Goodbye, Mr. Ex: I've Remarried Mr. Right novel Chapter 1676

Theda added, "When Jeffery ditched the Nichols family, even with his smarts, he couldn't build up enough money and power to challenge the four families that fast. Someone had his back. He once told me not to judge a book by its cover. You never know who's laughing last."

Her cryptic words left them puzzled.

Debra asked, "So, who do you suspect?"

"I'd say Enoch Osborne," Theda replied.

The name dropped like a bomb. Everyone froze and then swung their eyes to Randy.

Randy gaped. "My dad? No way. He's a stiff old fart, decent at business but the weakest of the four families. Calling him lazy is generous. He's a stubborn rock. How could he be the head of the Illuminati?"

"Don't sell your old man short," Theda said. "The last generation of the four families got hit hard. But your family? Only your mother lost it. Your father has played it safe, staying low-key and outlasting them all. I bet he's the one Jeffery meant."

His mind flashed to a random memory. His dad, usually hands-off, snapped at him once. "You're an Osborne. Have some pride and don't run around like the Houston's lapdog."

After that blowout, he moved out and hadn't been back for years. Enoch hadn't contacted him since then, and they were like strangers.

In school, when kids wrote about family, the word "father" never made his page.