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“I’ll have my assistant transfer the alimony regularly.”
She picked up her pen and buried herself back in her work.
Charles narrowed his eyes, his well–defined fingertips resting on the desk like a fine ink painting: “That’s not what I meant.”
“Hmm.” She calmly picked up the check and started writing: “Five hundred thousand. Let Uncle Zhang handle any- thing else you need.”
Then she didn’t look at Charles again. During the marriage, Charles was still her husband; she didn’t want rumors spreading that the Lewis family mistreated a man who married into his wife’s family.
But seeing the amount, Charles was furious. Five hundred thousand wasn’t even enough for a night out at the bar with his buddies.
Margaret knew very well that 500,000 felt like pocket change to Charles.
She remembered that dream where she’d handed the entire Rivera family fortune to Charles and the daughter, only to end up utterly alone in return.
Charles had room for just one woman in his life–Barbara–and the daughter had only ever acknowledged one real
mother.
“Margaret.”
Charles paused at the doorway, his voice tight with anger. “Don’t push this tantrum too far.”
Margaret pressed her lips thin. “I’m exhausted.”
She massaged her temples just as another intruder stormed into the study: “Mom, you’re unbelievable! You only pam- per yourself–Dad and I haven’t had new clothes in forever!”
The daughter shrieked: “I want Aunt Barbara here! She actually knows how to care for us!”
Barbara is a thousand times, no, ten thousand times better than you. She’d never abandon me and Dad.
Charles curled his lips, his thoughtful gaze fixed on Margaret. If she didn’t care about him, would she care about Vic-
tor?
Sadly, his plan backfired.
Margaret drew a deep breath and said softly, “Whether she comes here depends on your dad. It’s got nothing to do
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with me.”
After all, the agreement was crystal clear–this house belonged to Charles. She’d leave the moment the cooling–off pe- riod ended.
The air almost solidified instantly.
Charles’s face darkened.
“Are you sure?”
Margaret didn’t hesitate, just nodded emphatically, then continued with her task: “Go out and shut the door.”
“Wow! Daddy!”
Jin excitedly grabbed Charles’s hand, coaxing: “Let’s hurry to pick up Aunt Barbara, she lives in such a small house, sleeps so uncomfortably.”
Margaret took a deep breath, even though prepared, her heart still ached sharply, it turned out they had long been to Barbara’s house, even stayed overnight there, it turned out they really didn’t care about a life without money.
Seeing her own relentless struggle, it seemed like a joke.
Charles, dragged by Jin, took a last look at Margaret, saw her still buried in work, then turned and left without hesita-
tion.
Until the figures of that adult and child disappeared at the top of the stairs, Margaret’s fingers abruptly froze over the keyboard. She was staring blankly at the empty computer screen.
Soon, she would grant their wish–cease being his wife and stop being his mother.
Just like in the dream, Barbara moved into the Lewis family home the very next day.
She bossed everyone around the villa like its mistress, determined to stamp every corner with her name.
“The study? Too oppressive.”
She crowded into Margaret’s workspace with a group, pointing at the few decorations on the wall: “Remove this. Re- place it with the Orchid young master Charles likes.”
Turning to Margaret, she smiled with meaningful intent: “You don’t mind, do you, Miss Lewis? After all, we women must learn to please the men.”
Margaret sat silently in her chair, watching the servants toss her carefully chosen Collectible Figurine into the trash bin.
Mujin trailed behind like an excited wagging tail: “Aunt Barbara’s the best! That superhero was hideous. Mom’s such a fool for liking that junk. Dad says Orchids are elegant and refined, just like Aunt Barbara. I wanna be just like you when I grow up!”
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Margaret smiled bitterly. Barbara embodied elegance, but what about her? In Charles‘ eyes, she was probably nothing but a petty villain through and through.
Pity Charles never taught him this truth: those elegant Orchids demand meticulous care from their owners. Without it, they’re mere weeds waiting to be trampled underfoot.
The collectible figurine on display was one Charles Jr. had mentioned roughhousing about at school. When the facto- ry halted production, Charles bought out the facility. The very first sample crafted was delivered to the villa.
But children have short attention spans. Within a week, Charles Jr. had lost all interest in that superhero.
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