Victoria returned to the Turner estate, and Haley hurried over to open the door for her.


    "Miss, your father''s been waiting a long time for you," Haley whispered, leaning in conspiratorially. "And that gold-digger''s here too. The two of them have been all over each other, whispering about God-knows-what."


    When Victoria entered the main hall, she found Simms and Yulia sitting side by side on the sofa, their hands entwined for all to see.


    "Victoria,e here," Simms called out, his tone formal. "Let me introduce Yulia properly. We''ve decided to get engaged next week. From now on, you should call her your mother."


    Victoria''s gaze swept over them, icy and unapologetic.


    "Congrattions," she said tly. "Where''s the happy couple nning to live? Are you nning to retire from thepany, Dad? Looks like true love to me. Good


    for you."


    The look Victoria gave him made Simms squirm, as if he were nothing more than garbage in her eyes.


    "What''s that supposed to mean? Is this how you speak to your father?" Simms snapped. “This is my house. Once Yulia and I are married, she''ll move in and take care of me. If you''re not happy about it, you can always go back to the McNeils. You''re a married woman now; the only reason you''re still here is because you''re my daughter. Don''t be ungrateful.”


    Simms was done ying the victim. After years of being pushed around by the Turners, he was finally standing up for himself.


    Victoria didn''t rise to the bait. She kept her eyes fixed on him, calm and unblinking.


    "Maybe you don''t know this, Dad, but when Grandpa passed, he left a will. After he died, the entire Turner estate was to be split between you and Mom-unless Mom passed first. If that happened, everything would belong to you and me, jointly."


    Simms tightened his grip on Yulia''s hand, his expression growing even more defiant.


    "I''m your father. I have every right to decide what happens to this family and thispany. You''re married now, Victoria. You''re hardly even a Turner anymore."


    Victoria didn''t argue. Instead, she nodded at Yasmine, who promptly brought down a copy of the will and handed it to her. Victoria tossed it onto the coffee table in front of Simms.


    "Take a good look. These are the conditions Grandpa added to his will."


    Simms eyed the document warily, then snatched it up. As he read, his face twisted with rage.


    "Let me read it for you, Dad," Victoria said, her voice cold and clear. "Here''s what Grandpa wrote: If Mom passes first, and you remarry, you forfeit all rights to the Turner estate—including your seat on the board. The shareholders will vote for a new chairman, and whoever holds the most shares will take over as executive director. I can''t stop you from getting married again, but you need to decide what matters more to you: the Turner family or her."


    She nodded at Yulia. Simms was stunned. He never imagined Mann would have left such a trap for him, even after death.


    In a panic, Yulia snatched up the will and began tearing it to pieces. "You say it''s real, I say it''s fake!" she shrieked.


    Victoria just looked at her, utterly unimpressed. "If you think it''s fake, why not go to court and find out?"


    Yulia turned desperately to Simms. "Don''t listen to her, Simms! She''s trying to scare us."


    It was soft-heartedness-and carelessness-that had doomed her. If only she''d pushed Simms to get rid of that brat for good. Now, it was toote.


    "Enough!" Simms roared. Yulia froze, stunned by the sudden force of his anger.


    Victoria didn''t spare them another nce. She turned and headed upstairs without a word.


    "Simms!" Yulia pleaded, unwilling to ept that her dreams had just crumbled around her.


    "We''ll talk about thister, Yulia," Simms said, his voice low and tense. When it came to real power, Simms knew where his loyaltiesy.


    But Yulia wasn''t done. "No! I''ve waited too long for this. Simms, she''s lying—if we just get rid of her, no one would ever know. The will only exists because of her. Once she''s gone, there''s nothing stopping us-"


    She was rambling now, half-mad with desperation. Simms cut her off with a sudden, furious p across the face. Yulia reeled, stunned and silent.


    "Shut up! Victoria is my daughter. Are you really suggesting I murder my own flesh and blood?"