Sadie frowned at Esmond, who looked like a rough old man, with dissatisfaction. "You're my dad? You were the one who used to beat and scold my mom after I was born?" She smiled disdainfully.Esmond did not refute her accusation."My temper wasn't the greatest back then. I was young and didn't have a job, so I vented my frustrations on your mom. That was my fault. But I've changed, Sadie. Now, come and let me take a look at you. I haven't seen you since you were eight years old. Your mom has hidden you well all these years. She's really heartless to not even contact me once."Sadie felt deeply grateful to her mother. She would not have been able to live a peaceful life at the Russells' place all these years if her mother had not cut contact with her ex-husband. Nonetheless, she came to find Esmond that day because she needed her help."Couldn't you have found us instead? Though, it's understandable that you didn't come to find us. I've been living happily with my dad all these years
"And that Sherman, too! He came with her to cause trouble at my place. What's the company president of the prestigious Parr Group doing, coming here to make a scene?"Seeing Esmond's disdain for Rita and Sherman, Sadie nodded in satisfaction."Is this woman bullying you and your mother? Your mother wanted me to get rid of Rita too when she called last time, but I missed my chance because of Sherman."Sadie looked at Esmond resentfully. "How could you let her slip away when she's already in your territory? I really don't understand. You've been living the thug life for so many years, so you should have a lot of people under you, right?"Esmond scratched his head. "It's true that she was in my territory, but I also have to be wary of Sherman. You don't know how powerful he is now. He controls our economic lifeline. If something goes wrong, all the men working under me could lose everything. After all these years, I have to think about them too, right? But now, it would be much easier
'She pretends to be innocent and clueless in front of men, but behind their backs, she secretly plays dirty tricks,' thought Sadie.She hated Rita's pathetic expression the most, especially when men fell for her act.'Didn't you say you're a righteous reporter? Well then, I'll just have to get rid of you since you're so fond of trying to win men's hearts,' thought Sadie maliciously.The thought of Rita in a sorry state made her smile from the depths of her heart."Alright, don't contact me while you're getting ready to carry out the plan. Whenever you're ready, just find a random phone booth to call me. Do you understand?" Sadie ordered, ready to leave.Esmond followed behind her for a few steps. "Sadie, when can I see you again?"She clicked her tongue impatiently. "I said don't contact me unless it's urgent or unless I reach out to you first. You should know I'm still living in the Russell family's estate. If you don't want to cause trouble for me and Mom, you'd better behave a
Sadie's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Mom, are you kidding me? How can you say Marco Marseille looks nice and capable when he's so skinny? I won't even be surprised if he weighs less than me! I bet Missus Marseille brought him here to meet with us last time because she's afraid her son doesn't have much longer to live."Dad didn't mention introducing someone like him to me, so you better not have any strange ideas about this. You're my mom, after all!"Karen frowned. "What do you mean by that? You should know that as your mother, I'm not going to recommend just anybody to you! I care about your marriage the most. Have you ever thought that if your marriage is good, it would benefit me as a mother too?"Even though Marco doesn't look like he's in the best of health, his family fortune is second only to the Parr family. So just think about it. If Marco doesn't live long, it's even better, right? You'd inherit his family fortune effortlessly without having to cater to your husband. You
Rita felt bothered whenever Sadie spoke. It confused her at first, but she realized it was probably because she did not want to hear Sadie constantly calling her husband 'Shermy'.Regardless of what might happen in the future, Sherman was her rightful husband at that moment. What right did Sadie have to call him Shermy? They were not even relatives, so why such intimacy?Rita ignored Sadie and walked straight to Vince's study, having had something to say to him. However, Sadie stubbornly blocked her path at the door."I'm talking to you. Why are you acting deaf?" Sadie persisted.Rita took a breath, turned with a surprised look, and looked down at Sadie. "Oh, were you talking to me? Sorry, maybe you're too short, so I didn't hear you.""Hmph, enjoy your days while they last. It won't be long until Shermy dumps you! But then again, it's not like you two have any real feelings for each other. Shermy is just unlucky to be stuck with a floozy like you."Rita almost burst out laughing
Rita did not even glance back as she went to her father's study, leaving Sadie alone on the floor.Sadie gritted her teeth as she watched Rita's retreating figure. "I swear you'll pay for what you said today, Rita!"A servant downstairs saw Sadie on the floor and hurried over to help her up. "Miss, you should be more careful. Did you hurt yourself?"Sadie, instead of being grateful, slapped the servant hard across the face. "I know you're all on that woman's side. You're only here to mock me, right? Get lost, now!""I didn't..." The servant covered her face and ran off crying, leaving Sadie alone, silently seething.She knew that if she caused more trouble, Vince would definitely hear of it. By then, she and her mother would both be in trouble.Rita had Sherman's support, which meant she did not need to fear Vince. Sadie, on the other hand, could not afford to do that as she still needed Vince for her survival.'It's okay,' Sadie reassured herself. 'Once Esmond deals with Rita,
"You're a Russell now, so your grades represent those of the Rusell family. If your grades are poor, it will reflect badly on your father! Be a good girl, Sadie, and listen to me. Just stay at home and study. Consider it as keeping me company, okay?"Karen held Sadie's hand, not letting her leave. She had been feeling anxious lately, sensing that something big was about to happen every time her daughter insisted on going out.However, Sadie firmly broke free from Karen's grasp. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm just going out to buy a few books. I'll be back soon. If you're still worried, I'll video-call you when I get there, alright?"The more Sadie disobeyed her, the more Karen suspected that her daughter was hiding something from her. However, she could not stop her since she was heavily pregnant.Soon, Rita came downstairs to have lunch with the family. Karen immediately lost her appetite when she saw Rita was there, and it was the same for Rita. However, Rita forced herself to stay at th
"Sadie's last semester's grades were passable but not outstanding, so I didn't mention it to your father. Of course, her grades aren't at a level where we need to worry too much yet. Besides, she has me to worry about her."I'm sure you know we mothers care about our daughters the most. I worry about every aspect of her life, including her education," Karen said deliberately, hoping to see Rita's expression darken.Regardless, Rita's mother was gone, while Karen was right there. Thus, what right did Rita—a girl without a mother—have to compete with Sadie?"Alright, since your stepmother said so, you don't need to worry yourself over Sadie. Aren't you busy with the newspaper lately? Instead of wasting time worrying about Sadie's grade, why don't you use that time on your work? Everyone has their fate. Even if we hire a tutor from Harvard for her, it won't help if she doesn't focus on her studies. So don't bother worrying about her."Karen did not like what she was hearing. She was a