Chapter 266
No matter how he tried, he just couldn't get comfortable. Everett, used to the finer things in life, had never dealt with such discomfort before. Normally, he wouldn't have stuck around even a second longer, but this time, he had no urge to move. He rolled over, resting his elbow under his cheek, watching Selena asleep beside him. Seeing her made him feel at ease. A small smile crept onto his lips before he closed his eyes.
When Rebecca stumbled back into the mansion, she looked a mess-hair all over the place and a vacant stare. The moment she saw Kathlen, she broke down in tears. She clung to her, sobbing as if the world were ending, her tears and snot soaking into Kathlen's expensive clothes. Torn between feeling sorry for her and being a bit grossed out, Kathlen gently nudged her daughter away, accepting a warm towel from the servant to wipe her tears.
...
"Rebecca, stop the waterworks for a sec and tell me, what did you do to upset your cousin?"
The family had been locked in a power struggle for years, with the main and secondary branches always at odds over who controlled the family business. When Everett took charge of Bennett Corporation, his no-nonsense approach won over the old guard, leaving the secondary branch to play it cool. Thankfully, Josh was still around, and at his age, he valued family peace over wealth or power. He wanted a harmonious family, not one tearing itself apart.
As the dutiful grandson, Everett often turned a blind eye to the secondary branch's antics, and Rebecca's mischief was nothing new. However, Everett had never lost his temper before this was a first! Kathlen, worried sick at home, was puzzled about what could have ticked Everett off so much.
Rebecca, hearing this, sobbed even harder. "Mom, I didn't mean to get on my cousin's bad side! It was that witch, Selena! She must've badmouthed me to him. He's always been so good to me. That damn woman! I'm going to make her pay!"
Kathlen's head throbbed from the noise, and she missed the point entirely. She snapped, "That's enough!"
"Your little spats with Selena were
one thing, but like it or not, she's Everett's lawful wife and Josh's favorite. Stop stirring the pot! If
Vel
Everett ever decides to retali net
against our family, he won't need any more excuses!"
Rebecca, spoiled since she was a kid, had all the looks but none of the sense. Kathlen had kept her in the dark about the family's dirty laund but with Josh's health on the decline, the tension between the main and secondary branches might flare up again. It was high time for
Rebecca to wise up.
Of course, Kathlen wasn't fond of Selena either. Still, she was relieved Everett had married someone with no family power or influence-it was better than him marrying a savvy socialite.
But Rebecca wasn't having it. She
shot back, "Mom, why are you defending that witch, Selena? Did you know she's pregnant? When t saw Grandpa, she had him wrapped around her finger, and he was planning to leave her the lion's share of the inheritance!
"If she has a kid, the whole inheritance will go to her! We'll end up with zilch! Grandpa must be losing it, wanting to leave so much to an outsider! We're his real family!" Kathlen was floored. She looked at Rebecca in disbelief, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Selena's pregnant? Are you absolutely sure?"
Her grip was so firm it felt like she might crush Rebecca's bones!