Chapter 64
That sly, venomous voice felt like a blade twisting deep in Blanche’s
chest.
If she hadn’t heard it with her own ears, she never would have believed her own father could kidnap her. He’d always been so good to her. If she hadn’t caught him fooling around with Rhoda-the woman pretending to be a housekeeper-she’d never have believed he was capable of betraying her mother.
“That fire should’ve taken out that brat. She got off easy.”
“Who would’ve thought the little wretch had such luck, becoming the wife of the richest man in Novandria.”
“If she hadn’t caught me with your mother and told Sheila, I wouldn’t have been thrown out. We wouldn’t have ended up on the streets for years. All
because of her!”
“I spoiled her rotten, but all she ever saw was Sheila. She never cared about her own father!”
The cruel words poured through Blanche’s headphones, each one tightening the ache in her heart, sending a bitter cold crawling up her spine.
She shoved open the private room door and strode straight to Pollock. Without a word, she slapped him-hard-then again, so forcefully that he
saw stars.
“You-you dare hit me, you little-!”
“Somebody help! She’s attacking us!” Rhoda screamed, clutching Pollock as he slumped into a chair.
Blanche’s sudden entrance and show of force left the three of them rattled, thrown into chaos.
Ten years had passed-Pollock didn’t even recognize his own daughter. Jeannette, ready to call for help, grabbed Pollock’s arm and turned to confront the intruder. “Who do you think you are, coming after-” She stopped short when she saw Blanche’s face. Her expression changed in an instant.
“After? After what?” Blanche stepped forward and delivered a sharp slap to Jeannette as well. “Who gave you permission to eat here?”
Jeannette toppled into Rhoda’s arms, and Rhoda, furious, started to lash out-only for Jeannette to grab her hand, holding her back.
“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart…” Only now did Pollock finally take a good look at Blanche. She was slight, delicate-clearly no backup lurking behind her. He raised his voice, putting on a show. “Do you know who my daughter is? You think you can just burst in here and attack us?”
Blanche’s lips curled in a cold smile. “And who is she? Just some mistress who’ll never see the light of day.”
She studied Pollock’s face. Ten years-aside from some silver at his temples, he was unchanged. Yet, he didn’t even recognize her.
Her mother had told her countless times:
Your father may have wronged me, Laney, but you’re his flesh and blood. He truly loves you. Don’t ever hate him.
Blanche had clung to that hope. But now, the truth was staring her in the face-her own father had orchestrated her kidnapping all those years ago, and now he couldn’t even remember her face.
Her mother was far too kind. But who could ever imagine a father would
treat his own child like this?
“You’re the mistress here, not my daughter. My girl is the CEO’s wife at The Simmons Group-” Rhoda started, but the moment she met Blanche’s eyes, she fell silent, tugging nervously at Pollock’s sleeve. She’d recognized her.
Chapter 64
“Pollock-it’s… it’s Laney.”
“What!?” Pollock blinked, squinting through aging eyes, and reached for Blanche’s hand. She jerked away, but not before he caught a glimpse of the faint scar on her inner arm-the one she’d gotten as a child, from a
burn.
“My daughter! My sweet girl!” Instantly, Pollock’s eyes filled with crocodile tears as he tried to play the doting father. “I’ve missed you so much, Laney.”
Blanche regarded this family of actors with icy contempt. Her voice was cold and measured. “Just now, you said your daughter is the CEO’s wife at The Simmons Group?”
All three froze at her words.
The same Pollock who, moments ago, was scheming to use her to oust Jeannette’s rival for that very title, now fell silent, exchanging nervous glances with Rhoda and Jeannette.
