Chapter 4

"My mother died the day she caught the two of you together." "And you want me to call a murderer my mother? Do you really think that's reasonable?" My tone didn't waver, and the crisis in front of me couldn't crush it. Albert and my father wore looks black as thunder. But Diane didn't get angry. Instead she stopped Gwyneth. "Gwyneth, don't be rash." "Belinda misunderstands me so deeply, but she's still my child. I'm willing to wait for the day she calls me mother." Gwyneth glared at me, seething. "Belinda, you see that? Even now Mom is still taking your side."

Albert stepped forward, as if his patience had run out.

He looked at me, and those bottomless cold eyes I knew far too well. He never stopped until he got what he wanted.

"Since you refuse to admit you were wrong, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

He laid down the threat right there, a warning to every person present, and everyone who could shop in a place like this was either rich or powerful.

"Anyone who helps Belinda is going against the Farleys."

"Today, I'll make her kneel and apologize to Gwyneth and her mother in front of everyone. No exceptions."

Even though I'd told myself I didn't want him anymore, hearing him turn on me so cruelly with my own ears still sent a pain through me, cold and cutting to the bone.

"Albert, you're really set on stripping your own wife of every last shred of dignity in front of all these people?"

"Yes!"

"If you still won't repent, the Farleys can always find another daughter-in-law."

Hearing that, Gwyneth's eyes lit up.

Get me thrown out, and she could marry Albert.

So she pressed further, not content with an apology, twisting the knife.

"Sis, if you can't pay the bill, you're going to prison."

"If you don't want to go to jail, then kneel and kowtow to us three hundred times, and say your mother was a whore."

Hearing her insult my mother, I couldn't stop myself. I raised my hand and struck her across the face.

I didn't expect that slap to be the spark. Albert rushed over and shoved me away.

I couldn't keep my footing and fell straight to the floor.

The people around me watched my humiliation with the most mocking eyes, the great Mrs. Farley, the eldest Cooley heiress, now in such a sorry state she wasn't worth a single hair on her stepsister's head.

"Belinda, I can see you won't cry until you're staring at your own coffin."

"You won't back down until you've been taught a lesson."

"Manager!"

Manager Lambert came forward, trembling. "Mr. Farley, what can I do for you?"

"Make her pay the bill right now. Don't give her any time to stall."

"If she can't pay, don't hold back on my account. Send her straight in for a good long stretch."

His cruelty severed the last thin thread of feeling I had left for him.

Every person there was watching to see how I'd end up, and not one was willing to step forward and help me.

It wasn't that they didn't want to. They didn't dare.

"Albert, let me ask you just one thing."

"When did you fall in love with Gwyneth?"

I really did want to know. Before Albert could answer, Gwyneth walked over, a smug smile on her face.

"In bed! Too bad you were fast asleep."

"Sis, satisfied with that answer?"

"If you are, then hurry up and pay the bill! You're just like that whore mother of yours, dumb as a pig."

With that, she turned away in contempt and went back to Albert's side.

Manager Lambert's face darkened at once as he walked over, his manner toward me foul.

He no longer called me Mrs. Farley. He used my name straight out.

"Belinda, kindly pay your bill now."

He knew perfectly well my cards were frozen, that I had no money to pay at all.

"No money to pay? Then there's nothing for it but to send you to prison."

"Somebody, the clothes on her back haven't been paid for either. Strip them off her and take her down to the station."

"Yes, sir!"

I knocked down the first one who reached for me with a single slap.

"What's the hurry? Who said I couldn't pay?"

My father sneered at me, his face still cold. "You animal, we froze all your cards. Everything you have you owe to us. Where would you get the money to pay?"

"And if I do have it?"

"If you can pay this bill, I'll do what you've always wanted and give you your mother's company back."

"Words are cheap. Why should I believe you?"

"If I go back on my word, may lightning strike me down."

Gwyneth moved in to kick me while I was down too. "If you can't afford it, then sign your shares over to me."

Then she pulled out a share-transfer agreement and threw it at me.

I smiled, and the smile ran deep. "Too much arrogance always comes back to bite."

Everyone looked at me with contempt, sure I was still putting on an act with the noose already around my neck.

Just then a notification came through on my phone. Smiling, I tapped it open.

"Manager, don't listen to any more of her nonsense, just arrest her and get her to prison—"

But Gwyneth's words died in her throat, her eyes going wider than lanterns.

"One... one billion..."

Albert jolted hard, his voice going sharp all at once. "Belinda, where did you get one billion dollars?"