Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Hidden agendas.
The party came to an abrupt end, and everyone was ordered home—specifically by Xylander. No one got the chance to touch the couple or even see them properly due to the incident that had occurred, an incident none of the guests knew about.
Xylander’s family were left in the dark. Throughout the event they sat like stones at the huge table, and in the end, none of the celebrants came to join them. They looked like fools sitting there, and when the announcement came that the party was over, their reactions were priceless.
Grandma Rachel didn’t rant this time; she simply glared. In her heart she blamed no one but Daniel. To her, since her son married that girly boy—as she called him—Xylander had changed drastically. He no longer associated with her. He had stopped coming for breakfast, for dinner, for family matters. And it was at this point she began to seriously consider Maxine’s earlier words.
Could this wedding be the downfall of our family? Could this be what tears us apart?
She shook her head. No. Her family would not be shredded to pieces because of some baseless marriage. It wasn’t going to last anyway.
With a scornful expression, the Wolfe family left the venue, heading back to the main mansion.
Meanwhile, in the shadows by the swimming pool, Maxine sat at the edge, sulking. She felt utterly betrayed—by her family, by her brother who ditched the woman he was supposed to marry only to go for a man, and by her grandmother, who had embarrassed her publicly with a slap.
But it wasn’t just the slap that burned her. It was the fact that she had been making a point about the wedding—an important point—and her grandmother hurled it back in her face, making her look like a fool.
Fine. If they want their downfall, then Daniel will surely give it to them, she thought bitterly.
"Why are you frowning there when you’re meant to take action, not just sit around sulking?" a sharp voice scolded from behind.
Maxine didn’t need to turn. She knew that voice—it was her aunt. But why was she bothering her now? Didn’t she see she wanted to be left alone in peace?
"Didn’t you see I wanted no one around, or are you blind?" Maxine snapped.
Diane only shrugged it off. She knew the girl too well. "Let’s just say it’s your emotions talking, so I won’t comment on that. But as for what just played out at the high table... you’re not going to let it slide, are you?"
Maxine smiled thinly and stood. She walked towards Diane, stopping just a breath away.
"Oh, you know me too well, Diane. Of course I won’t let it slide. From henceforth, Daniel and Xylander’s marriage is going to be destroyed. And as for the family company? It’s time I take back what belongs to me. Xyle has proven himself incompetent—if he can’t even control small matters, how can he manage an empire? All the properties will be transferred to me, mark my words."
Her eyes gleamed as she continued. "Nicole Shelton is coming back whether Xyle likes it or not, and Daniel is leaving this family. Just watch—I’ll turn every head against him and make Xyle despise him so much that he’ll be humiliated, degraded, dragged through the streets of New York, and left with nothing."
Diane grinned, proud. That’s the girl I know.
"Thank goodness—I thought you had gone soft."
Both of them burst into laughter, giggling like mad dogs. And when they finally stopped, they walked back into the golden palace, straight into yet another round of drama.
Grandma Rachel was at the center of it this time.
"Xylander!!! Xylander, get down here!" she yelled.
Maxine facepalmed and shook her head. Look at her grandmother—pressuring herself when she already knew how weak she was.
From his office on the top floor, Xylander stepped out to the balcony, frowning at the commotion. When he saw his grandmother was behind the shouting, he sighed and began descending the stairs, silently praying it wasn’t another useless outburst. Tomorrow morning, he had a major conference to finalize an important project—he didn’t need more distractions tonight.
Standing akimbo at the center of the hall, Rachel waited. Joseph tried to help her, but she shoved him aside.
"Let me breathe. It’s time I know what’s happening in my son’s life and lay down hard rules. After all, I am still the eldest in this family," she announced firmly, forcing Joseph to step back.
Reaching the ground floor, Rachel faced him directly.
"Call your bride—or groom, whatever you call him. He has to prepare dinner tonight, just as our tradition demands," she ordered.
"Excuse me!?" Xylander stared at her, dumbfounded. She wanted Daniel to cook? When there were hundreds of maids in the mansion? Absolutely not.
"My groom is not entering that kitchen," Xylander said with finality, his voice carrying power. "The maids can handle that."
Grandma Rachel looked at him with disbelief. So this is what it has come to? Even he dares raise his voice at me.
"It seems you’ve forgotten the power I hold in this house—and the type of family we are," she retorted. "Our roots are not in America but India. We are matriarchal by nature. That means my word stands. By authority, I can revoke the company hold you have right now." Her voice was steady, unflinching.
The revelation stunned them all. Maxine blinked in surprise. So Xylander wasn’t as powerful as she thought. Even if he controlled the company, the real power lay with their grandmother.
"Okay, you’ve made your point," Xylander replied. "But I don’t give a damn about tradition or ancestral places. My decision stands—Daniel won’t cook. That’s final."
Rachel shook her head furiously. "Language, young man. Don’t forget, I made you who you are. But fine. Tomorrow, the company leadership changes—it will pass to your elder sister, Maxine Wolfe. Unless, of course, that girly man of yours comes here tonight..."
"I am here," a calm voice cut through. Daniel entered the hall, bandages still visible, but his posture regal. "So can you all skip the drama and leave him his inheritance?"
And just like that, it began again—the one thing Daniel despised most: family drama.
Maxine’s bubbling joy froze instantly. She turned to Daniel and saw the dead, cold look in his eyes. It told her plainly: your hands will never touch this inheritance. The secret war had just been declared.
"You want me to cook? Fine. The dishes you crave so much will be made specially by me. And that settles it—leave my husband and his inheritance alone. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Daniel Morreti," he announced with a mock bow.
From the corner, Alexander smirked. The Wolfe family just got themselves a firebrand. Daniel is going to burn everything down, and I can’t wait to watch.
The dull house had come alive again, all thanks to Daniel.
"So tomorrow morning, expect a nice breakfast from me. But tonight? No. My health is my top priority—I won’t jeopardize it for anyone," Daniel declared. He went straight to Xylander, kissed his forehead, and slipped his hand into his husband’s arm.
"Where’s the way to the dining room, darling?" Daniel purred, ignoring all the hot stares boring into him. Let them look—he wasn’t done with this family yet. He would not allow them to belittle his husband. At the very least, he would raise Xylander’s business to its highest pinnacle before he even thought of divorce.
"This way, hubby dear," Xylander replied awkwardly but affectionately. Together, they walked away—indirectly defying Grandma’s orders by postponing the cooking to the next morning.
Maxine clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. The affection was sickening. She refused to believe it—refused to accept that her brother truly loved this useless man when Nicole was still out there.
No. It wasn’t possible.