Chapter 18
“Sir Kaufman, I’m carrying Antonio’s child,” Zelma yelled, her voice desperate in the night.
Barrett was surprised, looking at the woman kneeling there. He had heard rumors about Antonio seeing someone.
But if they were engaged, why was she on her knees, pleading with him just because she was pregnant?
“Calm down. Take your time. If this involves Antonio, I swear I’ll set things straight,” Barrett said, settling into his chair in the hall and looking down at Zelma.
The Kaufman Group was respected in Wintervale. Barrett wouldn’t let gossip ruin it.
Grace was processing Zelma’s pregnancy news when Barrett waved her over.
“Grace, come give me a shoulder rub,” Barrett said.
Bryce grabbed a stool, ready for a good show. He hadn’t even had a chance to tell Barrett and Zelma arrived on her own.
“Sir Kaufman, Antonio and I were engaged. Yet, he called it off two months ago, saying it was void. I was ready to leave Wintervale, but then I learned I was four months pregnant. I don’t care about myself, but the baby needs a dad!”
Zelma’s words were drenched in sorrow, tears streaming down her face. Bryce, watching from the sidelines, almost applauded her performance.
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If he hadn’t seen the messages Zelma sent to Grace, he might have fallen for her act too.
“Antonio, it looks like you’re tricked,” Bryce thought to himself.
Hearing Zelma’s words, Barrett jumped up, furious. “Is this true?”
With tears in her eyes, Zelma pulled out a pregnancy test from her bag and showed it to Barrett. “It’s true! If it weren’t for the baby, I would never bother him. Sir Kaufman, you have to stand up for me and the baby.”
Barrett was seething, and Grace jumped up to soothe him, patting his back.
“Get Antonio back here, right now!”
This sort of scandal had never happened in the Kaufman family, and Barrett was livid.
Twenty minutes later, Antonio rushed to the Kaufman’s home and saw Barrett, leaning on his cane, deadly serious.
“Dad? What’s the emergency calling me over late at night?” asked Antonio.
Barrett was boiling with rage and roared with all his might, “Kneel!”
Antonio was confused, but he didn’t dare to disobey Barrett and dropped to his knees without hesitation.
“I heard you’re trying to get rid of your baby. Antonio, are you getting more confused as you grow up? Or are you just too bold to respect me?”
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Chapter 18
Antonio glanced up, right into Barrett’s angry eyes.
How did he overlook this? It was Zelma! She was so bold. Barrett was all about keeping the family line going. That was why he was so insistent on Grace recognizing her roots.
“Dad, did Zelma talk to you? I can explain!” Antonio said, his voice low and serious.
Barrett was furious and swung his cane. “We have witnesses. and proof! No need to explain. Start planning the wedding now. Are you trying to weasel out of responsibility? Is that what I taught you?”
Antonio was an adopted kid, and Barrett had put a lot of effort into him, even handing over the reins of the company.
And now Antonio pulled a stunt like this. It was like slapping Barrett right in the face.
“Sir Kaufman, please stop hitting him. It’s all my fault.” Zelma stepped out from the inner room and stood next to Antonio, begging for mercy.
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