hapter 196 An Ultimatum 

His words were meant not only for Quinn but for every Bridger present. 

He wanted everyone to understand that as long as he drew breath, Quinn’s greatest shield within the Bridger family was him. 

And he meant to snuff out, once and for all, any lingering designs on the fifth branch’s property. 

“Thank you, Great–Grandpa,” Quinn said softly. 

Marley watched the scene, jealousy twisting in her chest. She suddenly turned to Lana Bridger, Sidonie’s mother and her own aunt. “Aunt Lana, Sidonie ran into trouble all because of Quinn. That day, Sidonie flew the helicopter to rescue those trapped workers at my request, yet during the talk show, Quinn humiliated her, so Sidonie walked off set midway and got kidnapped.” 

At once, every eye in the room swung back to Quinn. 

Lana glared at Quinn with bitter anger. The brilliant daughter she had nurtured so carefully had been ruined because of Quinn–how could she possibly swallow that? 

“Quinn, right? I’m your aunt, and Sidonie’s your cousin. Why did you treat Sidonie that way?” Lana challenged in front of everyone. 

Because Lana had married early, by the time Quinn was born, she was already living in Jexburgh and seldom returned to Yarburn; nor had the two households had much contact in the capital. 

It was only on this trip back to Yarburn that Quinn learned she and Sidonie were even related. 

“During the interview, I simply told the truth. As for her kidnapping, Aunt Lana, you should ask your daughter why she refused to save a life when she had the chance,” Quinn replied coolly. 

Lana’s expression shifted. She quickly countered, “Even if she really did walk away, that’s not a crime. No law requires someone to perform a rescue in dangerous circumstances. But you–Sidonie’s own cousin— went after her so aggressively on–air. If not for you, she wouldn’t be condemned by the whole world. Quinn, shouldn’t you take responsibility and help Sidonie remove the negative publicity?” 

“I have no such obligation,” Quinn rejected flatly. 

Lana turned toward Murren. “Grandpa, no matter what, my daughter Sidonie is half a Bridger. Now, because of Quinn, she’s being attacked from all sides. My perfectly good daughter is still lying in a hospital bed–does Quinn bear no responsibility at all? I hope you’ll see justice done for Sidonie!” 

It was obvious Lana intended to leverage the Bridger family’s power to make Quinn clean up her daughter’s public mess. 

The Bridgers and the Stonehursts had tried to suppress the stories and trending topics, yet they simply wouldn’t stay down. 

Matters were snowballing; if this continued, Sidonie would lose not only her Firefighting Hero title but even her job at Nimbus Air. 

The urgent task was to bury the bad press. 

And standing behind Quinn now was Julius. 

1/2 

If Julius were willing to act, the issue could be squashed immediately. 

Marley seized the chance. “Exactly, Great–Grandpa. Sidonie had such a bright future, and now she’s like this because of Quinn. Shouldn’t she take responsibility? Or is it that because Quinn has Julius shielding her, Great–Grandpa intends to protect her no matter what?” 

Marley’s words made Murren’s brows draw together. His gaze sharpened as it locked onto her. “I never realized you had such a…way with words.” 

Facing that stare, Marley lifted her chin. “I just think Sidonie is pitiful. She worked so hard for everything she had, yet Quinn destroyed it all so easily.” 

“What destroyed her wasn’t Quinn–it was Sidonie herself.” The uproar over Sidonie these past days had hardly escaped Murren’s notice. 

“So Quinn bears no fault at all? She and Sidonie are family, yet she pressed her so relentlessly on the talk show. If not, Cousin wouldn’t have walked off set, wouldn’t have been kidnapped! Or is the Bridger family allowed to do whatever it wants as long as the backing is strong enough?” Marley shot back, unwilling to yield. 

The “backing” she spoke of was obviously Julius. 

She was determined to turn Quinn into the target of everyone’s ire. 

She wanted every single member of the Bridger family to harbor resentment toward Quinn. 

She also meant to avenge the humiliation her dad, Melvin, had just suffered because of Quinn! 

Yet, in the very next second, the person who spoke was not Murren but Julius. 

“So, as long as someone has me standing behind them, they’re free to do whatever they like in the Bridger residence, is that it?” His clear, cool voice drifted lazily through the air. 

Marley stiffened, then swung her gaze to Julius. “Isn’t Quinn relying on you—that’s the only reason she can run rampant in the Bridger family! She even dared to hit my dad just now. He’s her elder, and she showed him zero respect. Julius, she’s treating you as nothing more than a convenient tool. Can’t you see that?” 

“Is that so?” Julius’s lips curved in a faint, almost amused smile. “If she really does regard me as a tool she can make use of, that would actually make me very happy.” 

2/2