Sophia looked at Stephen. “Do you need your father for something?”

“Yes,” Stephen replied calmly. “I called him earlier. He should be here soon.” Sophia pressed further, “What do you need him for?”

Stephen had a nonchalant look on his face as he drawled blandly, “It’s about expelling Jacqueline from the Jacobsons.”

“Jacqueline’s been arrested?” Sophia widened her eyes in surprise. “When was she arrested?”

Stephen promptly responded, “They caught her at Arcton yesterday.”

Sophia was taken aback by the news. “Have you told your grandparents about this?”

“Yes. Grandpa won’t be able to come, but he said he’ll leave the matter to me. I’ve also informed Grandma about this,” Stephen said.

Sophia let out a weary sigh. “Your grandmother has always doted on Jacqueline. She might not agree to your decision.”

“So what if she doesn’t? No one, not even Grandma, can change my mind after I’ve made a decision,” Stephen answered resolutely.

…

Rowena returned from visiting her friends after hearing that her grandson,

Stephen, had an important announcement to make.

Caleb had also pushed his work aside to hurry home.

Soon, the entire family congregated at the Jacobson residence’s hall. They sat on

the couches there, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Rowena was the first to end the silence, asking, “Stephen, did something happen?”

All eyes fell on Stephen upon hearing those words.

Stephen wasn’t fazed. Instead, he took his phone out and made a call, saying, “Bring her over.”

Once he ended the call, he answered succinctly, “You’ll know soon enough, Grandma.”

Five minutes later, Lawrence walked in with Jacqueline in tow.

Rowena stiffened momentarily before hobbling over. “Oh, Jacqueline. What were you thinking?”

Rowena’s expression was one of

abject disappointment as tears

glistened in her eyes. “Your grandfather told me that you ordered Susan to kidnap Seline on the day of the engagement ceremony. Is this true?”

Jacqueline’s face was pale, her lips chapped, and her eyes sunken. She looked

so frail, as if a mild breeze would blow her over.

Rowena’s heartstrings tugged at the sight. She hesitated briefly before eventually asking, “What have you been through these past few days? How did you end up like this?”

“Grandma…” Jacqueline let out a pitiful whine as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Rowena’s heart clenched. After all, she had raised Jacqueline. Although Jacqueline had made mistakes, she couldn’t bear to see her granddaughter in such a piteous state.

Unfortunately, Rowena didn’t know that Jacqueline had ordered her goons to commit murder. She only knew that Jacqueline had ordered Susan to kidnap Selina.

In her eyes, there was still hope for Jacqueline yet.

What she didn’t know was that Susan was dead-and it wasn’t just her. Jacqueline had also silenced Susan’s father, as well as Garret and his mother permanently.

Hope was far beyond Jacqueline’s reach now.

Stephen parted his lips and intoned

coldly, “Jacqueline, I shall say my piece before the entire family. I hereby renounce you as kin, and you are formally expelled from the family. Henceforth, you no longer have any ties to the Jacobsons.”