The moment Hughes caught sight of Aileen, his expression turned stormy—every emotion written clearly across his face. He threw both of them a withering look before deliberately turning his back, broadcasting his complete rejection.
Hughes's message rang crystal clear; he refused to acknowledge their presence, his entire posture screaming defiance.
He'd planned to stay silent, but the thought of his father falling for Aileen's manipulation broke his resolve. Fixing Ridley with a fierce stare, he declared, "Dad, I refuse to accept that terrible woman as my mother! If you insist on marrying her, then forget about me being your son! And if you won't say sorry to Mom, I'll track her down myself!"
Ridley remained silent.
Aileen's fury blazed when she caught Hughes's words—her blood reached boiling point. 'The nerve of this kid!' she seethed internally, choking down her rage. 'But this isn't the moment to lose it.'
Forcing her sweetest smile, Aileen approached Hughes.
