Chapter 125
Alfred shut his eyes for a few seconds, letting the silence in the grand dining room settle. His chest rose and fell slowly. Even though his heart was heavy, seeing the warmth spreading across the room between his family members filled him with quiet
relief.
It had been years since he witnessed such harmony in his household. Laughter shared without pretense, smiles not painted by greed or rivalry. For the first time in a long while, it felt as though a flicker of peace had finally returned to the Wyndham family.
He observed them all closely.
Landon was now sitting beside Isla, his expression was so bright and full of life as he tried to make her laugh. Sia was by her side too, her earlier coldness had been replaced with something he could place-almost admiration.
The change in Sia surprised him the most. Alfred had long lost hope in her, convinced she would never change. Yet here she was, smiling genuinely, celebrating with Isla and Gabriel as though the old grudges never existed.
For a moment, the old man smiled. A weary, knowing smile.
It no longer mattered to him who pretended and who didn’t. What mattered now was that peace had finally found its way into this family.
He had long given up on Anna and Wyatt. Those two, he believed, were a lost cause. They thrived in chaos. And perhaps, at his age, he no longer had the strength to keep fixing broken people that refused to heal.
Still, he was the patriarch, and his word had to be final.
He opened his eyes and spoke-his voice carried weight. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ find·novel·net
“Henceforth,” he began, “I forbid anyone from mentioning or bringing up the issue of Delphine in front of Isla again.”
The chatter died completely. The atmosphere shifted. Everyone straightened where they sat.
“Isla,” he continued, his with a sharper tone, “is the daughter-in-law of this family-and she must be given the best treatment and respect she deserves. I hope my words are clear enough for everyone to understand.”
No one dared to respond.
“So therefore,” he said, pushing his chair back and standing slowly, “this meeting is over.”
The sound of his cane touching the marble echoed as he stepped forward. His gaze softened when it fell on Gabriel.
“I am most proud of you,” he said with sincerity. “You have made me proud. And for that purpose, I grant you a full month off work. Take a rest, and take care of your pregnant wife. She needs you more now.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened slightly, then softened. A full month off. That was a big relief and a blessing. He had always been able to take a few days off whenever he needed, but this… this was different. This was permission to live freely with the woman he loved, without pressure or interference.
His heart warmed. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Thank you, Grandfather,” he said quietly, his tone respectful but full of joy.
The old man reached out and shook his hand-his grip firm, his approval silent. Then Alfred turned to Isla.
Sia and Mia quickly stepped aside as the patriarch approached her. His gaze softened as it landed on her glowing face.
“You have made me proud, my dear,” Alfred said. “I am so pleased with you.” He paused, his expression turning serious. “But right now, you and I need to talk, and that will be in my study.”
The cheerful mood shifted instantly. Gabriel’s brows furrowed. Even the others exchanged confused looks.
The old man noticed their worry and smiled faintly. “We shall celebrate properly after her first trimester,” he added, his voice gentler now. “You have my word.”
It helped a little, but Gabriel was still uneasy. Why would Grandfather want to talk to Isla alone?
“Come, Isla,” Alfred said, gesturing toward the door. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
Isla stood up immediately, though her heartbeat quickened. Before following, she reached for Gabriel’s hand and squeezed it softly, reassuring him that everything was fine.
He nodded, though his eyes followed her until she disappeared through the door beside Alfred.
When they left, the room grew tense again. John rose quietly and placed a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder.
“Son,” he said in a calm but serious tone, “I need a word with you. Come with me, please.”
Gabriel nodded, and the two men walked out together, leaving the rest of the family behind.
Inside Alfred Wyndham’s Study.
Isla sat quietly in one of the two chairs in front of the old man’s desk. Her fingers clasped together on her lap, but her face was calm. When Alfred entered and sat down across from her, she noticed the heaviness in his eyes.
“Grandfather,” she said softly, “are you alright?”
Her voice carried genuine concern, and that made the old man smile faintly.
“I am fine, my dear,” he said. “Just tired.” He leaned back slightly, resting his cane beside him. “I have tried everything I could to bring this family together. And somehow, I’m both succeeding and failing at the same time.”
His eyes wandered toward the tall window briefly. Then they returned to Isla. “Sometimes I wonder,” he continued quietly, “if I’m winning the battle or merely delaying the fall.”
Isla didn’t interrupt. She listened attentively-her gaze soft, her posture relaxed.
He looked back at her and sighed. “You’re strong, Isla. I’ve seen it. And I can see that you can keep secrets.” His tone deepened. “Thank you for that. But there are still things you need to know. Things that I’ve held back for years. I planned to tell you… after you’ve passed the danger stage in your pregnancy. Perhaps then-”
“I want to know now,” Isla interrupted, her tone a little bit louder.
Alfred blinked, surprised by her courage.
“I need to know everything,” she continued, her voice rising slightly. “Every secret you’re still keeping. Gabriel deserves to know the truth. Your grandchildren deserve to know who their real mother is. You can’t keep them in the dark forever, Grandfather.”
Her words hung in the air.
Alfred stared at her, his expression unreadable, his silence stretching long. He studied her carefully, as if she were a puzzle he couldn’t yet solve. Isla’s fearlessness both impressed and unsettled him.
“You have no idea how guilty I feel,” Isla confessed, her voice trembling now. “Keeping something like this from my husband… it’s eating me alive. Every day I wake up beside him and I can’t tell him the truth. It feels like betrayal. You have to act, Grandfather, before it’s too late.”
The old man still didn’t reply. His eyes were fixed on the desk, his mind working silently. After a moment, he spoke again.
“Isla,” he said, his voice low, “what if I told you that Gabriel is my only grandson?”
The air seemed to still, around her.
For a long moment, Isla couldn’t move. Her breath caught in her throat, and her thoughts scattered like shattered glass.
“Your… only grandson?” she whispered, disbelief clouding her voice.
He nodded in a calm manner. But he looked sad.
Her heart pounded painfully. What did he mean? What about Wyatt? Landon? Were they not his? Or was there something else?
She stared at him for a while and the weight of his words slowly sank in.
“Grandfather,” she said, her voice shaking, “what are you saying? Are you telling me that-”
He raised a trembling hand, silencing her. His eyes were misty now, filled with an emotion she couldn’t yet name. Something like egret, sorrow, and perhaps, fear.
“Some truths,” he murmured, “are far more dangerous than lies.”
And just like that, the room fell silent again-heavy with secrets that had waited far too long to be revealed.
X
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.