Chapter 450

“In any case, Theo, as your uncle and your elder, I demand that you divorce this woman. You…”

Steven’s phone rang before he could finish.

He pulled it out, and his face immediately went pale.

“Uh, excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

As he started to get up, Theodore glanced at him and tapped a finger on the table.

“Take it here.”

“It’s just work…”

“So what’s the problem?”

Steven pressed his lips together. Perhaps afraid of giving himself away, he sat back down, crossing one leg over the other as he tried to look casual while answering the phone.

“I’m having dinner with my family right now. If it’s urgent, I’ll call you back later.” Penelope rested her forehead in her hand. Did he really think no one knew who was calling him?

“Dad, help me! The warehouse is on fire, and I’m locked inside!”

Marico’s panicked voice roared from the phone. Steven froze for a second, then shot up in shock. But because his legs were crossed, he stumbled, hitting the table leg and falling back into his chair. He dragged the tablecloth with him, sending his plate and glass tumbling into his lap.

To make matters worse, his bowl was full of the hot soup Nydia had just served him. “Ow! Hot! It’s burning!” Steven yelled instinctively.

“Dad! I’m the one who’s about to burn to death! Help me!”

Hearing his son’s desperate screams, Steven forgot everything else and scrambled to his feet, ready to bolt out the door.

“Even if you drove at top speed, Uncle, whoever’s in there would be nothing but ash by the time you arrived,” Theodore said casually.

Steven may have been foolish, but he understood the implication.

“It was you! You set my son on fire!”

Theodore frowned. “The person I intended to set on fire was the one who hired the truck driver to run me over That couldn’t possibly be your son, my dear cousin, could it?”

“Or was he the one trying to kill me?”

“Of-of course not!”

“Then the person in the warehouse isn’t him. What are you so worried about?”

Theodore picked up his soup bowl and began to sip it calmly.

“Dad, he….. he’s setting people on fire! This is lawless!” Unable to do anything else, Steven turned to Mr. Stapleton Sr. for help.

The old man, however, suddenly played deaf and dumb. “Who’s on fire? Who did what?”

“Dad, don’t play dumb!”

“Ahem, I’m suddenly feeling sleepy. I’m going to my room for a quick nap. You all carry on!” With that, the old man got up briskly and vanished into his bedroom.

Penelope, still chewing on her lamb, glanced at the frantic Steven and Nydia across the table, then at the ever-composed Theodore sipping his soup. What kind of nerve did this family have to dare cross him?

“This soup is excellent. You should have some.”

Theodore even poured her a bowl, which Penelope quickly accepted.

“Darling, you’re the best. I promise I’ll be good from now on and never make you angry.”

She had no desire to end up as a pile of ash.

Theodore gave her a sly smile. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

Steven finally broke. “Theo, it was all my fault. wasn’t in my right mind when I tried to harm you! Your cousin had nothing to do with it. Please, tell your men to put out the

de

fire and save him!”

Steven was on the verge of tears. “He’s my only son! If anything happens to him, I

won’t be able to go on! Theo, please, spare your uncle’s life!”