Chapter 201
Chapter 202
Chapter 202
An hour later, at Hamilton Manor.
Patrick and Ian got out of the car.
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Patrick couldn’t hold back and said, “Seriously, Ian, what does your family’s blow–up have to do with me? Why’d you drag me here p>
Ian shot Patrick a look but didn’t say a word.
Thomas Quinn hurried over, saying, “Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Lewis, thank goodness you’re finally here. They’ve been arguing nonstop. Can you go in and try to calm everyone down p>
Ian and Patrick exchanged a look, then walked into the living room one after the other.
The atmosphere in the living room was so tense you could cut it with a knife, and the floor was a mess of shattered glass everywhere.
Edward sat at the head of the room, his face stormy, not saying a word. Shane stood right in the middle, looking furious.
Miranda was standing between Shane and Mia, shielding the sobbing girl in her embrace.
When Miranda saw Ian and Patrick walk in, she finally let go of Mia.
Patrick’s sharp eyes caught the red handprint on Mia’s face, and his expression darkened.
He said, “Uncle Shane, can’t you just talk things out? Mia’s not a kid anymore. Why are you still hitting her p>
With Patrick standing up for her, Mia just cried even harder, feeling even more wronged.
She covered her face, sniffling as she squeezed in next to Patrick. “Patrick, my dad smacked me–twice! It hurts p>
Patrick reached over, pulling Mia into a side hug, patting her shoulder and whispering, “Come on, no more tears. When your dad gets old, make him eat ice cream in the freezing cold and dress him up in a winter coat during the hottest days–that’ll show him p>
Ian overheard Patrick’s mutter and shot him a look out of the corner of his eye.
Shane had always had a bad temper.
He pointed at Mia and said, “Patrick, you tell me–she’s already twenty–four. What’s so wrong with us picking someone for her to marry? Just look at how she behaves p>
Patrick flashed a friendly grin and said, “Uncle Shane, like father, like daughter. With your good taste, even if you let Mia choose herself, she won’t go wrong p>
Shane snorted angrily. “It’s all because of that Chloe woman–she’s the one who led Mia astray p>
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Ian couldn’t help but frown. “Dad, can’t you stick to the issue and stop pinning this on other people p>
Miranda jumped in, “With the Hamilton family’s power and status, we don’t need Mia to marry for business just to protect our spot in Kingsford. She’s my daughter–her marriage isn’t yours to control p>
Shane’s temper exploded right then and there.
He pointed accusingly at Miranda, saying, “This is all on you, woman! Last time, you insisted Ian should pick his own wife– so tell me, how’d that work out p>
He went on, “He ended up marrying some broke heiress. She hasn’t done a thing for the Hamilton family, and she’s dragged Ian down at every step p>
Shane snapped at Miranda, “Don’t even think about meddling in Mia’s marriage ever again p>
Not missing a beat, Patrick snagged Mia’s bag and phone from the couch and, slippery as an eel, turned on his heel and whisked her right out of Hamilton Manor.
After Patrick whisked Mia away, Ian strode up to his parents.
He said firmly, “Dad, don’t talk to Mom like that p>
Shane blinked, clearly not expecting Ian to stand up to him.
Shane stared at Ian, totally incredulous. “Tell me, am I really wrong here p>
“If she hadn’t stuck her nose in, you’d have already married an heiress from the eight powerhouses! Who knows how many kids you’d have by now? Would things be in such chaos if you’d just listened back then p>
Ian’s face darkened.
He struggled to keep his cool for a long moment.
He said, “Dad, marrying Chloe was entirely my own choice. No one else made that call for me. Whatever happened between us–I’m the one to blame p>
Ian added, “It wasn’t all you raising Mia and me. Mom put in her share too. She deserves to have a voice in our marriages p>
‘She couldn’t believe Ian was actually standing up for her, taking her side,‘ Miranda thought, feeling stunned.
Miranda, her eyes shining with tears, pulled Ian aside, putting a little distance between them and the rest.
She said, “Ian, since the three of you are all here, I’m laying it out now–Mia gets to choose her own husband, Not one of you gets to force her. Period p>
Shane was so mad his nose almost twisted off his face.
He jabbed a finger at Miranda and roared, “What would a woman like you know, huh p>
Stubborn as ever, Shane declared, “As long as I’m in charge, Mia is marrying up–no way I’ll let her stoop
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down to marry some average Joe. Before this year is over, she’s getting engaged to someone from the eight powerhouses, and that’s final p>
Miranda, fuming, spun around and stormed off. “Thomas, go pack my things p>
She wasn’t about to let Mia marry down.
But when it came to love and marriage, Mia had to be free to choose for herself.
Seeing Miranda storm off, Shane quickly followed after her. “Why do you have to go and pack your bags just because you’re angry? Can’t we just talk p>
Shane tried to grab Miranda, but she brushed him off coldly. “If I can’t even have a say over my own child, then why should I stay here at all p>
Miranda snapped, unable to hold back anymore. “Divorce p>
Shane, suddenly realizing how serious she was, blocked her path, sounding panicked. “Come on, we’ve spent half a lifetime together–why are you doing this now p>
Ian sat there, wiped out, watching his mom drop the D–word and his dad rush after her out of the living
room.
Edward, who hadn’t said a word till now, finally broke his silence.
He looked at Ian and said, “Ian, marry the wrong woman and you’ll mess up three generations. Your mother and Mia only turned out this way because of that Chloe p>
Ian frowned, his voice full of impatience. “Grandpa, you’re trying to push Mia into a business marriage—of course Mom and Mia would fight back. So why drag my wife into this? What’s it got to do with her p>
The two locked eyes for a second, and Ian stood up, frustration written all over his face.
Later that night, Ian got back to his place at Blue Cove Residences. Patrick showed up, knocking on the door before coming in.
Ian tossed his suit jacket down, looking totally wiped out. “Where’s Mia p>
Patrick replied, “She went to see Chloe p>
Jan’s hand paused mid–motion for a moment.
Patrick rubbed his arm, flopping down next to lan. “Seriously, what is up with you Hamilton men? Why’s everyone so obsessed with forcing people into marriages? I spent hours trying to chill Mia out–my arm’s all bruised from her pinching me. She’s got a grip like a crab p>
Jan was silent for a bit, then got to his feet.
Patrick caught Jan’s arm. “So you finally have a reason to go knocking at Chloe’s place, huh p>
He snorted, “Relax–like they’d ever actually let you through the door p>
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At the same time, over at the Irvine family’s place.
Mia was curled up on the couch in Chloe’s bedroom, her eyes swollen and red from crying.
Mia sniffled, “Chloe, what if Grandpa and Dad really just pawn me off like some bargaining chip p>
Chloe did her best to comfort her. “Mia, the Hamilton family is at the top in Kingsford. If you do get married, they’re going to expect you to pick someone who’s on your family’s level p>
Mia’s whole expression just crumpled. “Chloe, that’s just it—I haven’t met anyone I actually like yet. Grandpa’s lining up these guys I’ve never even talked to. How am I supposed to just agree to any of them p>
Chloe watched Mia’s reaction carefully.
She probed gently, “The Lewis family’s one of the eight powerhouses, right? And you’ve known Patrick since you were kids–you probably know him best. So, honestly, what do you think about Patrick p>
At the mention of Patrick, Mia just wilted.
Mia held out both hands helplessly to Chloe, as if to show just how hopeless she felt. “Chloe, I’m even closer to Patrick than my real brother. If I held Patrick’s hand, it’s literally just like my left hand holding my right— it’s nothing. He’s been my human teddy bear since we were little. Seriously, I’ve never once thought about anything romantic happening between us p>
Chloe honestly didn’t know what to say to that.
Just then, a WhatsApp message from Ian popped up on Chloe’s phone. She glanced at it.
Chloe slipped her phone back into her pocket and said to Mia, “Ian’s here to pick you up. He’s waiting at the door. Do you want to go back with him p>
Mia was kind of chicken about it, dragging her feet as she finally stood up.
Chloe grabbed her jacket and walked Mia out.
Ian glanced at Mia, saying, “Go wait in the car. I just need to talk to Chloe for a sec p>
AD