"And what's going on here?" Both of them heard that commanding voice and time still as they turned their heads to find Mr. Donovan with a not-so-pleasant look in his eyes.
Adeline took the opportunity to bite Theodore on the hand, and he instinctively let her go. She ran to Ian and shielded his face from looking at his father.
"I want to take Adeline back to my house where she belongs," Theodore said as a matter of fact.
"And did she tell you she wants to go back?" Mr. Donovan questioned.
"That's where she belongs," Theodore repeated.
Mr. Donovan was not impressed by Theodore's reply. As a matter of fact, he couldn't stand the boy in front of him. Years ago, he'd simply been tolerating his presence because of business but now that he hurt his favorite granddaughter, he was one phone call away from contacting one of his people and making him disappear forever.
"You cheated on her and you still expect her to do what you want her to do?" He asked.
He'd been about to sleep when his butler had come to him to report what was currently happening.
What if he wasn't here? Was Theodore going to drag Adeline into his car and take her back to his house?
"I'm a man, I have needs," Theodore defended.
Mr. Donovan didn't argue that.
"Contact your family. We're having a meeting." Then he left without saying another word.
Two hours later,
By this time, it was already midnight.
Everyone was supposed to be asleep but Mr. Donovan had demanded an urgent family meeting.
Everyone was seated at the family lounge which was big enough to accommodate everyone, including Adeline's parents and Theodore's.
"Father, it's already midnight and you called for this meeting? Everyone has work to do and we're all trying to get some rest," said Jack Donovan, Adeline's father.
"Is work more important than finding out that your daughter's husband had cheated on her and tried to force her back by dragging her on the floor?" Mr. Donovan questioned. Everyone wore a perplexed look.
The older man reiterated what had happened—about Theodore cheating on Adeline and trying to drag her back to his home by force.
"Theodore's home is still her home," Theodore's father said. "She should be grateful that he only slept with one woman. Marriage had its ups and downs, and this can easily be sorted out if she just returned to her marital home and pretended none of this ever happened."
Adeline couldn't believe her father-in-law.
Her lips were thin, trying to fight back the words she was about to spill but she held herself back.
"I'll have to agree with Mr. Westwood. This is not an issue at all," Jack seconded.
Adeline couldn't help but scoff at this point. It was because of her sacrifice that he was still wearing a fancy suit that was shining brighter than his future, and he dared to expect her to be quiet and endure all sorts of nonsense.
"I told Adeline to return home when she saw me with Lina," Theodore said, using the word saw instead of caught because to him, he didn't do anything wrong. "She should have just stayed home and listened to me. I was willing to apologize if that was what she wanted. But she had to leave with my son!"
"Did you ever think about Ian while you were fucking your secretary right in your office?!" Adeline yelled, her rage getting the best of her. "Did you ever think that you had a family to come back to before slipping your truck into her junk?"
Theodore was speechless.
"If I had been the one cheating on you, would you still be saying all these trash?" She questioned, glaring so hard at him she wished the heavy rain could just strike a thunder through the ceiling, nailing him to the ground. "How about this? I have a better suggestion. I'll go to a club, find a hot guy, and have sex with him in our matrimonial home? Just like a man, a woman has needs too," she said so calmly, her tender voice pissed Theodore.
He mirrored her look, his fists clenching so hard.
He was about to speak but Mr. Donovan interrupted him. "That's enough." Just two words and he had to swallow his anger. "It has come to my realization that none of you respect Adeline."
The table went silent as everyone's eyes darted towards each other.
"Cheating in a relationship is unacceptable. You just proved to me that you can't manage a family, Theodore," Mr. Donovan's voice was calm before the storm, and everyone will be affected one way or the other. "Adeline wants a divorce from you."
"I object. She's my wife," Theodore cut him off. "We have a child together."
Only an invisible string of patience was holding Adeline back from smacking Theodore with the glass cup standing on the table.
"But that's what she wants. As far as I'm concerned, there's no law that a married couple can't divorce."
Theodore was gnashing his teeth so hard now.
This was only a tiny slip-up up and now Adeline wanted to divorce him? What could she be wanting to tell him that she didn't wait at home first?
"If Adeline and I divorce, the partnership between the Westwood and Donovan family will be null and void," Theodore reminded. This was his only trump card to keep Adeline by his side.
He may have cheated, but there was this tiny bit of ego in him that refused to let her go.
"I know that," said the elderly man with a nod. "I know that. Which is why I'm giving you two too two months to inform Ian about this. The poor boy would be traumatized if his parents suddenly separated. And let's not forget, her shares which are still in your responsibility will be transferred back to her."
Adeline glanced at her grandfather. This wasn't what he told her, but she didn't correct him.
"That is preposterous, Mr. Donovan!" Mr. Westwood remarked. "You've used our family for years and you want to cut off all contact with us just because of one mistake?!"
Mr. Donovan simply shook his head.
"Theodore has been on and about with that woman for a while now. It's certainly not a mistake," he replied indifferently.