Chapter 0106
Billâs POV
+25 BONUS
âI told you not to call Serena that,â I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but thereâs a hard edge to my words.
Mom doesnât back down. She steps closer, her voice lowering to a hiss. âThat goldâdigging tramp has ruined everything. How can you let her drag you down like this?â
Here she goes again. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. I can feel Sarahâs eyes on us, and I know the whole office can probably hear this.
âMom,â I say, forcing my voice to stay calm, âwhy donât we come into my office and talk?â I gesture toward my office door, hoping sheâll take the hint and lower her voice.
Mom glares at me for a moment longer before finally nodding. She brushes past Sarah and storms into my office. I can see the tension in her shoulders as she sits down, arms crossed tightly over her chest. I follow her in and close the door behind us.
I take a seat across from her, leaning forward slightly. âWould you like something to drink, Mom? Water, tea, coffee?â I ask, hoping it might help her calm down a bit.
She shuts me down immediately. âNo, Bill. Letâs just get to the point,â she snaps, her eyes still blazing with
anger.
âFine,â I say, meeting her gaze with a hard look. âYou know none of this would have happened if you hadnât paid Max to sabotage Serenaâs jewelry, right?â
Mom rolls her eyes. âThat again? I did it because I couldnât stand the thought of Serena crawling her way into the fashion industry. What would my peers say if my sonâs goldâdigging exâwife started making a name for herself? Theyâd laugh at me. Sheâs trash, Bill, and she has no place in our world.â
âEnough!â I shout, punching the table with a loud thump. Papers scatter, and a few items clatter to the floor. My whole body trembles with anger as I glare at her. âYouâre way out of line, Mom. You better shut your mouth before I forget youâre my mother.â
The room falls silent, my words hanging in the air. She stares at me, stunned, and for a moment, neither of us moves. I see the shock in her eyes, mixed with hurt. My heart pounds, adrenaline rushing through my veins.
Slowly, she regains her composure, her lips pressing into a thin line. âI didnât raise you to act like an ungrateful bastard,â she says, her voice trembling with anger. âEverything I do is to protect you and our family name. But if you want to throw it all away for her, then fine.â
âNo, Mom,â say, my voice steady. âIâm going to be a father. Serena, our baby, and I will be a family, whether you like it or not.â
Her face twists in disbelief, eyes widening. âSo, youâre really choosing your imaginary family over your own mother,â she says, her voice dripping with disdain. âHow stupid are you?â
âYes, Mom,â I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. âIâm choosing my âimaginaryâ family over you. How incredibly stupid of me to want happiness and a future with the woman I love and our child.â
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0106
The tension in the room becomes palpable. My momâs face flushes with anger. I can feel my own pulse throbbing in my temples, the air thick with unspoken words and lingering resentment.
Neither of us moves or speaks, the silence stretching uncomfortably. Itâs as if the entire room is holding its breath, waiting to see who will break first.
âOkay, if thatâs what you want, so be it,â she says, her voice icy. âBut remember, when she leaves you Calvin, and she will, donât come running back to me. Youâll regret this decision, Bill. Mark my words.â
Hearing Calvinâs name makes my blood boil. My vision blurs with rage, and I can feel my selfâcontrol slipping away. I hate my uncle that much. The mere mention of him makes me lose myself, my hands trembling with the effort to stay calm.
âDonât you dare bring Calvin into this,â I snap, my voice shaking with barely contained fury.
for
She raises an eyebrow, a cruel smile tugging at her lips. âHow naive are you? Calvinâs always had a way with women, and Serenaâs no different. Sheâs probably already planning her escape with him.â
I feel a wave of anger so intense it nearly knocks the breath out of me. My fists clench at my sides, and my knuckles turn white. I can barely see straight, the edges of my vision going red.
âGet out,â I manage to say, my voice low and dangerous. âLeave. Now.â
She looks taken aback for a moment, but then her face hardens. Without another word, she turns on her heel and walks out, leaving me standing there, shaking with rage.
I pick up the phone and dial Sarahâs desk, my hand still trembling. I need to let this anger out before I explode. âSarah, clear my afternoon. I need to go somewhere,â I say, struggling to keep my voice steady. I hang up and lean back in my chair, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
How could she say those things? How could she stoop so low? The nerve of her, thinking she can control my life like this. I wonât let her win. Not this time.
As I sit here, I realize something: My own mother might have just become my enemy today.