Ethan Valentine was seething.

He thought his entire family had gone insane.

His eldest brother Marcus, who was diagnosed with oligospermia, had married a heavily pregnant woman.

And his Third Uncle was completely blinded by love. How could he tolerate Evelyn bringing her boy toy right to their doorstep?

Third Uncle Valentine frowned at Marcus.

Ethan’s words were strange, as if he was certain the child wasn’t Marcus’s? Was there some hidden truth?

Marcus was furious. He suddenly raised his hand.

Smack!

A sharp slap landed on Ethan’s face. "Shut up!"

Ethan was completely stunned. He had always been mischievous and reckless, but the family atmosphere was usually harmonious. At worst, Third Uncle would spank them. The seven brothers had always been close, never keeping secrets from each other.

Now his eldest brother had hit him over two women?

He trembled with rage. "I was standing up for you, and this is how you treat me? Eldest Brother, Third Uncle, you’ve really let me down!"

Ethan turned and stormed out of the living room.

Charles Valentine hurried after him. "Third Brother, wait! Don’t be impulsive!"

Marcus stared blankly at his own hand.

He had confirmed the child wasn’t his. Yet he had instinctively defended Mina’s reputation. His heart was full of conflict.

He lowered his gaze, looking dazed.

Third Uncle Valentine said sternly, "Come with me!"

This family dinner was destined to end badly.

Everyone gradually left. Marcus’s parents glanced at him with concern, but ultimately said nothing.

Marcus had been raised and groomed by Third Uncle Valentine as the designated heir. His parents had always taken a hands-off approach. Now was not the time to interfere.

In the study, Third Uncle Valentine got straight to the point. "What is really going on?"

Marcus was silent for a long time before speaking quietly. "I have oligospermia."

Third Uncle Valentine looked slightly surprised, but quickly regained his composure. "Confirmed?"

He wasn’t obsessed with having heirs. If Evelyn and Grace weren’t his daughters, he never planned to have children anyway.

So he was quite accepting of the oligospermia diagnosis.

Marcus smiled bitterly. "Three different hospitals confirmed it."

Third Uncle Valentine frowned. "Then the child?"

"Mina insists it’s mine." Marcus gritted his teeth. "No matter how I pressure her, she won’t budge. Who is that man? Does she love him so much that she must have his child?"

Third Uncle Valentine coughed lightly. "Evelyn’s attitude didn’t seem fake."

Marcus took a deep breath. "Then Evelyn was fooled by her too! You saw her just now, acting so wronged. But Third Uncle, I am suffering more!"

Marcus dropped all pretenses in front of his Third Uncle. He collapsed onto the sofa. "I think I’ve really fallen for Mina. I told her to get an abortion. I made her choose between the child and me. She chose to have the child and then divorce me…"

"Third Uncle, what am I to her? Just a tool to get her child a legal status?"

Third Uncle Valentine offered a cruel reminder. "Single parents can register their children now."

Marcus was speechless.

He hung his head in defeat. "I just want to keep her. Without this child, there would be no barrier between us…"

Third Uncle Valentine sighed softly. "Marcus, the tighter you grasp, the more you lose. Sometimes, letting go is how you gain the whole world."

Marcus shuddered, stunned into silence.

…

Ethan rushed into the parking lot, ready to drive away to clear his head.

Charles caught up and climbed into the passenger seat. "Third Brother, what’s wrong with you? Eldest Brother and Third Uncle didn’t say anything. Why are you so upset on their behalf?"

Ethan glared resentfully at the brightly lit mansion. "Forget about Eldest Brother. He even tried to force Sister-in-law to have an abortion today. The most outrageous one is Third Uncle!"

"There’s a Family Reunion Gala in four days. Do you know what it’s for?"

"I don’t know."

Charles was still in university and didn’t know much about family affairs.

Ethan said through gritted teeth, "We’re getting a new Third Aunt!"

"What?!"

Charles was excited. "That’s great news! Why are you angry?"

"The new Third Aunt is Evelyn! Did you notice the man she brought with her today?"

Charles nodded blankly.

Ethan sneered. "That’s her boy toy!"

Charles was shocked. "Wh-what?!"

Ethan scoffed. "Hard to believe, right? Third Uncle is so shrewd, yet he’s been bewitched by a little temptress in his old age. And she’s two-timing him! She had the audacity to bring her lover right to our door…"

Charles stammered, "Could there be some misunderstanding?"

"What misunderstanding could there be?"

Charles thought for a moment. "Should we go ask Third Uncle for clarification?"

"Hah!" Ethan laughed mockingly. "I barely said a word today, and Eldest Brother hit me!"

Charles’s eyes lit up. "Then let’s go ask Evelyn!"

Ethan immediately perked up. "Right! We’ll go find Evelyn. We’ll make her choose between her boy toy and Third Uncle!"

"Okay~"

The two impulsive young men were in agreement. They drove straight to Evelyn’s residence.

At the entrance of the Nan residence.

Evelyn had just helped Mina upstairs to rest.

Mina was physically and emotionally exhausted. She wanted to be alone and insisted she was fine, telling Evelyn to leave.

Evelyn understood and exited the room. She sighed and asked Alexander Vance, "Do you think that idiot Marcus ever got a proper medical check-up?"

Alexander was about to answer when there was a knock at the door.

They went downstairs and saw Ethan and Charles standing outside.

Ethan’s face was full of anger, a clear slap mark still visible. He sneered and demanded, "Evelyn, between this boy toy and Third Uncle, who do you choose?!"

Evelyn was baffled. "Why should I choose?"

Ethan retorted, "How can you face Third Uncle if you don’t choose? If you want to be with my Third Uncle, you should be devoted to him! Cut off all these rotten ties!"

Evelyn was utterly confused. Then she remembered Ethan calling her ‘Third Aunt’ at the Cortez Sect…

She couldn’t help but laugh and explain, "You’ve misunderstood. Your Third Uncle and I don’t have that kind of relationship!"

"Then what other relationship could you have?!"