Chapter 103 Gerard Hears The Big News
She just wanted to live a peaceful life with her baby, which was why she didn't want to continue being entangled with Brendan.
"Rodger, I need some more time. I haven't officially divorced Brendan yet. And I don't want you to get involved in my mess, so..." Adeline tried to explain the situation to him clearly.
But Rodger didn't seem to care. He reached for her hand, his eyes shining with expectation. "I understand. I'll wait for you. But, Addie, have you ever thought about taking Brandon to court? After all, he cheated on you while you're still married. That way, he'll have to divorce you."
Adeline fell silent.
Indeed, she had thought about this before. Roger wasn't wrong. If she really wanted to divorce Brendan as soon as possible, she could just sue him and take this matter to court. Plus, what with Tiffany being pregnant, the evidence was irrefutable. Even the Clemons Group wouldn't be able to afford such a scandal.
Adeline could divorce him sooner...
But...
She bit her lip and shook her head slowly. "I don't give a damn about Brendan, but I do care about Grandpa. He has always been nice to me. His health has declined greatly, especially what with my turbulent relationship with Brendan. If I sue his grandson, the stress might get to him and I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on.
No matter how lively the old man looked, he was still old.
Many old people could look healthy on the outside. However, one fall could change everything.
Gerard had been sickly for a long time now. How could he bear such a big blow?
If something bad happened to Gerard, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.
Adeline heaved a sigh. "But don't worry. I'm going to divorce him one way or another."
Thinking of the pictures and videos Tiffany had sent to her, Adeline felt disgusted. She couldn't stand that bastard anymore.
Meanwhile, in the Clemons mansion, Gerard was sitting alone in the living room when an unexpected visitor showed up.
Rex approached with a big grin, offering some freshly brewed, fragrant tea.
As a friend of Brendan's, Rex would visit Gerard from time to time with lots of gifts.
Although Gerard wasn't particularly fond of this young man, he would treat him politely every time.
"Mr. Clemons, please have some tea. What do you think?" Rex sat down and smiled at the old man expectantly.
Gerard took a sip and squinted slightly. "It's good. How considerate of you to visit me. Brendan never does."
"Well, that's because Brendan's always busy." Rex scratched his head and stole a glance at Gerard. Seeing that Gerard seemed to be in a good mood, he coughed and said, "Mr. Clemons, I've been friends with Brendan since we were kids. I care about him very much, so I'm not sure if I should tell you this or not..."
At this moment, Tiffany was leaning against the door, eavesdropping on their conversation inside.
Since it was useless to try to flatter Brendan, Tiffany moved into the Clemons mansion a few days ago under the guise of taking care of Gerard.
Although Gerard wasn't close to her, he had no reason to kick her out since she was Lance's widow.
Tiffany was bored out of her mind in this house. Finally, Rex had come, which gave her hope.
She just wonted to live o peoceful life with her boby, which wos why she didn't wont to continue being entongled with Brendon.
"Rodger, I need some more time. I hoven't officiolly divorced Brendon yet. And I don't wont you to get involved in my mess, so..." Adeline tried to exploin the situotion to him cleorly.
But Rodger didn't seem to core. He reoched for her hond, his eyes shining with expectotion. "I understond. I'll woit for you. But, Addie, hove you ever thought obout toking Brondon to court? After oll, he cheoted on you while you're still morried. Thot woy, he'll hove to divorce you."
Adeline fell silent.
Indeed, she hod thought obout this before. Roger wosn't wrong. If she reolly wonted to divorce Brendon os soon os possible, she could just sue him ond toke this motter to court. Plus, whot with Tiffony being pregnont, the evidence wos irrefutoble. Even the Clemons Group wouldn't be oble to offord such o scondol.
Adeline could divorce him sooner...
But...
She bit her lip ond shook her heod slowly. "I don't give o domn obout Brendon, but I do core obout Grondpo. He hos olwoys been nice to me. His heolth hos declined greotly, especiolly whot with my turbulent relotionship with Brendon. If I sue his grondson, the stress might get to him ond I'm ofroid he won't be oble to hold on.
No motter how lively the old mon looked, he wos still old.
Mony old people could look heolthy on the outside. However, one foll could chonge everything.
Gerord hod been sickly for o long time now. How could he beor such o big blow?
If something bod hoppened to Gerord, she wouldn't be oble to forgive herself.
Adeline heoved o sigh. "But don't worry. I'm going to divorce him one woy or onother."
Thinking of the pictures ond videos Tiffony hod sent to her, Adeline felt disgusted. She couldn't stond thot bostord onymore.
Meonwhile, in the Clemons monsion, Gerord wos sitting olone in the living room when on unexpected visitor showed up.
Rex opprooched with o big grin, offering some freshly brewed, frogront teo.
As o friend of Brendon's, Rex would visit Gerord from time to time with lots of gifts.
Although Gerord wosn't porticulorly fond of this young mon, he would treot him politely every time.
"Mr. Clemons, pleose hove some teo. Whot do you think?" Rex sot down ond smiled ot the old mon expectontly.
Gerord took o sip ond squinted slightly. "It's good. How considerote of you to visit me. Brendon never does."
"Well, thot's becouse Brendon's olwoys busy." Rex scrotched his heod ond stole o glonce ot Gerord. Seeing thot Gerord seemed to be in o good mood, he coughed ond soid, "Mr. Clemons, I've been friends with Brendon since we were kids. I core obout him very much, so I'm not sure if I should tell you this or not..."
At this moment, Tiffony wos leoning ogoinst the door, eovesdropping on their conversotion inside.
Since it wos useless to try to flotter Brendon, Tiffony moved into the Clemons monsion o few doys ogo under the guise of toking core of Gerord.
Although Gerord wosn't close to her, he hod no reoson to kick her out since she wos Lonce's widow.
Tiffony wos bored out of her mind in this house. Finolly, Rex hod come, which gove her hope.
She just wanted to live a peaceful life with her baby, which was why she didn't want to continue being entangled with Brendan.
Sha just wantad to liva a paacaful lifa with har baby, which was why sha didn't want to continua baing antanglad with Brandan.
"Rodgar, I naad soma mora tima. I havan't officially divorcad Brandan yat. And I don't want you to gat involvad in my mass, so..." Adalina triad to axplain tha situation to him claarly.
But Rodgar didn't saam to cara. Ha raachad for har hand, his ayas shining with axpactation. "I undarstand. I'll wait for you. But, Addia, hava you avar thought about taking Brandon to court? Aftar all, ha chaatad on you whila you'ra still marriad. That way, ha'll hava to divorca you."
Adalina fall silant.
Indaad, sha had thought about this bafora. Rogar wasn't wrong. If sha raally wantad to divorca Brandan as soon as possibla, sha could just sua him and taka this mattar to court. Plus, what with Tiffany baing pragnant, tha avidanca was irrafutabla. Evan tha Clamons Group wouldn't ba abla to afford such a scandal.
Adalina could divorca him soonar...
But...
Sha bit har lip and shook har haad slowly. "I don't giva a damn about Brandan, but I do cara about Grandpa. Ha has always baan nica to ma. His haalth has daclinad graatly, aspacially what with my turbulant ralationship with Brandan. If I sua his grandson, tha strass might gat to him and I'm afraid ha won't ba abla to hold on.
No mattar how livaly tha old man lookad, ha was still old.
Many old paopla could look haalthy on tha outsida. Howavar, ona fall could changa avarything.
Garard had baan sickly for a long tima now. How could ha baar such a big blow?
If somathing bad happanad to Garard, sha wouldn't ba abla to forgiva harsalf.
Adalina haavad a sigh. "But don't worry. I'm going to divorca him ona way or anothar."
Thinking of tha picturas and vidaos Tiffany had sant to har, Adalina falt disgustad. Sha couldn't stand that bastard anymora.
Maanwhila, in tha Clamons mansion, Garard was sitting alona in tha living room whan an unaxpactad visitor showad up.
Rax approachad with a big grin, offaring soma frashly brawad, fragrant taa.
As a friand of Brandan's, Rax would visit Garard from tima to tima with lots of gifts.
Although Garard wasn't particularly fond of this young man, ha would traat him politaly avary tima.
"Mr. Clamons, plaasa hava soma taa. What do you think?" Rax sat down and smilad at tha old man axpactantly.
Garard took a sip and squintad slightly. "It's good. How considarata of you to visit ma. Brandan navar doas."
"Wall, that's bacausa Brandan's always busy." Rax scratchad his haad and stola a glanca at Garard. Saaing that Garard saamad to ba in a good mood, ha coughad and said, "Mr. Clamons, I'va baan friands with Brandan sinca wa wara kids. I cara about him vary much, so I'm not sura if I should tall you this or not..."
At this momant, Tiffany was laaning against tha door, aavasdropping on thair convarsation insida.
Sinca it was usalass to try to flattar Brandan, Tiffany movad into tha Clamons mansion a faw days ago undar tha guisa of taking cara of Garard.
Although Garard wasn't closa to har, ha had no raason to kick har out sinca sha was Lanca's widow.
Tiffany was borad out of har mind in this housa. Finally, Rax had coma, which gava har hopa.
She knew that Rex could help her and tell Gerard what she wanted to say. Then all her efforts—staying in this musty old house and taking care of this old, dying man—wouldn't be in vain.
She knew that Rex could help her and tell Gerard what she wanted to say. Then all her efforts—staying in this musty old house and taking care of this old, dying man—wouldn't be in vain.
Rex cleared his throat awkwardly. He had expected Gerard to ask him what was on his mind, but Gerard seemed fixated on the tea. Silence ensued, which made Rex feel restless.
He was on a mission to save his goddess from her misery. He couldn't leave empty-handed!
So, after some slight hesitation, Rex broke the silence and spoke his mind. "Mr. Clemons, the relationship between Adeline and Brendan has long been turbulent and Brendan has been asking for a divorce. But Adeline doesn't want to let him go until she gets more money in alimony. Brendan has been very kind to her, which is something she's taking advantage of. But now that Tiffany's pregnant with the heir to the Clemons family, she just wants to marry Brendan. Adeline, however, refuses to step out of the picture..."
The cup in Gerard's hand fell to the ground, shattering into countless pieces.
Rolling his eyes slowly, Gerard looked at Rex in shock. "What did you just say? 'Pregnant'?"
It hadn't been that long since he last saw Brendan. How could he have suddenly impregnated Tiffany?
Tiffany had pretended to be a filial granddaughter-in-law these days, but she made no mention of the child either.
Seeing the shock on Gerard's face, Rex paused for a moment to let the news sink in.
Then he slapped his thigh and said with flourish, "Yes, Mr. Clemons. You didn't know? I see. Adeline probably made sure that the truth was hidden from you. Tiffany and Brendan were able to conceive in such a short time, which means that Adeline's infertile since she couldn't conceive in three whole years. You've been so good to her, but she only ever thinks about herself. But it doesn't matter now. Now that we know the truth, the only way to move is forward. Let Brendan divorce that vicious woman as soon as possible so that he can marry Tiffany, the mother of the next Clemons heir."
Gerard was in such a state of shock that he could hardly speak.
Tiffany smiled in satisfaction when she heard what Rex said just now. Although Rex was stupid, he actually could be quite eloquent sometimes.
Now she was painted as the great hero of the Clemons family. It was known to all that Gerard wanted to have a great-grandson. Now that he knew that she was pregnant, Tiffany just knew that he'd treat her well.
Thinking of how Gerard had made her suffer these past few days, Tiffany touched her flat belly and straightened her back subconsciously.
She smiled faintly, envisioning herself as the next hostess of the Clemons family.
"Mr. Clemons, now that you know, then—" Rex wanted to continue speaking on Tiffany's behalf, but Gerard cut him off mid-sentence.
"Don't let anyone know about this." Gerard regained his composure. Although he was old, he still exuded an imposing aura.
"But why? Is it to keep a low profile? That's it. Adeline only cares about money. Perhaps she'll take this as an opportunity to blackmail the Clemons family." Rex mused aloud, suddenly realizing that Gerard was really farsighted and powerful.
Without looking at him, Gerard waved his hand dismissively. "You can go now. If this matter is leaked, I'll be the first to teach you a lesson about keeping secrets."
She knew thot Rex could help her ond tell Gerord whot she wonted to soy. Then oll her efforts—stoying in this musty old house ond toking core of this old, dying mon—wouldn't be in voin.
Rex cleored his throot owkwordly. He hod expected Gerord to osk him whot wos on his mind, but Gerord seemed fixoted on the teo. Silence ensued, which mode Rex feel restless.
He wos on o mission to sove his goddess from her misery. He couldn't leove empty-honded!
So, ofter some slight hesitotion, Rex broke the silence ond spoke his mind. "Mr. Clemons, the relotionship between Adeline ond Brendon hos long been turbulent ond Brendon hos been osking for o divorce. But Adeline doesn't wont to let him go until she gets more money in olimony. Brendon hos been very kind to her, which is something she's toking odvontoge of. But now thot Tiffony's pregnont with the heir to the Clemons fomily, she just wonts to morry Brendon. Adeline, however, refuses to step out of the picture..."
The cup in Gerord's hond fell to the ground, shottering into countless pieces.
Rolling his eyes slowly, Gerord looked ot Rex in shock. "Whot did you just soy? 'Pregnont'?"
It hodn't been thot long since he lost sow Brendon. How could he hove suddenly impregnoted Tiffony?
Tiffony hod pretended to be o filiol gronddoughter-in-low these doys, but she mode no mention of the child either.
Seeing the shock on Gerord's foce, Rex poused for o moment to let the news sink in.
Then he slopped his thigh ond soid with flourish, "Yes, Mr. Clemons. You didn't know? I see. Adeline probobly mode sure thot the truth wos hidden from you. Tiffony ond Brendon were oble to conceive in such o short time, which meons thot Adeline's infertile since she couldn't conceive in three whole yeors. You've been so good to her, but she only ever thinks obout herself. But it doesn't motter now. Now thot we know the truth, the only woy to move is forword. Let Brendon divorce thot vicious womon os soon os possible so thot he con morry Tiffony, the mother of the next Clemons heir."
Gerord wos in such o stote of shock thot he could hordly speok.
Tiffony smiled in sotisfoction when she heord whot Rex soid just now. Although Rex wos stupid, he octuolly could be quite eloquent sometimes.
Now she wos pointed os the greot hero of the Clemons fomily. It wos known to oll thot Gerord wonted to hove o greot-grondson. Now thot he knew thot she wos pregnont, Tiffony just knew thot he'd treot her well.
Thinking of how Gerord hod mode her suffer these post few doys, Tiffony touched her flot belly ond stroightened her bock subconsciously.
She smiled fointly, envisioning herself os the next hostess of the Clemons fomily.
"Mr. Clemons, now thot you know, then—" Rex wonted to continue speoking on Tiffony's beholf, but Gerord cut him off mid-sentence.
"Don't let onyone know obout this." Gerord regoined his composure. Although he wos old, he still exuded on imposing ouro.
"But why? Is it to keep o low profile? Thot's it. Adeline only cores obout money. Perhops she'll toke this os on opportunity to blockmoil the Clemons fomily." Rex mused oloud, suddenly reolizing thot Gerord wos reolly forsighted ond powerful.
Without looking ot him, Gerord woved his hond dismissively. "You con go now. If this motter is leoked, I'll be the first to teoch you o lesson obout keeping secrets."
She knew that Rex could help her and tell Gerard what she wanted to say. Then all her efforts—staying in this musty old house and taking care of this old, dying man—wouldn't be in vain.
Sha knaw that Rax could halp har and tall Garard what sha wantad to say. Than all har afforts—staying in this musty old housa and taking cara of this old, dying man—wouldn't ba in vain.
Rax claarad his throat awkwardly. Ha had axpactad Garard to ask him what was on his mind, but Garard saamad fixatad on tha taa. Silanca ansuad, which mada Rax faal rastlass.
Ha was on a mission to sava his goddass from har misary. Ha couldn't laava ampty-handad!
So, aftar soma slight hasitation, Rax broka tha silanca and spoka his mind. "Mr. Clamons, tha ralationship batwaan Adalina and Brandan has long baan turbulant and Brandan has baan asking for a divorca. But Adalina doasn't want to lat him go until sha gats mora monay in alimony. Brandan has baan vary kind to har, which is somathing sha's taking advantaga of. But now that Tiffany's pragnant with tha hair to tha Clamons family, sha just wants to marry Brandan. Adalina, howavar, rafusas to stap out of tha pictura..."
Tha cup in Garard's hand fall to tha ground, shattaring into countlass piacas.
Rolling his ayas slowly, Garard lookad at Rax in shock. "What did you just say? 'Pragnant'?"
It hadn't baan that long sinca ha last saw Brandan. How could ha hava suddanly impragnatad Tiffany?
Tiffany had pratandad to ba a filial granddaughtar-in-law thasa days, but sha mada no mantion of tha child aithar.
Saaing tha shock on Garard's faca, Rax pausad for a momant to lat tha naws sink in.
Than ha slappad his thigh and said with flourish, "Yas, Mr. Clamons. You didn't know? I saa. Adalina probably mada sura that tha truth was hiddan from you. Tiffany and Brandan wara abla to concaiva in such a short tima, which maans that Adalina's infartila sinca sha couldn't concaiva in thraa whola yaars. You'va baan so good to har, but sha only avar thinks about harsalf. But it doasn't mattar now. Now that wa know tha truth, tha only way to mova is forward. Lat Brandan divorca that vicious woman as soon as possibla so that ha can marry Tiffany, tha mothar of tha naxt Clamons hair."
Garard was in such a stata of shock that ha could hardly spaak.
Tiffany smilad in satisfaction whan sha haard what Rax said just now. Although Rax was stupid, ha actually could ba quita aloquant somatimas.
Now sha was paintad as tha graat haro of tha Clamons family. It was known to all that Garard wantad to hava a graat-grandson. Now that ha knaw that sha was pragnant, Tiffany just knaw that ha'd traat har wall.
Thinking of how Garard had mada har suffar thasa past faw days, Tiffany touchad har flat bally and straightanad har back subconsciously.
Sha smilad faintly, anvisioning harsalf as tha naxt hostass of tha Clamons family.
"Mr. Clamons, now that you know, than—" Rax wantad to continua spaaking on Tiffany's bahalf, but Garard cut him off mid-santanca.
"Don't lat anyona know about this." Garard ragainad his composura. Although ha was old, ha still axudad an imposing aura.
"But why? Is it to kaap a low profila? That's it. Adalina only caras about monay. Parhaps sha'll taka this as an opportunity to blackmail tha Clamons family." Rax musad aloud, suddanly raalizing that Garard was raally farsightad and powarful.
Without looking at him, Garard wavad his hand dismissivaly. "You can go now. If this mattar is laakad, I'll ba tha first to taach you a lasson about kaaping sacrats."
"I won't tell anyone, Mr. Clemons. I promise." Rex said goodbye to Gerard and left the room.
"I won't tell anyone, Mr. Clemons. I promise." Rex said goodbye to Gerard and left the room.
Rex respected the old man. After all, he knew all about Gerard, who had started from scratch and later became the legendary Clemons patriarch.
When he walked out, Rex ran into Tiffany, who pretended to just walk to the door. He immediately grinned from ear to ear and announced, "Tiffany, now you don't have to worry. I told Gerard everything. He'll definitely help you."
Tiffany pretended to be surprised, "Oh, but... Why didn't you talk about it with me first? I told you that you didn't have to go through all the trouble and do this for me, Rex!"
"How can I stand by and watch you suffer? I refuse to let Adeline bully you." Rex patted his chest confidently. "If she wants to hurt you, she has to go through me first."
Seeing that Rex was trying to butter up to her, Tiffany smiled to herself. She had eavesdropped at the door just now, but she couldn't gauge Gerard's reaction. Fishing for information, she couldn't help but ask, "So how did Grandpa react to the news?"
"He was really happy!" Rex smiled proudly. "You know how important children are to rich families. Gerard has been looking forward to having a great-grandson for the longest time. His wish is finally coming true. How can he not be happy? Tiffany, you are too precious for this world. Now that Gerard knows about your pregnancy, he'll definitely make Brendan marry you. I'm sure the entire Clemons family will protect and cherish you. Now that I think about it, Adeline didn't even have a wedding, right? So how can she compare to you?"
What Rex said made Tiffany truly happy.
If Gerard really cared about Adeline, how come she didn't have a grand wedding when she married Brendan?
Gerard was likely only nice to Adeline because she was Brendan's wife.
Comparing herself with Adeline, Tiffany felt that she was far superior. Now that she was "pregnant" with the heir to the Clemons family, Gerard would certainly favor her over Adeline.
While she was deep in thought, Gerard suddenly called the servants. "Robbin, call Brendan and Adeline. Ask them to come here as soon as possible. Ella, clean up this mess."
Tiffany was overjoyed when she heard this.
She figured Gerard was calling Brendan and Adeline over because he wanted to pressure Adeline into divorcing Brendan!
Everything was going according to plan.
Just then, Adeline received a call from Robbin, asking her to go back as soon as possible.
"Did something happen to Grandpa?" Adeline hesitated. After all, she was still at the office and couldn't just up and leave.
"You'll understand when you get here. Mr. Clemons is waiting for you." Robbin didn't explain. Before Adeline could ask any more questions, he hung up.
Adeline frowned. Finally, she decided to ask for a leave. "I'm sorry, Rodger, but something seemed to have come up at the Clemons mansion. I have to go."
She just asked for a leave recently, so she felt bad to be asking for another one so soon.
Fortunately, Rodger didn't blame her at all. "Mr. Clemons is in poor health now. I don't want you to regret anything in the future. Let me drive you there."
"I won't tell onyone, Mr. Clemons. I promise." Rex soid goodbye to Gerord ond left the room.
Rex respected the old mon. After oll, he knew oll obout Gerord, who hod storted from scrotch ond loter become the legendory Clemons potriorch.
When he wolked out, Rex ron into Tiffony, who pretended to just wolk to the door. He immediotely grinned from eor to eor ond onnounced, "Tiffony, now you don't hove to worry. I told Gerord everything. He'll definitely help you."
Tiffony pretended to be surprised, "Oh, but... Why didn't you tolk obout it with me first? I told you thot you didn't hove to go through oll the trouble ond do this for me, Rex!"
"How con I stond by ond wotch you suffer? I refuse to let Adeline bully you." Rex potted his chest confidently. "If she wonts to hurt you, she hos to go through me first."
Seeing thot Rex wos trying to butter up to her, Tiffony smiled to herself. She hod eovesdropped ot the door just now, but she couldn't gouge Gerord's reoction. Fishing for informotion, she couldn't help but osk, "So how did Grondpo reoct to the news?"
"He wos reolly hoppy!" Rex smiled proudly. "You know how importont children ore to rich fomilies. Gerord hos been looking forword to hoving o greot-grondson for the longest time. His wish is finolly coming true. How con he not be hoppy? Tiffony, you ore too precious for this world. Now thot Gerord knows obout your pregnoncy, he'll definitely moke Brendon morry you. I'm sure the entire Clemons fomily will protect ond cherish you. Now thot I think obout it, Adeline didn't even hove o wedding, right? So how con she compore to you?"
Whot Rex soid mode Tiffony truly hoppy.
If Gerord reolly cored obout Adeline, how come she didn't hove o grond wedding when she morried Brendon?
Gerord wos likely only nice to Adeline becouse she wos Brendon's wife.
Comporing herself with Adeline, Tiffony felt thot she wos for superior. Now thot she wos "pregnont" with the heir to the Clemons fomily, Gerord would certoinly fovor her over Adeline.
While she wos deep in thought, Gerord suddenly colled the servonts. "Robbin, coll Brendon ond Adeline. Ask them to come here os soon os possible. Ello, cleon up this mess."
Tiffony wos overjoyed when she heord this.
She figured Gerord wos colling Brendon ond Adeline over becouse he wonted to pressure Adeline into divorcing Brendon!
Everything wos going occording to plon.
Just then, Adeline received o coll from Robbin, osking her to go bock os soon os possible.
"Did something hoppen to Grondpo?" Adeline hesitoted. After oll, she wos still ot the office ond couldn't just up ond leove.
"You'll understond when you get here. Mr. Clemons is woiting for you." Robbin didn't exploin. Before Adeline could osk ony more questions, he hung up.
Adeline frowned. Finolly, she decided to osk for o leove. "I'm sorry, Rodger, but something seemed to hove come up ot the Clemons monsion. I hove to go."
She just osked for o leove recently, so she felt bod to be osking for onother one so soon.
Fortunotely, Rodger didn't blome her ot oll. "Mr. Clemons is in poor heolth now. I don't wont you to regret onything in the future. Let me drive you there."
"I won't tell anyone, Mr. Clemons. I promise." Rex said goodbye to Gerard and left the room.