His son had evolved into an independent man, fully capable of charting his own path.

Britton's attempts at offering fatherly advice had ironically ended with him on the receiving end of a lecture.

He knew it wasn't really his son's fault. The blame lay with his wife, whose past actions had been a bit too extreme.

“Britton, what did Sanford say?" Janiya approached with a mix of urgency and curiosity.

Britton slipped his phone into his pocket and shared the conversation, replicating Sanford's tone and words.

Janiya felt a familiar tension rise, her temples pulsing slightly.

“He's actually threatening me?"

Britton met her gaze directly, his voice firm. "He is. And now, what's your next move? Will you persist in your schemes and push that girl out of our country?"

Janiya's temper flared. “Am I supposed to do nothing, then? We're not an ordinary family, Britton. How can I just watch idly as he marries someone unsuitable?"

Britton sighed, a look of resignation on his face. “While your intentions are protective, you can't dictate our grown son's life. Haven't the consequences of interfering in his marriage been clear enough? He already turned the engagement party into a spectacle, almost tarnishing our reputation. Now, he's acting like a playboy, isn't that troubling to you? Think about how our peers in high society are now scoffing at us."

Janiya's expression shifted, her heart tightening with discomfort as memories of the engagement party's scandal surfaced.

“Britton, now that Maggie is back, what if Sanford does something foolish with her?" she asked anxiously.

Britton paused before responding, his voice firm, “He's made it clear. He's grown and will handle the consequences of his actions. Janiya, it's time you realized Sanford isn't a child anymore. Focus on your own affairs instead of trying to control everything.”

As Britton walked away, Janiya clasped her chest, a wave of dizziness washing over her.

How could she simply relinquish control? Sanford was her beloved son!

How could she stand by and watch him choose a commoner as his wife?

Thinking of Maggie, and how her son had become estranged from her because of this woman, Janiya felt her status among her peers erode, intensifying the ache in her heart.

This lowly commoner... She hoped Maggie would know her place and keep her distance from her son!

Meanwhile, in Skrix, after Sanford ended his phone call, Brian approached him.

“So Rosalynn mentioned you had Maggie design a wedding gown for Millie, is that true?"