Reading Juicy Gossip in Her Mind

Chapter 269: He Will Never Inherit

Damien was stunned by Ruby's slap. A chill ran through him. Though his younger sister had always disdained him, they were, after all, the closest siblings. Remembering the harmony between Elaine and Zendaya, he laughed bitterly.

"Do you understand what you're doing?" he asked. "He's getting engaged in a few days, and you're involved with a committed man."

"What's it to you?" Ruby retorted, helping Oliver up. "Why are you so annoying? What's wrong with liking Oliver? Don't think just because we share a mother you can boss me around!"

Oliver, twitching in pain, still glared defiantly at Damien, his eyes mocking. Damien's rage ignited. If Oliver weren't his aunt's son, he would have considered killing him.

"He's using you to get back at me. Do you really think he likes you?" Damien asked.

Oliver remained silent. He had used Ruby's beauty to advance her in the entertainment industry and fueled her resentment toward Damien, strengthening their bond. Whether she loved him mattered little; her actions spoke volumes.

Damien's questions were met with mockery. Ruby deliberately taunted him. "I don't care if Oliver loves me. I love him, that's enough. I'm his lover, I like him, and yes, I despise you. So what?"

Her smug demeanor, her stubbornness—it astonished Damien. He abandoned the idea of reasoning and issued a warning.

"Fine," he said. "If you don't end this, I'll tell Mom about your involvement in the entertainment industry and him."

He then turned to Oliver. "Aunt Lydia might ignore your recklessness, but Ruby's mother is her former sister-in-law. Do you think she'll let you mess with Ruby? Lay a finger on my sister again, and I'll tell Aunt Lydia."

Their furious response left Damien agitated. He grabbed Ruby's arm and dragged her to the car, driving her back to the Willis residence.

Back at the residence, Ruby tearfully complained to Ava about Damien's mistreatment. Ava, without asking for an explanation, launched into a tirade. "Unbelievable! You're going to take over the Winters family, so you're disregarding us now?"

"Mom, I disciplined my sister," Damien replied. "If you keep spoiling her, she'll make a bigger mistake."

Ava was frustrated. "If your sister made a mistake, it's your fault! You're our family's curse!"

Damien, numb to this familiar accusation, knew communication was futile. He turned to leave, adding, "Mom, keep a close eye on Ruby. She's been associating with shady characters."

Ruby's immediate, cunning argument, and Ava's support, further disengaged Damien. As he was about to leave, Ava stopped him. "Is Lydia planning to announce you as heir at the engagement party?"

Damien suspected Ava's motives. "I'm not certain. Besides, it's none of your concern. You've left the Winters family."

Ava's gloomy, almost malevolent glare, chilled Damien. He knew she couldn't bear his success, viewing it as a threat to the family's well-being. Disappointed, he left in silence.

Ruby, fearing Ava's questioning, complained, "Mom, he's disrespectful! He hit me and Oliver! Who knows how he'll treat us if he leads the Winters family?"

Ava exclaimed, "What? He hit you?"

Ruby, knowing Ava favored Oliver, fabricated a story, blaming Damien's jealousy for the altercation, twisting the events to her advantage. Ava, without further investigation, concluded Damien was uncontrollable and uncaring.

"He thinks he can stand on his own two feet? I will never let him inherit the Winters family!" Ava declared, a plan forming in her mind. Fueled by Ruby's fabricated injuries, Ava vowed revenge.

Returning to her room, Ruby contacted Oliver. They plotted against Damien.

Isabella, relying on the system's gossip, commented, "Damien chose the wrong approach. Ruby, already humiliated by Alexander and reprimanded by her brother, is more determined to provoke him. Would Damien really report them again?"

Alexander internally argued; he hadn't insulted anyone. However, he knew Damien would report another incident.

What the fck? He's gone to see Deborah again. Could it be…* Alexander wondered if Damien was finally giving up. But wouldn't it be too late? And Deborah was unlikely to call off the engagement.