Early the next morning, the staff at Fost Manor began to busy themselves with decorating the manor and making preparations for Andrew's birthday party.

After returning from the amusement park yesterday, Stephen had shut himself in his study and hadn't come out since.

Opening a drawer at his desk, he took out a document that had been kept within. It was his father's will, clearly detailing the condition for becoming the Fost family heir and inheriting the company shares.

As he stared at the will, Stephen finally felt a burden lift from his shoulders. At last, he would gain complete control over Fost Group.

There was an unchanging rule in the Fost family, passed down through the generations. Only those with an heir could inherit their father's shares and truly become the head of the family.

Since Stephen's father had died young, he could only add this rule to his will.

To inherit the

Immediately, the way the crowd looked at Marissa changed, and whispers started going around the garden.

"You're right. The boy does have a resemblance to Mr. Fost. It isn't impossible to believe he might be Mr. Fost's biological son."

"Ms. Wendell only became infertile because she saved Mr. Fost's life all those years ago. Could it be that Mr. Fost brought back his illegitimate child because he wanted to inherit the family business?"

"Well, such behavior isn't exactly uncommon in those prestigious families. And here I thought there was finally a genuine relationship between members of the upper echelons of society. I feel bad for poor Ms. Wendell, though. She almost died for Mr. Fost, yet this is how he repays her."

The discussion gradually spiraled out of control as someone guessed that possibility.

Marissa's expression darkened, but just as she was about to speak, Stephen came out

Suddenly, a wave of helplessness washed over Natania.

She curled her lips into a bitter smile and said, "Forget it. You all can think what you like. What I say doesn't seem to matter anyway."

"Daddy, that bad woman has admitted to it! You definitely have to punish her!" Andrew said while tugging on Stephen's sleeve. At the same time, he snuck a look at Rosalie.

Both mother and son locked gazes, and when Rosalie subtly nodded, the tense look on Andrew's face eased slightly.

Stephen crouched down to stroke Andrew's head, his eyes shining with love. "Good boy, Andy. I'll definitely protect you."

Following that, he frostily ordered, "Take Mrs. Fost to the mausoleum at Fost Manor. Her punishment is to kneel there. No one is allowed to let her leave without my permission!"

His words were like the final nail in the coffin, pushing the situation past the point of no return.

With that said, he helped Rosalie to her feet before the family of three headed for the door. Throughout it all, he never once looked at Natania again.

However, Rosalie did shoot Natania a provocative look, the smugness in her eyes stabbing at Natania's heart.

Upon seeing the car drive off, Marissa finally nodded in satisfaction. Putting on the air of someone elderly, she waved her hand and ordered the housekeepers to drag Natania away forcefully.

The housekeepers, who had been working here for years, felt their hearts go out to Natania. They whispered into her ear in hopes of comforting her, "Don't worry, Mrs. Fost. We believe that you're not that kind of person. Mr. Fost must have his reasons for doing this. With how much he loves you, there's no way he would really let you suffer any grievances."

Natania chuckled bitterly in response. She didn't think it mattered anymore as she was about to leave.

She knelt in the mausoleum for three whole days, the entire process harder to endure than she had expected. The housekeepers at Fost Manor had clearly been given instructions, as they would come every few hours to whip her and throw a barrage of insults at her.

The thin whip lashed into her back relentlessly, yet Natania refused to allow even a grunt to escape her lips. She bit her lip so hard that it bled, and the coppery taste filled her mouth as her despair grew.

She abruptly thought of that time seven years ago, when Stephen had knelt in the mausoleum for three whole days because he wanted to marry her. His untreated broken ribs had almost caused him to become crippled for life.

In truth, Marissa wasn't the only one who was rooting for them to break up back then. Sophia and Natania's parents had also tried their best to persuade Natania not to marry him. After all, everyone knew how deeply the Fost family valued having heirs.

However, it had hurt her to see him like that, and believing that their relationship could overcome any obstacles, she had ignored the tremendous pressure on her and registered her marriage to Stephen.

Natania wondered if what she was going through now was her karma for falling in love with the wrong person.

"Stephen Fost, you'd better not regret this!" she thought.

It wasn't until the fourth morning that the door to the mausoleum slowly opened, and Stephen entered.

"Darling, I've come to take you out," Stephen said hoarsely, his expression showing a trace of fatigue.

Natania pretended as though she hadn't heard him. She merely stared numbly at the plaque before her that listed the various ancestors of the Fost family entombed here.

"That's right. The Fost family has always kept this mausoleum well-maintained, and every generation of family head has been laid to rest here, their lineage undying. It's my own fault for blindly believing that Stephen wouldn't want children. Now that things have turned out like this, I can only blame myself," she mused.

She didn't pay him any attention as she slowly stood up. Due to the many hours of kneeling, her legs had long since gone numb, and the slightest movement pulled at the wounds on her back.

Hence, she had barely gotten to her feet when her knees buckled and she collapsed.

Stephen was quick enough to catch her before she fell.

"Tania, it's only right that you be punished for doing something wrong. Otherwise, how will you be a role model for Andy? Besides, you only had to kneel for your punishment."

She only had to kneel? Then what about the wounds beneath her clothes?

Chuckling bitterly, she shoved Stephen away. "Stephen Fost, do you even remember what you said to me back then? You said that as long as I didn't like him, you would send that boy away."

Stephen frowned before sighing. His voice was exasperated as he replied, "Tania, the Fost family needs an heir, and he's the best choice. As husband and wife, we need to be on the same side. You have to think about it from my perspective."

His same old excuse was grating on Natania's nerves. She couldn't help but mock, "Is that so? With how insistent you're being, if I didn't know better, I would've thought that he's your biological son."

Stephen's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes shifted nervously. "How could that be possible? Darling, I'll only ever love you alone in this life. But Andy is a good kid. He's very obedient."

Whether he loved her or not was something Natania no longer wanted to agonize over. Nonetheless, for a relationship that had lasted so many years to end up this way, the emotions she had been suppressing were close to exploding.

"Stephen, just how long…"

However, she never got to finish her sentence as Rosalie happened to walk in just then.

"Stephen, Andy is kicking up a fuss, saying he wants to go to the amusement park. Let's go together." As she spoke, she swept her eyes across Natania's body. "But Mrs. Fost doesn't look too good. She…"

"She's not going," Stephen answered firmly, making the decision directly for Natania. 

His face was blank when he turned to Natania and said, "Tomorrow is Andy's birthday, and the Fost family will be holding a birthday party at Fost Manor for him. We'll also use this opportunity to announce his identity. As his mother, you should make the necessary preparations."

Natania inwardly scoffed. Just the thought of her becoming Andrew's mother made her want to vomit.

She limped her way out and spotted Sophia standing off in the distance. The latter appeared very anxious as she waited for Natania.

No longer hesitating, Natania headed toward Sophia, only to hear Stephen's voice speak up from behind her. "Tania, I'm taking Andy to the amusement park, so I won't be coming back tonight. You get some good rest. I'll send someone to fetch you tomorrow morning."

Natania didn't even look back as she hummed softly in reply.

For some reason, panic gnawed at him as he watched her gradually retreating figure.

However, he warned himself not to be so soft-hearted anymore. He was well aware of Natania's prideful nature. If he wanted Andrew to officially become a member of the Fost family, and thus his heir, he knew that this was a conflict they would have to endure.

He believed in Natania's love for him, so he was certain that she would eventually compromise despite her initial refusal.

Meanwhile, Natania finally managed to get into Sophia's car with her help.

"Tania, I have your packed suitcase with me. Also, Rosalie passed this folder to me."

Opening the folder, Natania saw that it contained the divorce agreement. There, on the dotted line, was Stephen's signature.

She gazed at the family of three from the car window as they climbed into Stephen's car and sped off, smiling and laughing all the while. Her expression turned icy.

"Soph, to the airport. Let's leave immediately."

"Stephen Fost, this time, I'm choosing to let you go," she thought grimly.

Early the next morning, the staff at Fost Manor began to busy themselves with decorating the manor and making preparations for Andrew's birthday party.

After returning from the amusement park yesterday, Stephen had shut himself in his study and hadn't come out since.

Opening a drawer at his desk, he took out a document that had been kept within. It was his father's will, clearly detailing the condition for becoming the Fost family heir and inheriting the company shares.

As he stared at the will, Stephen finally felt a burden lift from his shoulders. At last, he would gain complete control over Fost Group.

There was an unchanging rule in the Fost family, passed down through the generations. Only those with an heir could inherit their father's shares and truly become the head of the family.

Since Stephen's father had died young, he could only add this rule to his will.

To inherit the family business, Stephen had no choice but to comply with the will of the family elders.

Nonethele

Chapter 9