"I..." Tara Hammond was seething with rage internally, yet outwardly she appeared even more helpless.
She looked pitifully at Theodore Lucas, drawing closer to him with a plea, "Theodore, I..."
"Don’t be afraid, I’m here."
Theodore Lucas embraced Tara Hammond, gently patting her frail shoulder.
Then he lifted his head, his eyes blazing with anger.
Emily Taylor remained unfazed by Theodore Lucas’s furious glare.
At this mont, she finally understood what Sylvia Scott had once said: "When you no longer care, you no longer feel hurt." This was that exact sensation.
Not only did her heart stop aching, but she even felt a profound sense of satisfaction.
Indeed, this was the best mindset for dealing with scumbags and mistresses.
"Ha-ha... truly laughable," Evelyn Lucas suddenly chuckled exaggeratedly from the side.
Her eyes flickered with disdain as she looked at Emily Taylor and said, "You’re nothing more than a discarded mistress kicked out the door. What right do you have to question and my mother’s position here?"
She thought Emily Taylor was simply humiliating herself; she’d already been abandoned by Dad, and soon, even the title of Mrs. Lucas would be stripped from her.
At this point, instead of retreating quietly, she dared to make trouble.
Evelyn Lucas disregarded Emily Taylor’s words entirely, turning the interrogation back toward her: "Do you really think you still have the right to show up here? Do you think you can still hold your place as Mrs. Lucas comfortably?"
"Hmph, let tell you, my dad has long since abandoned you. You’re no longer a Lucas family wife at all. In fact, you’re completely unrelated to the Lucas family. Of all the people here, you’re the one least qualified to be present!"
"That’s right, Evelyn is absolutely correct," Theodore Lucas was reminded by Evelyn’s words.
This ti he returned not only to restore himself but also to elevate Tara Hammond’s status.
And to establish Tara Hammond’s position as the first wife, the most important step was to oust Emily Taylor.
"Emily Taylor, the bond of marriage between us ended more than twenty years ago. Over all these years, I’ve allowed you to occupy the role of Mrs. Lucas out of sheer decency. But now, I can’t let Tara Hammond suffer with any longer. Since you’re here, let’s finally clarify the matter of titles today."
As Theodore Lucas spoke, he stood up, drawing Tara Hammond closer to him.
He shielded Tara Hammond as he looked toward the senior mbers of the family present.
"Everyone knows that my marriage with Emily Taylor has been dead in na for years. All this ti, this woman beside has borne my children, endured gossip and judgnt for . But she has never fought or sched—she has always silently stayed by my side. All these years, I’ve let her suffer unjustly..."
"Today, I brought her here to inscribe both her na and the nas of the two children behind into the family tree. Present here are my elders and the brothers I grew up with. I’ve wandered outside the Lucas family long enough. Even the punishnt imposed on by the old man should be repaid in full by now."
"I... I want to co back, return to the Lucas family. Today, I, Theodore Lucas, humbly ask my uncles and brothers present to grant their approval!"
Finishing his speech, Theodore Lucas dropped directly to his knees.
This was his carefully planned first move in the act.
As Theodore Lucas knelt, Tara Hammond imdiately followed suit, understandingly dropping to her knees alongside him.
Evelyn Lucas’s eyes dimd, and she also knelt without hesitation.
Standing behind them, Nolan Lucas hesitated, furrowing his brow slightly, but in the end, he supported Tania Scott, who was heavily pregnant, as they knelt together.
At the front knelt the previous heir of the Lucas family; at the back knelt Commander Scott’s daughter, her swollen belly touching the floor.
This emotional coercion staged by Theodore Lucas struck directly into the hearts of more than half of the family mbers present.
The majority in attendance were n, many of whom could empathize with Theodore Lucas’s hardships.
Sympathy was stirred in no small number of them.
"Theodore truly hasn’t had it easy. He’s still a Lucas by na; he should be allowed to co back."
"Exactly, and there’s Tara Hammond, too. She’s followed him for so many years without recognition. Since the marriage has no feelings left, they should simply let each other go."
"That’s right, it’s how things ought to be..."
[To be continued]
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