When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 89



"Grandpa, why can't I just..."

"Leave, now."

Merritt's tone was tinged with frustration, and Clyde knew better than to argue.

Clyde glanced at me, then at Merritt, before finally exiting the study.

As soon as he left, I hurriedly spoke up, "Merritt, didn't we agree?"

We had an agreement that he would help me with the divorce, that he wouldn't make things difficult for me. But what was this?

Was I supposed to be some kind of lady of the manor, expected to turn a blind eye while my husband brought home another woman? Even if Kayla wasn't even in the running!

"We did agree, but circumstances have changed."

Merritt seemed to age right in front of me, constantly massaging his temples.

"Melanie, you're a good kid. This mess is indeed Clyde's fault. He's been reckless over the years."

I kept my head down, not saying a word. Everyone in the Patterson family knew about his recklessness, but they were his flesh and blood. I was just an outsider.

Seeing that I remained silent, he sighed again.

"Clyde's not fully recovered. Kayla didn't just give him sleeping pills; there was a toxin involved."

"She poisoned him?"

The thought of Kayla being pregnant and potentially making Clyde infertile made my skin crawl. Her child would be the sole heir to the Patterson legacy.

He nodded, "We only found out recently. The toxin won't affect his health too much, but it will definitely complicate having children."

"The doctor said it would take at least two years to metabolize the toxin, and with treatment, Clyde can't father any children for three years."

I understood his implication. Given the Lairds' stance, anything could happen in these three years. He couldn't take that risk.

So Kayla's unborn child wasn't just her bargaining chip; it was Clyde's too.

I took a deep breath and looked up at him determinedly.

"Merritt, then let's proceed with the divorce. Let Kayla marry into the family. Regardless of who's backing her, her promises won't exceed Mrs. Patterson's status."

"She's a pragmatic woman. She'll weigh her options and won't collaborate with outsiders."

I was already on the path to divorce, and now with Kayla pregnant, it seemed like everyone could be satisfied.

Kayla despised me, but not Clyde, nor the Patterson family. She likely couldn't wait to become Mrs. Patterson.

It seemed like a perfect arrangement to me, and I couldn't fathom Merritt's hesitation.

But Merritt scoffed disdainfully, "Her? Dream on about entering our doors in her next life."

"Melanie, I'll repeat myself. You're the only Mrs. Patterson, and that won't change."

"I've seen your capabilities, and I understand your heart. No one is more suitable to stabilize things than you, so you and Clyde cannot divorce."

This was a complete departure from what I had anticipated. I wanted to argue, but one look from Merritt told me it was futile.

Kayla's background indeed made her unsuitable as a match for the Patterson family, something I had overlooked.

my fists, striving to

I

I appreciate what

I no longer have feelings for each other. It might be

wasn't me who helped you then, it was Clyde. I won't take credit

his gaze,

made a scene at my house for ages

and he dragged himself between home and the hospital, which was

devoted himself to grooming Clyde, recognizing his potential.

found out you had gone

When your dad got into trouble, he couldn't leave to find you, only begging

by those people long ago. She survived

in his story, "Those

your dad's death but was obstructed. He never gave up over the

his feelings for

young people, nor do I want to. But the Patterson Group

owe him, you should be the

tumultuous,

suspected foul play in my father's death and even in our family

then, I was preoccupied with studies and

interconnected, ultimately trapping the Crawford

my mother's survival was

many overlooked details rushed

hospital rooms, and the specialists we could call on at

my head,

value loyalty and rigs. So, let's not divorce anymore,

noousness. So, let's not

l

until the child is

Chapter 89



can't I

"Leave, now."

tinged with frustration, and Clyde

at me, then at Merritt, before finally exiting the

left, I hurriedly spoke

me with the divorce, that he wouldn't make things difficult for me.

to be some kind of lady of the manor, expected to turn a blind eye while my husband brought home another woman? Even if Kayla wasn't

did agree, but circumstances have

seemed to age right in front of

good kid. This mess is indeed Clyde's fault. He's been reckless over

the Patterson family knew

remained

fully recovered. Kayla didn't just give him

"She poisoned him?"

of Kayla being pregnant and potentially making Clyde infertile made my skin crawl. Her child would be the

found out recently. The toxin won't affect his health too much, but it will definitely complicate having

to metabolize the

Lairds' stance, anything could happen in these three years. He couldn't take

wasn't just her bargaining chip; it was

and looked

marry into the family. Regardless of who's backing

She'll weigh her options and won't collaborate with

and now with Kayla

Patterson family. She likely couldn't

a perfect arrangement to me, and I couldn't fathom

Merritt scoffed disdainfully, "Her? Dream on about