And The Daddy Is… The Infertile Guy?!

Chapter 17

The Chadwick Manor perched on the affluent hillsides of Bayridge City, its sprawling gardens a nod to the old European estates of yesteryear. Its grandeur was understated yet opulent, with intricate carvings adorning the eaves and deep red roof tiles that seemed to whisper of a storied past.

The Chadwick family was divided into two branches. The senior branch resided in the Chadwick Manor, while the junior branch had set up residence in the city center. Howard, the family’s black sheep, had moved into a modest townhouse, though a recent injury had brought his parents to his side for care.

At six in the evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and twilight began to settle, Gwendolyn wheeled Howard through the lengthy corridor to the dining hall.

The room was ablaze with light and bustling with silhouettes. Maids hustled about, laying out a feast on the long table while a commanding female voice urged them on.

“That’s your aunt Farrah,” Roselind whispered to Gwendolyn, “a woman of keen wit and sharp tongue. The man lounging on the settee is your uncle, ruthless and a master of pretense.”

It seemed the Chadwick family was a nest of vipers, and Gwendolyn took note.

Farrah, spotting Howard, greeted him and his family with a sardonic smile. “You finally arrived. Poor Howard in his wheelchair, it just breaks my heart.”

Her eyes were narrow and fox–like, her chin pointed, which was a clear sign not to be trifled

with.

ever,” Roselind

“So, this is your

words were like daggers to the junior branch.

this

speak to me like that, Jeannie! Is this

retorted, hands on hips, ready for a battle of wits.

swung a slap at her niece, but Jeannie was no pushover. She caught Farrah’s hand mid–strike, twisting it until her

all this

venerable voice echoed from the stairwell. There stood the patriarch, Warren, dressed in a

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Chapter 17

dragon head. His eyes were sharp, his presence commanding. Beside him stood Bainbridge, looking smug, and

their squabbles

commanded, and everyone gathered around