Chapter 9

A pin-drop silence fell across the entire hall!

Everyone was surprised. They could tell that Evelyn and her family were fed up with Elio, so they thought the divorce was a foregone conclusion. Evelyn could have used this opportunity to get rid of him. Once she was single and available again, she would be able to find any man she wanted, given her qualifications. Why would she give up the chance?

Yvonne's red lips curled into a cold smile. 'She's a proud woman,' Yvonne thought to herself. 'She won't lower her head that easily. I'm impressed. Still, is your husband really as useless as everyone says? I don't think so. Perhaps your entire family has misjudged him. Ha, what a pity!'

Meanwhile, Elio's fists relaxed. Whatever her motive, it was enough that Evelyn did not abandon him in public. He made an oath to himself, secretly swearing, 'As long as you don't leave me, I won't abandon you!'

Evelyn was proud, but she was also filled with resentment.

Back then, it was her family who had forced her to take this lying down. Now, they wanted to make her dance according to their strings again! Unfortunately for them, she was not their mindless puppet!

Harrison's wizened face turned stormy. His granddaughter had actually dared to challenge his authority in public. That was unforgivable! He snorted heavily. "Very well! Since you won't obey my orders anymore, you can do whatever you want from now on. Hear me and remember this, Evelyn Jones. From now on, you're dead to me. Even if your company goes bankrupt and you wind up on the streets, I won't help you."

He was practically disowning her! Howard was terrified, and Lana said anxiously, "Please calm down, Dad… Evelyn is still young and immature. Don't take her seriously. Evelyn, hurry up and apologize to Grandpa!"

Evelyn's face was pale, but she remained stubborn. "I didn't do anything wrong… I don't need anyone's pity. Even if I do end up on the streets, I won't come back begging at your feet."

Everyone else exchanged looks of surprise. They had no idea that Evelyn had such a stubborn streak. She did not hesitate to offend the patriarch of the family.

'That's my wife! How proud and dazzling!' Elio showered her with praise inwardly. Out loud, he said, "Honey, don't worry. You have me, don't you? I won't let you end up on the streets. Trust me."

Everyone was bemused. What a clown! He leeched off his wife for a living, and he was still boasting like that? He had to be the most shameless man alive.

Lana was going insane. She screamed, "Shut up, you good-for-nothing bastard! You're trash! You're useless! How could you possibly support Evelyn?"

"If there's really no other way, we can beg on the streets together. At least we'll still have each other," Elio said with a grin. He wanted to get Lana even angrier. He feasted on her fury.

Old Master Jones was about to blow his fuse, too. His face was ashen as he said, "Howard, listen up. It's not just Evelyn anymore. None of your children can enter our family's company from now on."

The couple turned pale. They rushed forward in a panic and begged their father to reconsider. After all, they had to rely on their extended family to live.

"Dad… No matter what, I'm still your son. You can't do this to me!" Howard's forehead was covered in sweat, and his voice was trembling.

Lana wailed, "Please, don't! It's all because of that bastard Elio, isn't it? It has nothing to do with our family. He's a curse, a blight on our name. I hate him too… but there's nothing I can do!"

Dylan struggled at school, so Lana had hoped that her son would enter the family business once he graduated. That way, he would at least have a decent job, and he would be able to support himself if nothing else. Now even that was impossible.

The commotion in the hotel alerted the general manager, Shaun Cole. He hurried over, planning to help mediate the dispute. However, he was surprised to find the young master of the Auton Group in the middle of the crowd! His mind on high alert, he quickly dove into the crowd.

As one of the richest people in Cloudsea, Shaun was even more powerful than the Joneses. Old Master Jones thought that he was here for him, so he quickly said, "Mr. Cole, I can explain…"