Standing behind Ashely was Demel, Cade's third child and the second son of Cade. Looking at his fourth sister, honestly, his emotions were even more complicated, but what else could he do?
Ashely had brought that upon herself. Of all the people to provoke, she just had to start with the heir of Cade, the eldest child of the family, and one who would become the patriarch in the future.
Who knows how Bradley would deal with them in the future once their father was dead and gone?
Behind him, he could see his other siblings and, after watching one verbal war already, he wasn't in the mood to see another one.
So, without saying a word to the stupefied Ashely, he just brushed past her and earned a round of scolding, which he ignored.
At that moment, Bradley, Raize and Demel were inside and an angry Ashely, who kept on muttering angrily as she made her way towards the conference hall, followed them.
The last to arrive was Brexley, Bradley's sister from the same mother who was also the second child and first daughter of Cade with the first wife.
Then there was Mitchel, Raize's biological sister, from the same mother who was also the second wife of Cade.
And lastly, it was Selena, Bradley and Brexley's biological mother, Cade's first wife.
Like that, everyone invited to the family's meeting had gathered.
Inside the conference room, unfriendly gazes locked at Lena, who wasn't bothered much by them.
After experiencing the same thing for over two decades, Lena was strong at heart and immune. Just because she was young and looked weak at the surface, did it look as if she was a pushover?
She didn't get to maintain her marriage for twenty-three years by being an idiot. It took effort and there was no way she would let everything vanish just because she lost herself by being provoked by these people.
"Since everyone had gathered. The family meeting will start. I guess that everyone knows the reason why we are here!" Cade addressed calmly as he looked at his children, wife and ex-wife.
"I know that most of you have issues regarding what Fifth is currently doing right now. Instead of meeting you one by one, we might as well just air the laundry now and get it over with!"
Listening to Cade saying something like that, they all understood that their father in some way was dissatisfied with what they had been doing and saying ever since they knew that Zara was busy traveling and broadcasting her trip to God knows where.
"If you have nothing to say. Don't let me hear you complain about the future. I won't have it!" this time, Cade said threateningly as he glared at his family members.
Upon hearing that, they all understood that he was giving them one last chance to get everything off their chests otherwise, they wouldn't be getting such a chance again in the future.
"Since others are still thinking, I will go first!" a mature female voice sounded throughout the room, forcing everyone to look towards the person who had just spoken.
Lena also turned to look at this woman whom she actually didn't have much feelings for. After all, apart from meeting casually outside once in a while, they met at the mansion on special events.
Selena, being Cade's first wife, her position in the family was solid. That's what Lena had learnt. However, that never bothered her, as Cade only had her in his eyes. So even if his ex-wives and mistresses were to come, she would be cool.
She was, however, at this moment curious as to what Selena wanted to say. If there were people that she hated, it was people who defamed her daughter. It was normal for people to hate her and her baby but those that speak ill of Zara, those people she wouldn't tolerate.
And looking at Selena at that moment, she just hoped that the other would not cross boundaries, otherwise all hell would break loose.
"Zara had been sheltered for over two decades and barely understood what was going on outside. Everyone in Kuville City knows that our family is the richest. We have a lot of enemies constantly looking for that fatal weakness of ours so that they may strike and take us down."
"With the children venturing into several industries, we have enemies everywhere. And so far, they have fought and won, but now that Fifth is outside with just her nanny, nurse and some bodyguards, are you sure that she will be safe?"
"Currently, no one knows that Zara is a Hansley, but what do you think will happen if people learn of that? She can't even take care of herself. She had to be fed, carried, can't talk well and ..."
It seemed that Selena had a lot of words to say and surely; she continued to speak her mind.
Her words truly hit Lena where it hurts the most. After all, it wasn't like Selena was lying. Zara was indeed more of a child who required caring for all the time.
For nearly fifteen years, the media, competitors, friends and others were curious about Zara. Zara was indeed a myth in Kuville City. The news was already out there that she was sick and terminally ill. That was something a former employee exposed, but she was later dealt with. After that, no screened personnel were allowed to serve Zara.
"So, Selena after saying all this, what are you trying to say?" after hearing enough, Lena asked with gritted teeth as she glared at the older woman.
Selena turned to look at Lena with a provoking gaze, as if she didn't put Lena in her eyes at all, and answered slowly, "She shouldn't cause the family trouble. It's not a secret that her time is limited. Instead of going around exposing our family's weakness like that, she might as well just sit at home and wait for her death!"
"Boom!"
Lena's mind exploded upon hearing Selena's daunting words.
"Bang!" she hit the table as she stood on her feet, her eyes blazing red as she looked at Selena, the woman who didn't have a filter.
Their mother's directness surprised even Selena's kids.
Bradley and Brexley both looked at each other before they shook their heads.
When it comes to grudges between the mothers, even if the mother was the same as your age, the siblings understood that interfering would only bring them harm.
When it comes to Lena and Zara, their father was biased and they didn't want to suffer a loss.