Chapter 492
Yet, Eileen couldn’t reconcile this version of Travis with the stories she had heard from Christos about how much Travis resented his stepfather, Brandon. She found herself stealing glances at him.
“Stella, just look at him. Travis really is something,” someone remarked after observing him for a moment.
Others quickly echoed the compliment.
Stella, however, remained impassive. “I’m not used to suddenly having another grandson. I don’t feel any connection to him.”
“Stella,” Lydia interjected with a smile. “Travis hasn’t had the chance to meet you yet. He’s probably just a bit shy.”
“Is that so?” Eileen remarked. “He seems quite at ease serving coffee to the elders. Also, he doesn’t resemble Bryan in the slightest.”
Lydia glanced at Eileen and explained, “They don’t share the same mother, which is why they look different. Travis simply takes after his biological parents.”
Eileen shook her head, countering, “He’s entirely your son, not a Dawson in the least. It’s as if you had him all by yourself.”
Caught off guard, Lydia’s response faltered, her eyes widening.
“You have no place to comment here,” Brandon said, rolling his eyes at Eileen before turning to address the room. “Everyone, I admit it was my oversight not to introduce Travis earlier. But he’s here now. Judge for yourselves whether he’s capable of leading the Dawson family.”
“It’s not your place to say that, Brandon,” Stella retorted. Leaning on her cane, she slowly rose to her feet. The soft thud of her cane on the carpet echoed in the room.
With a firm grip on her cane, Stella surveyed the room and declared, “I demand a paternity test. This boy doesn’t resemble any Dawson family member. I’m starting to question Lydia’s fidelity.”
“Stella, you’ve gone too far!” Lydia jumped to her feet, her voice sharp. “I’ve devoted years to the Dawson family and bore Brandon a son. It’s one thing not to recognize my efforts, but to question the legitimacy of your grandson is another. You need to stop favoring Bryan!”
“Everyone, see for yourselves! My mother favors that woman and her son far too much!” Brandon’s voice was tinged with bitterness. “She overlooked me and handed over the leadership of Apex Group to Bryan, leaving me in the cold. You must restore justice for me!” He was on the verge of kneeling, a vivid display of his helplessness and desperation.
The lead elder turned the focus back to Stella. “Stella, while this matter may pertain only to your immediate family within the main branch, it has significant implications for the future of the entire Dawson family. Don’t you think your actions are a bit extreme?”
“That’s right,” another elder added. “Bryan is at fault. Regardless of the specifics, he played a role in harming Apex Group. He must be punished, and you need to provide an explanation.”
“Now that he’s been taken in by his wife’s family, it would tarnish the Dawson family’s reputation if this were to become public knowledge. Just go along with Brandon’s suggestion. Cast Bryan out from the Dawson lineage and erase his name from our family tree.”