Chapter 88
Chloe started bawling. “Mom, I’m sorry! I’ll change, I promise!” They both knew what was at stake. If I kicked them out now, they’d lose everything–the money, the status, the power. Going from penthouses and designer labels to nothing? That fall from grace would hurt more than a slap in the face. They couldn’t stand the thought of being mocked by people they used to look down on.
Desperate to prove her loyalty, Chloe jabbed her finger at Denise. “It’s her! She’s the reason this happened! We took her in like a damn charity case and she turns around and attacks you? Kneel. Apologize to my mom. Now!”
Denise looked like she’d been struck by lightning. Her own daughter–her flesh and blood–was ordering her to bow down to me?> When she didn’t move, Caleb stormed over, grabbed her by the arm and dragged her forward. He barked at a couple of hired security guards who immediately stepped in and forced her down on her knees in front of me.
Denise’s eyes were wide with rage, but she swallowed it down. She knelt, clenched her fists and muttered, “Mrs. Oldford… I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
Then–without a word–she raised her hand and started slapping herself, over and over. I stopped counting after ten. Her cheeks puffed red, her makeup smeared and two of her front teeth hit the floor.
“I’ll help you with that!” Chloe and Caleb jumped in, hitting Denise like she was some punching bag they were entitled to abuse. Her face swelled, her lipstick smeared across her chin and her dignity shattered into pieces.
Billy winced and whispered, “Honey… maybe just fire Denise and be done with it.”
Denise kept her head low, silent and shaking. She didn’t fight back. Not once.
Once the siblings finally tired themselves out, I smiled.
So that’s their play, huh? Toss Denise under the bus to save Billy.
I mean, Billy and I were married for what–twenty–five, maybe thirty years? Of course they’d try to leverage that history now.
“She’s definitely fired,” I said calmly, then turned to the guests. “Mr. Dawes, today’s a celebration for my children. You and your little entourage weren’t on the guest list. Please see yourselves out.”
“Crystal, please, don’t do this,” Billy wailed, his voice cracking as he clung to my shoulder. “I was wrong, I swear. Just… don’t throw me out.”
“Mom, please don’t make us leave,” Chloe whimpered.}
“Yeah, Mom. I want to be your daughter forever,” Caleb said, falling to his knees alongside her. They both clung to my legs, sobbing like their lives depended on it.
“Get lost!” I kicked them off like trash at the curb.
They stayed on their knees, still begging.
“Crystal, just give us one more chance! We swear, it won’t happen again!“}
“Mom, we’re sorry! Please, don’t leave us behind!“}
I looked down at them, unmoved. “You should’ve thought of that before.“}
In my past life, I let them ruin me. I suffered in silence. And now? All I’m doing is kicking them out–and they can’t even handle that.
Billy finally realized I wasn’t bluffing. He let out a bitter laugh. “So this is how it ends, huh? You got me this time. I’m walking away with nothing. But guess what? Over the years, I siphoned off a few million from your company. More than enough for a cushy life.”}
He straightened up, trying to regain some dignity. “And my kids? They got into Princeton and Yale. Top–tier schools. Their future’s set. Unlike your kids… what, community college?“}}]
Denise and the spoiled brats grinned like they’d just scored a win.}
People around the room began whispering, casting glances my way. Some were probably wondering if my kids were just average- nothing special behind all that money.
I raised an eyebrow and said, cool as ever, “Who cares if my kids made it into the Ivy League or not? I’ve got over a billion dollars in assets. They could slack off their entire lives and still live like royalty.“}
The crowd nodded in agreement.”
“Yeah, with that kind of money, as long as they don’t blow it on shady investments or get mixed up with drugs or losers, the family’s set for generations.“}
“Unless you’re a genius or the next Steve Jobs, an Ivy League degree doesn’t stand a chance next to a billion–dollar fortune.”
Billy scoffed, clapping his hands slowly. “So that’s it, huh? You’re just covering for the fact your kids are dumb? Couldn’t even make it into a decent school, so now you’re waving your bank account around.“}
I shook my head. “Who told you my kids couldn’t get into a decent school? Actually, they both got accepted to Princeton and Yale.”
Gasps rippled across the room.
