Chapter 141

“I want that woman dead,” a woman hissed.

“Who?” a man’s voice asked.

“Paisley. Dominick’s ex-wife,” she replied.

“Told you ages ago – get rid of her,” the man chuckled.

The Vanderbilt family, heads previously buried in phones, snapped upright, eyes glued to the large TV screen. That voice…

The video displayed their conversation.

“This is your job. Find someone reliable. It’s done, you get what you want,” the woman said.

“Haha, what else? My cousin as matriarch – that’s everything!” the man replied.

“Exactly. The entire Vanderbilt family will be mine.”

Marissa’s voice. They didn’t recognize the man, but Marissa’s voice was unmistakable.

Kayla and Lauren exchanged horrified glances. Marissa… planning Paisley’s murder? Impossible. Their disbelief was palpable. Kind Marissa?

Reginald’s face hardened. He recognized both voices – Marissa and Jeremy, her good-for-nothing cousin, Stella’s father. The Vanderbilts had long supported Jeremy out of loyalty to Marissa, despite his vices. But this…

This video. How? Was Paisley even alive?

Dominick, sharing Reginald’s concern, frantically called Paisley. Two rings, then silence. He called again, simultaneously dispatching someone to find her.

A deathly hush fell over the room. Only the TV hummed.

“Just kill her? What about the kid?” Jeremy asked.

“Can’t stand the brat either. Might be Don’s child. Kill her too. Problem solved,” Marissa declared.

“One big, one small. Easy.”

All eyes turned to Marissa. Her face drained of color. The pitiful tears in her eyes now reflected stark panic.

“This… this is fake! Edited!” she cried, scrambling for the remote. “Don’t believe it! It’s a prank!” But the remote was gone.

She frantically searched, her voice trembling. “Sonny, dear, the remote!”

Grayson shook his head. “I don’t know where it is.” His gaze was a mixture of confusion and doubt. “Marissa, did you really… want to kill my mom?”

“What are you saying! Sonny, I’m your favorite Marissa! Believe me!” Her emotions spiraled, a cornered animal. She continued her desperate search.

The video continued.

“Oh!” Marissa’s voice boomed from the screen. “Find a chance to kill Grayson too.”

“Thought you liked the kid,” Jeremy remarked.

“Like him? Ha! Using him. He’s just a little bastard, half Paisley’s blood. Why would he be my son? I’ll have my own child with Dominick.”

“True. That little bastard can't inherit the Vanderbilt fortune. The future heir must carry Prescott’s blood.”

Lauren’s world shattered. “Marissa! What is this? You wanted to kill Sonny?” Grayson was her everything.

“Marissa! Speak up!” Lauren, losing control, slapped Marissa.

“Mrs. Vanderbilt, it’s not true! It’s edited! Someone’s framing me!” Marissa, panicked, pushed Lauren away. Failing to find the remote, she lunged for the TV, intending to unplug it. But it was built-in.

“Where’s the remote? Where’s the remote?” Every gaze felt like a knife twisting.

Grayson, seven years old, understood. Tears streamed down his face. His beloved Marissa wanted him dead.

“No, no way,” Kayla stammered, a nervous laugh escaping her. “It’s fake, Marissa wouldn’t; she’s so kind.”

The video slapped her silence.

“Curious what the Vanderbilts would think if they knew you killed their beloved grandson?”

“They won’t know. They’re idiots! They trust me! Like when I said Paisley poisoned my mango cake. They believed it, no questions asked.”

“Haha, stupid Vanderbilts!”

“And Julian! I told them Paisley was scheming against them, they believed me! Get it done. I never want to see Paisley again.”

Kayla’s forced smile cracked. “Marissa! Why? Our family trusted you!”