Jeffrey was devastated.
Unable to stand it any longer, he stood up and kicked a pot of chrysanthemum in the garden, which
shattered into pieces.A trace of pity flashed through Nellie's eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it
came.
"Mom, am I really your son?"
Jeffrey bellowed like an angry beast."Of course, you are!"
"Then how could you treat your son like this?"
"Bruce, I'm only doing this for your own good."
"Enough with your lies! Stop saying that everything you do is for my sake.I know that you're only doing
this for yourself.To save face, you provided me and Brian the best education since we were a child.Did
you do that so that we could have a promising future? I don't think so.You just don't want Uncle Ryan
and Uncle Luke to overshadow us.You always berated and beat us for not having high scores in our
exams.Is that what you mean by ‘for our own good'?"
"Bruce!"
"I've had enough! I'm sick and tired of having a vain and selfish mother like you!"Nellie trembled in
anger.
In a fit of rage, she raised her hand as if to hit her son.
However, Jeffrey did not back down, much less flinch.
"Go ahead.If I can repay you by getting beaten, then just beat me to death!"Nellie gnashed her teeth to
restrain her anger. Her hand was frozen midway.
"Bruce, why don't you understand me?"
"Because I don't understand how you can stomach to do bad things for fame and profit! Mom, I'm
telling you, if you still love me, don't hurt Wendy."
"No way!"
"Mom!"
Nellie clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth, "I'll give you two choices.Date Mia, or take care
of Wendy for the rest of her life."
Jeffrey was stunned.
However, Nellie did not stop there.
Her mouth curled into a sneer, and she added, "Oh, wait! When I said you can take care of Wendy,
that's because she won't be able to move her limbs for the rest of her life."
Her tone was cold and ruthless that it could make people shudder in fright.
Jeffrey was even more shocked by this.
‘‘What? Does Mom want to disable Wendy?"
He could not believe her ears.
‘ls this woman in front of me really my mother? If yes, how could she be so vicious to threaten me with
the woman I love? But if not, why do I feel heartbroken?”
"Mom—"
"Bruce, let me tell you something.One can't be vigilant all the time.I know you have money, and you
can find professional bodyguards to protect her twenty-four hours a day.But just so you know, everyone
makes mistakes.If you lower your guard, even just for a moment, I will do whatever I want to her."
Nellie picked up her cup of coffee, leisurely took a sip, and continued, "If I remember it right, Wendy is
only twenty-three years old.If she finds out that she has to pay such a painful price for being liked by
you, will she hate you?"
Jeffrey felt a pang in his heart.
Blood drained from his face upon hearing his mother's threat.He was crying deep down.
‘‘This is my family.I've been working hard for eight years, so I could stay away from them one day.I
thought I have succeeded, but I didn't expect that my success was only an illusion, and the truth is so
cruel"
He always thought that he was strong and capable.
But now, he just realized that he couldn't even protect the woman he liked.
He felt lucky that Wendy didn't choose him.
What was more, she had Ryan! Ryan would never let her get hurt.
"Mom, if you hurt Wendy, you'll suffer more because..."
Ryan loved Wendy.
And she was Precious’ mother.
However, Jeffrey knew better than to tell Nellie the truth.
He knew his mother very well.She and Jaylen had been thinking of revenge ever since they were
driven out of the Oliver family fifteen years ago.
However, they were not powerful enough to pose any threat.
Raymond was Ryan's son.
Only Ryan's family and a few important people knew about this.Jeffrey figured that he could not let his
so-called parents know the truth.
Otherwise, with their hatred for Ryan and his family, Wendy and Raymond would not be able to live a
peaceful life.
That was the last thing Jeffrey wanted to see.
At the thought of this, Jeffrey stopped talking.
"Because of what?" Nellie curiously asked.
"Nothing."
Jeffrey understood the reason why Ryan had told him the truth about Raymond.
Ryan did that so Jeffrey would back down.
But that was not the only reason.
It might not be obvious, but he trusted his nephew as well.
If Jeffrey told Ryan that his mother was threatening Wendy, Ryan would protect her at all costs.
Meanwhile, his parents would face his wrath.
Jeffrey had seen Ryan's ways.
To Ryan, dealing with someone was a piece of cake.
With just a few words, others would not be able to have a second chance at life.
Jeffrey hated his parents.
Even so, they raised him and gave him what he needed.If it were not for them, he would not be able to
be who he was now.He could not let them be in danger.
At this moment, he was in a dilemma.Not knowing what to do, he clutched his head and slumped on
the chair.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked weakly.
Nellie secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then answered, "It's easy.I want you to get along well with
Mia.Andrade family is one of the richest families in the city.Even when our family is in its prime, their
wealth is much more than ours.I can see that Mia likes you very much.Therefore, you must seize the
chance to be with her."
"What if I don't like her?"
"It doesn't matter.Love can be learned.But if you really can't do it, I'll arrange another lady for
you."Jeffrey was at a loss for words.
He was helpless.His mother just wanted him to sell his charms.
Even if he refused Mia, another would come.He had no escape.
Jeffrey closed his eyes and rubbed his face in frustration.
He was no longer in the mood to be sarcastic.
His mother was out of her mind.
No, she was insane.
The company was in peril at the moment.
But instead of solving the root cause of the problem, she decided to sell her son"lf she had used her
intelligence in business, our business would not have ended up like this in the first place" he thought
with scorn.
"Bruce, trust me.I won't do anything to harm you.You're only twenty-four and have experienced
little.When you finally get married and have a child, you will understand me."Jeffrey made no response.
She coerced him into doing what she wanted, but she acted as though she was doing it for his sake.He
could not help but sneer at the thought of this.
He was sure he would never understand her, even when he became a grandfather.
As the saying went, "Despair was the greatest sorrow."
"Is there anything else you want to say?" Jeffrey asked.
"You and Mia..."
"l do it." Nellie's eyes lit up.
"I promise I'll try my best to get along with her," Jeffrey said as he narrowed his eyes.
"As for Wendy..."
"I won't hurt her as long as you listen to me."Jeffrey sneered.
"If you so much as lay a finger on her, I won't forgive you.I promise you I'll make you pay the price.Mark
my words."
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