Chapter 197: Karma

As soon as the call connected, before Carly could say a word, Ellis said sternly, “Aunt Carly, the 40 million dollars is in your hands—don’t you dare spend it! If Easton knows his mom gave me that money, he’s definitely going to take it back. If you spend it and can’t return it when the time comes, you’ll have to deal with the consequences yourself.”

“How is Easton controlling his mother now?” Carly had no intention of using the 40 million dollars. Even though the thought of spending it was tempting, she would have at least informed Ellis before doing so. Currently, she couldn’t understand what Ellis was saying at all.

“That guy is weird! Just don’t spend it, period!” Ellis felt she was being polite by merely calling Easton weird instead of outright cursing him as a psycho, a freak, or something worse.

When she was in love with Easton, foolishly dreaming that he might love her back, she had constantly worried about him being stolen away by another woman, afraid that he might be attracted to someone else and toss her aside. Aside from this paranoia, she had trusted him—until the moment she asked for a divorce. After everything he had done since then, he had completely drained whatever trust she had left in him. He wasn’t just a matter of distrust anymore; she had to be on guard against him.

“40 million dollars, you know. Not just three bucks,” Carly deliberately emphasized the weight of that amount. “With this money, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing for the rest of your life. You’d be set.”

“Aunt Carly, think back to the days when you had no money because of Easton,” Ellis sneered. “If Easton doesn’t like you, it doesn’t matter how much money is in your account, you won’t be able to spend a dime of it.”

Easton had always been ruthless, wielding his power to crush others into submission, taking pleasure in watching people struggle in misery from his lofty position above them. Trying to shake him was like a mayfly trying to move a tree. It was utterly pointless. So, if there was any way to avoid getting involved with Easton, she would take it without hesitation. I can’t fight him; stay the hell away from him!

At Ellis’s words, Carly suddenly fell silent. Now that she thought about it, the 40 million dollars felt like a burning hot potato, scorching her hands just by holding onto it.

“I’ll send it back to his mother.” After some internal struggle, Carly ultimately decided to return the money.

After finishing the call with Carly, Ellis rubbed her aching forehead and hung up. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Maya’s dumbfounded expression.

“What’s with you?” she asked casually.

Maya was counting on her fingers like a little kid just learning math. “Ten, hundred, thousand, million… My god, Easton’s mom is way too generous!”

“What, are you getting greedy too?”

“You’re broke as hell! Aren’t you tempted!” Maya asked seriously.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. But I’ve seen Easton’s methods firsthand.” Ellis had zero intention of getting involved with him again. She didn’t dare take a single cent of his mother’s ‘compensation.’ She simply didn’t trust him anymore. To put it bluntly, his track record was crazy. His character was questionable. His credibility? Completely shot.

Thinking about why Ellis had moved and why she was staying with her for a while, Maya frowned. “It’s so weird. Easton’s mom likes you so much, even gave you money as compensation, yet Easton himself didn’t inherit a shred of that kindness.”

“He just doesn’t use that kindness on me.” Ellis suddenly recalled how, when both she and Victoria had been kidnapped, Easton had been willing to pay a million-dollar ransom to save Victoria. The only person he had cared about was Victoria.

“He’s a piece of shit. Hope karma bites him in the ass one day.” Maya scoffed.

Chapter 197: Karma

“Is karma even real?” Ellis doubted it. It seemed like nothing more than a comforting lie people told themselves. She had cursed Easton out hundreds of times but had yet to see any sign of retribution.

She frowned. “When is it going to be Easton’s turn to suffer?”

As she spoke, she hugged a throw pillow tightly, staring at the ceiling with a look of frustration. Karma or not, the first priority was getting Easton completely out of her life. Just hearing his name or running into him made her sick to her stomach.

“They say karma takes its time, but it always comes.” Maya patted Ellis on the shoulder reassuringly. “Easton’s karma is coming soon. We’ll just sit back and watch the show.”

Ellis knew Maya was just trying to comfort her, so she let out a soft sigh. Wishing for Easton to suffer was easier said than done. Her company hadn’t even stabilized yet before Easton cut off all funding. Their financial chain was hanging by a thread, and their main business operations couldn’t expand.

Victoria had gone over everything countless times, trying to figure out what she had done to piss Easton off, but it was no use. At a time like this, a rumor had started spreading in their social circle—Easton and Ellis hadn’t divorced because he wanted her to return to her original role as Mrs. Hudson. It was because Ellis had dumped Easton, leaving the position vacant.

Victoria had grown up in high society, always using the finest and most expensive things. Now, it felt like she had been handed a secondhand cast-off that someone else had discarded. In her eyes, Ellis had stolen what was rightfully hers, and now that it was being returned, it didn’t feel the same. On top of that, Easton was completely ignoring her, and her company was in chaos.

With all three things combined, Victoria felt humiliated. Her pride was wounded… And that only made her even more determined.