Fernando smiled and ruffled Terrell’s soft cheeks. “Thank you, son. You’re a good
kid.”
“Since your birthday party was cut short, how about another slice of cake as a treat?”
“Yes!” Terrell cheered and dashed off, his excitement contagious.
Felipa suddenly remembered something. “Professor, Terrell isn’t your biological son. Have you told Mrs. Simmons about that?”
“Laney adores Terrell,” Fernando replied calmly. “She doesn’t care about his background.”
Felipa paused, uncertain if his answer matched the warning she was trying to give. He had loved Laney for years, remaining faithful and devoted–something that should have given him an advantage. But now, there was this child.
“Professor, you really should tell Mrs. Simmons the truth someday,” Felipa urged gently. “Terrell’s difficult past might actually awaken her motherly instincts.”
Fernando shook his head. “It wouldn’t be right to use Terrell like that.”
Before Felipa could press the issue further, a small crowd drifted over to exchange pleasantries with Fernando, and she was left with her worries, secretly mourning
for him.
Meanwhile, in the back seat of a Rolls–Royce, Hedwig was pleading Eddy’s case with Blanche, but Blanche didn’t say a single word the entire ride.
When they reached the apartment building, Blanche saw Eddy and Kelvin waiting
-outside.
Kelvin’s voice was raw and desperate as he lied.
“Honey, here’s the paternity test for Kelvin and Lara.” Eddy opened the folder and held it out for Blanche to see.
“Sis–in–law, it’s true,” Kelvin said, dropping to his knees in front of her. “Our family would never have accepted Lara. I was terrified, so I begged Eddy for help.”
“I’m sorry, truly. Please, forgive me.”
Blanche stepped back, stunned at how far Kelvin was willing to go for Eddy–even kneeling and risking the Anderson family’s reputation.
1/2
20:35
The real paternity report had been swapped for a fake.
Ignoring them both, Blanche keyed in the code and shut them out, locking the door behind her.
Eddy had gone to these lengths just to deceive her.
She slumped against the inside of the door, sliding down until she was curled up on the floor, feeling her strength drain away.
“Honey, I won’t let anyone spread lies about you. I’ve already called the police,” came Eddy’s voice through the door.
“Remember Ocean Jewel? Mom’s last masterpiece–I’m about to send you a photo
of it.”
His words echoed faintly in her ears, soothing and insistent.
She didn’t know when she drifted off to sleep.
When she woke, she found herself lying on the sofa. From the kitchen, she could hear Hedwig and Vesta chatting softly, while Healy and Tia played nearby, their laughter filling the apartment.
The TV was on, broadcasting a breaking news story.
“The internet is not above the law. Today, a high–profile defamation case broke in Novandria. The suspect has been detained and charged.” Behind the anchor, footage played of the Simmons Group’s private hospital, showing Jeannette in a patient’s gown being escorted into a police car.
The channel switched to entertainment news, covering the afternoon’s charity
auction.
Eddy had just purchased Ocean Jewel for twenty million.
Blanche’s eyes fixed on the Ocean Jewel–the necklace her mother had cherished, the very one she had designed herself.
Before marrying Pollock, her mother, Sheila, had been a rising star in the design world, only to fade away in a so–called “happy” marriage.
The Ocean Jewel was her mother’s final creation.
Blanche turned off the TV, but her phone started buzzing–a video call.
She answered. The camera shook, the sounds of men and women mingling, voices breaking up.
20.35
Chapter 101
“I got the person who’s been tormenting you, sis. How are you going to reward me?” The woman on the screen was breathless, her tone playful.
“What do you want?”
“Ocean Jewel. You gave your undying love to my sister–can’t you give me at least one undying gift?”
“She has so many pieces of jewelry. What’s one more?” Jeannette’s voice was coy.
Blanche’s breath caught in her throat.
“Treat me right and you can have anything,” Eddy’s voice came through, thick with emotion.
“Put it on me. Please, put it on me.” Jeannette’s face suddenly filled the screen, and Blanche saw Eddy’s hands–his wedding band still on his finger–fastening the Ocean Jewel around Jeannette’s bruised neck. Jeannette cooed, “Thank you, darling.”
Eddy cupped Jeannette’s face tenderly. “You look beautiful in it.” Then he pulled her into a forceful kiss.
He had bailed Jeannette out of jail and handed over her mother’s masterpiece.
Blanche’s hand clenched around her phone. She couldn’t bear the sight of her mother’s necklace resting on the neck of the woman her mother had despised most. Rage and despair threatened to swallow her whole.
“Eddy, let her go! I said, let her go!” Blanche screamed into the phone, her voice on the verge of hysteria.
