Apocalypse: Reborn with a Soul Sync Farming Space System-Chapter 127 Family Dinner (3)

Laurel’s eyes widened slightly, but she kept her face straight, but inside she did not know whether to laugh or sigh.

"A little spy?" Laurel whispered back softly, keeping her tone playful so the adults would not suspect anything. "That is a very serious job."

Tina nodded seriously, her small brows knitting together as if she were discussing military strategy. "I know. I won’t disappoint you."

Laurel looked at her for a second longer. In a room filled with hidden agendas, forced smiles, and unspoken hostility, the child beside her was the only one who spoke without calculation.

"You don’t need to spy," Laurel whispered gently. "Just be Tina. That is more than enough."

Tina tilted her head slightly. "But I want to help you."

Laurel’s gaze softened for a brief second. "Then grow up strong. Study hard. Train properly. That will help me more than spying."

Tina considered her words seriously before nodding. "Okay... But I still want chocolates."

Laurel smiled faintly. "That can be arranged."

Across the table, the stern woman cleared her throat sharply. "What are you two whispering about?"

Tina straightened in her seat immediately. "Nothing."

Laurel calmly resumed eating, as if nothing had happened.

The atmosphere remained tense. Conversations resumed slowly, but no one truly relaxed. Felicia occasionally glanced toward Laurel, her lips pressed thin. Vera kept her expression neutral, but her eyes flickered between Laurel and the stern woman.

Grandpa Wayne finally spoke after a few minutes of silence. "Since everyone is here, we might as well address certain matters."

The stern woman placed her utensils down neatly. "That would be best."

Laurel continued cutting her food calmly, though she knew the real reason for this dinner was about to unfold.

Grandpa Wayne looked at Laurel. "There have been concerns."

Laurel lifted her gaze. "About what, Grandpa Wayne?"

"Your recent decisions."

Felicia finally raised her head. "Grandpa, we only want fairness." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Vera followed smoothly. "We were locked up without proper discussion or justification."

The stern woman added, "And Jade was sent out of the inner residence entirely. That is not a small matter."

Laurel placed her fork down gently. "Jade broke the rules," Laurel said evenly. "If I hadn’t taken that decision, it would have caused division and uprising among the people. And my words are still the same, if anyone can’t follow my rules, they are free to leave."

"There are other ways to go about it, and you only took that decision because you already disliked her, and most importantly she is family," the stern woman pressed.

"And the people outside are not?" Laurel asked calmly.

The question landed heavily.

Vera’s fingers tightened around her glass. "We are not saying she is innocent, but exile?"

"She was not exiled from the fortress, at least not yet," Laurel corrected. "She was reassigned to another section, she would be exiled the moment the mist dissipates."

Felicia scoffed lightly. "You are still going to exile her, for just speaking her mind. This is wrong, you wouldn’t be here if not because of my family."

"Yes," Laurel replied without hesitation. "And neither will you or any of the Waynes, if not because of me."

The stern woman’s eyes hardened. "Everything you did is the duty of the madam of the house. Don’t tell me you want us to get on our knees and bow to you in thanks."

"I don’t need your thanks," Laurel answered calmly.

The room fell quiet again.

Alexander finally spoke, his voice low. "The way you handle family matters affects the Waynes’ reputation but I totally understand why you did it. There are other influential families in the fortress, and we need to show them the Wayne family stands together and that we are one."

Laurel turned her gaze toward him, a little disappointed in him... no the disappointment had increased by ten percent more. "Before we came here, I already made myself clear about what to expect when you come to the fortress, don’t play the family game with me."

Their eyes locked briefly.

Grandpa Wayne leaned back slightly. "The issue is not whether rules were broken. The issue is authority."

Laurel understood immediately. "You believe I overstepped," she said simply.

The stern woman did not deny it. "You are still a daughter-in-law, and as a daughter-in-law, the husband is your priority then your family before others."

Laurel’s lips curved slightly, but there was no humor in it. "I am a Commander, and the people are my priority, and as for Mr. Wayne..." she paused, turning to Alexander. "We are having a divorce."

The room fell into a deep silence, tension crackling through the air like an electric static. Everywhere blurred in the Waynes’ eyes...

"Divorce?!" They said in unison, their face reddening with anger, shock, and disbelief.

"You are having a divorce?" Grandpa Wayne turned to Alexander whose face had darkened two shades more.

"No, we are not." Alexander quickly replied. He turned to Laurel whose soft expression had no tangible emotions. "We only had a little fight."

"Grandpa, we are having a divorce. This marriage won’t work, so I’ll appreciate it if you all spare the leisure on how to be a good wife." Laurel said, her gaze drifting from Grandpa Wayne to Aunt Margaret.

Another silence stretched across the dining room.

If Laurel truly went with the divorce that meant the Waynes would lose the only source of control they had within the fortress. They had held the meeting to pressure Laurel to relinquish her powers to her husband Alexander. And that would make them the most influential family inside the fortress.

But everything they had hoped for was slipping through their fingers like sand.

Vera burst out in laughter. "I see what you are trying to do. Do you realize that without the Wayne family as your backing, no one will respect you? Without our backing, you’ll be nothing. You think you can just dump us like trash because you believe you are on top? I don’t even know why my brother let you be the Commander, that position belongs to him because he made everything possible!"

"Send them all out." Ling Xuan’s voice rang inside Laurel’s head.