Chapter 542
Liora coldly averted her gaze, completely ignoring Werner, and instead addressed Hayden.
Hayden looked at Liora and instinctively called out, “Cherry.”
Werner whispered in Hayden’s ear, “She goes by Liora now, not Cherry anymore.”
Hayden felt the name Cherry came more naturally to him. He and Liora’s father had been classmates back in the day.
Liora’s former name was Cherry. She changed it after someone told her family that although the name Cherry sounded sweet, it was often associated with stereotypes of strippers or sex workers.
This could easily give the impression of being unprofessional or lacking in seriousness.
In the end, the Thomas family renamed her Liora.
Liora felt a pang of disorientation at that moment. It had truly been ages since anyone had called her Cherry. Her eyes instantly reddened, and the next moment, she broke down.
With a trembling voice, she choked out, “Mr. Lynn, Sanford was being immature. For all the trouble he’s caused your family, I’m truly sorry on his behalf.”
Seeing Liora swaying unsteadily on her feet, Hayden instructed Werner, “Help her sit down first.”
Hayden let out a heavy sigh and said, “Look at this whole mess. I came here specifically because of your son. Liora, how could you be so foolish? How could you have Yorick’s child and keep it a secret all these years?”
Liora’s face twisted in pain as she wiped away her tears. She said, “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault, I’m the guilty one. But Sanford is innocent.”
Hayden rested his hand on his knee and shook his head helplessly. He said, “After all, he’s still Jonathan’s brother. I don’t want to see them at each other’s throats.”
Liora’s expression brightened instantly. She said, “You’re right. If you ask me, why don’t you just call Jonathan, have him drop the lawsuit immediately, and get Sanford released?”
Just then, Jonathan’s frigid voice cut through the air. He demanded, “Since when does an outsider like you get to order my family around?”
Liora looked at the doorway as Jonathan appeared, her body stiffening.
Hayden and Werner also looked over.
Leaning on his cane, Hayden walked up to Jonathan and gave him a light swat on the arm in frustration. He said, “Jonathan, why won’t you ever listen to me? Didn’t I tell you to let Sanford go?”
Jonathan ignored Hayden. He fixed Liora with an icy stare and said, “You want me to drop the charges against your son? So if I let him go to jail, suddenly I’m the villain here?”
Liora bit her lip nervously. She said, “That’s not what I meant.”
Jonathan demanded, “Then what exactly are you doing here?”
Werner stepped in, trying to smooth things over. He said, “Jonathan, it was your grandfather who asked Liora to come. She didn’t just show up on her own.”
Liora said, “No, Jonathan, you’re right. I’m ashamed to be here, but a mother’s heart aches for her child. I just want Sanford to be safe. Please, let him go.”
As she spoke, she abruptly bowed to Jonathan. She pleaded, “Please, Jonathan, let Sanford go. I’m begging you.”
Chapter 542
Jonathan towered over Liora, his cold, expressionless face betraying only a hint of impatience in his eyes.
Werner couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward and gently pulled Liora’s arm to stop her bowing, and then called out to Jonathan, “Jonathan, why do you have to be so hard on a mother?”
Jonathan noticed how concerned Werner was about Liora and asked coldly, “Werner, what’s your relationship with her?”
Werner explained, “Liora and I were classmates. She adored your father, but I never imagined she’d go to such lengths. Still, you and Sanford share the same father. Just let your brother go.”
Jonathan fell silent for a long moment. Finally, he said, “I’ll let him go–but on one condition.”
“What condition?” Liora asked anxiously.
Jonathan enunciated each word, his tone final, “Sanford will remain a Thomas. He is not to take the Lynn name.”
At these words, Werner instinctively turned to gauge Hayden’s reaction.
Jonathan turned to Hayden and said coldly, “If Sanford takes the Lynn name, it’ll throw everything into chaos. If illegitimate children can just waltz into the family, what good is the Lynn family’s order then?”
“I agree,” Liora said after a pause. She turned to Hayden and said, “I resorted to underhanded means back then to conceive Yorick’s child. He never knew; he was already married at the time.
“What I did was disgraceful, so I never expected Sanford to take the Lynn name.”
Hayden slapped his knee and let out a heavy sigh of resignation. He said, “Fine, let’s do it this way for now.”
Hayden knew full well that if he took Sanford in, Jonathan wouldn’t hesitate to cut ties with him, and Jonathan was entirely capable of such a decisive act.
Compared to a grandson he felt no real connection to, Hayden preferred and relied more on Jonathan. So, at that moment, Hayden gave in.
Werner remained silent throughout, his expression a mixture of conflicting emotions.
After four long days in detention, Sanford was finally set free.
Liora had been anxiously waiting at the entrance for over two hours to pick up Sanford. Seeing Sanford emerge from the detention center, his chin covered in stubble, her heart ached as she gently took his arm.
She said, “You’ve been through so much, Sanford.”
Sanford, still confused, asked, “Mom, why did Jonathan drop the charges against me? Did you plead with him?”
Liora deftly changed the subject. She said, “Anyway, what matters is you’re out now, safe and sound.”
“Mom,” Sanford called.
Liora gently cut him off. She said, “Enough now. Let’s not dwell on this. I’ll take you to a nearby hotel so you can freshen up, and then we’ll have a proper meal before heading home.”
Sanford remained silent, letting Liora pull him along. He had no idea what Liora had endured in his absence.
Just then, a black Toyota pulled up and gave two short honks.
Werner stepped out of the car, his gaze complicated as he looked at Sanford. He then turned to Liora and said, “Hayden sent me, I borrowed a friend’s car to pick you up for dinner. Hayden has already reserved a private room for us.”
Chapter 542
Sanford was reluctant to get in the car.
Liora said, “Get in. After this meal, we’re done with the Lynns for good.”
Sanford grew even more puzzled. He wondered what Liora had been up to while he was away.
In the back seat, Liora gently patted Sanford’s hand with a soft smile and said, “It’s so nice to be able to look at you like this.”
Sanford couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out, “Mom, are you hiding something from me?”
Liora shook her head slightly and said, “No. Hayden is your grandfather. Remember to call him Grandpa when you see him.”
Sanford muttered, “I won’t call him that.”
Liora said, “Sanford, you mustn’t be disrespectful to Hayden. If it weren’t for his mercy, you wouldn’t have been released so soon.”
Sanford pressed his lips together and remained silent. Suddenly, he felt someone’s gaze upon him. He looked up and met Werner’s intense stare through the rearview mirror–their eyes locked in a brief, charged moment.