The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 647

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Inside the sprawling mansion, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Not only were his parents waiting for him, but his grandfather, Richard Baylor, had returned from his spiritual retreat.

Jamie walked in and calmly sat on the sofa opposite them. He wasn't surprised by the murderous looks on their faces. He had known exactly what kind of hellstorm he was walking into when he authorized the press conference. He could have predicted their exact reactions down to the letter.

"Stand up! Who gave you permission to sit?! You have the sheer audacity to make yourself comfortable?!" Richard bellowed, slamming his heavy silver-tipped cane into the marble floor with a resounding crack.

Jamie pressed his lips together and stood. "Grandfather, watch your blood pressure. Don't make yourself sick over this."

"You suddenly care about my health?!" Richard roared. "You ungrateful bastard! You're tearing this family apart!"

Jamie cleared his throat, offering a dry smile. "Grandfather, insulting me by calling me a bastard technically insults your own bloodline."

"You arrogant little punk, I ought to take a cane to you!" Richard raised the heavy stick, aiming a solid whack at Jamie's legs.

Jamie didn't flinch. He stood perfectly still, fully prepared to take the hit.

Before the cane could connect, Celia burst into loud, dramatic sobs, the sound echoing off the vaulted ceilings.

Richard froze, lowering the cane with a heavy sigh. Jamie reached out to help the old man sit down, but Richard slapped his hand away with a vicious glare.

Celia dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "What did I do to deserve this? I raise a son who shuts me out of his life, and now I find out I have two grandsons and a granddaughter! They're in kindergarten, and I've never even seen their faces!"