Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 97

Ternence's voice shot up several octaves. "What did you say? Pregnant?"

Wilma's face turned pale. When the shock subsided, she rounded on Quennel, her voice low and furious. "Is this my birthday present? How could a girl from a family like that be worthy of carrying my grandchild? Quennel, you fool!"

If this got out, she would be utterly humiliated in her circle of friends. Victoria's background wasn't even good enough to be a maid in the Gonzalez household, let alone marry into it. What would the child be? The son of a mistress?

That child would carry the stigma for the rest of his life, and he and his mother would forever be a stain on Quennel's name.

After Wilma's outburst, Ternence picked up where she left off. "Quennel, as a family, we will not be welcoming either of them. Tell that woman to get rid of it immediately! Otherwise, you can get out too! You won't get the house, you won't get a dime, and you won't get a single share of Verdant Grove Capital!"

"If we've failed with you, your mother and I can always try for another! And if not, there's still Stephanie. I owe her, and I wouldn't mind compensating her with the company!"

At this, Wilma blushed. At her age, the thought of Ternence talking about having another child in front of the younger generation was mortifying.

The verbal assault from his parents left Quennel's head spinning. He had always been their pride and joy and had never been treated this way before.

He felt dazed, his eyes fixed on Stephanie, trying to decipher her intentions.

Victoria was pregnant? Why would Stephanie lie about something like that in front of his parents? He had never even slept with Victoria.

Quennel let them yell, not offering a single word of defense.

When they had finally exhausted themselves and saw that Quennel was as silent as a clam, they seemed to lose interest.

Ternence made his stance clear. "Victoria will never set foot in this house unless it's over my dead body!"

Wilma nodded in agreement. "I agree with your father. The child in her belly is a bastard, and the Gonzalez family will not acknowledge it!"

The meal ended in a storm of accusations.

Seeing it was getting late, Stephanie excused herself.

Ternence and Wilma walked her to the gate.

Ternence asked, "Where are you living now? I can have the driver take you home."

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