Chapter 28
“I think those twins are Billy’s biological kids–with that homewrecker,” someone muttered.}
“Is there even a doubt? Why else would he push Crystal to transfer all the assets to them?” another chimed in.}
“Poor woman. She was completely played.“}
Whispers spread like wildfire through the banquet hall, voices thick with judgment and disbelief. What had started as a festive send–off had morphed into a full–blown public spectacle–and I was at the center of it all.”
My mother clutched my arm, her tear–streaked face trembling. “Crystal, this is exactly what we warned you about,” she cried. “We told you he was calculated. He’s always been after our money! That man never loved you. And those kids–you don’t even know where they came from! But you wouldn’t listen!“}
Dad had stormed off earlier, livid. Now he returned, face thunderous, voice shaking with fury.
“How could I have raised such a foolish daughter? Why the hell would you give up everything for a man? You already gave up your career, your womb, even your assets! Crystal, you’re a disgrace to the Oldford name!“}
Surrounded by murmurs and judgmental stares, I looked down at the divorce papers in my hands. No one noticed the faint, almost amused curve of my lips.
“Crystal,” Billy said, using that faux–gentle tone I’d come to despise, “you can’t blame me. I’m just a man. You had your uterus removed- you can’t have children anymore. What choice did I have?“}
I let out a dry laugh, cold and humorless. “You’re the one who asked me to do it–so we could live a child–free life together. You told me we’d never regret it. You swore that if I sacrificed my ability to have children, you’d stay with me forever.“>
Billy shrugged, careless. “Well, that was then. Things changed. I want a family now. I want children. And since you can’t give them to me, I’ll find someone who can.“)
“Exactly.” Denise stepped forward like she was auditioning for a soap opera, her smile perfectly practiced. “What’s the point of keeping a woman who can’t give you kids? And what good is all that fortune if there’s no one to pass it down to?“}
Around the room, heads began to nod in quiet agreement. Whispers rose again, this time backing her heartless words.§
Unable to stomach it any longer, my mother stepped forward, eyes blazing, finger trembling as she pointed at Billy. “You,” she spat. “Have you forgotten where you came from?”
“You came out of some dead–end town with nothing but lint in your pockets. Couldn’t even afford college. You were holed up in a dorm room, living off ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches.”
“If Crystal’s father hadn’t stepped in and paid your mother’s hospital bills, she wouldn’t have made it through the month. We didn’t ask for a dime in dowry when you married Crystal. Instead, we gave you a house and a car.”
“When she found out you liked slow–cooked ribs, she didn’t just order them–she hired a chef to get the recipe right, then spent weeks learning how to make them herself. Just to make you smile.“}
“And when your brother lost his job and his wife left him? Crystal begged her father to help. He gave your brother a cushy job–General Manager, full benefits, five–figure salary. We treated you like family. And this… this is how you repay us?“>
The room went silent.
Billy gave a humorless laugh. “Why are you bringing up the past? That’s got nothing to do with this.” Then he turned to me. “Well, Crystal? Are you just gonna stand there and stare at the agreement?”
He smirked. “Not like it’ll change anything if you don’t sign. The estate’s already been transferred to the kids. And there’s barely a few hundred in our joint account.”
“Tei! you what,” he added, voice mocking, “you can keep it. Consider it a thank–you for all the sacrifices you made for me and the kids. Should be enough for your retirement.“@
Gasps and low murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“If it weren’t for Crystal,” someone muttered, “his mother wouldn’t have survived. He’d still be a–nobody and not the richest man in the city.”
“The Oldfords dragged him out of poverty and he cleaned them out. Played his cards right. Poor Mr. Oldford.”
“Yeah, and now he’s grinning like he won the damn lottery.“@
Billy’s smug smile stretched so far it looked like it might split his face in half.
Then–smack!
“You bastard!” The slap sound echoed through the banquet hall like a gunshot. My father had stormed forward, hand raised and slapped Billy so hard his head snapped to the side. He was furious thinking of what I’ve been sacrificed to be with that scumbag and now he made fool of us.
Dad roared. “She gave up her womb for you, gave you status, gave you a life you never could’ve built on your own–and this is how you repay her?”
Billy’s face turned red, more from humiliation than pain. He waved his arm and shouted, “Security! Get this old man out of here!“> Like trained dogs, a group of security guards charged forward, surrounding my father with threatening eyes and clenched fists.
