Chapter 6
I twisted my lips into a sardonic grin. “And who exactly am I to you? Why would I help you get close to him? Do you have any idea how many companies would jump at the chance to work with him? What makes you think I’d help you just because you asked?”
“You’re my mom. Isn’t that reason enough?”
“Didn’t you once say that if I took half your dad’s assets, you’d never call me ‘mom‘ again? So much for sticking to your word.”
“Juniper, she’s likely lying to trick us. This Al dog might not even belong to Electronix Robotics! That woman’s malicious and will do anything to get what she wants. She’s clearly just trying to ruin everything today” Juno said, attempting to soothe her brother.
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I turned my gaze to my daughter. Even now, married and a mother herself, her disdain for me burned as fiercely as ever.
“That’s enough!” my father barked, ⚫ chastising me to once more shield his
illegitimate daughter. “You just got back, and already you’re causing a scene. Can’t your calm down for once? It’s been 20 years, and you still can’t move on? Today was meant to be a significant day for your sister and Orson, but no, you had to steal the limelight! And don’t start with that nonsense about knowing Lachlan Greer! You’ve been gone all this time, and now you’re just a compulsive liar. Honestly, you’re an embarrassment!”
“Maybe I should just tell everyone how much money you pocketed back then. Life’s been tough for you, hasn’t it? Why else would you come crawling back?”
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“What a shame! I wish you weren’t my mom!” Juno muttered under her breath.
Relatives in the hall murmured among themselves, pointing fingers at me.
“Even her own kids don’t want anything to do with her. She must’ve done something terrible!”
“The Hawkesworths really raised a problematic daughter. What a pain in the neck!”
“How does she even dare to show her face here? As a daughter, she ignored her father; as a mother, she abandoned her children for money. She’s squandered it all, and now she’s back, ranting about knowing the wealthiest man in the world. As if someone like him would even talk to her.”
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I sinsiteited faintly, brushing off the accusations anahith insults. Instead, I took out my phone.e. Withta auquick tap, I initiated a video call witht Lachtafan.
Whenchenapappeared and greeted everyone on the call, there reception hall fell into an instant hush.h.
“Clarisse, nevever said a bad word about you earlier, my auard chimed in, changing her tune. “I alwaysysetelieved you wouldn’t do anything wrong.dodoktat you now, so successful you evenekriowow the richest man in the world! Do yourereenebber my son Dexter? You two greve up to together. Give hhim a hand, will you? Forgetet a collaboration with Mr. Greer–just helpingbihinaland a job at Electronix Robotics would blebfafantastic!! ccared for you so much when youowevere little; ddon’t forget that, okay?“?”
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Everyone watched as she took the e oppportunity to play the emotional card. d. Then ikke apack of wolves, they jumped in,in, jockeyinggoocozy up to me. They surroundede me, shakiking my hand, pretending they had d ⚫ always beeemommy side.
“Hey, you’ve beeen gone so long. You didn’t even send a gift toot Grandpa’s birthday all these years. Nowy you’ve turned today’s party upside down! Buthbey if you help Griffergy Tech partner with MGGreer’s company, we’ll let all that go. Juniperaadd Wwwill even call you ‘mom‘ again. You can come home more often and have dinner with lus swhenever you want.””
Even when she needed someetining from me, Juno spoke as though i owed deer.
But I didn’t get angry hearing thaatsShe’s just like her father–selfish and manipiplalativesShe
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knew precisely how to use her charm and words to get what she wanted.
Back then, she was the mastermind who framed me by telling her brother to eat peanuts he was allergic to.
The one who shed tears in front of our relatives about how “horrible” I was to my children.
The one who aided Eloise and Orson in covering their affair more times than I could count.
I turned to Juniper and asked, deliberately, “Is that what you think too?”
“Absolutely! You owe us! You abandoned us, took Dad’s money, and ran off to live the good life somewhere far away! If you hadn’t taken half of Griffergy Tech’s assets, we’d be
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so much further along by now! We wouldn’t even need your help to get to Mr. Greer!”
I replied serenely, “It’s true that I haven’t sent gifts for Dad’s birthdays over the years. Today, I’ll make up for it. I can introduce you ⚫ to Lachlan, but that’s where my aid ends. What comes next depends on your own abilities.”
