Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 58

The Sterling family remained completely silent. They had witnessed Xavier's performance over the years with their own eyes.

His grasp of the market and industry trends was always terrifyingly precise.

Every major decision he made pushed the company to new heights. The Sterling Group now possessed the actual leverage to compete for the title of the wealthiest family in the nation.

Xavier knew they were listening.

Both the old man and his father were intensely rational businessmen. They would never gamble with the family's future. As much as they grieved for his brother, they would never sabotage the company's growth out of misplaced loyalty.

The reality was, the Sterling family couldn't survive without him anymore.

Brimming with quiet confidence, Xavier delivered his ultimatum. "If you try to forcefully intervene again, don't blame me for washing my hands of this entire operation and walking away."

The family knew Xavier's explosive stubbornness better than anyone. Years ago, he had threatened them by attempting suicide over Lily.

Later, he took 99 lashes of a whip for her without begging for mercy or admitting fault once.

The Sterling family offered no further arguments, using their silence to project their intense dissatisfaction and refusal to accept the situation.

Xavier also had to weigh his grandfather's physical limits. The old man was frail, having just barely recovered from a severe illness earlier this year.

He also had to consider his parents' feelings.

Because of that, he didn't push things to an absolute extreme.

The conversation ended on a deeply sour note.

But Xavier knew one thing for certain: the family wouldn't resort to forcibly shipping Lily out of the country again.

Back at South Bay Manor.

Smash—

A sharp crack echoed through the room as Leo's violin trophy hit the floor, shattering into pieces.

Summer remembered it vividly. When Leo entered that violin competition, he was the youngest contestant there.

The very second he won, he brought the trophy straight to Summer, giving it to her as a birthday present.

Summer had treasured it like a piece of her soul. Now, it had been smashed to pieces by that obnoxious little brat, Hunter.

Worst of all, the kid was grinning ear to ear, making ugly faces at her, and calling her a witch without a single ounce of guilt or remorse.

He was utterly feral.

Spoiled brats desperately needed discipline!

"Don't you dare hit my mom!" Leo, having just woken up from his nap, witnessed the scene. His face turned to pure ice. He charged forward and forcefully shoved Hunter away.

Hunter lost his footing and crashed down hard onto his rear, his hand slamming directly onto the shattered glass of the trophy.

"Wahhh—"

Hunter burst into ear-piercing wails of agony.

Xavier happened to walk through the door at that exact moment. Hearing the screams, he sprinted over and dropped to his knees beside Hunter. "Hunter, what happened?"

Hunter instantly held up his bleeding hand. "Wahhh! Uncle Xavier, Leo pushed me! My hand is bleeding!"

Xavier saw the glass embedded in Hunter's palm. He snapped his head up to glare at Leo, his dark eyes resembling a bottomless, freezing abyss. "Leo Sterling, apologize!"

Leo's face drained of color.

Heartbroken, Summer yanked Leo behind her to shield him. "He smashed Leo's trophy first."

Xavier scooped Hunter into his arms, his gaze growing even colder. "It's just a trophy. Is that a reason to push someone?"