third person's POV
He pointed at Elmer next to him, his fingertip showing a faint wolf claw mark from anger, "Look at this, what kind of kid did you turn him into?! Attempted murder! How did I end up marrying a woman like you!"
Mirabel knew that this time Aldrich was really angry, and the vibe coming off him, like he could tear everything apart, scared her.
She always knew Vanya was Aldrich's bottom line, and was an important link for the Dalton family's wolf bloodline to continue.
"Fine! This was my fault. If you've got the guts, just break up the partner contract with me!"
Mirabel suddenly acted like she had nothing left to lose and stood up abruptly. There was a flash of desperate fierceness in her eyes as she tried to force him back with her determination.
Vanya watched coldly from the side. She could smell a hint of luck hidden in Mirabel's scent—that was the confidence she'd built up over the years dealing with Aldrich.
This had always been Mirabel's trump card—every time they had a big fight, she would say this, and Aldrich could never bear it, so he always gave in in the end.
But saying it at a time like this probably wouldn't work anymore.
Vanya could even feel the wolf inside Aldrich growling—that was a sign he couldn't take it anymore.
Sure enough, Aldrich didn't back down like Mirabel expected. Instead, he straightened his chest, his presence even more intimidating, almost making Mirabel collapse: "Fine! End the mate contract!"
This sentence hit hard, with a kind of finality that didn't allow for any turning back.
Mirabel looked totally shocked, and Elmer was stunned too: "Dad! Mom is your wife! How could you just end the partner contract for an outsider like that?"
Mirabel cried hysterically, "I gave you a son, and you treated me like this! Aldrich! You have no conscience!"
Aldrich looked a bit troubled, but in the end he steeled himself and said to Vanya, "Vanya, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, that's why you almost got hurt. I'll leave these two to you. Whether you want to send them to the police or deal with them yourself, I won't interfere!"
That being said, Vanya knew deep down that Aldrich liked Mirabel.
She glanced lightly at Mirabel, who was sitting on the floor throwing a tantrum, and said, "Since Aldrich handed her over to me, I'll take care of it."
Aldrich didn't bother anymore and just stood quietly to the side.
"Wasn't Mirabel running around so much just because she wanted the Dalton family's fortune to end up with your Field family?"
Vanya stepped forward, "You don't have to go to the police... Just promise me one thing, and I'll let this slide."
"W-what conditions?" Mirabel looked at Vanya warily. She didn't believe Vanya would be so nice.
Vanya said, "Before, when I said I wanted to take over the company, you kept secretly getting people to trip me up, making those Dalton family branches disagree with me taking over. I guess Aldrich was convinced by you back then too, right?"
When this was mentioned, a trace of guilt flashed across Mirabel's face.
Vanya went on, "I could stay out of this. If you don't want to go to jail, fine, but I want you and your son to lose your inheritance rights. And if anything happens to Aldrich in the future, you two won't get a single cent."
"How could this be?!" Mirabel blurted out.
Vanya raised an eyebrow, "Back then, did you want the Dalton family's money, not Aldrich himself?"
"I..."
Mirabel sneaked a glance at Aldrich's suspicious look not far away and didn't dare say anything.
"Of course I was truly in love with you, Aldrich! It wasn't for the money!"
"Since that's the case, signing an agreement to give up the inheritance and the right to inherit wasn't a big deal either."
Vanya said, "I'll have a lawyer draft a contract later, and I won't really leave you with nothing."
Vanya smiled and said, "Your son could work for our Dalton family in the future too, he just wouldn't have the right to inherit. If Aldrich was gone someday, you and your son wouldn't get the inheritance, but you'd get tens of thousands in pension every month. That way, your later years would still be secure."
Mirabel got angry as soon as she heard that. "What can tens of thousands do! Vanya, you just wanted to take all the family property for yourself!"
"Taking all the family property for yourself? You think you have the right to say that?"
Vanya gave a cold laugh, "The Dalton family was built up by my father alone, and I'm the only heir. All those tricks you've been playing behind my back these years, you really think I don't know? I'm telling you, you'd better behave yourself. Aldrich likes you, that's the only reason I'm giving you this chance, otherwise..."
Mirabel felt a dangerous look fall on her. She followed Vanya's gaze and sure enough, met Theodore's eyes.
With Theodore around, if she ended up in jail, could her life be any easier?
"Mom! How could I lose my inheritance? Everything in the Dalton family was supposed to be mine!" Elmer glared at Vanya and shouted.
Mirabel immediately pushed Elmer away: "Shut up! Do you want to get your mom killed?!"