Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 59

Old Mr. Rutledge gave Zena a stern talking-to in his study. Zena stood there, chin lifted stubbornly, her whole posture radiating defiance.

To her, Old Mr. Rutledge was simply taking Seren's side again. The rest of his words barely registered.

He shook his head, frustration clear. Zena was always complaining that Seren didn't respect authority, but in truth, Zena herself had never submitted to it either.

Seeing his lecture was pointless, Old Mr. Rutledge cut it short and swept out of the room.

Carla, ever observant, kept her head down.

At the birthday party, she'd made sure not to catch the eye of any of the young men present—a fact that hadn't been forgotten by the family. Now, with Zena freshly reprimanded, Carla knew better than to stir up trouble.

She watched Old Mr. Rutledge leave, forcing herself to wait until he was gone before whispering with the maids at the front hall, gossiping about the heated scene that had just unfolded.

She sighed, shaking her head. "Grandpa's not getting any younger, and yet my sister insists on dragging him into these petty squabbles, turning the whole house upside down. It's just not right. And airing our dirty laundry in front of everyone? She's just too rebellious."

"She really said the Rutledge Group wasn't Grandpa's company anymore, and that she didn't want her shares?" one of the maids whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.

Carla nodded gravely, just as Swain stepped through the door, his expression shifting the moment he heard those words.

He'd been outside, listening to the entire argument.

When Carla noticed Swain, her eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly, playing the innocent as usual.

"Yes, big brother, you heard it. She said it just to upset Mom. I told her not to talk back, but she never listens. Now look how upset Mom is."

Swain listened, a heavy clarity settling over him. Suddenly, everything made sense.

Seren's resolve, her coldness—it wasn't just directed at him. It was for the whole Bradley family.

She wanted to cut ties, to sever every connection.

The answers that had been plaguing him these past few days finally fell into place, but the clarity left him hollow, not relieved.

He'd watched everything that had happened in the past decade. He, more than anyone, understood just how much Seren had suffered.

He'd always tried to reason with her, to talk sense into her.

Now, faced with her determination, he found he couldn't say a word.

An outsider sees the truth more clearly, and Swain knew, deep down, that the family was at fault.

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