The Secret Heir Return To Wealth And Love

Many were waiting with bated breath to see Lenora's downfall.

"Mr. Sanderson, it's no secret that you've severed ties with my family, yet you show concern for my mother-what's the logic there? Could it be..." Jacob, ever the rogue with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and a sly arch to his brows, teased, "Could it be that you harbored a hidden flame for my mother, and out of unrequited love and jealousy, you've been targeting my father?"

At that, even the normally composed Sanderson couldn't sit still. He rose abruptly, indignant, "Jacob! What nonsense are you spouting? I'm merely an old family friend, concerned for your mother's well-being after hearing about her illness, that's all!"

"Look at you, getting all flustered. Everyone admires beauty, and my mother was quite the beauty in her day. It's no shame that you fancied her, Mr. Sanderson," Jacob continued with a grin. Sanderson's face turned beet red. He glanced around the boardroom, catching every pair of eyes filled with sly curiosity and veiled mockery.

Rosalynn leaned back in her chair, idly spinning a decorative ring on her finger, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.d2

She thought the old Jacob was long gone after the ordeal with Erica, seems she was wrong.

Some nuisances just don't go down that easily.

At the Strand Group, besides the rumor of Sanderson being an illegitimate child, there was another whisper.

Sanderson was only a year younger than Graham, but it wasn't until Jacob hit his teens that Sanderson, under Kendal's orchestration, married the granddaughter of a textile magnate. Rumor had it, the marriage was forced.

On the eve of his wedding, a drunken Sanderson was caught crying out Lenora's name.

Jacob might be reckless, but he wasn't one to spout wild tales without cause.

He had come to realize Sanderson's infatuation with his mother as an adult. In his mother's presence, Sanderson's gaze lingered on her as if glued, a fixation so intense it made Jacob's skin crawl. Today, Sanderson tried to use his mother's illness to provoke him. Naturally, Jacob didn't hold back.

"You bastard!" Sanderson pointed at Jacob, his finger trembling with fury.

"Alright, alright, I'll drop it. You never had crush on my mother, Mr. Sanderson. Such shameless and dishonorable behavior is certainly not your style. Please, have a seat, don't get upset." Jacob's jest only stoked the fiery wrath within Sanderson even more. He bit back a surge of bile threatening to escape his throat and, with clenched fists, slowly sat down, "Jacob, you should consider your mother's reputation when you speak!"

"My mother is perfectly fine. Is it her fault that some sneaky lowlife fancies her, and her reputation suffers for it?" Jacob cut him off, "What era are we living in that we're still blaming the women for anything? Mr. Sanderson, it's about time to unravel the old-fashioned ideas in your head. Even from this distance, they're starting to stink."

Rose stood behind Rosalynn, feeling as if she'd been metaphorically slapped in the face.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Glancing again at Rosalynn, she saw the latter's amused smile, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Sanderson, having failed to rile Jacob, ended up embarrassing himself and, unable to maintain his facade of benevolence, turned his head away, refusing to engage with Jacob any further.

Jacob looked toward Rosalynn and shrugged helplessly, his handsome face conceding a silent-That's all?