Chapter 3 The Heir Debate
461 Words
The entire room fell into a deathly silence. A few board members kept their heads down, quietly sipping soup and pretending they hadn't heard a word.
Elizabeth's face darkened with rage.
"Sean, you're the only heir to the White Group. Are you seriously going to let this woman end the White family line?"
Sean lifted his chin, unyielding. "Whether the White family continues has nothing to do with me betraying my marriage. And having kids is between Sarah and me. We're not infertile. We just aren't ready."
Elizabeth let out a sharp, mocking laugh, "And you believe her when she says she doesn't want children? Three years of marriage and nothing to show for it. How do you know the issue isn't her?"
Sean's eyes went bloodshot with anger.
"Then it could just as easily be me. If you're so desperate, I'll get tested tomorrow. And if that still doesn't shut you up, I'll get a vasectomy so you can finally give it a rest."
Elizabeth slammed her palm on the table and shot up. "Don't you dare!"
At that moment, my father-in-law, Mark White, who had stayed silent the entire time, finally spoke.
As chairperson of the White Group, he had once been quite the playboy in his youth, but age had refined him into a polished, textbook businessman.
He set down his knife and fork, then said slowly, "Sean, your mother is doing this for the White family. In a wealthy family, marriage is never just about two people. Sometimes, for the continuation of the bloodline, sacrifices are necessary."
Then his eyes shifted to me.
"Sarah, you're a reasonable woman, aren't you?"
Every gaze in the room turned toward me.
Sean's face turned pale as he quietly took my hand. His palm was icy and soaked in sweat.
I returned the grip and smiled, "Mark is right."
Sean was shocked. "Honey..."
I gently patted his hand. "Relax. Mom already said it's for the White heir. If it's a good thing, why would I stop it?"
Elizabeth's expression eased slightly. "That's more like it."
Lily Lawson stood up too, cheeks flushed, speaking softly, "Sarah, don't worry. I won't compete with you for status. Once the baby is born, you'll still be its mother."
Sean snapped, "Shut up!"
Lily felt award and seemed to cry.
Elizabeth immediately pulled Lily behind her. "Why are you yelling at her? She's just a young woman who's willing to sacrifice for the White family, and you still complain?"
I slowly set down my wine glass. "Elizabeth, you're right. Ms. Lawson is going through a lot. We really shouldn't make things hard for her."
Elizabeth nodded, satisfied.
She had no idea. Every time I smiled that gently, I was already deciding how to make them pay.
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