Chapter 10
626words
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After that day, I heard that Megan had lost the baby. With no money left, they couldn’t afford any supplements for her, and Paul showed his true colors. He spent his days partying and blowing through whatever little they had.
Megan’s health went downhill fast. With a worthless son and a deadbeat husband, she had no choice but to lie in bed, counting the days in misery.
They ended up in a slum, living a wretched life, terrified every day as debt collectors came banging on their door. It got to the point where they were constantly living in fear.
Meanwhile, I was sitting in my office, high up in the company building, looking down at everything below.
When I got home, my dad set down the newspaper, his face lined with exhaustion. He frowned at me. “Lexie, I told you to take care of the company. What’s with all these issues lately?”
I glanced at the newspaper. It was plastered with headlines about our company. Product quality issues, financial fraud, and other scandals were all over the news.
I set the paper down and smiled at him.
“Dad, didn’t you know? The company’s about to go bankrupt.”
He froze, looking stunned in his perfectly tailored suit. I wondered what he would look like without it, wandering the streets like a stray dog.
Now, that would be a sight.
“Bankrupt? What are you talking about? That’s impossible!” He still didn’t believe me.
I tossed him a document. It was the company’s debt sheet. As he read the numbers, his face went ghostly pale.
He had always run the company on a debt-driven model. It was a double-edged sword.
I had simply turned it against him.
His hand shook as he pointed at me, still trying to lash out. “You… Lexie, you worthless brat!”
I knocked his hand away and slapped him across the face.
“Yeah, I’m just a worthless brat! I watched you marry a heartless housekeeper and make her my stepmother. I watched you turn your back on me and Mom!
“I may be worthless, but this ‘worthless’ daughter destroyed you, didn’t she?
“Dad, enjoy your life on the streets. As long as I’m around, I’ll make sure you never get back on your feet.”
Watching the despair spread across his face, I couldn’t help but smile.
The company he had entrusted to me was now in ruins, all because of me.
He must be feeling completely hopeless.
I even showed him the paternity test again, reminding him of the truth.
When he saw that it was a boy, his face turned even paler, almost corpse-like.
He clutched his head in agony, tears streaming down his face as he kept repeating how much he regretted everything.
I laughed.
And then, as I kept laughing, I started to cry.
Mom, little brother, I really did get revenge for you.
Could you see me? Were you proud of me?
……
I left the mansion, carrying my mom’s and brother’s keepsakes, and bought a house by the beach with an ocean view.
Today was their memorial day. I had bought my mom’s favorite azaleas and some toys for my little brother, planning to visit them.
But on my way there, I ran into someone.
It was my dad.
He looked disheveled, wearing a thick, cheap sweater.
In his hand, he held a wilted azalea, trying to give it to every woman who passed by.
“Fiona, please marry me,” he pleaded shyly.
Fiona was my mom’s name. Azaleas were her favorite.
Seeing him like this, I realized he had lost his mind.
People around him looked at him with disgust, muttering curses under their breath. Some even threw trash at him.
