Chapter 30 – Once Cast-Off Wife. Now Untouchable Queen

“Grandpa, don’t push me!” “Tyrone warned,” his voice trembling with rage.

Edwin’s voice turned cold and dangerous. “You are the heir of the Winters. I won’t let one woman and some unknown child destroy you or our company.”

Tyrone met his gaze, his voice unwavering. “That child is mine.”

The room fell silent after Tyrone’s words.

Ralph stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “You ungrateful fool! What on earth are you trying to do?”

Tyrone staggered back a step and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. He said coldly, “Dad, didn’t you have an illegitimate son years ago? Why are you acting so outraged now?”

Ralph raised his hand again, but Edwin stopped him. “If you claim the boy is yours,” Edwin said coldly, “then prove it. Do a DNA test. I want the results.”

Tyrone’s voice was sharp with warning. “Grandpa, I know with one move of your hand you could make Zera and her son disappear without a trace. But hear me clearly, if anything happens to them, I’ll bury the entire family and company with them.”

Edwin’s eyes narrowed, a flash of cruelty passing through. “Fine,” he said. “If you can prove that child is yours, I’ll spare them.”

Some of the tension in Tyrone’s body loosened. “I’ll have the DNA results sent to you as soon as possible,” he said, and turned to leave.

But the moment he opened the study door, he froze. Aella stood there. Her face was pale as a sheet, and her body was trembling.

Their eyes locked.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, silent and full of despair.

Tyrone’s chest tightened.

He rushed forward to steady her weak body, his voice trembling. “Let’s go home.”

But Aella yanked her hand free, darted past him, and stumbled into the study.

With a dull thud, she slumped before the chair in front of Edwin.

Tyrone’s eyes widened in shock. “Aella, what are you doing?”

She pushed away his hand as he tried to lift her. Clutching at Edwin’s hand, her voice broke into a plea.

“Edwin, Ralph, please-let Tyrone be with that woman and her child. Please let us get a divorce!”

Tyrone’s pupils shrank in disbelief. He yanked her up roughly. “Stop talking nonsense!”

But Aella struggled free in panic.

She shoved him away and quickly grabbed Edwin’s hand again.

One hand held on to Edwin’s hand, the other to Ralph’s.

Her whole body shook as she spoke through her tears. “I know my family went bankrupt and you’ve spent a lot of money helping us. I won’t run from it. I’ll sign a note of debt. I’ll call my family here so they can sign it too. You can take my paycheck, my bank card-anything. I’ll find a way to pay back every dollar you spent on us.”

Tyrone’s eyes locked on her pale face; his eyes turned red.

Then it hit him. She must have heard everything he said in that room. His chest heaved, and his body swayed violently. For a moment, he almost couldn’t stay standing.

Edwin looked down at Aella and asked coldly, “Do you really want to divorce Tyrone?”

Aella raised her hand like taking an oath. “Edwin, I swear, after the divorce I’ll never say a single bad word about your family. If you like, you can hold a press conference. I’ll take the blame. I’ll say I cheated, that I ruined the marriage.”

She pressed on through tears. “You don’t have to worry. I’ll walk away with nothing. I won’t take a dime from Tyrone.”

“Aella!” Tyrone grabbed her and pulled her up again.

His eyes were red as he gripped her shoulders tightly. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

Aella nodded frantically.

Her hands clutched his shirt collar, her chin trembling uncontrollably. “Tyrone, please beg your grandfather with me. If we divorce, you three can finally be together like a real family.”

Her voice broke as tears spilled down. “I swear, once it’s over, I’ll disappear. I’ll never disturb your life again!”

Tyrone didn’t argue. He just pulled her into his arms. “Aella, don’t do this,” he said softly.

She panicked and tried to break free, pushing against his chest.

Edwin’s eyes shifted to his son.

Ralph spoke up, “Dad, I agree they should divorce.”

Tyrone snapped his head around, glaring at his father. “This is my marriage. Who gave you the right to decide?”

Ralph’s tone was firm. “Even if it’s your marriage, I still have the final say. You two are getting divorced.”

Tyrone held Aella tight against him to help her stand.

He looked at his grandfather and father and said, each word heavy, “I will never divorce her.”

Aella slid down from his arms, sobbing. “Tyrone, I’m begging you. If you don’t let me go, I’ll die!”

His chest tightened painfully. His eyes burned red. He scolded her in a low voice, “We’re doing just fine. Stop saying that nonsense.”

Aella collapsed in front of him, completely broken.

Her mind seemed to fall apart as she cried, “I know you’ve always loved Zera. You only married me out of anger. But now she’s back. You even have a child together. Please, Tyrone, don’t keep fighting your family just because of me.”

She choked out the words, sobbing harder. “I’ll give your happiness back to you. Please, for the sake of the twenty years I’ve loved you-let’s just end this. Please divorce me.”

Tyrone bent down and forcibly lifted her from the floor.

He turned away, unable to watch her falling apart. His voice was tight, restrained. “We’ll talk about this at home.”

Aella lost control completely, screaming and pushing him away. “I’m not going home with you! I want a divorce!”

Ignoring her struggles, Tyrone lifted her into his arms and stormed out of the study.

“What happened?” Virginia asked in shock.

In the living room, Virginia and Raine were waiting anxiously. They froze when they saw Tyrone storm out, face dark as thunder, holding Aella as she cried and screamed in his arms.

“Mom,” Tyrone said coldly, “we’re leaving.”

He gave Aella no chance to speak and carried her straight out the door.

Virginia sensed something was wrong and hurried into the study.

When Edwin saw her come in, he finally spoke. “You need to meet that woman,” he said coldly. “I don’t care if the child is Tyrone’s or not; he cannot divorce Aella.”

Virginia simply nodded, saying nothing.

She knew Edwin valued stability and reputation above everything.

Even if the child truly belonged to Tyrone, Edwin would never acknowledge it.

Ralph frowned. “Dad, Aella’s family had gone bankrupt. She’s been married to Tyrone for three years-no child, no career. She’s no different from that woman. We could arrange a new marriage for Tyrone, one that benefits the family.”

Edwin turned and sank back into his chair. “That woman comes from an ordinary background,” he said. She’s shallow and ambitious, unfit for our family. Even if that child is Tyrone’s, she won’t be accepted into my house.”

Virginia spoke up. “You’re refusing the divorce because you want Aella to be a shield. You want her there to stop Tyrone from bringing Zera and the child into this family. But that’s unfair to Aella.”

Ralph sneered. “Fair? She’s a fallen heiress who got lucky marrying Tyrone. That’s more than fair. She should be grateful.”

Edwin’s gaze sharpened. “Her family may have lost everything, but Aella grew up with the best education, the most polished manners, and access to elite circles. Her knowledge, her perspective, and her poise-they all surpass Zera’s. But Tyrone has spoiled her all these years. She’s lost her edge.”

He turned toward Virginia. “Until the situation with Zera and that child is dealt with, Aella must stay with Tyrone. As her mother-in-law, guide her. Don’t let her disgrace us or tarnish our family traditions.”

Virginia left the study with a heavy heart.

Unlike Edwin and her husband, she couldn’t look at her son’s marriage as a business, like trading pieces on a chessboard.

Virginia never imagined that the woman Tyrone loved, the one who disappeared six years ago, would come back with his child.

Before Virginia could confirm if that child was truly her grandson, she decided not to meet Zera just yet.

She turned to her daughter. “Raine, Aella, and your brother are having marriage problems. Spend more time with her, talk to her, and help her through this.”

Raine had been eavesdropping outside the study and heard everything. “Mom, I understand,” she said quietly.

Back in her room, Raine couldn’t calm down.

Her chest was tight with worry. She feared her brother might lose his mind, actually divorce Aella, and bring Zera and her kid into the family.

Unable to shake the worry, Raine called Aella.

The phone kept ringing in Aella’s bag, but she didn’t even look at it. She wasn’t in the mood to talk.

From the moment they got into the car, Tyrone had held her in his arms. No matter how much she cried or struggled, he refused to let her go.

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