Katelyn immediately recognized the voice.

She turned to see Jeff and Sharon.

Both were impeccably dressed for the occasion. Sharon, her makeup flawless and wearing elegant attire, looked every bit the dignified figure she usually was, though now her expression was marred by anger. They had arrived late due to traffic and had just walked in on the Wheeler family’s poor treatment of Lise! This was their beloved daughter, with whom they had recently reconciled.

Tears welled in Lise’s eyes; finally, she had her parents’ support.

She had been suppressing her grievances, but now emotion clogged her throat.

“Mom, Dad, you’re here.”

Sharon’s eyes softened as she looked at Lise, gently patting her hand.

“Oh, my dear, is this the Wheeler family you praised for their kindness? It seems they’re not so gracious after all!”

Jeff stood by with a stern face, addressing the situation.

“Mrs. Wheeler, isn’t this excessive? Lise is here to celebrate with you, and yet she is treated so rudely.”

With many guests watching, Carol’s disrespect toward Lise also reflected poorly on the Bailey family.

If rumors spread that the Baileys were subservient to the Wheelers, it could tarnish their reputation.

Although it was true, Jeff was determined to quash any such gossip.

As the tension mounted, Mabel stepped in, hoping to defuse the situation.

“Let’s remain calm and avoid any misunderstandings. My mother-in-law is just being herself; we’ve never treated Lise badly.”

Katelyn observed Jeff and Sharon with a detached coolness.

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Though she had long lost any real attachment to these family dynamics, watching them defend Lise stirred a bitter feeling within her.

She once felt this kind of parental love, albeit briefly. In this moment, she couldn’t help but respect Sharon’s leniency even more.

Despite knowing of Jeff’s infidelity, Sharon still maintained their united front. With a scornful laugh, Sharon retorted.

“I personally witnessed how you berated my daughter.” Carol’s eyes sparkled with undisguised disdain.

Since when had anyone dared to challenge her?

Carol had once been quite satisfied with the Bailey family, which was why she had allowed Neil to marry Katelyn. However, after seeing their continuous mistreatment of Katelyn, she had grown disillusioned with the Baileys’ deceitful fa?ade.

“I invited everyone here to this birthday banquet except for Lise. Do you think I care about her gift?”

Carol declared with authority, signaling to all present that the Wheeler family was ready to sever ties with the Baileys.

Even Katelyn was taken aback by Carol’s blunt declaration.

The two families had been intertwined in business for years; dissolving such ties was not a trivial matter, especially considering the relationship between Lise and Neil.

Lise’s complexion turned even paler, her resentment brewing.

What a heartless old woman!

Despite Neil’s condition, she had stood by him, yet now the Wheelers were ready to discard her.

Neil looked troubled, his expression dark as he softly said, “Grandma.”

From both personal and strategic perspectives, now was not the optimal time to cut ties with the Bailey family. Vincent observed the varied reactions around the room, a hint of amusement on his face.

This birthday banquet had turned out to be quite the spectacle; where else could one witness such dramatic developments?

His gaze briefly met Katelyn’s.

Sharon stepped forward, her eyes wide with shock and teeth clenched in anger.

“What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting you want to cut ties with our family?”

Mabel, ever the peacemaker, tried to diffuse the tension.

“We’ve been partners for so long, how could we just end that? Let’s drop this topic for now. Everyone’s here; let’s not cause a scene.”

Ronald Wheeler, Neil’s father, also intervened, clearing his throat to attract attention.

“Whatever needs to be discussed, we can handle it privately.”

Jeff scanned the room, assessing Carol’s serious demeanor. He began to realize that the threat of ending their cooperation might not be an empty one.

Following the troubles with the Guerrero family, the Baileys were no longer as influential as they once were. In a bid to secure their standing, Jeff had hastily arranged for Lise to marry into the Wheeler family.

Now, faced with the potential severance of their relationship, he found himself cornered.

“You must give me a satisfactory explanation for this,” Jeff said, tugging at Sharon’s sleeve, only for her to briskly shake it off.

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