Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Even though Alyssa was irked by Aidan’s taunts, she appeared more emotionally composed than before, possibly due to being in love. She calmed down soon enough.
However, Jeremy was the one who couldn’t take it. He took her hand and pulled her into a tight hug.
Holding her shoulder, he addressed Aidan sternly, “Is that your family rule? I thought it was arrogance and conceitedness.”
Aidan furrowed his brows. “What did you say?”
“Am I wrong?” Jeremy cast an intimidating look at him. “I don’t care about the relationship between your family and hers. Lyse is a sensible and well-mannered woman. She wouldn’t slight you if you didn’t do it to her in the first place.
“You were rude to her just now. It’s clear that you’re the problem here. Mr. Lovelace, you’re a senior to Lyse and a respectable man, but I’m appalled by your behavior.”
Alyssa lifted her gaze to stare at Jeremy through tears. She fought the urge to give him a kiss there and then in front of everyone.
“You¡ª” Aidan finally sprung up from the couch and glared at Jeremy.
“Aidan!” Julien, looking glum, showed up right in time just as the tension was about to get out of hand. Mandy followed closely behind him, only stopping after she spotted Aidan, sensibly keeping a distance between them.
Meanwhile, Lyla, Colene, Tatiana, and Sean joined the scene after learning that the Lovelaces had stepped foot in Heightsnew Villa, as they feared any potential altercation. It was so rare to see a
Lovelace at the Taylors’ residence.
As Jeremy was not a Taylor, he did not understand the dynamics between the two feuding families. However, Alyssa’s heart had leaped into her throat upon seeing the situation.
“Aidan, let’s talk after we leave,” whispered Julien after he stopped in front of Aidan.
Aidan, with a hand in his pocket, slowly turned around to face his younger brother. The next moment, a resounding slap echoed in the living room, causing everyone to gasp.
Aidan had slapped Julien hard in front of everyone. The sound rang throughout the area. He spat, “You shameless brat! Have you forgotten about the vows made by Grandpa and Dad?”
It seemed like Aidan deliberately wanted to go against Julien. He insisted on arguing and shaming Julien in the living room, even though Julien had suggested talking elsewhere.
Aidan continued, “Do not blame me for going hard on you. You’ve humiliated Grandpa and Dad. As your brother, I’ll need to teach you a lesson by giving you a taste of your own medicine.”
Mandy’s heart tightened when she witnessed her favorite nephew being slapped by Aidan. Although she was the one who called Aidan to get Julien, she hadn’t expected Aidan to be so unruly as to get physical in Heightsnew Villa.
She had a strong desire to protect Julien, but she recalled that she had made vows. The moment she decided to choose Winston over the Lovelace family despite their protests, she was no longer a Lovelace. Their fortunes were none of her business.
Shaking violently, Julien merely clenched his fist and hung his head defeatedly. His usual vigor and confidence were nowhere to be found.
“Aidan, act civil. Why would you slap him in front of others? That’s not how a Lovelace should behave.” Seething, Alyssa tried to approach Aidan but was held back by Jeremy.
Jeremy wasn’t against Alyssa standing up for Julien. He was just worried that Aidan might hurt her, given how crazy he had behaved.
“I’m hitting a Lovelace, so it has nothing to do with you.” Snickering, Aidan took a subtle jab, “Unless Julien turns into another shameless loser and a disgrace to the family, who ditches his family for love, I will need to keep him in line as his brother.”
Without naming Mandy, he subtly humiliated her, calling her a shameless loser and a disgrace to the family. The Taylors fully grasped the underlying meaning of his remark.
“Hey, what the fuck do you think you’re doing here? Who are you calling shameless and a disgrace? Grow a pair and say it out loud!” Colene furiously charged at Aidan, but Lyla and Tatiana pulled her back with great difficulty as if they were holding down a stubborn donkey.
Colene barked, “Say it out loud, and I’ll crack your head open! Try me!”
Aidan scoffed at her in disdain. In his eyes, Colene was as lowly as Mandy¡ªWinston Taylor’s mistress had no business speaking to him.
“Aidan, stop it. If you’re angry, take it out on me.” Julien inhaled deeply. His eyes were bloodshot, and his body was shaking like a leaf. “It was all my idea. I was the one who insisted on coming to the Taylors and treating Mr. Winston. Aunt Mandy had nothing to do with it, so keep her out of this matter!”
“Get lost!” Aidan chastised Julien.
Despite feeling reluctant to leave Heightsnew Villa, Julien understood that he would only cause more trouble for Mandy and the other members of the Taylor family if he stayed put.
He dragged himself out of the living room. A few steps later, he couldn’t help but turn around to sweep his gaze across the area.
Jonah was nowhere to be found at the most challenging time. Julien pondered whether Jonah was not intending to see him off, questioning whether the latter truly contemplated breaking up with him.
Just then, Aidan suddenly marched over to Mandy with a frosty expression.
Aidan called out, “Aunt Mandy.”
An oppressive silence hung in the living room. Mandy gritted her teeth as she laid her eyes on Aidan. He wore an amused expression.
He did not courteously address her as “Aunt Mandy” to protect her ego; it was all to uphold his image and reputation as the eldest grandson of the Lovelace family.
“Grandpa hasn’t been eating or drinking for two days after learning about what Julien had done. He is bedridden because of anger. You can imagine how furious he is now.”
Aidan’s eyes were emotionless as he continued, “The last time Grandpa had an outburst of a similar extent was when you decided to be with Mr. Winston despite knowing he was a married man. You volunteered to be his mistress, tainting you and our family’s reputations.”
Aidan had used the insulting word “mistress” to describe one of his family members. Mandy turned white but did not back down. She might no longer be a Lovelace, but she still carried a dignified air.
Alyssa felt a stabbing pain in her chest. Trembling, she felt anger flooding her veins.
Jeremy furrowed his brows as he grasped her cold hand tightly. At this moment, he had finally wrapped his head around the situation. The Lovelaces had a vendetta with the Taylors due to the relationship between Mandy and Winston.
Watching Mandy getting humiliated was Julien’s last straw. He bellowed, “Aidan, enough is enough! I have agreed to go home with you. What more do you want?”
Aidan’s forehead wrinkled in anger. He pointed a finger in Julien’s face. “Shut up! This is not your place to speak!”
Alyssa glowered at Aidan. With a stifling family like this, she finally understood why Julien chose to live abroad and struggle alone rather than come home to the Lovelaces for an easy career in Lovelace Pharmaceuticals.
“Are you dumb or just plain stupid? Go fly a kite! Stop talking shit here!” Colene freed herself from Lyla and Tatiana. She barged toward Aidan like an unrestrained animal.
Thankfully, Sean stopped her halfway in her tracks. Only a six-foot man like Sean had the strength to hold her back.
Aidan calmly chuckled. He turned to Mandy. “Aunt Mandy, Dad sent me here for two reasons¡ªto bring Julien home and to send you a message.
“Dad said you should keep your word after breaking ties with the Lovelace family. Stop coming up with excuses to drag our family through the mud.
“Do you recall the time Ms. Alyssa nearly had her uterus removed after she suffered a rupture from the miscarriage? You knelt and starved in the garden of Grandpa’s house for three days and nights, pressuring him into sharing the medication with Ms.
“Alyssa. Grandpa gave in to you only because you were once his favorite daughter. Remember that?”
Aidan’s casual remark dropped a bomb among the Taylor family members. Alyssa’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stiffened up, paralyzed by the excruciating heartache from the painful memories.
Jeremy widened his eyes in shock and bitterness. Hanging his head low, he closed his eyes from the pain that ripped through his chest.
“It’s fine.” He heard a gentle, comforting whisper in his ear. Alyssa tightened her grip on his cold hand. She managed to utter, “It’s alright, Jeremy. It’s all in the past.”
Her nonchalance only deepened the pain. Jeremy belatedly learned that his heartlessness had cost his Alyssa their only child, rendered her infertile, and nearly ruined her health.
Winston’s three wives were among the first ones to learn about the harsh truth. The other family members were in the dark until Aidan exposed the truth.
“Lyse…” Always the kindest and gentlest soul, Tatiana sobbed silently in Sean’s arms. Sean cried while comforting her.
“Aidan Lovelace, are you done?” Mandy finally lost her temper.
“All I’m doing is deliver Dad’s message. Why else would I waste my time traveling here to talk to you?” Aidan lifted his chin in arrogance and stared down at her pale face. “You were the one who married Winston Taylor and made the vow to cut ties with our family.
“Grandpa reluctantly helped you out only because you went on your knees and risked your life begging him. You should know when to stop instead of pushing your luck.”
Aidan addressed his aunt with no respect at all. As the eldest grandson of Edgar Lovelace, Aidan held himself in high regard as he was favored by the family, saying and doing anything he wished without a care.
“Julien is young and gullible. Often, he can’t tell right from wrong. Aunt Mandy, if you care for him, you shouldn’t drag him down with you. You’ll only put him in a dilemma.” Aidan scoffed and proceeded to leave the place in great strides.
“Stop right there!” Suddenly, Alyssa called out to him in an icy tone.
Aidan stopped dead in his tracks. The annoyed look crept up his face once more.
Alyssa freed herself from Jeremy’s grip and stormed up to Aidan. In the next moment, she raised her hand in the air and slapped Aidan across his face twice with all her strength.
Everyone’s jaw dropped to the ground. Even Jeremy and Aidan were caught off guard by her actions. Aidan finally processed the slap when he felt the burning sensation on his cheek, the ringing in his ear, and the blood trickling down from his lips.
“Alyssa Taylor!” Humiliated and furious, Aidan pressed a hand against his cheek. He gritted his teeth, looking as if he was about to go off at her.
Seeing that, Jeremy hurried over and pulled Alyssa into a protective hug. He shot a threatening glance at Aidan, successfully intimidating the latter.
Aidan’s heart skipped a beat under Jeremy’s glare. For a moment, he forgot about the pain on his cheek.
“The first slap was for Julien. I don’t care about the state of your relationship with him. He’s first and foremost a brother and a friend to me. Slapping him is no different than slapping me.