Chapter 9%
My twins, smart as ever, took the cue. They pulled out their acceptance letters and held them up for everyone to see.” “My,” someone said. “They actually got into Princeton and Yale?”
“That’s insane! I mean, they don’t even have to work with all that money, but they still got in?”
“Rich, good–looking and smart? I’d sell my soul if my kid got into either one. Shoot, I might even start going to church.”}
The crowd buzzed with admiration, envy practically dripping from every whisper.”
I turned to Billy. “And what about your kids, Mr. Dawes? Care to show us their letters?“}
Heads turned in unison. Billy’s smile wavered.}
“Chloe. Caleb,” he said through gritted teeth, “show them. Show these people what a real acceptance letter looks like.“}] “D–do we have to?” Chloe’s voice cracked.
“Yeah, Dad… it’s personal. We–we can’t just show private stuff to everyone,” Caleb mumbled.>>
“I said show them!”
A long, awkward pause stretched out. Then Chloe whispered, “We can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t?“}
“We didn’t get in,” Caleb said flatly.M
“What?!”
Billy’s face went ghost white.
denis
Denise quickly jumped in, flustered. “It’s fine! They didn’t get into Princeton or Yale, but maybe… maybe they got into a good state school?“M
Caleb looked away. “Not even that.”
“Then at least a second–tier university?“W
“We got into a community college.”
It was like all the air got sucked out of the room. Then, slowly, laughter erupted all around us.
“Damn, got exposed hard.”
“My kid’s at a state school–guess I’m doing better than I thought!”
“Look at Billy. Dude looks like he’s gonna pass out.“}
Billy’s face twisted into a storm of rage and humiliation. “Just community college? Are you two stupid?!“}
I couldn’t help but laugh. In my past life, I micromanaged everything–cut screen time, enforced strict schedules, hired private tutors. That’s how they got into the Ivies. But this time, I let them run wild… and look how that turned out.
Classic.
Billy exploded. “You think you’ve won, Crystal? You’ll get what’s coming. I know you can’t have kids. So those twins of yours? They’re not even yours, are they? Probably used a surrogate. That’s illegal–I’ll report you!“}
“So what if you’re rich? You don’t even have a uterus! No man wants a woman with no uterus!“}
Denise cackled beside him, her face still puffed up like a balloon. “Exactly! She had a hysterectomy! There’s no way she could’ve given birth to twins. Probably bought someone else’s eggs and paid a surrogate! Ha! She’s going to jail!”
They thought they’d backed me into a corner.
How adorable.
Before I could say a word, the door bursts open. All heads turned to the doorway. Theo Jones walked in, tall and sharp in a dark tailored suit, looking like he’d stepped out of a magazine.
“Dad!” the twins shouted in unison, running to him with huge grins.
“Daddy, you made it!”
Theo walked straight to my side, wrapped an arm around my waist and smirked. “Crystal,” he called, his voice as smooth as bourbon, “are you enjoying yourself by giving Billy a hard time?“W
Billy stared like he’d seen a ghost. “Theo? You? You’re… the twins‘ father? You and Crystal-? But she couldn’t have kids.“}]
Theo and Billy were childhood friends and their bond had been strong back then. They grew up in the same backwater town, but Billy had crossed a social class when he married me and became the high–society husband.
