Chapter 370 Filing for Custody
Patrick let out a sigh and looked at Zev. “My health isn’t what it used to be. I don’t have the energy to worry about these things anymore. Oscar can’t help me, so I had no choice but to let Shawn take over. Don’t hold it against me—sooner or later, I’ll have to step aside.”
Zev was silent for a moment. He opened his mouth as if to say something but couldn’t find the right words.
After Helena passed away, Zev resented Wade and ended up spending most of his time at the Wagner Residence. Patrick had become a significant figure in his life.
“You’re not old. You’re in your prime,” Zev muttered. “Quentin was still hustling at your age. This is the best time to push forward, but you’re just lazy.”
He didn’t care about what Shawn did. No matter how much Shawn accomplished, it wouldn’t change his relationship with Patrick.
Patrick had been his anchor since childhood.
“You always know how to flatter me,” Patrick said with a chuckle. “But if I don’t start handing things over now, am I supposed to wait until I’m six feet under? Shawn has the ability–I have to start letting go.”
“I used to have the wrong impression of you. I thought you were ridiculously ambitious, ready to swallow up Lockhart Group and become the richest man in the country.” Zev smirked.
Gary let out a helpless laugh. “Just don’t be too hard on Shawn. He’s still family. I know you’re close with Oscar, but that doesn’t mean you should treat Shawn like an enemy. He’s had a rough life too.”
Zev didn’t say anything, but his stance had noticeably softened.
Kelly glanced at Zev, then at Patrick, remaining silent.
Maybe she was overthinking things, but she had a feeling Patrick was playing a deeper game. With just a few words, he had subtly shifted the entire purpose of this dinner.
Gary had originally intended to mediate between Shawn and Zev, trying to stop them from turning into bitter rivals. But now, somehow, the conversation had turned into everyone persuading Zev to go easy on Shawn.
Zev’s personality seemed tough, but deep down, family was his soft spot.
Even when it came to Wade, despite how much he acted like he despised him, Zev would still call the butler late at night to check on him.
With both Gary and Patrick urging him to back down, it felt like he was being emotionally cornered. Zev. would probably go easy on Shawn. But Shawn? That was a different story.
After being stripped of his authority today, there was no way he wouldn’t hold a grudge against Zev.
“Kelly, don’t mind them. Let’s eat,” Patrick said, turning to her with a reassuring smile.
Kelly nodded and lowered her head, focusing on her food. Maybe she was just overthinking things.
After all, Patrick was Zev’s uncle. He wouldn’t do anything to harm him.
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Chapter 370 Filing for Gustady
“Eat up.” Zev placed some food on Kelly’s plate.
But Kelly found herself unable to focus.
After dinner, she sat by the window, staring outside, her mind in a jumble of thoughts she couldn’t quite untangle.
Zev glanced around the car warily before speaking in a cautious tone. “Honey, is there a bug in the car?
Kelly snapped out of her thoughts and looked around in shock. “A bug?”
Zev clenched his jaw, then took the opportunity to press a quick kiss to Kelly’s forehead. “If there isn’t a bug, then why are you giving me the cold shoulder? You’ve ignored me the entire way here.”
Kelly let out a helpless chuckle before pushing open the car door and stepping out. “I’m just worried that after tonight, things between you and Shawn will get even worse.”
“It shouldn’t,” Zev said, pulling her into his arms. “Patrick took back the real power. No matter what Shawn wants to do, he won’t be able to pull it off–at least not for now.”
“Don’t let your guard down. The situation could escalate things even more,” Kelly said with a sigh.
“Yeah, I know. As long as he doesn’t come after me, I won’t start anything, either.” Zev had taken Gary and Patrick’s words to heart.
“But what if he targets you in secret?” Kelly asked, her worry evident. “Like the fire!”
She was growing anxious, her emotions slipping out of control. The fire had genuinely shaken her.
Zev’s heart ached for her, so he quickly pulled her into a tight hug. “Honey, I was wrong. I’ll stay alert. I won’t recklessly put myself in danger again—I promise.”
One thing about Zev–he knew when to bend. Whenever Honey was upset, he would always apologize first, no matter what.
But Kelly just felt exasperated. The way they saw things was completely different.
“I just…” She trailed off, unsure how to put it into words.
She couldn’t exactly tell Zev that she was overly suspicious, that she doubted everyone around them. And she definitely couldn’t say that Patrick stripping Shawn of his authority wasn’t necessarily a good thing–it might just worsen the conflict.
She couldn’t let her doubts ruin Zev’s relationship with Patrick.
Letting out a deep sigh, Kelly rubbed her temples.
Sometimes, being a wife meant being caught in the middle of family affairs, and it was exhausting.
“Honey…” Zev looked at her pitifully.
“I’m scared,” Kelly admitted. “Zev, you can call it paranoia or say it’s just my trauma talking, but I’m afraid that in the end, Patrick will still take Shawn’s side. You’re just his nephew–do you get what I
n?”
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Chapter 370 Filing for Custody
She feared Patrick would ultimately protect Shawn.
+8 Pearts
Zev looked at her for a moment before nodding. “I know what you’re worried about. Trust me…
Kelly nodded too, though deep down, she was also afraid that because of Shawn, Zev would end up completely severing ties with Patrick’s family..
No matter how he acted, he was terrified of losing the people he called family.
Just then, Zev’s phone rang.
“Mr. Zion, Clarissa’s lawyer just sent over legal documents. She’s officially filing for custody–she’s going to fight you and Mrs. Lockhart for Mr. Shane.”
Clarissa had finally made her move.
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