"Enough! Your mother was already frail. What does this have to do with Cordelia?
"Your grandfather may dote on you, but I'm still breathing. You will not run amok in the Uriel family while I'm still alive!
"I'll say this straight right here, right now. No matter what happens, Bernard is a member of the Uriel family. My shares will go to him, he is my heir."
The guests exchanged stunned, awkward glances. None of them had expected Branson to favor that mother and son this blatantly. It was an eye-opening spectacle to say the least.
On the other side of the room, Bernard and his mother puffed out their chests, preening and brimming with smug satisfaction.
But Charles? His heart had turned completely cold toward his father. His fists clenched so tight his knuckles blanched white.
"Those
