Chapter 524 Incitement
When Carol dropped that bombshell, everyone was floored.
Seb, looking super annoyed, shot back, "Mom, you can't just legally cut off family ties like that."
Carol, all high and mighty, replied, "I'm just trying to keep the Anderson name clean. No one will be talking smack about us."
Then, out of nowhere, Susan let out this icy laugh.
Seb glanced at her, worried.
"What's so funny?" Carol stammered, looking a bit rattled.
Susan smirked, "I used to respect you 'cause you're Seb's mom and Hayden and Spring's grandma. I put up with your crap, your public digs at me. But this? This is just nuts. You got a son and a daughter. How would you feel if your daughter's mother-in-law pulled this stunt?"
Carol's face darkened, but she wasn't backing down.
She sneered, "I can give Rylee a cushy life. Can your folks do that? They just embarrass you. Rylee's living the high life with her hubby. How can you even compare?"
Rylee, looking freaked out, pleaded, "Mom, please, just stop."
Susan, feeling even more crushed, shot back, "Sure, my mom can't throw money at me, but her love is just as real as any other mom's. She's not less than anyone. I know you've always looked down on me, but whatever. I didn't marry you. From now on, I'm done calling you 'Mom.' You don't deserve it. And I'm done listening to your crap."
With that, Susan grabbed her bag and stormed out, not giving anyone a second glance.
Everyone was floored. No one saw that coming. Susan just laid it all out and bounced, not caring about Carol's scolding.
"Susan!" Seb called out, panicking, and tried to go after her.
But Carol snapped, "Seb, get back here!"
Seb turned, shaking his head, disappointed. "Mom, you really crossed the line today. I'm so let down."
Carol, fuming, shot back, "You're taking Susan's side? You've forgotten I'm your mother just 'cause you're married now? Don't forget who got you the president gig at Prosperity Group. Without me, who else can you rely on? Your Dad?"
Seb sighed, "Mom, no matter what, you'll always be my mom. But I'm sick of hearing this. If you want the president title, take it. Susan's my wife and the mother of my kids. I gotta go after her."
And with that, Seb turned and bolted out the door.
"If you walk out that door, don't ever call me 'Mom' again!" Carol screamed, her voice cracking as Seb disappeared from sight.
But Seb was already gone, and her words fell on deaf ears.
In a fit of rage, Carol swiped a cup off the table, sending it crashing to the floor.
The glass shattered everywhere, a mess of shards and spilled water.
"Have you done yet?" Todd, who'd been sitting there silently, finally exploded, his voice booming through the room.
Carol flinched; Todd hadn't blown up like this in years.
Clutching her chest, she snapped back, "Oh, so you're on Seb and Susan's side too? Fine, they've left, and you should go too! Get out of my sight!"
Todd, seething, shot back, "You think I want to be here? No wonder the kids can't stand you. I've never seen a mother who forces her daughter-in-law to cut ties with her family?"
With that, Todd hit a button on his wheelchair, rolling towards the door.
Carol, never one to back down, yelled after him, "I've never seen a husband who doesn't back up his wife and sides with his daughter-in-law!"
Rylee, seeing the tension, quickly ran to open the door for Todd. "Dad, let me help you."
"No need, Leon's outside. He'll take me," Todd said, rolling out.
Rylee, worried, was about to follow, but someone grabbed her arm.
She looked up to see Andrew's face.
Confused, she asked, "Why are you stopping me?"
Andrew replied, "Dad's got Leon. Mom needs us right now."
Rylee thought Andrew was being thoughtful.
Andrew walked over to Carol, picked up a glass, poured some water, and gently placed it in front of her. "Mom, take a breath and have some water."
Carol's face softened a bit. She took a few sips and seemed to calm down.
"Alas, my son was a waste of effort. He's not as good as you, my son-in-law," Carol sighed, setting the cup down.
"Mom, Seb was just acting out. You're still the most important person to him," Andrew said, watching her closely.
Carol shook her head. "He's never been close to me, even as a kid. But he never talked back until that woman showed up. Now he defies me all the time. Looks like I'll have to rely on you and Rylee from now on."
"Mom, we'll always be here for you. Whatever Seb can't do, we will," Andrew assured her.
"Yeah, Rylee's a bit naive, but she's lucky to have you. Otherwise, I'd be really worried," Carol said, finally relaxing a bit.
Carol then said she was tired and headed upstairs to rest without eating.
Andrew and Rylee went back to their room.
"Andrew, what are we gonna do about all this? How can we fix things between Mom and Seb and get Mom to chill out about Susan?" Rylee asked, clearly stressed.
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