“Lucky for you, at least you picked a guy with decent looks. Imagine if it had been some old homeless man in his fifties or sixties. That would’ve been tragic, huh?”
“Doesn’t it ever cross your mind? Some stranger slept with you, and you <b>don’t </b>even care? Are curious about what happened that night? Want to know how you got home?”
you
Patricia’s voice was gentle, almost too soft, but every word hit like a p. “Your perfect, dutiful son came to pick you up himself. Theo wrapped you in a nket, got you dressed, and saw everything–not just your naked body, but the whole show with that other man.”
“And it’s not just photos. I have videos, and confessions from those two kidnappers. Any one of these–if I let them out–would be more than enough for Howard to divorce you.”
Her tone was sweet and mild, like a breeze drifting through in early spring, but there was nothing. gentle about what she was saying.
Patricia didn’t need to guess–she knew Kelly had yed herst card, finding a young, attractive guy to make her look guilty of cheating.
And honestly, the guy was handsome. That just made the whole story more believable. More damning. <!--
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Look at the Newton family–how cruel can you get? They do something unforgivable themselves, then turn around and try to pin it on someone else.
“So, what do you think will happen if these photos <b>end </b>up in Howard’s hands?” Patricia teased, letting the envelope dance between her fingers.
“You came from the countryside, Kelly. Used your looks and a bit of talent to catch a rich guy, but that was thirty years ago. Do you really think your face still works its magic?”
“There are plenty of twenty–year–old girls out there, fresh as spring greens–<b>one </b>crop after another, always someone new.”
“Patricia, what do you want?” Kelly finally gave in, her voice small and shaky.
She was scared.
Scared those photos would make it to Howard.
If he saw them-
Even if they didn’t divorce, there’d be no going back to how things were. Especially after all these years apart, with Howard expanding his business overseas–their marriage was shot through with cracks already.
If things really fell apart, who knew if she’d still get to be Mrs. Newton?
“Why don’t you guess?” Patricia sounded totally in control now, holding all the cards. She could ruin Kelly whenever she wanted.
“Money?”
13:30
“If I wanted money from you, could you even pay me enough?”
Kelly remembered thest time Patricia had demanded two hundred million. The memory made her head spin.
So that hadn’t just been a bluff.
“How much do you want? Just tell <b>me</b>,” Kelly said, desperate.
Patricia propped her chin in her hand, a faint smile ying on her lips. “That’s the thing. I don’t want
money anymore.” <fn4f13> Follow current nov?ls on Find~Novel</fn4f13>
Sweat broke out on Kelly’s brow.
She barely noticed the pain as someone shoved her against the coffee table.
What terrified her more were the photos Patricia held.
*Patricia, after all, we’re family…” Kelly tried to reason.
Jackson nearlyughed out loud when he heard that. He stomped hard on Kelly’s foot. “You old witch, have you no shame?”
“Family? You tried to ruin her life. Now you’re begging for mercy? Where was all this humility when you were plotting behind her back?”
Jackson pressed down harder, pinning her in ce. Kelly didn’t dare make a sound.
“Patricia, please, whatever you want, I’ll do it,” Kelly pleaded, practically ready to drop to her knees. To everyone else in the room, she just looked like she was putting on another act.
“Anything?” Patricia asked, eyebrow raised.
“Anything,” Kelly choked out, nodding frantically.
Patricia nced at Jackson and Marian. Marian let go of Kelly.
Patricia picked up the teacup next to her and flung it to the floor. It shattered, echoing through the
room<b>. </b>
She smiled, nodded at the broken pieces, and said, “Kneel.”