Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1275

Julian frowned.

"Let them make a scene. Who cares? I'm establishing Mira's authority today. If we don't put our foot down now, even the staff will think they run the place. Believe me."

"But Adrian will be furious. You still have to survive in the company, so offending him isn't wise."

"Don't worry," Julian said. "Like I told you, I've got leverage on them. We're safe for now."

Mira realized Ethan was already stepping up for her, which saved her the trouble.

"Ethan, what leverage do you have on them?"

Mira asked.

"Adrian and Fiona's affair," Ethan whispered.

The secret couldn't be fully exposed just yet, or Adrian would take them all down with him.

"Hasn't Fiona always hidden it well?" Mira asked. "Are they really that obvious in this lifetime?"

"Not obvious at all," Ethan replied. "She still plays the perfect saint in front of Lacey. Both of our parents are completely fooled. But she slipped up at the office."

As the three of them talked, dinner was served. Ethan checked the time—exactly half an hour had passed.

"See?" Ethan pointed out. "These maids only respect power. If we didn't show them who's boss, they never would have treated you with respect."

By the time Lacey brought Mara back from the hospital, the three siblings were already eating at the dining table.

"Oh, you started without us? You couldn't even wait for Mom and Dad?"

Mara immediately started stirring up trouble the moment she walked through the door.

In truth, she hadn't been sick at all. Knowing the real daughter was returning, she had faked a stomachache just to drag Lacey away from the house.

Ethan shot her a cold glance. "Mira just got back. Can't you see her?"

"Oh, a sister?"

Her demeanor and effortless grace made her look more like a visiting VIP than a long-lost daughter.

For some reason, even after a lifetime had passed, Mira still couldn't bring herself to call Lacey her mother.

Driven by a fleeting maternal instinct, Lacey stepped toward Mira, arms open for an embrace. "My child."

But Mara quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Mom, she just got back from the countryside. Her clothes are so cheap, and who knows what kind of germs she brought in. Let's wait until she showers and changes before you hug her."

Before Mira could even respond, Ethan exploded. "Say that one more time! Who has germs?"

He shoved his chair back and marched toward Mara, his imposing stance making it look like he was about to slap her right across the face.

Mara shrieked and cowered behind Lacey.

"Mom, Ethan is going to hit me!"

"That's what you get for running your mouth," Julian scoffed.