Chapter 675 - 674

675 ?Chapter 674

Oliver’s roar made Jake tighten his jaw.

He steadied Melissa. “Mom, let’s go.”

The words took Oliver by surprise.

He hadn’t expected Jake to actually leave and frowned in confusion.

Nathan was immediately displeased.

While Selena brought benefits to the Horton family, Nathan knew well the value of a granddaughter versus a grandson. He spoke up, “Where do you think you’re going, Jake? There’s no overnight feud between father and son. Apologize to your father, and let’s move past this.”

Oliver lifted his chin, looking down at Jake with a sneer. “Let him go if he wants. Once he’s out of the Horton family, let’s see how he manages!”

He was confident Jake had lived a life of luxury and would find it hard to leave behind.

Jake replied with a wry smile, “Grandpa, I’ll come back to visit.”

Before Nathan could respond, Oliver scoffed, “Visit? Once you’re gone, you’re no longer part of the family. Don’t bother coming back! Do you think you can mooch off your grandfather?”

Nathan snapped, “Oliver! Don’t be so harsh with Jake!”

“Harsh?” Oliver said, his anger rising. “Dad, didn’t you hear what he said? He’s abandoning me as his father, so why would he care about you as his grandfather? If he does come back, it will be only to beg for money!”

Jake’s jaw tightened. “Don’t worry. I won’t take a cent from the Horton family.”

Melissa immediately protested, “Jake, don’t be ridiculous. Everything here belongs to you. What do you mean you won’t take anything?”

Oliver sneered, “See? Even now, it’s all about the Hortons’ money! Melissa, I’m giving you a choice. Stay here and let this ungrateful son leave.”

Melissa was momentarily stunned, but Selena spoke up, “Aunt Melissa, you should stay. That way, at least Jake won’t be left struggling without any support… Staying here will at least keep him from starving.”

Melissa was immediately enraged. “How dare you say that?! My son can take care of himself!”

Selena retracted slightly. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just wanted to say… Dad, I’m not looking down on Jake. I just think Aunt Melissa should think this through.”

Oliver sneered, “Think it through? Does she even have a brain? Melissa, if you want to stay, you have to sever all ties with Jake! Otherwise, you both go to the ancestral hall and kneel there for five days and nights. After that, go marry Eve Clark, and then we can consider this settled…”

Melissa looked at him in disbelief. “You want me to kneel in the ancestral hall? All because of a few words from this illegitimate daughter?”

Oliver laughed coldly but said nothing.

Jake turned to her. “Mom, don’t you see? To him, that mistress and this illegitimate daughter are worth more than both of us combined! Why would you want to stay in a family like this? Do you really want to be humiliated like this?”

Melissa looked at Jake, her tears falling freely. “But… but I’ve never worked before. I don’t know how to make a living… If we leave, we won’t even have a place to stay…”

Jake said, “I’ll find a job and take care of you!”

Melissa hesitated.

Jake continued, “Mom, trust me this once. Your whole life has revolved around this man. I went to the best university and married Isla as you wanted, but what good did it do? Now, when things don’t go well, he’s blaming us. What good is he to us?”

Melissa stared blankly at Jake.

He extended his hand. “Mom, come with me.”

Melissa cried, “Jake, I’m really afraid of starving…”

Despite her words, she put her hand in his.

Jake’s eyes reddened as he tightly held her hand. “Mom, I won’t let you starve.”

“What a touching mother-son moment!” Oliver thought he was in control, believing this drama was just a way for them to negotiate.

He sneered, “If you’re leaving, then go quickly! Don’t stick around here!”

He was sure Jake and Melissa wouldn’t dare to leave.

They had never worked a day in their lives, so they were unlikely to have the courage to leave.

But the next moment, Jake dragged Melissa out with determined strides…

Oliver’s heart raced in panic.

He even found himself unconsciously following them a few steps.

The mistress and the illegitimate daughter had never been fit to be part of the family, so he kept them away.

Melissa came from a good background and managed everything at home well…

He was about to speak when Selena linked her arm with his. “Dad, let them go and experience the real world. They’ll learn their lesson and come around. I’ve heard that to handle rebellious kids, you should send them to work in a factory during summer vacation. By the time school starts again, they’ll usually be much more disciplined…”