Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

Chapter 1421 - 1415: Barbed Words and Hidden Jabs

"Yes, I know you want our son to do well, but you’re not allowed to educate him like this again."Evander compromised. He didn’t start a fight over having just spoken "ill" of his own mother. Juliana felt relieved and went back to cooking, secretly sighing to herself that her daughter must have saved the Milky Way in her previous life, otherwise how could she have met such a good man.

She’d actually been worried, worried the young couple would quarrel over this. Now it seemed all that worry was unnecessary. She had seen clearly how good Evander was to her daughter.

Two days later, Violet Zimmerman and Joseph Lancaster flew back from overseas. To avoid suspicion, Joseph deliberately told his assistant that his flight was one hour later than Violet’s.

Violet rode back home in her luxury car. An hour later, Joseph’s car also drove into the Lancaster Family’s old estate.

It was the weekend, a public holiday, so most members of the Lancaster Family were at home resting.

Hearing that Violet and Joseph had returned one after the other, Daemon Lancaster finally couldn’t sit still and took the initiative to visit their place.

"Violet, I heard you personally went to talk business. What’s wrong? No suitable people in the company? Letting a woman your age fly all over the place."

Knowing about the "scandal" between Violet and Joseph, Daemon had even less scruples now. He’d never really taken the Lancaster Family’s Family Head and acting matriarch seriously before; now, with "evidence" soon in hand, he was being even more brazen and unrestrained.

I, Mina Drake, was keeping my son company in the living room when I heard Daemon’s words and clearly frowned. I’d never had a good impression of this eldest uncle—always acting superior. Now that I knew he’d set his sights on my mother‑in‑law, I was even more repulsed.

I wanted to snap back at him, but considering my status as his niece‑in‑law, I felt it would be inappropriate. I lifted my gaze to the husband sitting on the sofa, hoping he would throw the man out.

Robert Lancaster didn’t catch his wife’s look. He only spoke slowly after Daemon had finished.

"Uncle, what you said today is really inappropriate. First, even though our Lancaster Family’s old system has been dissolved, in name my mom is still the acting matriarch. If the uncles and aunts hear you calling her by her name like that, they’ll think you’re being disrespectful to the Lancaster Family’s acting matriarch.

Second, about what you said regarding my mom going on business trips—if someone who didn’t know the situation heard, they’d think you were mocking her for failing to manage the company Dad left behind, having to run around and handle everything herself."

Robert’s tone sounded casual, but he was in no way being polite. He didn’t give the other man any face just because he was an elder. He was also reminding Daemon that even though the Lancaster Family no longer played the Family Head game, his mother was still the acting matriarch, and it had been her own idea to delegate her authority.

Without all the rigid Lancaster family rules binding them, the different branches of the family were thrilled. Ever since his mother relinquished power, all the relatives, except for Daemon, had become even more respectful toward her than before.

The older generation called Violet "younger sister‑in‑law"; the younger ones all respectfully called her "sister‑in‑law." Only Daemon, brazenly calling her by name as if out of nowhere and putting on airs like he was the real head of the household.

Being lectured by his nephew, Daemon felt his pride a bit bruised. But Robert had a point, and even though he was full of resentment, he could only suppress his displeasure and smile as he spoke.

"You’re right, Robert. It’s just that I’m getting old, and my brain’s not as sharp as it used to be."

Seeing Daemon’s fake expression, Violet secretly chuckled. "Big Brother, this time I went to the United States to meet an old client. We’ve been working together for more than ten years—basically old friends. It just so happened I could go over and catch up a bit."

"Little Sister‑in‑law still has old friends in the United States? Which company is it? I wonder if I know them?"

Daemon feigned surprise, seemingly unwilling to let go of any chance to pry into Violet’s private affairs.

Violet smiled. She had just gotten off the plane, and although her complexion carried a thin layer of fatigue, it could not hide her elegant air.

"An official from Buckingham Palace, Mr. Wilson. Do you know him, Big Brother?"

Violet’s tone was very matter‑of‑fact, but Daemon found it unbearably grating, as if she were showing off—boasting that she had dealings with officials in the United States, whereas most of his company’s assets were domestic.

Daemon secretly curled his fingers into a fist and silently swore in his heart: Violet, once I get a hold of the dirt on you and Joseph, not only will you have to give up your position as the Lancaster Family’s acting matriarch, you’ll also have to hand over the company in your hands. No, I’ll make sure you adulterous pair are utterly ruined and disgraced!

Seeing that Daemon didn’t respond, Robert asked again.

"Uncle, do you know Mr. Wilson as well?"

"No." Daemon snapped back to his senses and gave an awkward laugh to smooth things over. "How could I compare to your mom? She’s got friends all over the world—apparently even officials in the United States are no big deal for her."

"Big Brother, you’re joking. It’s all just business dealings. In this society, reality is harsh. Without利益 on the table, where are you going to find any truly genuine friends?"

Violet smiled and sighed. Just then, Joseph walked in, and as soon as he entered he said with a smile, "Sister‑in‑law, you’re back too? Why didn’t you say something? We could’ve taken the same flight and looked out for each other."

"Second Uncle." Robert stood up and greeted him politely. Mina also addressed him, and when Little Bao saw Joseph come in, he immediately dropped the toy in his hand, scrambled up from the carpet, and ran over.

"Second Grandpa, Little Bao wants a horsie ride!"

"Little Bao, be good. Second Grandpa just got off the plane, don’t pester him. Come back, Mommy will take you to the room to play with the big train."

Ever since learning that Daemon was up to no good, Mina had been paying close attention to such details, afraid he would spot some clue in between.

"No, Little Bao hasn’t had a horsie ride in so long. Little Bao wants a horsie ride!"

Little Bao broke free of his mother’s hand and threw himself against Joseph’s leg. Joseph bent down, picked him up, and settled him astride his neck.

Mina looked over at Robert with some embarrassment, but he wasn’t as tense as she was. Some things, the more you avoid them, the more you invite suspicion. It was better to act naturally. Only by being open and aboveboard could they avoid leaving anyone a handle to grab onto.

"Well now, Little Bao sure is close to Second Brother. I’ve been here all this time and he hasn’t clung to me once, but as soon as Second Brother shows up, he’s all over him."

Daemon said with a laugh, his words clearly carrying a double meaning.

Joseph turned his phoenix eyes over, as if only now noticing Daemon was there. With Little Bao on his shoulders, he walked over.

"Oh, Big Brother, you’re here too? What wind blew you, such a busy man, over this way?"

"Listen to you, Second Brother. We’re all one family. You’re always coming and going; if I drop by when I’ve got nothing to do, what’s so strange about that?"

In the past, Daemon and Joseph didn’t get along very well either, but it hadn’t been to this point, where every sentence had a barb in it.

Joseph held Little Bao’s two chubby hands and slowly wandered around the living room with him.

"Big Brother, how could I compare with you? You have a family and a business, children and grandchildren around your knees, unlike me—single and alone. When I’ve got nothing to do, I just come over to Sister‑in‑law’s to scrounge a meal, so eating alone doesn’t feel so boring."