Chapter 2296

“Master Robert, the people from the second branch are here,” the servant said.

The moment those words landed, the entire room fell silent.

Irritation flashed openly in Robert’s eyes.

“Damn it. What are they doing here?”

Adrian cut in immediately.

“What else? They’re obviously here to watch our family make a spectacle of itself.”

Robert shot him a sharp look.

He was about to send the servant back out with instructions to turn them away—but he never got the chance.

Wren and the others walked in uninvited.

Robert had never disliked his younger brother as much as he did in that moment.

When Cecilia entered behind them, the first thing she saw was Miranda—kneeling on the floor, tied up, with her lover beside her.

Both of them were covered in injuries.

One glance was enough to tell they’d been beaten.

Then Cecilia noticed Robert seated at the head, while Adrian was being restrained by several bodyguards.

“Wren, what brings you here so late?” Robert said evenly. “Looks like you’ve had the misfortune of witnessing a family embarrassment.”

He turned to the bodyguards. “Take them away.”

He meant Miranda and Julian.

Robert knew exactly why Cecilia and the others had come—and he had no intention of letting them get what they wanted.

But the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Felix rushed in from outside.

He threw himself at Miranda.

“Mom!”

Miranda had stayed composed until now, as if she truly believed she’d done nothing wrong.

But the second she saw Felix, her expression changed.

It was as if she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

She could claim she didn’t care about reputation or judgment—but in front of her son, that resolve shattered.

Robert’s expression darkened.

He turned to the nanny trailing behind Felix and snapped, “Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on the young master? What exactly have you been doing?”

The nanny hurried to apologize.

“Master Robert, I’m sorry. I truly couldn’t control him.”

Felix had been spoiled since childhood.

In the Rainsworth household, there were few servants who could actually keep him in check.

Robert knew that.

He waved the matter off dismissively.

By then, Felix had already reached Miranda.

He clung to her tightly.

“Mom!”

Miranda’s body trembled slightly.

“Felix, go back to your room. Now.”

She didn’t want her son to see her like this—bound, humiliated, reduced to this state.

Felix shook his head hard.

“No. I’m not leaving. Who tied you up? Untie her right now!”

He turned and shouted at everyone in the room.

“Which one of you hit my mom?”

Despite everything, Robert couldn’t help doting on his grandson. He stepped down from his seat.

“Felix, listen to Grandpa. Go back to your room and get some rest. This is between adults—we’ll handle it. Your mother made a mistake, and she has to pay the price.”

He spoke each word slowly and clearly.

But Felix shook his head again, planting himself firmly in front of Miranda.

“I’m not going back.”

Miranda looked at her son standing there, shielding her, and her throat tightened.

“Felix… listen to Grandpa. Go back to your room.”

Felix didn’t move.

He refused to leave.

Left with no other option, Robert ordered someone to take him away by force.

The room filled with Felix’s cries and struggles, his voice rising again and again as he fought to stay.

There was no way Miranda could remain unaffected.

She endured it all, forcing herself not to break.

Only after Felix was taken away did the room finally fall silent again.

Robert let out a long breath.

“Miranda, you saw it yourself. This is the mess your actions have caused.”

This time, Miranda didn’t argue.

Her eyes were rimmed red. She lowered her head, unable to say a single word.

Wren stepped forward at that moment and said to Robert,

“Brother, don’t let your temper push you into something you can’t take back.”