Chapter 2
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"Why the hell should they live here?!"
"A bastard and the whore who destroyed our family don't deserve to step foot in our home!"
The crack of palm against cheek echoed through the room.
Victoria's hand had struck Eve's face, leaving angry red fingerprints blooming on her cheek.
She thrust her finger in Eve's face, her voice dripping with contempt:
"Why? Because Felix is the only male heir to the Grant name!"
"Your mother is a barren failure who couldn't produce a son. I'm being generous letting you two parasites remain under this roof!"
My heart clenched as I pulled Eve into my arms, examining her injured face with quiet fury.
Eve buried her face against my shoulder, her body shaking with silent sobs that dampened my blouse.
Victoria wasn't finished. She advanced, jabbing her bony finger inches from my face.
"And you! Playing the innocent victim. Not only did you fail to give my son a proper heir, you couldn't even raise a daughter with manners!"
Ice crystallized in my veins, but I lowered my gaze and forced my features into a mask of submission.
"I apologize, Mother. I've failed to teach Eve proper respect. She spoke out of ignorance."
"Please don't upset yourself. Charles is barely gone, and the family needs your strength now more than ever."
Eve's head snapped up, her tear-stained eyes filled with betrayal as she stared at me.
I knew she couldn't comprehend why I continued to bow before Victoria's tyranny.
Victoria, satisfied by my apparent submission, ceased her tirade.
She turned to Felix and Jessica, drawing them closer as her voice transformed to honey.
"Jessica, darling, it must have been so difficult raising Felix alone all these years."
"My foolish son made you both suffer. But now that I'm here, no one will ever mistreat you again!"
Jessica raised her voice deliberately, her eyes sliding over to me with undisguised triumph.
"Oh, Mother, please don't. That's all behind us now."
"Being welcomed home with Felix is more than I ever hoped for."
Eve shook with rage at the display. She yanked her hand from mine and bolted toward her bedroom.
The door slammed with a thunderous bang.
I sighed deeply and followed her inside.
The moment the door closed, Eve whirled around, her eyes blazing through tears.
"Mom! How can you just take their crap like that?!"
"They're walking all over you! You're not some helpless charity case—why are you letting them treat us this way?"
I crossed to her, gently wiping the tears from her flushed cheeks, and guided her to sit beside me on the bed.
"Eve, sweetheart, now isn't the time for burning bridges."
"Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war."
"Years ago, when Jessica sank her claws into your father, he dumped the company in my lap and ran off with her."
"Since then, I've quietly transferred every valuable asset into companies under my own name."
I stroked Eve's hair, my voice dropping to a whisper:
"Your father's precious company went belly-up months ago. It's drowning in thirty million dollars of debt."
"Felix Grant's arrival couldn't be more perfect. If he wants Daddy's 'assets,' I'll gladly hand over every worthless penny."
Eve's eyes widened, dawning comprehension replacing her tears.
"Mom, you're absolutely brilliant."
I smiled, squeezing her hand as I leaned closer:
"Just give me seven days. In one week, Felix and Jessica will be on their knees begging for mercy."
