Wedding Night: My Disabled Husband Made Me Cry-Chapter 198: Death Exemption Token

"Since they never got married, she must not have agreed to it."

Jett played with her fingertips. "She went behind her family’s back, straight to the hospital for a sterilization procedure, and declared she would never marry or have children."

"Back then, for marriages among prominent families, heirs were crucial. After all, there was a real family fortune to inherit. By doing that, she basically burned her bridges. The Wentworth Family was helpless and stopped trying to force her to marry."

Vivian sighed in admiration. "She’s so bold. No wonder she seems so cold. Even when she smiled at Elle, there was no warmth to it. She wasn’t like a typical loving elder."

"Her experiences made her that way. But it’s precisely because of her personality that she’s respected in the Wentworth Family. Everyone treats her with a great deal of respect."

"All you can say is that the feud between our families ruined both of their lives. Given her views on love, even if my uncle was only going to live to thirty, she would have chosen him without a second thought." Vivian sighed and then asked, "So, what did she want when she came to see you today?"

"It was nothing."

"How could it be nothing?" Vivian didn’t believe him. "You promised you wouldn’t hide anything from me."

Jett had no choice but to tell her the truth. "I gave the Wentworth Family an agreement. We get custody of Elle, and in return, I’ll spare their family."

Vivian was shocked. "Shirley would never agree to that!"

Jett smiled coldly. "It’s not her decision to make."

"No one can ever stop you from doing what you want. So the Wentworth Family was forced to agree?"

"Vincent hasn’t given his answer yet. Ruby came to negotiate with me, and she brought a Death Exemption Token."

"A Death Exemption Token?"

Jett explained, "When Ruby and my uncle were forced to separate, my grandfather made her a promise. He said that if she ever needed anything, she could make any request of the Sterling Family, and as long as it didn’t harm the family’s interests, the head of the Sterlings would have to grant it."

"So she came this time to ask you to spare the Wentworth Family, unconditionally?"

"Yes."

"Jett, will you agree?"

"Do you think I should?" Jett countered.

Vivian thought for a moment before answering. "If it were me, I probably would. First, even though your grandfather has passed away, honoring his promise in a matter as trivial as this would be a show of respect."

"Second, I’m sure that even if the Wentworth Family can’t match the Sterlings now, the fact that they’ve been rivals for decades means they still have standing. If you try to annihilate them, it might be a pyrrhic victory—you’d be hurting yourself in the process. That’s something to consider."

"And finally, Shirley raised Elle. As long as she hasn’t done anything wrong, suddenly fighting for custody will be difficult. The law tends to favor the mother, and you also have to think about Elle. You can’t deprive him of a mother’s love."

Jett didn’t say anything, just gazed at her intently.

His unreadable expression made the hairs on her neck stand up. "What is it? Did I say something wrong?"

"No," Jett said with a gentle smile. "When Ruby came to talk to me today, she made almost the exact same points you just did."

Vivian couldn’t help but laugh. "It seems Ms. Wentworth and I see eye-to-eye on this."

"You could say that."

"So, did I convince you?"

The man was noncommittal. "Vivian, the only reason I want to bring Elle here is for you. I know you’re fond of him, and I was hoping his presence could ease some of the pain you feel."

Vivian froze, then quickly understood his intentions. A mist suddenly clouded her eyes. "You’re trying to take Elle away from Shirley just to make up for the child I lost? You’re so foolish."

"Vivian, I just want you to be happy."

Vivian hugged him tightly. "Just being with you makes me happy. As for our child... that’s in the past. I’m not dwelling on it."

"That’s good."

"So you don’t need to fight for Elle. He may be a child, but he’s independent and smart enough to make his own choices. Once he’s better, we should let him decide."

"Alright. Whatever Mrs. Sterling says."

...

「A few days later」

With the Wentworth family’s crisis averted, Shirley Wentworth breathed a sigh of relief. She found some time to buy a toy and went to Sycamore Bay to see Elle.

When Elle saw her, he said sullenly, "Mommy."

Shirley had braced herself mentally, but the moment she remembered this was Jett Sterling’s child with another woman, her anger flared.

She suppressed her anger and forced a smile. "Elle, are you still mad at Mommy?"

Elle nodded honestly.

"Mommy knows she was wrong, so I bought your favorite toy to apologize." Shirley put on a wounded expression. "Elle, Mommy didn’t mean to hurt you. It was the first time I’ve ever done that. Can you please forgive me, just this once?"

Elle remained silent.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Vivian stepped forward. "Elle, didn’t you say before that you’d forgive your mommy if she realized she was wrong and came to apologize?"

Elle nodded reluctantly. "Yes. I keep my promises."

Shirley was so furious she wanted to kill Vivian right then and there!

’Who does Vivian think she is? Do I need her help to placate my own son?!’

Shirley maintained her smile and kissed Elle on the cheek. "Thank you, sweetie. I knew you’d always love Mommy most. Pack your things and come home with me, okay?"

"I don’t want to go back to Grandpa’s house." Resistance was written all over Elle’s face. "I want to stay here with Vivian."

"No, you can’t. Vivian has her own life, and you can’t keep bothering her," Shirley coaxed patiently. "Listen to Mommy and come home. You can come visit Vivian another day."

Elle refused, clinging to Vivian’s leg and not letting go. "I don’t want to! I don’t like Grandpa’s house!"

Shirley’s fingertips trembled with anger, and her expression turned cold. "You won’t even listen to me anymore, is that it? How could you become so horrid!"

Vivian frowned. "Miss Wentworth, please calm down. It’s not right to attack a child with such harsh words."

Shirley turned her fury on her. "Miss Quinn, I am disciplining my own child. What right do you have to interfere?"

Vivian was taken aback by her words but said, "I’ve spent some time with Elle recently, so I’ve gotten to know him a little. I just think he’s the kind of child who responds to a gentle approach, not a firm one. You need to be mindful of how you talk to him. It would be better for both of you."

Shirley’s face was cold. "I’ll say it again: I don’t need you meddling in how I raise my child!"

Elle pouted and protested, "Mommy, don’t bully Vivian!"

This enraged Shirley even more. She yanked him toward her and raised her hand to strike him. "You ungrateful little brat! I raised you all this time just so you could side with an outsider? Are you trying to kill me with anger?! If I don’t teach you a lesson today and make you listen to me, then my name isn’t Wentworth!"