Chapter 518 Dean Firmly Refuses to Divorce
Willian was fuming. "You can't say that. I'm your dad, and this is my home."
Nolan glanced between Willian and Arnold, confused. Willian clearly didn't expect Arnold to be there and was genuinely shocked when he saw him.
Willian froze, his face turning red with anger. "This is my house. What are you doing here?"
"He's a guest invited by my mom," Nolan said coolly, showing no respect.
Willian lost it. "Nolan! I'm your dad! Whose son are you, anyway?"
Nolan smirked. "Have you forgotten you did a paternity test with me when I was a teenager? You should know whose son I am."
Nolan held a grudge. Back then, Sophia had stirred things up, driving a wedge between Cordelia and Willian. Angered by Cordelia's closeness with the bodyguard, Willian impulsively did a paternity test, which ended up hurting their three kids.
Feeling guilty, Willian lowered his head and, after a moment, said, "Your mom and I aren't divorced yet. He should leave."
"Why should he leave?" Cordelia came out of the study with Richard. "Arnold is my guest. I've already filed for divorce, and we're in the cooling-off period. You have no right to kick out my guest."
Willian's face changed, and after a long pause, he said, "I just wanted to come back and talk to you."
Cordelia sneered. He had seen Sophia's true colors and wanted to come back and fix everything. He was dreaming.
"We have nothing to talk about. Go back and talk to your 'kind-hearted' lover, Sophia." Cordelia looked at Nolan and Edward. "See your father out."
Edward, who had been playing with toys with Justin and Joe, stood up and walked over to Willian. "Dad, you're not welcome here. Don't make it hard for us. Let's go. I'll see you out."
Willian was furious, his fingers trembling, unable to speak.
"Don't say anything nasty," Nolan warned. "Let's go, Dad. Save some dignity. This house isn't yours and doesn't welcome you. But the home you've taken care of for over twenty years needs you. Your 'kind and gentle' lover needs you, and so does the daughter you had with her."
Willian's face turned even uglier, but he knew he was in the wrong and felt awkward. It was all because of that schemer Sophia, who had deceived him for years. If he hadn't always trusted her, thinking she was more suitable as a wife than Cordelia, he wouldn't have messed things up.
Sighing, Willian looked at Cordelia. "As long as I don't agree to the divorce, you'll always be my wife. Our marriage isn't that simple to dissolve. You promised back then that unless I agreed, we couldn't divorce."
Willian had an agreement signed by Cordelia. If she wanted a divorce, it wouldn't be as simple as leaving with nothing. This was a deal Bill had made with Cordelia, using the Cunningham Group as leverage to secure a future for his son. As a father-in-law, he might have been selfish, but as a father, he knew his son's character too well. He had to use this method to keep his daughter-in-law and hold the family together.
"Willian, if you're a real man, let her go!" Arnold's face darkened, barely keeping his cool.
Arnold had no clue about Cordelia's deal with Bill.
"I don't agree to the divorce. You'll never be with her," Willian said, trying to have the last word before storming out.
Arnold looked ready to chase after him and give him a piece of his mind, maybe more.
Cordelia stopped him. "Don't lower yourself to his standards."
Edward coughed lightly. His mom's words were harsh. Willian was bad, but he was still their dad.
Edward chimed in, "I might not be his biological son, but my brother definitely is."
He was still bitter about past events involving Jasmine.
"Uncle, the food's getting cold. Let's eat first," Jasmine said, breaking the tension. "My mom made pizza and chicken wings."
Jasmine had a knack for diffusing situations. Arnold's face softened, and the mood lightened.
Arnold nodded and headed to the dining table, but then he noticed Richard, who had been standing behind Cordelia, staring at him.
Arnold frowned, realizing the boy resembled his younger self a bit.
Betty noticed the subtle tension between Richard and Arnold. She smiled and said, "We have good news to share with everyone today."
Jasmine smiled and hugged Ethan. The family felt warm and happy.
"My aunt is having a baby!" Justin announced excitedly.
Richard shyly smiled and hugged Betty. "We wanted to tell everyone later, but we couldn't wait."
"The baby will have our last name," Edward joked. "Since Richard is already my mom's son, let's have him take our last name tomorrow and give him a share of the family inheritance."
Though joking, Edward's words showed the family had accepted Richard.
"I think that's a great idea," Nolan added.
"You two have great ideas, but the baby will have my last name, and Richard has agreed," Betty said proudly. "The next one can have Dad's last name."
Arnold stayed silent.
Cordelia spoke up, "It doesn't matter whose last name the baby has. I think it's fair this way."
Cordelia's words made Arnold nod. "The last name isn't important. What's important is knowing your true self."
This was a reminder to Richard not to follow Sophia's bad example.
Richard didn't speak. He had respect, distance, and even some disdain for Arnold. He didn't know what had happened between Arnold and Sophia back then.
After dinner, Cordelia took Betty and Jasmine to the yard, leaving Arnold and Richard to talk.
"Did your godmother tell you about me and Sophia?" Arnold started.
"I won't be your son, so you don't have to worry," Richard said, clenching his fists.
"I had a wedding with Sophia, forced by the family. Her father threw her into our house. I felt a deep sense of obligation to her, and I wanted to build a good life with her. But later, she ran off with someone else, taking the money for my mom's treatment, causing her to die at home without timely medical care." Arnold didn't hide anything from Richard.
Richard looked at Arnold in surprise. He was very candid.
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