Chapter 237: Kneel on Them
When Carter heard my words, a spark of joy lit up his dark eyes, as if fireworks had exploded, illuminating his face. “Are you serious?” he asked cautiously. His uncertainty tugged at my heartstrings.
In the past, Luke had never paid much attention to my feelings. As the most cherished grandson of the Bolton family, he had always been showered with affection and attention, particularly from Jeffrey, who placed all the family’s hopes on him. Luke and I grew up together, and our relationship was common knowledge. Life had always been easy for him—everything he wanted was within reach.
Carter, on the other hand, was different. His reserved and distant demeanor stemmed from a lack of affection. Even his love for me had been carefully concealed. Even as a billionaire commanding respect and fear, Carter remained lonely.
My simple confession carried more weight than I had imagined. It left him hesitant, almost unable to believe it was real. I tightened my grip on his hand and affirmed, “Yes, I like you.”
Carter responded by wrapping his arm more firmly around my waist, his tone earnest, “Chloe, I’ve never been in a relationship before. If I ever make mistakes, please tell me. I may not be perfect, but I’ll do my best to be perfect for you.” His heartfelt promise melted my heart. Smiling, I teased, “You’re already the best in every…”
After our open conversation the day before, nothing stood between us anymore. We spent hours together in bliss until I received an unexpected call from the maid. “Miss, you need to come quickly. Ms. Sadie is causing chaos at Mrs. Gardner’s house, and we can’t calm her down.”
Frustration bubbled up as I ended the call. Sadie was crossing the line again. My mom hadn’t been feeling well, and now Sadie was causing a scene. I drove straight to my mom’s place. As I stepped inside, I was greeted by the sound of smashing objects and Sadie’s screeching voice.
“You witch! You stole my dad and made him ignore me! If I can’t live a good life, neither will you!”
I couldn’t help but marvel at Sadie’s foolishness. If I were in her shoes, I’d have used pity to manipulate Bill. Instead, she chose to storm in like a madwoman right after getting out of jail.
Calmly, I pulled out my phone and began recording the chaos to show Bill later. Then, I stepped into the messy living room. Thankfully, Carter had stationed two bodyguards to protect my mom, so Sadie hadn’t been able to enter. She stood outside, hurling insults, while the maid and guards kept her at bay. My mom, already looking pale, pressed her temples, clearly overwhelmed by the commotion.
“Keep at it,” I said icily, glaring at Sadie. “When you’re done, let’s see how you plan to pay for the damages.”
Inside, I fumed. If Sadie’s tantrum managed to break up Bill and my mom, I’d admire her means. But all she’d get was Bill kicking her out for good.
As soon as Sadie spotted me, her anger flared even more. “Zoey, you conniving snake! I’m Dad’s daughter too! How dare you treat me like this?”
Before coming over, I’d already heard about Sadie’s recent troubles. After being thrown out of the house, she and Monica had taken refuge in a hotel. Their combined savings amounted to just 40,000. For most people, that would be plenty to rent a modest place nearby and live comfortably. But Sadie wasn’t like most people. Accustomed to a life of luxury, she couldn’t stand the thought of downsizing. Instead of adapting, she decided to stir up trouble at my mom’s house.
I crossed my arms and allowed the bodyguards to block her from coming any closer. “Sadie, don’t forget that without my intervention, you’d still be rotting in jail. Seems like the years of comfort you’ve enjoyed have made you forget your place.”
“Your mother is nothing more than a mistress. Maybe some people pleased her by calling her Mrs. Gardner, but let’s get one thing straight—the real Mrs. Gardner is my mother. And you? You’re just an illegitimate child barging into the legal wife’s home. How dare you act so high and mighty here?”
The words ‘illegitimate child’ cut deep, and I could see Sadie’s face twisted with anger. She had always deluded herself into believing she was the legitimate eldest daughter, so hearing the truth enraged her.
“You’re the illegitimate one!” she shot back furiously. “If your pathetic mother hadn’t refused to let go, Dad would have married my mom long ago. You wouldn’t even have the chance to act superior in this house!”
Before I could respond, a booming voice interrupted, “Who are you calling an illegitimate child?” Bill had arrived, but Sadie was too clueless to realize the danger she was in. She had been counting on this moment, hoping to gain his sympathy.
“Dad, you’re finally here!” she cried, rushing toward him. “Do you have any idea how much my mom and I have been suffering? We—”
Smack!
Her words were cut short by Bill’s slap on her face. Stunned, Sadie stumbled back, staring at him in disbelief. “Dad, you hit me?”
Bill’s expression was thunderous. “Look at this mess! Who gave you the right to cause a scene here?”
Sadie was too dim-witted to grasp that things had changed beneath the surface. She still clung to the naive belief that Bill would continue indulging her every action. What she didn’t realize was that the years of advantage she and her mother had enjoyed had already been overturned. It hadn’t taken long, but the shift was enough for me to expose their flaws and strip away their power. Bill’s remaining attachment to her stemmed purely from fatherly affection, but even that was hanging by a thread. Sadie, however, managed to sever it completely with her reckless behavior.
“Dad, do you not care about me and my mom anymore?” she cried out.
I wasn’t about to let her play the victim. Taking a step forward, I spoke firmly, “Dad, let’s settle this right now. Who do you stand with? Is she an illegitimate child, or am I? And who is your wife? If you choose them, then fine—Mom and I will leave. We don’t need a father or husband who won’t protect us.”
Seeing my anger, Bill immediately tried to calm me down. “Zoey, don’t say things like that. Your mother is my only wife.”
I pushed further, determined to get a clear answer. “Then why does she feel entitled to come here and cause chaos? What are we supposed to do about it? Should I call the police?”
As soon as I mentioned involving the authorities, Bill’s expression shifted. “Zoey, that’s not necessary,” he said hastily. “She’s just gotten out of trouble with the police. Do whatever you feel is right—just don’t call them.”
That was the moment I’d been waiting for. “Alright then, don’t expect any pity from me.”
Sadie froze, visibly shaken by my sneer. Her voice wavered. “I… I’ll leave now.”
The bodyguards blocked her path before she could move, and I took my time walking toward her. “Leave? Do you think this is some public market where you can come and go whenever you feel like it? You seem to enjoy smashing things, don’t you? Fine, let’s make use of that.”
I gestured toward the scattered glass and ceramic shards on the floor. “Pick up every piece and take them outside. When you’re done, you’re going to kneel on them.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the mess. “W—what?”
I repeated coldly, “I said kneel. And stay there until I’m satisfied.”