Chapter 37 Done Giving In
“Mom already made up her mind. The money’s being transferred to Nadine for her wedding<b>.</b><b>” </b>
The second those words came out, the rosary’s string in Tess’s fingers snapped.
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She stared at the scattering beads in shock, like her grandmother had just sent her a warning from beyond the grave.
Tess remembered it well–growing up, Nadine always got her way.
<i>Now</i>, <i>even </i><i>Grandma’s </i><i>inheritance </i><i>is </i><i>being </i><i>handed </i><i>over </i><i>to </i><i>Nadine</i><i>? </i>
<i>Absolutely </i><i>not</i><i>. </i><i>If </i><i>Grandma </i><i>were </i><i>still </i><i>alive</i><i>, </i><i>she’d </i><i>never </i><i>allow </i><i>that</i><i>! </i>
“I don’t agree with this.”
“What did you just say?”
Kylie looked <i>at </i>Tess, stunned by the sudden pushback. Still, it was arge amount of money.
A cold, smug smirk formed on her face. She raised her voice and waved her hand dramatically. “That’s not your call. I’m your mother!”
Nadine’s eyes lit up as she waited, eager to see Tess’s reaction.
That’s when it hit her–Kylie had nned to give her the inheritance.
She was ready for Tess to beg.
With her husband Finn and her mother backing her up, Tess wasn’t that starwyer anymore -just an ex–con who had barely gotten out.
She had no power left.
Once Nadine realized this, she gave Tess a proud, smug look.
But Tess didn’t even nce her way. She ced the broken rosary on the table, turned to face Kylie, and met her eyes. “Grandma left that to me. And even if someone else had to receive it, it shouldn’t go to an adopted daughter who’s not even part of our bloodline. I’m done giving in. What belongs to me stays with me.”
Her voice was calm, but every word was strong and clear.
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Kylie hesitated, suddenly unsure who she was looking at. Then her anger red. “I’m mother!”
your
Tess replied with a quiet scoff. “Then you should remember–I’m your biological daughter.”
Her face was still pale, but the smirk she gave was filled with scorn.
Kylie stood there, frozen in ce.
“Tess…
do you me me?”
Nadine’s soft, trembling voice broke the silence in the room.
Tess turned her head.
Tears streamed down Nadine’s cheeks, making her look weak and pitiful.
She acted like Tess’s words hadpletely crushed her. Her crying grew louder, her shoulders shaking. “It’s all because of me. If my mom hadn’t done so much for Kylie … I wouldn’t have taken her attention and care away from you.”
Same old trick–digging up the past to guilt–trip everyone.
Her sobs got worse, and her eyes turned red and puffy.
Kylie’s brief moment of calm disappeared, and she threw another angry re at Tess. “Nadine’s mother saved my life. You’re my child–can’t you just let Nadine have this?”
“All these years, have you forgotten?”
<i>Forgotten </i>who <i>your </i><b><i>actual </i></b><i>daughter </i><i>is</i>.
<i>You </i><i>treated me </i><i>like </i>I <i>didn’t </i><i>matter </i><i>and </i><i>acted </i>like <i>she </i><i>was </i><i>your </i><i>everything</i>.
“If you owe someone your life, pay it off yourself. Don’t drag me into it.”
Tess didn’t stop or look back.
Her cold words lingered, drifting in the air and settling heavy on Kylie’s chest.
Something inside her snapped. She stared at Tess’s back and screamed, “I’m your mother! You’ll give it whether you want to or not!”
Tess paused for half a second, then walked away even faster.
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Chapter 37 Done Giving In
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Nadine peeked out from behind Kylie, watching Tess walk off with a strange look in her eyes.
As Tess stepped into the living room, she noticed a well–dressedwyer waiting at the front door.
He looked like he’d just shown up. The maid, who clearly had been expecting him, weed him politely.
Tess frowned and pushed the door
open.
Her sudden entrance startled the maid and thewyer.
“M–Ms. Tess.”
The maid stood up quickly and bowed nervously.<fn571d> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn571d>
Tess’s gaze sharpened. She gently pushed the maid aside.
“Ms. Tess!”
The maid panicked and tried to block the table again, but Tess calmly pushed her back by the shoulder. Her expression shifted–she knew something was off.
Then her eyesnded on what was behind the maid.
There it was–a thick will sitting right there on the table.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
It was… her grandmother’s will.
She saw her grandmother’s signature clearly written on the page.
Her breathing sped up as she reached out to touch it.
“Tess! Put that down this instant!”
Kylie suddenly rushed in and pped her hand aside.
A bright red mark formed on Tess’s pale arm.
Her arm shook as she caught a silent exchange between Kylie and the maid.
Kylie looked frustrated, and the maid seemed conflicted.
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Chapter 37 Done Giving In
Finally, thewyer stepped forward, breaking the tension in the room.
He nodded and introduced himself. “Mrs. Ember, I was thewyer present when thete Mrs. Larson created her will. My name is Bemy Keefe. I heard Ms. Tess is back, so I’m here to make the official transfer.”
He held up the will and began reading in a clear tone, “The estate includes this old house, shares and money from thepany, plus jewelry and valuables. As written, all items are to be passed down to her granddaughter, Tess.”
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