Chapter 731
After exchanging sweet nothings, the two found solace in each other’s embrace. Weakened, Laney Garrett gently tucked Laney in, ensuring she was comfortable, and then placed their baby in the crib before silently slipping out of the ward.
The second he stepped out of the room, he found Vera and Leo outside, waiting for him impatiently. Seeing Garrett out of the ward, they immediately approached him.
“Let us come in and see the baby,” Leo demanded, his voice dripping with authority.
Garrett’s eyebrows were knit together, his patience for his overbearing parents running thin. He knew that they didn’t care for Laney, but she was their daughter-in-law and had just given birth to the newest member of the Harding family. Still, they focused solely on the baby. Their cold indifference toward Laney’s fragile state was glaringly obvious.
“Laney and the baby are both asleep right now. If you want to see the baby, you’ll have to come back another time,” Garrett replied, his voice tight with restraint.
As for when that next visit might be, he deliberately left it unsaid.
His perfunctory response lit the fuse on Leo’s temper. “We’re the baby’s grandparents! Why is it so hard for us to see our own granddaughter?” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the hallway. Vera joined the fray, her voice equally indignant. “You drove Lola away without just cause, leaving us in the dark about the baby. Now you’re denying us a simple glimpse of our grandchild? Your insolence grows by the day.”
“Lola conspired to bring about Laney’s premature delivery. She got exactly what she deserved,” Garrett retorted, refusing to back down. “And as for seeing the baby…” The look on his face grew even colder. “Laney brought her into this world through immense pain and sacrifice. You never once showed concern for her well-being. What gives you the right to see her baby?”
Leo’s fury erupted like a volcano. “Garrett Harding!Mind your tongue! How dare you speak to your parents like this?” he roared, face red with anger.Garrett’s lips curled into a cold, defiant smile. “This is where I stand. If you continue to harass us, l won’t think twice about severing our relationship. I’ll wash my hands of the Harding Group and go back to working with Brandon’ he declared,standing his ground, immovable as a mountain.
“Garrett Harding! How dare you talk to me like that?”
Leo’s anger boiled over as he thrust a f*inger in Garrett’s direction, his voice echoing through the room as he bellowed, “I am your father! And I’ll always be your father! You want to sever ties with me? That’s preposterous!”
Leo seethed with anger, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him. In a swift gesture of support, Vera moved to his side, tenderly placing a hand on his back and massaging away the tension that had built up within him. As Vera comforted Leo, her eyes flashed with anger as she turned her gaze towards Garrett With a scowl etched on her face, she admonished him in a stern tone, “What kind of spell has Laney put on you that you would turn your back on your own flesh and blood? Look at what you’ve done to your father! Apologize to him right now!”
Garrett’s demeanor shifted as he leaned nonchalantly against the door, his arms crossed in front of him. With a cold smile playing at the corners of his lips, he declared, “This is my own decision, and it has nothing to do with Laney. It’s time for you both to leave now.”
The words were like daggers, cutting through the already-tense atmosphere of the room. Vera’s fury boiled over as she glared at Garrett with a fierce intensity, her voice trembling with anger. “I should have never allowed you to marry that woman. She used her own daughter as a pawn to coax you away from the Harding family. She has no sense of decorum or breeding whatsoever!”
Vera was convinced that Laney was the root cause of Garrett’s current behavior, her belief unwavering in the face of his defiance.
Laney was the spark that ignited Garrett’s rebellion; without her, he would have remained compliant.
As Vera ruminated on the situation, her discontent with Laney grew. She couldn’t help but think that if she had selected a daughter-in -law from a more affluent background, things would have turned out differently.
Vera s criticism of Laney sparked a sudden surge of anger in Garrett. He jabbed a f*inger towards the hallway and snarled, “Get out! Both of you, just leave!”
Under no circumstances would he tolerate any disrespect towards Laney! Not even his own parents.
Garrett’s abrupt burst of fury startled both his father and mother. Witnessing the intensity in his gaze, they didn’t dare utter another word and could only storm out, seething with displeasure.
“You must devise a solution as soon as possible!”
During their journey back, Vera was extremely restless, persistently grumbling and nagging at Leo.
“Now, word has spread through our social circles that Garrett is refusing to take his wife back home. Everyone is talking about how we are mistreating her. Our reputation has been completely tarnished.”
Leo lamented to Vera as he said, “For a while, you should stay at home and limit your outings. It’s best to refrain from attending any gatherings.”
In spite of her pledge to stay at home, Vera couldn’t resist the allure and soon found herself indulging in afternoon tea with other affluent ladies at an upscale restaurant. “Mrs. Harding, I heard that your son has been hesitant to return home lately. What’s the matter?”
Their conversation had barely started when one of the women steered the discussion towards Vera.
“The recent events involving the Harding family had caused a commotion in their social circle. Although the other affluent women were also curious, they were too proud to inquire directly. Now that someone had taken the initiative to inquire, the other ladies no longer had any reservations about discussing the matter. I heard that you’re not even allowed to see your granddaughter, is that true?”
“Is it really that bad?”
“What happened? Why don’t you tell us about it? Maybe we can offer some suggestions/ they prodded.
The women swarmed around Vera, gossiping incessantly and bombarding her with questions. Vera was caught off guard and didn’t know how to respond.
“What else could it be? They treated their daughter-in-law poorly, and now she doesn’t want to return,” Mrs. Lee, who had never held a fondness for Vera, remarked sarcastically. Vera’s composed visage suddenly flushed bright red.
“Mrs. Lee, you have put Mrs. Harding in the wrong,” a graceful voice suddenly interjected Kailee strode over with her bag in hand and stated, “Mrs. Harding talks about her daughter-in-law and granddaughter to me every day, but it’s a shame that they don’t seem to appreciate it and won’t let Mrs. Harding see them. Mrs. Harding also feels sad about that.” Kailee’s words diffused the tension and alleviated Vera’s embarrassment. The affluent women felt it was no longer appropriate to discuss the topic and redirected the conversation to other matters.
Vera didn’t have much to say and quickly found an excuse to depart with Kailee.
Vera’s enthusiasm for afternoon teas dissipated entirely.
Kailee wore a deliberately innocent expression as they made their way back, and asked, “Mrs. Harding, what’s happening between you and Laney? There are all sorts of rumors circulating outside.”
Feeling overwhelmed and oppressed as of late, Vera let out a long sigh and confided in Kailee, who appeared understanding and composed on the surface.
“Laney has brought chaos and turmoil into our household ever since she married into the Harding family. And now, she’s even trying to sow discord and prevent my son from bringing his child home. She has brought shame and disgrace to our family’s reputation and honor.”
As Vera’s dissatisfaction with Laney simmered, Kailee reveled in a quiet sense of triumph, artfully disguising it with a facade of worry.
She let out a delicate sigh and tenderly grasped Vera’s hand, offering solace. “Mrs. Harding, please don’t fret. I have faith that Laney will eventually recognize your pure intentions,” she whispered gently.
Yet despite Kailee’s soothing words, Vera’s countenance remained clouded by melancholy. An idea suddenly sparked within Kailee, and her face lit up with a dazzling grin.
“Why not send Laney a heartfelt token of your affection for your granddaughter? I’m confident that she’ll appreciate the sentiment and empathize with your emotions,” she proposed.
Vera’s eyes shimmered with hope at the suggestion, but soon furrowed in concern. “But I don’t know what Laney fancies. What should I gift her?”
Vera, who had always looked down on Laney, had never before contemplated how to choose a present for her daughter-in-law.
A cunning glint flickered across Kailee’s gaze. Pretending to mull it over, she finally suggested, “Perhaps you could give Laney an album of cherished memories from Garrett’s youth, accompanied by a heartfelt, handwritten note. Confronted with such earnestness, I’m certain Laney will be touched by your thoughtfulness.”
