Wedding Night: My Disabled Husband Made Me Cry-Chapter 206: Giving Up Custody

"No!" Shirley Wentworth resisted hysterically. "There’s absolutely no way I’m just giving Elle to him!"

"This isn’t your decision to make, unless you want to bring the Wentworth Family down with you!"

"Dad!" Shirley Wentworth cried out. "I’m your own daughter! Why can’t you protect me?"

Mr. Wentworth’s heart wavered for a moment, but his voice remained cold and hard. "Did I not want to protect you? You had a child in secret, and I accepted it. I can support you and your son for the rest of your lives, ensuring you want for nothing. But have you ever made a single contribution to the Wentworth Family? Not only have you not contributed, you’re dragging the family down!"

"Dad, I know I’ve been unfilial, but this is my only wish in life. Why can’t you just stand by me and fight for me this one time?" Shirley Wentworth dropped to her knees. "I believe what you said, that the Wentworth Family isn’t what it used to be. But even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. I refuse to believe we’re so weak that Jett can just walk all over us without us being able to fight back at all!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Shirley Wentworth kowtowed heavily. "Dad, I’m begging you. Just help me this once!"

Mr. Wentworth closed his eyes in anguish. Without a word, he turned and left.

"Dad!"

Just as Shirley Wentworth was about to chase after him, Ruby Wentworth stopped her. "Shirley, let Dad have some space. Don’t push him anymore."

"He’s the one pushing me! Everyone is pushing me!" Shirley Wentworth grabbed her hair, on the verge of a breakdown. "Why are you all pushing me? Do you want to see me dead before you’re happy?!"

"Shirley, you’re emotionally unstable right now." Ruby Wentworth held her hands. "Look into my eyes. Deep breaths... Yes, that’s it. Calm down. I’ll take you back to your room to take your medicine now..."

Vivian Quinn had no idea what was happening with the Wentworth Family and went to school each day as usual.

On Friday, Ian Sterling was called home by his family and didn’t go to school.

Without the chatterbox by her side, Vivian Quinn actually found it a little strange.

After her morning classes ended, Vivian Quinn had just stepped out of the classroom when she saw Ruby Wentworth standing outside.

"Miss Quinn."

Vivian Quinn paused and walked over to her. "Ms. Wentworth, were you looking for me?"

"Yes." Ruby Wentworth, dressed in a sharp business suit, glanced at her watch. "You have a two-hour break for lunch. I’d like to treat you to a meal."

Vivian Quinn didn’t agree. "I’m sorry, Ms. Wentworth, but we don’t know each other well. If we’re to have lunch, perhaps my husband and I can treat you another day."

"There’s no need to be so cautious, Miss Quinn. It’s broad daylight; I’m not going to do anything to you." Ruby Wentworth smiled calmly. "I came to find you today because I’d like to discuss Elle."

"You want to discuss Elle with me?" Vivian Quinn chuckled. "Isn’t this something for Jett and Shirley Wentworth to discuss? I don’t even have the right to get involved."

"You’re too modest, Miss Quinn. This whole affair started because of you, so you’re very much a part of it," Ruby Wentworth explained. "For your sake, Jett has already begun to suppress the Wentworth Family on all fronts."

"I wasn’t aware of that."

"It’s alright if you didn’t know. Once Jett makes a decision, it’s hard for anyone to change his mind. That’s why we’re actually here to ask a favor of you. We wanted to discuss whether, if we give Elle to you, you could refrain from stripping Shirley of her visitation rights. After all, a mother can’t completely lose her child."

"I can’t make that decision either."

"Don’t be so quick to refuse," Ruby Wentworth invited again. "Let’s talk over a meal. By the way, Elle is there too. He misses you a lot."

"Elle is there?"

"If you don’t believe me, Miss Quinn, I can prove it."

Ruby Wentworth quickly took out her phone and made a video call. A moment later, the call connected, and Elle’s voice came through. "Great-aunt, why isn’t Vivian here yet?"

"Vivian is right here." Ruby Wentworth smiled and handed the phone to Vivian Quinn.

"Elle."

"Vivian!" Elle said excitedly. "I’m waiting for you to eat with me."

"Okay."

Ruby Wentworth took the phone back. "Can you believe me now, Miss Quinn?"

Vivian Quinn hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Let’s go."

The two of them arrived at a private villa. As soon as they entered, Elle came running up on his little legs. "Vivian!"

"Elle!"

"I didn’t realize you were so fond of Elle, Miss Quinn."

Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Vivian Quinn instinctively looked up and saw a middle-aged man in a suit. He was well-maintained and didn’t look his age.

"Hello, Miss Quinn." Mr. Wentworth extended his hand and introduced himself. "I am Shirley Wentworth’s father, Elle’s maternal grandfather."

"Hello, Chairman Wentworth." Vivian Quinn stood up and shook his hand.

"Lunch is ready. Let’s talk while we eat."

"Okay."

The lunch was lavish. Mr. Wentworth had even decanted a bottle of red wine. "Miss Quinn, this is a fine wine from my private collection. Please, have a taste."

"I’m sorry, I don’t drink."

Mr. Wentworth didn’t insist. "Alright, then you can have a soft drink."

"Thank you."

Mr. Wentworth poured himself a glass of red wine. "Miss Quinn, it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’d like to propose a toast to you."

Vivian Quinn raised her juice glass. "Chairman Wentworth, you are my elder. It should be me toasting you."

Mr. Wentworth nodded in appreciation. "You are very sensible, Miss Quinn. Much more so than our Shirley. I’ll drink to that."

Seeing him finish his red wine, Vivian Quinn also took a sip of her orange juice and then put some food on Elle’s plate.

Mr. Wentworth watched their interaction and said, "I finally understand why Elle doesn’t want to stay with the Wentworths. He’s never been this happy at our home."

Vivian Quinn smiled. "You’re too kind, Chairman Wentworth. You are Elle’s family; of course you wouldn’t mistreat him."

"But he likes you more," Mr. Wentworth said bluntly. "You’re a smart woman, Miss Quinn, so I won’t beat around the bush. Ruby told you why I asked you here to talk, didn’t she?"

"You’re willing to give up custody of Elle, is that right?"

Mr. Wentworth nodded. "A child isn’t an object. He has his own will. Since he prefers living with you, we adults can’t be so selfish as to ignore his feelings."

Vivian Quinn said, "If you truly think that way, Chairman Wentworth, then I thank you on Elle’s behalf."

"I know what you’re thinking, Miss Quinn." Mr. Wentworth gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I can’t deny that I’m proactively handing over Elle because of the pressure from Jett. But today, I am meeting you as a father and a grandfather."

"Shirley has done some things wrong, and as her father, I apologize to you on her behalf, Miss Quinn."

"There’s no need for that, Chairman Wentworth. What’s between Shirley and me has nothing to do with you."

"I failed in raising my daughter, which is why she offended you. I’ll drink this glass as a token of my apology." Mr. Wentworth drained his glass again and continued, "Miss Quinn, I’ve lived to my age and I’d like to think I’m a good judge of character. From your interaction with Elle, I know you will treat him as your own and raise him well. As his grandfather, I feel at ease entrusting him to you. I only have one small request."

"Ms. Wentworth already told me. You don’t want us to strip Shirley of her visitation rights, correct?"

"Not just Shirley’s, but ours as well—his relatives." Mr. Wentworth looked at Elle. "Although this child isn’t close to me, he still has my blood running through his veins. I too would like to witness him grow up. So, I would like to ask, Miss Quinn, if I might be able to see him occasionally in the future."

Vivian Quinn said, "As long as someone genuinely cares for Elle, I have no reason to prevent them from seeing him. Shirley is Elle’s biological mother. Unless the law mandates that she cannot be near him, I personally have no right to take away her visitation rights. You can rest assured, Chairman Wentworth."

Mr. Wentworth was very pleased. "Thank you for being so understanding, Miss Quinn."

Vivian Quinn took a bite of food and said, "Forgive my bluntness, Chairman Wentworth, but do your words represent Shirley’s views? Has she agreed to let Jett raise Elle? Or did you come to see me today behind her back, and she’ll just come back to fight for Elle later?"

Mr. Wentworth hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ruby, Elle is about done eating. Why don’t you take him out to play for a while?"

"Alright."

Only after Ruby had left with Elle did Mr. Wentworth speak.

"Miss Quinn, to be perfectly honest, Shirley has been emotionally unstable lately. The doctors have diagnosed her with severe depression. I’ll be sending her abroad to rest and recuperate. She won’t be returning to Aethelgard to disturb your lives until she has made a full recovery."

"Elle is a smart boy. I don’t want him to know his mother has this kind of illness. I hope you understand."

"In that case, she certainly needs to focus on her treatment," Vivian Quinn promised. "Rest assured, Chairman Wentworth. Neither Jett nor I are the type of people who would bad-mouth his biological mother in front of him."

"Thank you." Mr. Wentworth raised his glass. "Miss Quinn, then we have an agreement."

"We have an agreement."

Vivian Quinn finished the orange juice in her glass. Just as she was about to stand up to find Elle, the world suddenly spun around her, and she fell right back into her chair!

"Miss Quinn, what’s wrong?"

Before Vivian Quinn could answer Mr. Wentworth, her vision suddenly went black, and she lost consciousness!