Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 196

"Fidelia is young, easily swayed by others. She was clearly in the wrong this time, and I'll make sure to have a serious word with her."

Before Fidelia could even react, Fowler was already reaching for her arm, ready to whisk her away.

"Stop right there."

Suddenly, Bancroft appeared, leaning heavily on his cane as he approached them.

The moment Bancroft showed up, the entire Fowler family felt as if the sky had fallen.

He might have been old, but in the Etheridge family, Bancroft's word was absolute.

And everyone knew-whether they admitted it or not-that for years now, Bancroft had favored Lyman. It was understandable, really. In all these generations, Lyman was the first true genius to emerge from the Etheridge line, and Bancroft naturally paid him special attention.

"I know exactly what happened. And you think you can just brush it off by saying you were misled?"

Bancroft let out a cold huff and tapped his cane sharply against the floor.

Whenever Bancroft tapped his cane, the whole Etheridge family seemed to tremble.

clear-Bancroft was

piercing gaze, all the words died on his

meanwhile, shrank back, barely daring to breathe, looking as fragile as a blade of grass in a

Bancroft said, his tone leaving no

in humiliation. She bit her lip and

you still being stubborn now of

at Fidelia's sleeve and

didn't matter who was right or wrong—when the old man gave an

shot Effie a resentful look, her jaw clenched so tightly it seemed her teeth might crack. Forcing the words out, she muttered,

perfectly well who truly held power in this household. Since Bancroft had already made his position clear, what

wrong person, that's all. Still, you're not a child anymore. You need

left it at that everyone here was clever enough

there was nothing she could do

softening noticeably. If not for his recent outburst, you'd almost think he was just a kindly

keep it to yourself. Come straight to me. I promise you, I'll handle it

enough to truly believe Bancroft would always take her side. As the head of the family, his real

since he was offering her a way out of this awkward