His voice carried a clear threat, and Madam Griffith heard it. She smiled, her weathered eyes filled with a simple, unreadable mirth. "Sebastian, Grandma would love to give you her blessing, but as I said, I will not bless the woman who tried to kill me."


    "If you intend to hold me captive here, then so be it. I''m just a bag of old bones. I''m not afraid of anything." Madam Griffith smiled, sat down, and said no more.


    Timothyshed out, his boot colliding with the marble coffee table with a bone- jarring thud, and Madam Griffith''s favorite porcin cup crashed to the floor, shattering.


    Madam Griffith watched the cup break into pieces, but her heart felt alive, as if reborn, beating with a fresh, vibrant rhythm.


    "Mom, when you gave the family assets to an outsider, did you ever think about me? Did you ever think about your grandson?"


    Timothy never would have dreamed that the agreement would execute the instant the divorce was finalized, with all assets being systematically transferred to Natalie''s


    name.


    Madam Griffith looked at him coldly. "What are you yelling about, you ungrateful son? When that agreement was signed, Sebastian-that boy-knew exactly what he was doing. He signed it with his own hand, willingly. That means he was willing to give everything to Natalie. And now you''re ming me?"


    Timothy grew angrier as Madam Griffith talked in circles. "I just don''t understand. Why would you give the family fortune to an outsider?"


    "Because of you. What other reason could there be?" Madam Griffith shot back. Timothy''s eyes flickered. "Mom, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, because of me?"


    "Heh..." Madam Griffith sneered. "You still don''t get it? Do I have to spell it out for you? Do I have to tear your dignity to shreds and grind it into the dirt before you understand?"


    "Timothy, you have so many illegitimate daughters and sons out there that you probably can''t even count them all. Was I supposed to leave the family fortune to a pack of vultures?"


    "Natalie has been in the Griffith family for two years, and she''s treated me like her own grandmother. She took meticulous care of Sebastian. Why shouldn''t I give it to my dear Natalie, who I care for so much?"


    "Why would I give it to those ungrateful hyenas you have on the side?"


    "What?" Timothy was in disbelief. For that reason alone, they gave all the assets, thepany, everything, to Natalie? "Mom, I think you and I Dad have gone semile. Sebastian has been by your side all these years. How could you give it to an outsider instead of him? Did Natalie threaten you?"


    Madam Griffith dodged the question. "No. Since when are you two so close? Coming here together to demand an exnation?"


    "Mom, this is about the future survival of the Griffith family. Of course we have to stand united."


    "Well, that''s simple enough. Mypany-you''re running it now, aren''t you? I left that for the two of you. Aren''t you satisfied?"


    "Timothy, a person''s virtue must


    match their fortune. You can only handle the wealth that your character can bear. You know full well what youve dorte in vou


    life.


    You should learn to be content with


    what you have."


    "You''re old, and Sebastian is a fool. Let that brilliant young woman Natalie run the


    Timothy and Maxwell Griffith were at a loss for what to do with her. Joanna wanted to kill the old hag. She never imagined the agreement would take effect so quickly. She spun around and saw Natalie standing in the doorway. "Natalie, you dare to show your face here?"