Chapter 274
"Why?" Eleanor gripped her cane tightly as she stared at Alexander, her expression not showing her usual kindness, but rather a rare stubbornness.
"Alexander, I overlooked your foolishness before. But now Emily has children, and you're still letting them live elsewhere like an abandoned family? Have you no conscience at all?"
Eleanor was completely satisfied with Emily.
In her eyes, Emily's children could only be Alexander's—there was no need for any consideration or doubt.
Now that he refused to bring his wife and children home, Eleanor was trembling with anger.
Natalie, who typically maintained a façade of respect toward Eleanor, seized the opportunity. "Alexander, you've truly gone too far this time."
Quentin let out a cold snort without saying anything, but his meaning was clear.
It was rare for the Foster family to stand united, all opposing Alexander.
Alexander stood there, his brows slightly furrowed.
He could easily ignore Quentin and Natalie, but Eleanor was different.
After deliberating for several seconds, Alexander offered an explanation. "Grandmom, it's not as simple as you think. Emily and I still have many unresolved issues. Bringing them back now would only push her further away from me."
In truth, how could he not want to bring Emily and the twins home?
But considering her attitude, he had to refuse.
"I'll handle this matter. You shouldn't get involved."
"What nonsense is this?" Natalie interjected disapprovingly. "Since they're your children, they're Fosters and must return to the Foster family. If she's unwilling..."
Natalie paused briefly, letting out a slight snort, her expression turning harsh. "We could always separate the children from the mother. It wouldn't be the first time such things have happened."
"Outrageous!" Before Alexander could respond, Eleanor's cane struck the floor forcefully. "When Emily was pregnant, Alexander got engaged to someone else. The Foster family already wronged them! Now she's raised those children single-handedly, and you dare suggest such a thing!"
She shot a fierce glare at Natalie, showing no mercy. "No wonder Alexander turned out so heartless—he was raised by parents like you!"
She was clearly furious, condemning all the younger generation.
While Quentin and Alexander naturally remained silent, Natalie was different.
She had been raised as a treasured daughter, marrying Quentin through a business arrangement. Her life appeared glamorous on the surface, but always felt incomplete inside.
Being scolded like this darkened her expression. She let out a cold laugh. "How is this my fault? I haven't had children with someone outside my marriage, nor abandoned my own children. The Foster family seems to have quite the tradition in this regard."
Quentin had a son outside his marriage—Daniel, whom he brought home when Alexander was in a coma.
Now, though Alexander and Emily were legally married, he had allowed Emily and their children to live elsewhere because of another woman.
Eleanor was momentarily silenced, knowing the fault lay with the Foster family.
She sat down in the armchair, her aged hands clutching her cane tightly. "Alexander, I don't care what you're thinking, but you must cut ties completely with that other woman and bring Emily and the children back."
"Otherwise, when I die, I don't want you at my funeral!"
At these words, Alexander's expression changed. "Grandmom!"
"If you still consider me your grandmom, go bring them home immediately! Half a month—I'm giving you just half a month. If you don't bring them back, you no longer have a grandmom. "
Eleanor was clearly beside herself, her words harsh and absolute.
Alexander's brows furrowed tightly.
He knew Eleanor loved Emily, but he hadn't expected such an ultimatum.
And Eleanor was known for her unwavering resolve—once she said something, she meant it.
"Grandmom..."
"Don't call me that. Just go bring them home!"
He sighed deeply and turned to leave.
Eleanor watched his departing figure, a flash of sadness crossing her features.
But when her gaze fell on Quentin and Natalie. "Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. Those children were raised by Emily through her hard work. No one is to take them from her! If you want them back, behave yourselves! If you dare mistreat her like before, don't blame me for being harsh!"
She was well aware of Quentin's dismissiveness and Natalie's hostility toward Emily in the past.
She blamed herself for being too lenient then, thinking they would recognize Emily's devotion and sincerity without her intervention.
Instead, they had driven Emily away completely.
This time, she would absolutely not allow that to happen again.
Victoria had been drinking tea in the living room when she overheard this explosive conversation. Her jaw nearly dropped in shock.
"That bitch Emily's children are my brother's? What about Sophie? No, this absolutely cannot happen."
Pushing away her teacup, she quickly grabbed her phone and rushed upstairs to her bedroom.
"Sophie, did you know Emily's children are my brother's? The family wants him to bring them back. What are we going to do?"
Sophie, who had been drinking wine at home, felt a surge of hatred upon hearing these words. "They want to bring those bastards into the Foster family? They're not Alexander's children!"
"How do you know?" Victoria was shocked.
Sophie recounted the incident at the DNA testing center, embellishing the details significantly.
"If they really were Alexander's children, why wouldn't she agree to the test? I even said I'd step aside if the children were his, but she still refused. Doesn't that prove she's guilty?"
Victoria, always hot-headed, completely lost her reason when her beloved Sophie accused her most hating Emily.
She immediately sided with Sophie. "How disgusting! She's trying to trick my brother? She wants to bring another man's children into the Foster family? I won't allow it! Sophie, what should we do?"
Meanwhile, Emily stood outside the kindergarten, her brows furrowing when she once again spotted the impeccably dressed security personnel. Wariness filled her eyes.
Cherie immediately stepped forward. "What do you want?"
The bodyguard before them was clearly more courteous than the previous ones, his manner respectful. "Ms. Ward, the Madam would like to see you. Please come with us."
Various questions flashed through Emily's mind, but her response was quick: "If your Madam wants to see me, why doesn't she come herself instead of sending you? It seems she's not that eager to meet me either, so let's forget it."
"Ms. Ward, please don't make this difficult for us."
"You're the ones making it difficult for me. I have no interest in your Madam."
A sigh filled with resignation came from behind them: "Emily, do you not even want to see me anymore?"