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.

was clear-Bancroft

his mouth, wanting to defend his daughter, but the moment he met Bancroft's piercing gaze, all the words died on his lips and he lowered

to breathe, looking as fragile as a blade of grass

apologize to your sister-in-law," Bancroft said,

face twisted in humiliation. She bit her lip and

thinking, Silly girl-why are you still

at Fidelia's sleeve and

right or wrong—when the old man gave an

jaw clenched so tightly it seemed her teeth might crack. Forcing the words out, she muttered,

in this household. Since Bancroft had already made his position clear, what

a moment before adding, "You just believed the wrong person, that's all. Still, you're not a child anymore. You need to be more careful about who

here was clever

nothing

to her now, his stern features softening noticeably. If not for his recent outburst, you'd almost think he was just a

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

of this awkward situation, she was more than