The Extraordinary Bride Of The Wyndham Family (Isla and Gabriel) novel Chapter 152

**Extraordinary Bride 152**

Just yesterday, the solemnity of Alfred Wyndham’s funeral hung heavily in the air. The image of the burial was etched in their minds, vivid and raw, a wound that had yet to heal. The family was still enveloped in a thick shroud of mourning, their hearts burdened with sorrow, yet there were pressing matters that demanded their attention. Questions lingered like shadows, needing illumination; confusions swirled, begging for clarity.

Today, the entire Wyndham clan had congregated in the expansive family sitting room, a space that had witnessed countless gatherings but was now charged with an air of unease. Each family member bore their own weight of questions for John, the patriarch. Some inquiries were commonplace, while others delved into the deeply personal realms of their shared history.

Gabriel sat in quiet contemplation beside Isla, his demeanor calm but his heart a tempest of emotions. He had already unraveled a crucial piece of the puzzle—the woman he had seen at the burial, standing beside his father, was none other than his birth mother. Though John had yet to formally introduce her, Gabriel’s instincts had spoken the truth. Yet, a multitude of questions still gnawed at him, particularly regarding the divorce settlement that John had signed, relinquishing half of his shares.

Across the room, Landon and Mia maintained a serene composure, their fingers entwined as a silent testament to their unity. In stark contrast, Wyatt and Sia exhibited signs of agitation; their bodies were rigid, and their expressions betrayed a simmering tension. The atmosphere of the meeting unsettled them, and their discomfort was palpable, a silent storm brewing beneath the surface.

John had summoned this emergency meeting for a significant purpose—he felt an urgent need to lay everything bare. Alfred had intended to share parts of the truth before his untimely passing, but fate had intervened, leaving it to John to complete the task his father had begun.

As John stepped into the family sitting room, he moved with deliberate slowness, his expression inscrutable. His children and their spouses rose in unison as he entered, a show of respect that momentarily lightened the atmosphere. However, his gaze was drawn to someone else—a familiar face. Lysander, Wyatt’s eighteen-year-old daughter, had just returned from abroad for Alfred’s burial. Her youthful brown eyes tracked John’s movements, her long, dark brown hair framing her delicate features like a soft halo.

John offered her a gentle smile, a fleeting moment of warmth in the otherwise tense room.

“Lysander, dear,” he spoke softly, his voice imbued with kindness, “I need you to excuse us for the time being. I trust you understand?”

“Of course, Grandfather. I completely understand,” she replied, her voice steady and respectful. She rose gracefully, bowing her head slightly before exiting the room without a hint of hesitation.

With Lysander gone, John finally took his place among his family. He wasted no time in addressing the gathering.

“I will not keep any of you in the dark any longer,” he stated firmly, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

Silence enveloped the room, thick and expectant.

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, Isla’s hand resting reassuringly on his. Landon and Mia exchanged a knowing nod, their patience evident as they awaited John’s revelations. In contrast, Wyatt remained rigid, his eyes narrowed in suspicion, his breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. Sia glanced nervously between her husband and father-in-law, her anxiety palpable.

“I chose to hold this meeting today because I know you all have questions that need answering,” John continued, his gaze sweeping across the room, taking in the anxious faces of his family.

He paused, gathering his thoughts, then spoke again, “Everyone makes mistakes. My late father was not exempt from this truth. Before he passed, he fought diligently to rectify his missteps. Sadly, he left this world before he could complete what he had started. Now, it falls to me to carry on his legacy.”

A ripple of confusion coursed through the children as they exchanged uncertain glances. The direction of the conversation was unclear, and they sensed the gravity of what was to come.

John took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly, his voice steady.

“I understand that some of you may question my father’s decisions, and rightfully so. But you must know this—these decisions were not made lightly. They were the result of extensive discussions and heated arguments between him and me. Ultimately, I stood by him.”

Yet, the meaning of his words remained elusive, and the tension in the room thickened, almost suffocating.

“What I mean to say is,” John continued deliberately, “Father revised his will. So, your concerns about me giving Anna half of my worth should be alleviated. She will receive only a few million through the divorce—nothing more.”

In an instant, Wyatt shot up from his seat, his voice laced with indignation.

“That was cruel of you, Father!” he exclaimed, his tone sharp and accusatory.

All eyes turned to Wyatt, shock rippling through the room at his sudden outburst.

“You knew you were no longer the heir of this family, yet you allowed her to believe otherwise!” Wyatt’s voice trembled with bitterness. “How could you be so heartless?”

John’s expression shifted, the warmth that once resided in his eyes evaporating. The softness of a grieving father was replaced by an authoritative presence that commanded respect.

“Sit down, Wyatt,” John said coldly, his voice like ice. “Before I reconsider my opinion of you.”

Wyatt froze, the air thickening with tension as everyone felt the shift in energy.

The meeting had only just begun, yet the atmosphere had transformed into something volatile, charged with unspoken words and simmering emotions.