Chapter 16

Before Liliana could finish, Zane pulled Jessie into his arms. "If you don't want to acknowledge people like these as your parents, then just cut ties with them." To most people, severing ties with one's parents was often seen as the ultimate act of defiance. That was because it was one's parents who gave one life. So, no matter how badly one was treated, one should never say such a thing. Zane hadn't been there when Jessie declared she would sever ties with her parents. He simply couldn't stand seeing her being treated like this and wanted to be on her side without question. From the moment she was born, Jessie had never had anyone who would stand by her this unwaveringly. Phillip's face stiffened. "Mr. Stafford, with all due respect, this is a family matter. I don't think you—" "Jessie is my fiancee now. Her business is my business. If she's been wronged, it's an insult to me." Wallace wasn't about to miss this chance to kick them while they were down. "Mr. Stafford, before you