull Grace toward the door.

"Stop!"

Harold roared.

"Tonight is the family dinner at the estate. All our relatives will be there!"

"If you don't go, I will publicly disown you tomorrow!"

It was a final ultimatum.

Damien paused.

He looked back, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"Fine. If that's how it is, then don't regret it."

***

The atmosphere in the car was heavy on the way to the family estate.

Grace sat in the passenger seat, watching the city lights streak past the window, her palms slick with sweat.

She had heard the Clarke family was enormous, with over a dozen branch families and a complex web of relationships.

Back with the Hart family, every family dinner had been a nightmare.

She would be forced to sit in the farthest corner, eating whatever was left over, while listening to all the aunts and cousins sneer at her and praise how wonderful Lilian was.

That suffocating feeling of being ostracized and isolated still haunted her, even after all these years.

Damien noticed her anxiety and gently placed his hand over hers.

The car entered a quiet, manicured district.

The Clarke family estate was a sprawling, traditional-style mansion, with ornate architecture and an imposing air.

The driveway was already filled with luxury cars, all bearing exclusive, low-number license plates.

Grace took Damien's arm, drew a deep breath, and walked through the large, imposing gates.

The moment they entered the main hall, the noisy chatter died down instantly.

Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to stare at them.

Harold and Marianne were seated at the head of the table, their expressions still sour.

Beside them sat the various relatives of the Clarke family, all dripping with gold and jewels.

"Well, well, so this is the one Damien brought back… what's her name again?"

The speaker was a middle-aged woman in a silk dress, Damien's aunt Irene.

She looked Grace up and down, hiding her mouth behind a fan, her eyes filled with contempt.

"I heard she's the ex-wife from the bankrupt Ward family?"

"Tsk, tsk, Damien. Your taste has become so… unique."

"Exactly," chimed in another aunt with a face full of fillers. "The Clarkes have a reputation to maintain. Bringing a woman like this into our home will tarnish the family name."