James let out a long, heavy sigh, his mind racing. ‘How did things become so tangled between my grandson, the girl I raised as my own granddaughter, and the young woman I care for so deeply?’ he pondered, disappointment settling heavily on his shoulders.
“Just fire her, Klein. It’s your decision to make,” James said, his voice weary.
“And Emily, you’d do well to stay out of others’ family affairs from now on. Tina isn’t exactly the most sensible person to be involved with,” James added, his tone resolute.
Emily felt a pang of hurt. In the end, it seemed James was siding with Whitney.
She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Grandpa, I understand,” Emily murmured softly.
The expression on Whitney’s face struck Carter like a physical blow, a visceral reaction that left him momentarily speechless. “Whitney, why did you drag Milly into this mess with Uncle Klein again? You promised us your support, so why are you turning against her now?” His voice was laced with a mix of frustration and disbelief as he tried to provoke her, hoping to see a flicker of the warmth that once characterized their relationship.
But all he received in return was a frosty, dismissive glare. The spark of affection that had once danced in her eyes whenever she looked at him had vanished, replaced by an icy indifference that chilled him to the bone.
In that instant, it struck Carter like a thunderclap: it had only been a few days since their last conversation, yet she had truly moved on from him. The realization sent a sharp pang through his chest, constricting his breath and leaving him feeling hollow.
Whitney’s gaze was as cold as steel, as if she were responding to the most absurd joke imaginable. “Carter, what exactly do you think I targeted her for? Maybe you should consider seeing a psychiatrist before you go around accusing people like a rabid dog.” Her words cut deep, sharp and unyielding.
His face flushed with a rush of anger, the heat rising to his cheeks. “I know you have your issues with your sister, but kicking them out so they can’t even go home? Isn’t that a bit extreme?” His voice wavered between indignation and desperation.
“Perhaps she went a little overboard,” Whitney replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “But she was the one who spread those ridiculous rumors. You got Milly in trouble too, so shouldn’t you be the one apologizing?”
The revelation that Tina and Emily were behind those malicious phone calls clicked into place for Carter. It all made sense now, and it only fueled his frustration further.
Whitney let out a laugh that was anything but warm. “Apologize? They could beg at my feet, and I still wouldn’t forgive them. And you think I should apologize to them?” Her eyes narrowed, and she added, “Carter, if you can’t distinguish right from wrong, then perhaps you should keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you just sound foolish.”
In her mind, she thought, *How did I ever fall for such an insufferable jerk?* The disappointment was palpable, an ache that lingered in her chest.
“And stop seeking me out,” she warned, her voice firm. “If you keep this up, I’ll go straight to Uncle Klein and let him have a word with you too.”
If they were determined to blame her for everything, she might as well own it completely.
Without a backward glance, Whitney turned and walked away, leaving Carter standing there, rooted in disbelief. *What did she just say? She’s going to complain to Uncle Klein?* The thought spiraled in his mind. *Uncle Klein wouldn’t help her-why would he?*
A sneer curled at the corners of his mouth as he thought, *Sure, Emily and the others messed with company business this time, which is why Klein is angry. But Whitney can’t actually believe he’ll take her side, can she? Klein has a girlfriend now. There’s no way he’d support his nephew’s ex-fiancée.*
Carter’s complexion shifted from a deep crimson to a ghostly pallor. He climbed back into his car, slamming his fist against the steering wheel in frustration.
All he had done was throw a few words her way to elicit a reaction, and she had retaliated with a barrage of biting sarcasm.
*Did she really have to be so obstinate?* he pondered. *And why did she run to someone else when things went wrong instead of coming to me first?*
The thought gnawed at him more than he was willing to admit.
He lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he tried to shake off the irritation that clung to his skin like a second layer.
Meanwhile, Whitney sat in her car, her mind racing as she processed everything that had just transpired. *So Klein knows what happened. Did he actually confront Emily on my behalf?*
With each passing day, she felt an increasing sense of indebtedness towards him.
Whitney typed out a quick message: [Thanks for today.]
After a brief moment of contemplation, she hit send, her heart racing at the thought of his response.
Klein stared at his phone, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he typed back, [Don’t mention it. Just come to me directly next time. I’m your boyfriend, and I’m going to be your husband.]
Though their relationship was built on a transactional arrangement, Whitney felt a rush of warmth flood her entire body as she read those words.
She whispered softly, “Husband.”
The term felt so intimate, so personal, that it sent her heart racing in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
Whitney quickly followed up with another message: [Klein, I need to ask another favor. Can I borrow a few of your people?]
*****
Tina lounged on her plush bed, basking in a moment of self-satisfaction, when suddenly her bedroom door burst open with a force that made her heart leap into her throat.
Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized the intruder. Panic gripped her chest. “Whitney, you can’t just barge into my room like this!”
Whitney, flanked by several imposing bodyguards, strode into the room with an air of authority. Without hesitation, the men seized Tina, one on each side, lifting her effortlessly from the bed.
“You’ve been spreading rumors all over the place, haven’t you? Going around telling people I kicked you out?” Whitney’s voice was as frigid as the winter wind. “Well, let me give you a real taste of what being thrown out feels like.”
She turned to her bodyguards, her expression unwavering. “Get her out of my house. Now.”
“And everything in this room that belongs to her-throw it all out too.”
Just as Laura stepped through the front door, she was met with the shocking sight of her daughter being dragged out by two men, tossed outside like yesterday’s trash.
“Wait! Who are you people? Put my daughter down right now, or I’m calling the police!” Laura’s voice was a mixture of panic and fury.
Whitney crossed her arms, her demeanor cool and collected. “Go ahead and call them, Laura. I’d love for the police to hear about how she’s been slandering me.”
“I was going to give you two days to pack up and leave on your own, but since you clearly can’t take a hint, I figured I’d help you move out myself.”
The household staff stood frozen in shock, mouths agape as they witnessed the chaos unfold.
The men Whitney had brought with her were enormous, built like tanks, and moved with an efficiency that was almost terrifying. Everything happened in a blur, and although the staff wanted to intervene, they knew they were powerless against such a force. Samuel wasn’t even home to intervene.
Laura and Tina watched in horror as half-packed suitcases were dragged out of the villa and unceremoniously dumped onto the lawn outside. Items that hadn’t even been packed yet were carelessly thrown to the ground, a testament to Whitney’s wrath.
Tina trembled with rage. “Mom, call Dad! She’s lost her mind!”
Laura’s face contorted with fury, but she forced herself to breathe deeply, trying to maintain her composure.
She pulled out her phone, recording a video of the pandemonium, and sent it to Samuel before dialing his number.
“Samuel, Whitney is treating me like this-don’t you think she’s going way too far?” she cried, desperation lacing her voice.
When Samuel returned to the villa, he was met with a scene of utter pandemonium at the entrance. The air was thick with tension, and his heart sank as he took in the sight of Laura and Tina. Their eyes were puffy and red, and their expressions were twisted with a mixture of anger and hurt.
Tina, her voice sharp and filled with indignation, caught sight of him immediately. “Dad, you have to do something about Whitney! How could she treat me like this? How could she treat Mom this way?” Her words were a torrent of frustration, and Samuel felt a wave of shock wash over him, quickly followed by a rising tide of anger.
He took a deep breath, trying to soften his tone as he spoke. “This is all too much. Laura, please don’t be upset. I will go in there and have a word with her. She needs to apologize to both of you today.” He reached for Laura’s hand, hoping to offer her some comfort, but as they tried to step inside, two unfamiliar security guards blocked their path.
“Sorry, but this woman can’t come in,” one of the guards stated flatly, his expression unreadable.
Samuel’s temper flared. “That’s my wife! Who do you think you are to stop her?” His voice was laced with fury, but the guards merely stared down at them, their faces impassive, refusing to yield.
His frustration boiled over. “So, I can’t go in either?” he snapped, his patience thinning.
After a moment, the guards stepped aside, allowing him entry. “You can.”
Samuel swallowed his anger, trying to reassure Laura and Tina. “Just hang tight for a moment. I’ll talk to her. Since when did she start calling the shots around here? This is absolutely ridiculous.” He stormed inside, his mind racing with thoughts of what he would say to Whitney. But as he stepped further into the villa, he quickly realized that two guards were just the tip of the iceberg; Whitney had hired a small army of ten security personnel. The few household staff they had seemed completely ineffective in this chaotic situation.
“Whitney! What on earth are you doing?” Samuel’s voice echoed through the spacious living room. “Didn’t I already promise you they would move out? If you keep this up, you’ll turn the Moore family into a laughingstock in this city!” His frustration was palpable, and he wondered if she even cared about the reputation she was tarnishing.
‘Does she have any idea how people will view her?’ he thought, his inner voice scolding her for her arrogance. ‘They’ll label her as disrespectful and arrogant towards her elders. How can she act so recklessly?’
Whitney, however, was no longer the timid girl who would shy away from conflict. She had endured enough for Patricia’s sake, but with her mother gone, the floodgates had opened.
“Dad, what’s wrong with hiring some help to get them moved?” Whitney replied with an unsettling calmness. “I could’ve given them a few days, but my lovely sister Tina decided to go behind my back and complain to my boss. I nearly lost my job because of her, so yes, I think I’m entitled to feel a bit emotional about it, don’t you think?”
Samuel froze, disbelief washing over him. He hadn’t expected Tina to be the instigator of this turmoil.
He took a moment to collect his thoughts, his breathing becoming heavy. “Then tell me what happened, and I’ll talk to her for you. But you can’t make a scene like this.” He gestured around, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “Everyone in this neighborhood has connections and money. What will they think of the Moore family when they hear about this?”
Whitney scoffed, a bitter smile creeping onto her lips. “Dad, I couldn’t care less what anyone thinks. My feelings are what matter. And by the way, I’m not dropping the case just yet. That public apology clause? I’m changing it.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.