Chapter 231: Darling, Tonight
Standing to the side, I was utterly delighted by the exchange. Still, I couldn't help but feel Carter had been a little too polite. I crossed my arms and retorted, “Aunt Monica, you have some nerve! First, you stole my mom’s husband, and now you’re trying to steal her son-in-law? What is wrong with you? Can’t you get your own man?”
“I didn’t… I may not have a marriage certificate with your father, but I truly love him!” Monica’s voice wavered, her tone full of grievance as she looked tearfully at Bill. Perhaps when she was younger, she might have had some charm, but now? She was old. Years of excessive cosmetic procedures had left her face stiff and unnatural, so her attempt at an emotional expression came off downright eerie.
“Dad, how do you put up with her face every day? She looks like one of those wax figures from a funeral home; you can’t even tell if she’s crying or smiling.”
Bill’s face twitched with discomfort. He clearly understood that Sadie’s fate depended entirely on my decision. “Zoey, don’t be childish. I know I’ve wronged you and your mother over the years, and I’ve been trying to make amends. But Sadie is my daughter—I can’t just watch her go to prison. If you have any conditions, feel free to state them.”
I sat down on the couch, mulling over whether it was better to squeeze some benefits out of this situation or let Sadie rot in prison. If I held firm and Carter didn’t intervene, Sadie was definitely going to jail. Tipping my fingers lightly on the leather armrest, I noticed Monica’s sharp edges had suddenly softened. “Zoey, I understand why you hate me; I deserve that. But Sadie is still your half-sister. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Just please, if you can save her, I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Aunt Monica, that’s all I needed to hear. The harm you and my dad caused to my mom and me over the years can’t be erased with a simple apology. If you want to save Sadie, I have a few conditions.”
“Name them.”
“First, sell all the luxury goods, bags, and jewelry in your house, liquidate everything, including all your savings, and donate it to disaster relief. Second, transfer all of Sadie’s real estate and assets into my name. Third, Sadie is to be permanently banned from working in any company under the Gardner Group.”
As soon as I listed these conditions, Monica was completely stunned. I had effectively stripped her and Sadie of everything they had, leaving all her years of scheming and effort to go up in smoke. Even though Bill had never officially given her any property, she’d still managed to siphon plenty of money from him over the years. Monica stammered, unable to string together a complete sentence, her face full of terror. “Zoey, you’re… you’re trying to ruin us!”
Crossing my legs, I let out a cold laugh. “Aunt Monica, don’t be so dramatic. You built your current life using this ‘child’ of yours, so now I’m just asking you to return what you’ve taken. If you truly love my dad as you claim, then surely you’d do anything. I’m already being generous—I haven’t even asked for compensation for the 20 years of suffering you caused my mom and me. You’re getting off easy.”
Biting her lip, Monica was rendered speechless by my words. She couldn’t argue further and instead tried to shift the focus back to Sadie. “…I can agree to those terms. But Sadie is a Gardner. What’s hers is rightfully hers. How can…”
I cut her off impatiently. “Well, going to prison is rightfully hers too. Monica, let me remind you—today, you came to me for help. And when you’re asking for someone’s help, you better act like it. Considering what you and your daughter have done over the years, a few years in prison is a light sentence. Frankly, even if Sadie rotted in prison for life, it wouldn’t be enough to compensate for what I’ve lost!”
The memory of the night I was reborn resurfaced—the cold bathtub, Zoey’s fragile, twenty-year-old body broken and lifeless. Why should she have suffered so much anguish and pain, while the culprits roamed free? I would never allow it.
As my tone turned icy, Bill finally spoke up, “Zoey, I can cut ties with them, but Sadie is a Gardner. She’s my responsibility.”
I shot him a cold glance. “So you’re planning to clean up after her for the rest of her life? The only reason she’s in this mess is because of your indulgence. If you don’t teach her a hard lesson now, saving her will be pointless; she’ll just screw up again.”
Rubbing my temples, I sighed. “I’m tired. Those three conditions are non-negotiable. You can think it over, but let me make one thing clear—you’re wasting Sadie’s time. Once she confesses, not even Carter can pull her out of this mess after the conviction.”
Standing up, I prepared to leave, but Monica quickly called after me, “Alright! I agree to your terms. As long as you save Sadie, I’ll do as you say.”
I knew exactly what she was thinking. As long as Sadie was still around, she wouldn’t truly suffer. Bill would never abandon them. But little did they know—I had plans for them. The suffering my mom and I endured? It was now their turn.
I turned to Bill. “Dad, what about you?”
“Fine. I agree.”
“Good. It’s settled, then. But let me warn you—if you go back on your word, you’ll pay double.”
I looked at Carter. “Carter, any objections?”
Carter gave me a warm smile. “Since my wife has spoken, there’s no issue.” His words eased Bill’s tension.
“What’s the plan?” Bill asked.
“It’s simple. Find the hitman and have him confess. Let him take full responsibility for everything; after all, he’s the one who tampered with the car. As for the murder-for-hire accusation, the police only have circumstantial evidence. If the hitman’s testimony clears Sadie, the case is resolved.”
Bill’s eyes widened. He asked, “You already have the hitman?”
“Yes. I got to him before the police did.” It was clear now why Carter was so self-assured; he held all the cards. Sadie’s fate really was entirely in my hands.
Carter’s voice was calm, but his words carried a chilling threat. “So, your daughter’s future depends on your decisions. If you don’t follow my wife’s terms, I can’t guarantee the police won’t find additional evidence.”
Bill’s face darkened. “We’re family. Is it really necessary to go this far?”
Carter glanced at him with indifference. “You seem mistaken. Zoey, her mother, and I are family. As for the rest of you? I don’t recognize you as anything.”
Glancing at his watch, Carter said, “It’s late, and Zoey needs her rest. Any further arrangements, discuss them with Damian. Zoey, let’s go back to our room.”
“Alright.”
I got up and pushed Carter into the elevator. As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Monica’s grim expression. Should’ve thought of this sooner. Now it’s too late. I wasn’t Zoey. Everything they’d taken from me over the years? They’d cough it all back up and crawl back to where they belonged.
“Carter, you planned all of this from the beginning.”
Carter finally spoke, “Instead of letting Sadie go to prison, it’s better to use her to gain some benefits. But I’ll never interfere with your decisions.”
“You were just waiting for me to decide?”
“Exactly. What you choose doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy.”
This man… I couldn’t deny that his words made my heart flutter. His body pressed against mine, leaving me no room to escape. In the darkness, the cold surface of the door was behind me, and his burning body was in front. I could only make out the outline of his figure in the faint streetlight coming through the window. My heart raced faster and faster.
“Carter… mumph…” He cupped my face, his kiss consuming me completely. As expected, after thirty years of abstinence, the moment this man got a taste, he became utterly insatiable. Just from his heated, intoxicating kisses, my legs went weak, and I nearly collapsed. I clung to his neck, my body limp and draped in his arms. His deep, husky voice brushed against my ear, “Darling, don’t sleep in the guest room tonight. Stay with me, alright?”