Eddy stared at Blanche in shock, quickly releasing her. “Babe, what’s wrong?
“I feel sick.
Blanche’s gaze drifted to the lipstick stain on his shirt collar.
Following her eyes, Eddy touched the spot, remembering how Jeannette had tried to kiss him earlier. He’d dodged, but her lips had landed right there. His dark eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering beneath his calm surface.
“Babe, I got caught up in that argument with thern just now. Must’ve happened then.” Eddy pulled out his phone, ready to fabricate an excuse like he always did.
Blanche didn’t bother to watch him perform. She turned and walked away.
Eddy hurried after her.
Lauren kept her head down the whole time, barely daring to breathe.
Upstairs, master bedroom.
“Babe, I’ll go shower and change right away.” Eddy was all set to scrub himself clean, hoping to avoid further disgust.
Blanche sat on the sofa, her expression hidden in the dim light. “After my mom died, you were the one who handled all her things. I want to know exactly what she left behind.”
Eddy’s face was unreadable. “Why bring this up now?”
“Healy’s birthday is coming up. I want to give him a proper gift,” Blanche replied coolly.
“All your mother’s jewelry and her bank certificates are in a safe deposit box. I’ll take you to the bank tomorrow.” Eddy grabbed his phone and headed to the bathroom.
Blanche stood and walked to the bathroom door, where she heard him speaking inside.
“Tomorrow, make arrangements. My wife and I will be coming to the bank. Take us to my safety deposit box–just say it’s what Ms. Harvey, my mother–in–law, left behind.” Eddy was giving orders to the bank manager over the phone.
Blanche’s eyes darkened as she listened.
Her mother had left behind a fortune in Jewelry and over a million in savings when they left Embermire. Even after buying an apartment, there was still eight hundred thousand left. Her mother had owned businesses and property in Embermire, too
After her mother died, she’d entrusted everything to Eddy. And now, aside from the massive life insurance policy, it was all gone?
Blanche’s gaze turned bleak. Any feeling she’d once had for Eddy had been worn away, leaving only cold indifference.
That night, she lay beside him like a ghost, eyes open until dawn.
Early the next morning, Eddy took Blanche to the bank. The manager led them to a safety deposit box containing a few custom–made pieces of jewelry.
Blanche glanced inside and chose an amber pendant.
Standing outside the bank, she watched as Eddy climbed into his Rolls–Royce and drove away. Then she turned and headed to a nearby law firm.
If Eddy had inherited her mother’s life insurance and used it to keep The Simmons Group afloat–and if he’d taken the rest of her mother’s estate, too–then now that The Simmons Group was in Blanche’s name, she could do whatever she wished
with it.
Jeannette was dying to be the next Mrs. Simmons, wasn’t she?
If she really thought she could feast off the company that survived on Blanche’s mother’s insurance money, she was dreaming.
“I want to donate all my shares of The Simmons Group,” Blanche told the female attorney she met.
“Mrs. Simmons, all of them?” The lawyer looked stunned, tapping at her calculator. “Your shares in The Simmons Group are worth billions. Finding a buyer for that kind of holding isn’t easy.”
“Is there another way?”
“I recommend setting up a charitable foundation to manage the shares. That way, the profits can keep supporting good causes,” the lawyer suggested.
“How long would it take?”
“We can have it done in three days,” the lawyer replied.
“Not just the shares. I want everything I own transferred to the foundan.” Blanche’s voice was firm. She couldn’t stand the thought of Jeannette ever setting
Chapter 138
foot in one of her homes. “But I want to make sure the foundation looks after my
son.”
“You can set aside a separate trust for his education and living expenses–say, a monthly allowance, and then a lump sum when he turns eighteen.”
Even if Eddy won custody, Blanche still felt responsible for Healy’s future. “Do it.”
As Blanche left the law office, the attorney–Serena–immediately called Jacob.
“Honey, weren’t you worried about The Simmons Group falling into Loraine’s hands?”
“Well, an opportunity just landed in your lap. In three days, you’ll be able to take over The Simmons Group through the foundation, kick Loraine and Eddy out, and make our son the company president.”
