When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0851

“Mrs. Johnson? Mrs. Johnson?” someone called out to her.

“…What?” Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts.

“The food is ready, Aren’t you coming to join us?”

“Oh, right.” Evelyn quickly guided Tina back to their seats.

The person who had called her tilted her head and looked puzzled. She couldn’t help but wonder what was happening with Susan and Evelyn, who were both acting oddly today.

The banquet ended, and the guests left.

In the lounge upstairs, Sam said exasperatedly, “Mom, let’s go home.”

“I’m not going anywhere! Why should I leave? I’m your grandparents‘ daughter. How could they treat me like this?”

“You’re right. That’s what I want to know too,” he said solemnly.

A brief flicker of emotion passed over Nelly’s face. “Is your dad still not answering his phone?”

“Yes.”

At last, Aren and Fiona arrived after Mindy and her family had left. As Fiona walked in, she looked at Nelly impassively. “Sam said you wanted to see us.”

“Mom-” Nelly began.

“Don’t call me that.” Fiona made no effort to maintain civility as her disdain was etched across her face.

Nelly took a deep breath and said, “Fine.” By now, she had regained her composure. “Sit down. We need to talk.”

Fiona couldn’t help but wonder what Nelly still had to say. How did she have the nerve to ask for a meeting after everything that had happened? So, the elderly couple sat down reluctantly.

“You already know everything, don’t you?” Nelly asked.

Fiona scoffed. “Know what? Why don’t you just spell it out for us?”

Nelly scanned the room before meeting Fiona’s gaze. “I’m not sure if there are cameras here or if you’re wearing some recording device, but it seems like you’re trying to set me up. Some things are better left unsaid. We all know what happened, so there’s no need to

put it into words.”

Her boldness seemed to amuse and infuriate Aren and Fiona at the same time.

Even Sam couldn’t stop himself from frowning.

Nelly’s lips curled into a smirk. “Let’s cut to the chase. At the banquet earlier, you two publicly humiliated me and caused me to be ridiculed by everyone. Did you even think about the consequences?”

“What consequences?” Fiona shot back.

“I’m Mrs. Cooper and Timothy’s legal wife. I’m the one holding the Garrison and Cooper families together. Do you really think it’s appropriate to treat me like this?”

Fiona let out a bitter laugh. “Holding the families together?”

“Exactly! You two might not want to acknowledge me as your daughter, but at least put on a good front for appearances. If word gets out that our families are at odds, it’ll affect the stock market, the company, and both families‘ reputations.”

“So, what’s your point?” Fiona asked.

Nelly responded, “I’m still the Garrison family’s daughter in the public eye. Tomorrow, I’ll need

you both to explain that today was just a misunderstanding.”

Fiona scoffed. “So, you think you can just keep playing the role of Mrs. Cooper while holding onto your fancy status and family name? Florence Wolcott, do you think I’m a fool? Or do you think you’re the smartest person in the world?” novelbin

Florence Wolcott was Nelly’s actual name. When Fiona attended a charity event in Valesbury, she had saved a young girl–barely three years old–at the border.

After taking the child to the police station, she was told that the girl’s parents had been killed in a violent clash. With no family left, the authorities sent her to an orphanage.

That small child clung to Fiona’s leg and refused to let go. Her heart softened immediately. The very next day, she discovered she was pregnant.

She had been married to Aren for years without having children, and just when she was about to give up, fate gave her this precious gift