Chapter 9 This Family Will Split Whether You Agree It or Not

• Ivy let out a bitter laugh. "You've used my child for so many years, and now that he's no longer useful, you want him dead? How cruel ... "
• Her laughter soon turned to tears, making her look pitiful. Tammy shoved Gloria aside and rushed to support the trembling Ivy.
• At that moment, Lara, realizing what was happening, also moved to help, taking Ivy's other side.
• Everyone from the second and third branches stood there in stunned silence. Had their mother been a mere mistress?
• At that moment, they finally understood their father's dying words. He had desperately sought their older brother's forgiveness and made him promise to look after their mother.
• As for Emily, the third wife, she shut her eyes in agony. Once a noblewoman, she had married the son of a mistress. It felt like poetic justice. She deserved this.
• Onlookers, other exiled people, were now curiously glancing over. Melissa, whose secret had just been exposed, trembled before rolling her eyes and fainting on the spot.
• "Mom!"
• "Grandma!"
• The members from the second and third branches rushed over to her. Gloria, having failed to land a blow on Tammy, quickly seized the moment.
• "Tammy, look what you've done to Grandma!"
• Her words reignited the anger of the second and third branches, turning their resentment back toward Tammy. But Tammy was unfazed as she stepped forward. In the dimly lit cave, she noticed a slight twitch in Melissa's fingers.
• "Heh ... " Tammy chuckled softly.
• "Since I'm the one who caused this, I guess it's my responsibility to fix it."
• No one understood what she meant, but Tammy walked over to Melissa, firmly pinching a pressure point under her nose.
• "Ouch!" Melissa jolted awake with a scream.
• Tammy's nails had raked across Melissa's cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood in their wake.
• "Tammy, are you trying to kill me?"
• Melissa lashed out first, but Tammy remained calm. "Oh, you misunderstand. I was saving you. If it weren't for me, you'd still be unconscious."
• Melissa was rendered speechless.
• It was as if she had dug her own grave. One way or another, Tammy would drive her crazy.
• "Mom, what are you planning to do about Remus?"
• Ivy, her heart filled with worry, stared intently at Melissa, clearly demanding a solution.
• "What do you expect me to do?" Melissa's chest heaved with anger.
• Even if she had money, she wouldn't spend it to save that woman's son!
• "I need to borrow some money."
• Ivy's gaze swept over everyone present, making them all uneasy.
• The main branch really has lost it!
• "Grandma, let's set the past aside for now. The Heywards hasn't officially split yet, so my husband's problem is the family's problem.
• "I hope you won't refuse to help. If you do, I might just go mad—and when I do, I won't recognize anyone, not even my own family."
• Tammy's cold words sent a chill through the room. In truth, she had already given Remus medicine for his fever when Ivy wasn't looking.
• While Ivy was full of worry, Tammy was more focused on achieving her real goal.
• Hearing Tammy's threat, Callie's eyes gleamed. She quickly turned to Melissa and said, "Mom, Father's gone, and our brother has been missing for over a year. This family is falling apart. Maybe it's time to officially split. What do you think?"
• Callie gave Melissa a meaningful look, knowing she was Melissa's niece and closest ally.
• Melissa hesitated. She had once resisted splitting the family because her children relied on Ivy's son for their wealth and status.
• But now things had changed. Her children had money, and even in exile, they would live better than Remus' family.
• Why not split now and cut ties for good?
• Melissa was about to speak when Ivy, stubborn and determined, declared, "I refuse to split the family. You must help save Remus!"
• Tammy wasn't too worried, knowing she had already given Remus medicine. But Ivy, as a concerned mother, was still consumed by her fear for Remus' life.
• Meanwhile, Lara cried out, "Grandma, I don't want to split the family! You're my favorite, and I want to stay with you!"
• Lara had always been close to Melissa, genuinely seeing her as a grandmother. Her plea made Tammy frown.
• It seemed that even if the family split, Lara would need to be watched carefully—she didn't seem to understand where her true loyalties should lie.
• Ivy's heart ached at Lara's words. If her real mother-in-law could see this, she'd probably blame Ivy for failing to raise her children right.
• However, Daniel stood firm, his head held high. "I won't agree to split the family either. I want to save my brother!"
• Tears welled up in his eyes. Too much had happened in one day, and the family he once trusted now seemed monstrous.
• But what hurt most was their refusal to save his brother—the very man who had brought them all wealth and honor.
• "No!"
• Melissa turned to her sons and spoke firmly. "This family will split whether you agree it or not!"
• She wasn't going to let her children be dragged down by Remus any longer!
• "I ... I agree to split!"
• Emily, who was missing a front tooth, was the first to agree. She wanted nothing more to do with Tammy and her family. Just thinking about it made her furious!
• With Emily's agreement, her husband Mark followed suit, as did Lucian from the second branch.
• Without even needing the first branch's approval, Melissa forced the family to split. Melissa ended the discussion with an air of righteousness. "There's no property left to divide anyway. We'll each go our own way. I'll stay with Lucian, and you won't have to care for me in my old age.
• "As for Remus, whether he lives or dies is up to fate. I'm just an old woman, and there's nothing I can do."
• Ivy shivered, feeling a cold dread settle over her. All the respect she once had for Melissa felt like it had been thrown away.
• Her voice trembled as she spoke. "You ... you're all so heartless."
• "Mom ... "
• Suddenly, a weak voice interrupted. Everyone turned toward the sound to see Remus, now awake, though his voice was hoarse.
• Tammy quickly rushed to his side.
• "Hubby," she said urgently, placing a hand on his forehead to check his temperature.
• Her concern seemed genuine, and Remus found himself even more confused by the woman in front of him.
• Ivy and Daniel quickly rushed over. "Remus!"
• Ivy held Remus' hand as tears streamed down her face like a string of broken pearls.
• Daniel couldn't hold back his tears either. Meanwhile, Lara remained standing by Melissa's side, still not grasping the situation.
• "Grandma, I don't want to split the family. I want to stay with you," Lara sobbed, completely oblivious to the fact that her brother had just woken up.
• "Lara!"
• Ivy gritted her teeth and shouted, snapping Lara out of her daze.
• Slowly, she made her way over to Remus.
• Remus glanced at Lara with a dark, unreadable look, then took a deep breath and gave his final decision.
• "I ... agree to split the family."