Conflicted Emotions

-A day before-

Sarah had called her father, the Lance mansion had already been buzzing with tension. Taylor, furious after overhearing his father's plans to give Sarah a job, had stormed upstairs to find his mother, Evelyn. If anyone could stop this, it was her. After all, she had been the one most adamant about cutting Sarah off completely after she had married John.

Taylor's anger seethed just beneath the surface as he barged into his mother's study without knocking. Evelyn was sitting by the window, sipping her tea, her perfectly manicured fingers holding the cup with precision. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Taylor's face, but said nothing, waiting for him to speak.

"Did you know about this?" Taylor spat, pacing back and forth in front of her. "About Dad giving Sarah a job? You've got to be kidding me!"

Evelyn's expression remained calm, but a slight narrowing of her eyes showed that she hadn't known. "What are you talking about, Taylor?"

"Sarah called him this morning," Taylor said, nearly shouting. "She begged for a job, and now Dad's actually thinking of giving it to her because she's pregnant! Pregnant, Mom! Can you believe it?"

For a moment, Evelyn said nothing. She simply sipped her tea, her eyes thoughtful, but her mind was already working. Sarah, back in their lives, carrying a child that would be half-Lance, half the blood of that worthless John West. The thought alone turned her stomach.

"And Dad's just going to let her come back?" Taylor continued, still pacing. "After everything she's done to us? After she married that pathetic fool and ruined our reputation?"

Evelyn placed her cup down delicately on the table beside her, a calculating gleam flashing in her eyes. "Your father, as usual, is thinking with his emotions," she said, her voice cold. "He's sentimental when it comes to Sarah, and the idea of a grandchild… well, it's enough to soften him."

Taylor scowled, stopping his pacing. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Evelyn stood slowly, brushing down her crisp blouse as she approached her son. Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Your father forgets that while he may run the business, I control this family. And Sarah will not worm her way back into our lives,grandchild or not."

Taylor nodded, satisfied. He knew his mother well enough to know that once she had made up her mind, nothing could sway her. But his frustration wasn't entirely gone. "We need to make sure Dad doesn't back down," Taylor added. "He's weak when it comes to Sarah. Always has been."

Evelyn's lips curled into a slight smile. "Leave your father to me. I'll remind him what's really at stake. He won't defy me, not when I make it clear what allowing Sarah back into the family will cost him."

Taylor smirked, crossing his arms. "Good. Because if he does this, he'll destroy everything. And I'll expose him. All the affairs, all the lies. I'll burn him to the ground if I have to."

Evelyn's smile faltered, her eyes hardening as she looked at her son. "That will not be necessary, Taylor. You will do no such thing."

Taylor raised an eyebrow, surprised by his mother's sudden shift in tone. "What do you mean? If he doesn't listen,"

"You'll do nothing to jeopardize this family's legacy," Evelyn snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. "Whatever your father's flaws, whatever secrets he has, they will stay secrets. You think I don't know about his affairs? I've known for years. But airing our dirty laundry for the world to see would ruin us all."

Taylor's face twisted with frustration. "So we just let him walk all over us? Let him make decisions that destroy this family?"

Evelyn stepped closer to her son, her voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "I'll deal with your father. And you, Taylor, will remember that your position,your wealth, your lifestyle,depends entirely on the image we project to the outside world. If you try to expose him, you will be cutting off your own lifeline. Do you understand?"

Taylor clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tight, but he nodded. He hated the idea of keeping his mouth shut, of letting his father off the hook. But Evelyn was right. His entire livelihood depended on his father's wealth. Without it, he had nothing.

Evelyn turned away from him, walking toward the door. "Let me handle this, Taylor. Your father won't be helping Sarah. Not if I have anything to say about it."

-Later That Day-

That evening, as the house grew quiet, Evelyn approached Peter in his study. He was sitting behind his desk, staring out of the window as if deep in thought. When he heard her enter, he glanced back at her, a frown creasing his face.

"Evelyn," he greeted her stiffly, turning his chair toward her.

Evelyn walked slowly into the room, her presence commanding, as always. "Peter, we need to talk about Sarah," she said, her voice as smooth as silk but laced with an undercurrent of steel.

Peter's frown deepened. "I already made up my mind, Evelyn. She's carrying our grandchild. I can't turn my back on her."

Evelyn crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Carrying a grandchild does not erase the fact that she disrespected this family by marrying that man," she said coldly. "You're letting sentimentality cloud your judgment."

Peter sighed, rubbing his temples. "She's still our daughter."

"She made her choice, Peter. She chose him. She left this family behind. And now you want to give her a job? Let her back in as if nothing happened?" Evelyn's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

Peter leaned back in his chair, his expression conflicted. "She's pregnant, Evelyn. She needs our help."

Evelyn took a step closer, her voice softening but still firm. "Do you really think giving her a job will help her? Or are you just trying to ease your own guilt?"

Peter didn't respond immediately, and Evelyn seized the opportunity to press further.

"Think about what you're risking," she continued. "Our reputation, our business, our legacy. If you give her this job, you're inviting John West back into our lives. Do you want that? Do you want the Lance name tied to him?"

Peter's eyes flickered with doubt, and Evelyn knew she was getting through to him.

"She's chosen her path, Peter," Evelyn said, her voice steady. "And it's not with us. You need to let her go. She made her bed,now let her lie in it."

Peter stared at her for a long moment, his expression tense. But eventually, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly in defeat.

"You're right," he muttered, his voice resigned. "I don't like it, but you're right."

Evelyn nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then we're in agreement. Sarah doesn't belong in this house anymore."