Jim was surprised by Rachel’s claim. None of them could think of a solution to the problem. How could Rachel, just a lone young woman, find a way around it? But now that she was back, Jim knew he couldn’t just tell her to leave.

Rachel walked toward Cassandra. “Mom, things aren’t what they seem to be. Tyler and I have a professional working relationship. At most, we are just ordinary friends.”

Cassandra crossed her arms in front of her chest. If it weren’t for Rachel’s hearing impairment, she wouldn’t even bother casting a glance her way. She didn’t believe a word of Rachel’s claim. Instead, she pulled out divorce papers from her bag and slammed them on the table. “Sign it.”

Rachel wasn’t shocked by the divorce papers Cassandra produced. She knew from the start how much Cassandra didn’t like her—the latter despised her for her hearing disability and saw her as unworthy of being part of the Lewis family. What’s more, the fact that Rachel wasn’t blood-related to the Lloyd family amplified Cassandra’s dislike of her.

However, Rachel would never sign the papers. If she did, William wouldn’t feel the impact of the ‘surprise’ she had in store for him. Rachel rejected Cassandra straight away.

“I won’t get a divorce. If you truly want me to divorce William, you might consider trying to persuade him instead. If he agrees to it, I don’t have a problem with it.”

Cassandra’s face fell. “Are you threatening me?”

Rachel straightened her back. “I’m not threatening you. I’m just speaking the truth.”

From the expression on Cassandra’s face, Rachel could tell that William would never agree to a divorce. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come here alone with the divorce papers in hand.

Gerald slammed his cup hard on the table. “Rachel Lloyd, she is your mother-in-law! You’d better watch your words! You’re thoroughly embarrassing our entire family!” Rachel furrowed her brows. She used to tolerate everything this family did to her, on account of them raising her since she was young. She didn’t want to bite the hand that fed her.

After all that had happened, however, she finally faced up to the truth: whether she did wrong or not, her grandfather would never stand up for her—even if she were in the right. If that was the case, what was the point of tolerating them? She would at least try to seek justice for herself. Rachel turned to look at Gerald, her expression icy.

“Why should I watch my words? Did I curse or swear? Grandpa, if you have the time and energy to lecture me in front of my mother-in-law, why not use it to try to clear our family’s name instead?”

That was what he cared most about anyway, right? Gerald’s face turned red with anger. He was the authority of the Lloyds, who demanded full obedience and submission from everyone in the family. No one dared to talk back to him.

Chapter 220 +25 BONUS

“Did I say anything wrong? You ruined our family’s reputation with your questionable behavior in public. Your sister is of a marriageable age. How would any respectable man consider her as a worthy partner?” he barked.

Yvette looked begrudgingly at Rachel. “Exactly! You bring calamity everywhere you go. As long as you’re around, nothing is smooth-sailing for our family. Rachel, are you doing this on purpose? You’re driving a wedge between Mr. Hunt and me, creating rumours that you’re with him and seizing the opportunity to sully my name,” she whined.

Rachel couldn’t be bothered to waste her breath on Yvette. She looked at Yvette as though the latter had a screw loose. She then walked toward Gerald.

“Well then, Grandpa. Since things have already happened, you should do as I say if you don’t want to see the Lloyd family’s reputation ruined.”

Everyone stared at Rachel, dumbfounded. After the initial shock subsided, Cassandra glared at Rachel with disdain.