Chapter 206
“Sorry, but without proof, I’m afraid we’re at an impasse,” Rhett said, cutting the conversation short and stepping into his car.
Madge just stood there, her reaction peculiar.
The driver pulled away from the curb.
It took a moment for Madge to snap out of her daze, then she burst into a tirade of
curses.
Garner rubbed his ears. “Mom, can you cut it out? Don’t you think you’re a bit biased?”
Madge turned on him, lumping him into her fury.
“Is Kristin really ours?” Garner furrowed his brow, skepticism lacing his tone. “Sometimes! wonder if you’ve lost it. Kristin is my sister, your daughter. Remember how you used to fawn over Ruby? You would’ve bent over backward for her, but did she ever appreciate it?” Seeing Madge silent, Garner went on. “Or do you think by sucking up to the real Ms. Turner for twenty–one years, they’ll remember your kindness and throw money your way once they take her back?”
Garner let out a bitter laugh. “And Kristin, just because she’s your flesh and blood, you think she’ll never leave no matter how you treat her, so you can hurt her without remorse?”
“Hurt?” Madge’s eyes reddened, and after shooing away a nosy neighbor, she dragged Garner inside. Glancing around to make sure they were alone, Madge pulled a check from her bag. “Have you ever seen this much money?”
“Where’d you get that?” Garner’s expression darkened.
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“From Holcomb, you know, the chairman of the FitzGerald Group, Rhett’s father.” Madge tucked the check back into her purse with care. “He gave me this to marry Kristin off.”
“Kristin’s reputation is tarnished. No decent men would want her. I’m just thinking of her well–being. To marry her off, let her live quietly, away from these wealthy folks who could make us disappear with the snap of their fingers!”
Madge thought Garner was naive. “Besides, Holcomb said if Kristin gets married and stops hassling his son, there’s another two million in it for us! Sure, it’s not a fortune, but five million can get us a nice big house. I have to think about your future. You’re not getting any younger, and you don’t have a partner.”
“You think I don’t know? Over the years, hasn’t Jeannie set you up with enough dates? They all think you’re the son of a jailbird, with Kristin’s kid as extra baggage.” Madge whispered. “You’re my son – I have to look out for you.“”
1/4
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And don’t you trust Jeannie? She would only find Kristin a good match. It has to be someone with money.” Madge sat back, convinced her son would understand.
“Give the money back,” Garner said, reaching for Madge’s purse. “Are you itching to go back to jail?”
Madge reached to grab it back. “What are you talking about? This was given to me!”
“Have you forgotten how Kristin was framed and sent to jail?” Garner roared with fury.
Madge paused, fear creeping into her expression. “Then… what do we do?”
Years ago, after the scandal with Vincent and the Turner family’s legal battle over the true heiress, money was deposited into Kristin’s account. Then, she was falsely accused of blackmail, backed by supposed evidence from chat logs.
Those logs were fabricated by Clarence Turner and Vincent using Kristin’s chat account.
Desperate, Kristin pleaded guilty and was wrongfully imprisoned.
“These rich people, if they want to crush us, do you think we stand a chance?” Garner’s voice trembled. “I’m so disappointed in you. All those years in jail, and you haven’t learned a thing!”
Madge’s voice shook. “You mean, he’s trying to trap me with this money, to accuse me of extortion?”
“Money obtained without a proper reason is extortion!” Garner tried to frighten Madge.
Pale, Madge slumped on the sofa. “I can’t believe it, it was given willingly. Don’t scare me.”
“Give it back tomorrow!” Garner insisted she give the money back to Holcomb. “If you won’t go, I’ll do it myself.”
With that, Garner grabbed the check and headed for the door.
“Stop right there!”
Garner didn’t look back.
“You’re all turning against me!” Madge cried out loudly.
But Garner had no patience for her outbursts.
At the Rhett household.
Rhett brought Kristin and Summer back home without returning to the hotel.
Since Holcomb had settled for approaching Madge, Rhett knew they wouldn’t be ambushed at his doorstep again.
“How about some dessert, a little late–night treat?” Rhett crouched in front of Kristin, his voice soft.
11:32
I’m sorry… Kristin clutched at her clothes, her nervousness palpable.
Five years behind bars had indelibly ingrained a deep sense of humility into her.
“Why apologize?” Rhett asked quietly.
1… My family… I’m afraid they’ll drag you into this.” Kristin was no fool; Madge had just gotten out of jail and was already trying to marry her off.
‘I don’t know if someone approached her…” Kristin looked anxiously at Rhett. “I don’t understand Madge; if she’d use me to hurt you for her own gain…”
“Am I that vulnerable?” Rhett smiled helplessly. “She’s not capable of hurting me. I’m afraid of them hurting you.”
Kristin bit her lip, her eyes welling up, unable to speak.
“Don’t worry about it. Until she can prove you’re related, just deny any connection. People like her don’t deserve to be your mother.” Rhett pulled Kristin into his embrace. “You have me now. This is your home; there’s no need for you to go back there.”
Kristin gripped her clothes tightly, looking up at Rhett. “Okay…”
At the FitzGerald Group’s board meeting.
“President FitzGerald, what’s the situation with Rhett?”
Halfway through the project, and the board members were getting antsy. “He can’t just not come back, can he? Is it a health issue or what?”
It was clear that after a few days of evaluation, they had all noticed that Vincent was no
match for Rhett.
Vincent might have been a standout among the rich kids, but with Rhett in the picture, he was never going to shine.
With a scowl, Vincent gripped his pen tightly.
“Didn’t Rhett just get back?” Vincent asked with feigned innocence.
Holcomb’s face darkened. “He’s probably stuck in traffic, waiting for him.”
Holcomb was giving Rhett one last chance.
Today’s board meeting had been called by Holcomb, and York was the messenger to
Rhett.
And Holcomb had a backup plan.
“President FitzGerald, there’s a woman named Madge causing a scene out front, claiming that she’s searching for her daughter who supposedly works here,” the head of security rushed in, sounding alarmed.
11-22
Chapter 206
Holcomb sneered, pretending not to recognize the name. “Who is her daughter?” he asked, “What’s her position?”
“She says her name’s Kristin, Mr. Rhett’s executive assistant,” the manager quickly added.
The board members frowned deeply. “Since when did our company tolerant such mess? If her family have problems, just have HR fire her.”
“The HR manager, Lisa, says that since Kristin is the executive assistant, we need the president’s approval to fire her…” the security manager interjected. “The woman is making quite a fuss, rolling around on the ground, causing a major disturbance, and she brought a few other women with her too, claiming they have heart conditions and high blood pressure–we didn’t dare touch them…”
Holcomb’s face turned to thunder. “Tell HR to fire Kristin! I’m the Chairman of the FitzGerald Group. Do I really need Rhett’s approval to fire someone?”
