Chapter 7
In the past, I might have been terrified to stand up to her. Now, I responded coldly,
“I’m divorced from Adam. In the future, don‘ t involve me in any of his affairs.”
Mrs. Foster’s eyes narrowed with impatience. “Your mother was bound to die. Whose fault is that?” She crossed her arms, scrutinizing me. “If it wasn’t for my son’s insistence, I never would have approved this marriage. And now you‘ re making a scene over such a trivial matter. You‘ re dragging down the Foster Family’s name-”
“My last name isn’t Foster anymore!” I interrupted her icily. “And don’t dare to call my mother’s life a trivial matter.”
A flicker of surprise crossed her face. Maybe she’d grown used to me being compliant; it was probably the first time I’d interrupted her so forcefully.
Chapter 7
She quickly recovered, her lips twisting into a sneer. “Claire, don‘ t think I don‘ t know. When you married my son, wasn’t it just for the money?”
She pulled a card from her purse, tossing it at me. “There‘ s half a million dollars on
this card. Consider it compensation. Take it
and leave.
I bent down and picked up the card, feeling its cold surface, like my mother’s body as it grew cold in my arms. I laughed softly. “Is fifty thousand enough to buy a life, Mrs. Foster? I think you‘ re
underestimating the value of a person.”
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She stiffened, clearly not expecting me to negotiate. “And what amount would satisfy you, then?”
“Fifty million dollars,” I said calmly, meeting her gaze without flinching. “If you‘ re willing to pay, I’ll consider continuing to be the scapegoat in your family. Not a penny less.”
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Chapter 7
She seemed outraged, her face twisting in disbelief. “Fifty million dollars? Are you out of your mind? You should be grateful. you even became part of this family. Without our support, your mother would have died long ago.
“Then I guess we have nothing more to discuss.” I turned away, shutting the door in her face, ignoring the angry knocks and her harsh words, insisting that I’d regret
this decision.
In the past, I would have bitten my tongue to keep the peace, knowing my mother depended on the medical funds. But now, without her, there was no one left to hold
me back.
Later that afternoon, Adam called, his voice hesitant. “Did my mom come to see you? She can be harsh. If she said
something hurtful, don‘ t take it to heart.”
Since he clearly knew what she was capable of, I didn‘ t mince words. “Adam,
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Chapter 7
you should already know why she approached me. Look, I know you‘ ve always loved Louise. You married me only because your family was against the two of you. You treated me terribly because of that. But your mother was the one who caused the split between you and Louise, not me. Go discuss this with her; just leave me out of it.”
He was silent, seemingly wrestling with his thoughts before he finally spoke. “I used to care about Louise, but now I only see her as a sister, Claire. Believe me or not, it’s you I care about now.”
I let out a cold laugh. “You call this love? Ignoring me, blaming me without question, refusing to help even when my mother’s life was at stake–that’s what you call love?”
