Chapter 4
655words
I savored Jessica's humiliation, my smile turning glacial.
"Since the staff is gone, my dear sister will need to handle the cleaning and cooking herself."
Jessica's eyes bulged with fury as Felix lunged forward from his corner.
"You fucking bitch! How dare you tell my mother to clean like some maid!"
He spun toward Victoria, his voice shifting to a pathetic whine.
"Grandma, do you see how she's treating us? She's bullying Mom right in front of you!"
"God knows what she'll do to steal our inheritance once you're gone…"
Felix cowered back, eyeing me like I might sprout fangs and devour him whole.
Victoria's eyes bulged at Felix's performance. She jabbed her finger at me, her voice rising to a screech.
"Sylvia Woods! You're nothing but country trash! How dare you threaten me in my own home!"
"If you hadn't trapped Charles with your little schemes, do you think someone like you would ever have sniffed the Grant family doorstep?"
Something dangerous flashed behind my eyes. I quickly masked it, arranging my features into harmless submission.
"Mother, I was only teasing my sister."
"I'd never expect her to do real work. But this house is too large to manage without some staff."
I'd offered the perfect compromise, and Victoria had no reasonable objection.
For the next several days, Jessica did everything possible to make my life hell.
But fear of losing my signature kept her venom in check.
It was her idiot son who couldn't resist pushing his luck.
For my plan to work, I swallowed my pride and endured his stupidity.
Seven days later, my phone rang with the call I'd been waiting for.
"Ms. Woods, everything's in place. You can proceed with the inheritance transfer."
I hung up and retrieved the prepared inheritance contract from my bag. Felix was sprawled in the living room, engrossed in a video game.
The moment he spotted "inheritance" on the document, his eyes lit up like Christmas lights.
He tossed his controller aside and grabbed for the pen, eager to sign without reading a single word.
Jessica, ever vigilant, snatched his hand away and passed the contract to her waiting lawyer.
After scrutinizing every clause, the lawyer handed it back with a nod.
"Ms. Miller, everything appears in order. It's a standard inheritance transfer."
With victory in her grasp, Jessica dropped all pretense of civility.
She ordered the newly returned servants to dump Eve's and my belongings outside the front gate.
Jessica stood in the doorway, hands on hips, chin thrust skyward:
"This house belongs to my son now. Take your brat and get the hell off our property!"
I didn't waste breath arguing. She wouldn't be enjoying this mansion for long anyway.
I called my assistant to collect our belongings.
Then I tried Eve's phone. No answer.
A chill of dread crawled up my spine. I immediately called Eve's school.
Her teacher sounded confused:
"Mrs. Grant already called to excuse Eve's absence."
I spun around, dialing my assistant with trembling fingers.
"Bring every security officer to Lishui Villa immediately."
"Release the bankruptcy news. Bring legal representatives with you."
"And bring me the complete file on Charles Grant's death investigation!"
I dialed Victoria's number next.
She answered with lazy confidence.
I snarled into the phone: "Victoria, what the hell have you done with my daughter?!"
Victoria's laugh was like ice cracking.
"The girl's a Grant, after all. After draining so much family money, it's time she earned her keep."
Rage constricted my chest until I could barely breathe. Through clenched teeth, I hissed:
"If you harm one hair on my daughter's head, I will destroy everything you've ever loved."
Victoria hung up without another word.
My assistant arrived with the legal team and security force.
I slammed my foot into the mansion's front door, splintering it open as I roared:
"VICTORIA PALMER! WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
