Chapter 318

Jennifer listened to Wendy’s threats, anger simmering beneath her composed exterior. If Nick refused to divorce, then all of Camellia’s waiting over the years would have been for nothing.

Jennifer couldn’t stand the idea of Nick betraying Camellia any further. “Fine. We’ll endure this for a bit longer,” she said tersely.

Jennifer opened the door, spotting Declan supporting the frail Wendy as they entered.

Feigning nonchalance, Jennifer asked, “Mom, Declan, if this house gets auctioned off, where are we supposed to live?”

To manipulate Declan, Jennifer forced herself to address Wendy as Mom, even though it made her skin crawl.

Wendy no longer felt the need to keep up appearances with Jennifer.

She sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. “Hey, Jennifer, why are you calling me Mom again? Weren’t you just calling me Wendy?

“Don’t call me Mom. You’re not even my biological daughter, so go cry to your bitch of a mother instead. Every time you call me Mom, I feel sick.”

After all, her mother really was disgraceful.

Jennifer’s eyes flickered with a murderous gleam, enraged that Wendy dared to insult Camellia by calling her a bitch again.

“Mom, you must’ve been too upset earlier and imagined things. How could I ever call you Wendy? You raised me, and you’ll always be my mother,” Jennifer said sweetly, her voice layered with false sincerity.

She shot a quick glance at Declan. ‘Declan still has his uses. I’ll bide my time before teaching him a lesson,’ she thought.

Tears streamed down Wendy’s face. Jennifer had always been this deceitful, manipulating them to target Natalie, all for the goal of marrying Easton.

Once Natalie had been driven out, Jennifer became the Simpson family’s only daughter.

‘Jennifer, just wait. The day your movie premieres will be the day your life falls apart,‘ Wendy vowed silently as she wondered.

She forced a smile and said, “No need for all this. Even though you’re not my biological daughter, I raised you as if you were. Jennifer, I’ve never wronged you.”

Declan interjected, “Mom, how can you say that to Jennifer? She’s our only sister, your only daughter!”

But inside, Declan felt a pang of guilt. ‘Natalie, I’m sorry. Once everything here is settled, I’ll go apologize to you,‘ he thought.

Jennifer smirked inwardly at Declan’s naivety. ‘As expected, Declan is on my side,‘ she mused.

Putting on a sorrowful expression, Jennifer said, “Declan, don’t say that. Mom’s just upset because of everything that’s happened with the company. Once she’s in a better mood, she won’t talk like this anymore.”

Declan smiled reassuringly. “Jennifer, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Mom. Even though her company’s bankrupt, she still has you and Dad.

“I know how much you care about her, so I’m sure you’ll help her out this time, won’t you?”

His hopeful gaze settled on Jennifer, who froze for a moment.

Since when did Declan learn to push back like this? she wondered.

When Jennifer didn’t respond, Declan turned to Nick, desperate. “Dad, why aren’t you saying anything? You’ll help Mom, won’t you?”

Nick’s face darkened. “Declan, this isn’t about whether I want to help or not. Tomorrow, I’m filing for divorce with your mother. The four of you can stay with her. All of your careers are money pits. I can’t afford to support you anymore.”

“What?” Declan exclaimed in shock. “Dad, Vance’s body hasn’t even been found yet, and you’re already talking about…

Mom’s company just ran into trouble, and now you want to leave her? How can you justify this after everything Mom has done for your family all these years?”

Nick’s tone turned icy. “Hey, lover, if you’re so concerned about your mom, why don’t you help her out? I’m old… I can’t do anything anymore. And you? You’ve been wasting your time instead of focusing on your studies, choosing to be a complete failure.

For his son, his company was everything, and no one was going to touch it, not even Wendy.

The company was meant to be handed down to his son. He had been a fool to think Wendy could bring him greater benefits. Now, he was saddled with 350 million dollars in debt, and the thought of it made his blood boil.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Snatching it up, he answered curtly, “Hello?”

“Nick, Wendy borrowed 15 million dollars from me. I need that money by tomorrow. I heard her company went bankrupt. So, what am I supposed to do about my money?” the voice on the other end of the call demanded.

Nick snapped. “How the hell should I know? I don’t have the money to pay you back, and I wasn’t the one who borrowed it. You should ask the person who borrowed it from you!”

His tone grew colder. “We’re getting divorced. Her debts have nothing to do with me.”

The caller scoffed in disgust. “Damn it, Nick. Everything you have today is thanks to Wendy. You’ve never been successful in business. Most of your deals were sealed because of her.

“Now that her company’s in trouble, you turn around and talk about divorce? You’re just a leech, completely unreliable.” The call ended abruptly with a frustrated click, leaving Nick’s face as dark as a storm cloud.

The accusation of being a freeloader cut deep. It was his worst fear that others would see him as a man whose success came entirely from Wendy’s efforts.

As much as he hated to admit it, the claim was true. But Nick would never acknowledge it.

He turned to Wendy, his eyes burning with fury. “Wendy, we’re finalizing the divorce tomorrow morning. This marriage is over. Our relationship has completely broken down.”

Wendy, however, was resolute. “Nick, I won’t agree to a divorce. Absolutely not. I’ve supported you for all these years, and now you’re going to help me repay my debts.”

“Damn it, you bitch!” Sasha snapped, cutting into the argument. “Your company’s gone under, and now you want to drag my grandson down with you? Keep dreaming!

“If you don’t go through with the divorce tomorrow, I’ll tell everyone you gave all your money to a kept man just to ruin Nick!”

She pointed a trembling finger at Wendy, her voice venomous. “And those four bastards you brought with you—get them out!”

Declan’s eyes welled up with tears as he stared at his grandmother, his heart aching. “Grandma, so in your eyes, we’re just bastards? Every month, I give you $1,000 dollars for pocket money, and this is how you treat me?”

Sasha’s expression darkened as she looked at him. ‘Declan’s a useless fool.

‘He doesn’t hold a candle to my other grandson, who sends me 80 thousand dollars a month. That 1,000 dollars is nothing!’

Feeling emboldened by her favorite grandson’s support, Sasha couldn’t wait to sever ties with these so-called children.

Declan’s chest tightened with despair. ‘So this is what it feels like to have such a toxic father and family,’ he thought sadly.

His gaze shifted to Nick, his voice cold and distant. “Nick, if you hate us so much, why did you even bother having us?”

Nick shrugged off the blame without hesitation. “That was your mother’s choice. She wanted to have you all. What could I do about it?”

Wendy looked at Declan, her voice laced with a mix of hope and sorrow. “Declan, will you come with me?”

Declan hesitated before shaking his head. He knew what his mother wanted to do, but he also knew he had to follow through with his plan.

Lowering his voice, he said, “Mom, I’m sorry. You’ve lost everything now. I can’t follow you. I have to stay with Dad.”

Wendy closed her eyes, anguish etched across her face. She understood Declan’s intentions. He wanted to help her, but she also knew he wasn’t a match for Jennifer.

Still, she had to play along. She screamed at Declan, her voice filled with rage. “Declan, you’re heartless!”

Declan felt as if his chest might cave in from the pain. Overwhelmed by guilt, he bowed his head and murmured words that betrayed his true feelings. “I’m sorry, Mom. I… I can’t live without Jennifer and Dad.”