Chapter 84
Nick’s cryptic comments had left me reeling, but his next revelation hit like a ton of bricks. I was still trying to process the shock of discovering that Cameron had tested both Rebecca’s and my DNA—something I never would have suspected. It was as if my whole life was suddenly an intricate puzzle, with pieces I’d never even noticed before.
His mention of Rebecca knowing about the test only deepened my confusion. If she had known all along, why hadn’t anyone told me? Why was I left in the dark? The more I thought about it, the more it felt like I was just a pawn in someone else’s game—being manipulated, yet unaware of the stakes.
I couldn’t help but feel betrayed. The lack of transparency from everyone involved had stung deeply. My head spun with a thousand unanswered questions, none of which I seemed able to resolve on my own. How could I have been so blind? Was I so trusting that I missed all the signs?
As I stormed out of the lounge, my emotions surged—anger, hurt, confusion—all blending into a mess of frustration. I had thought I understood everything, but now it felt like I was the last one to know anything of importance. The realization was a heavy weight on my chest.
The party was in full swing when I returned to the hall, but the celebration felt like a distant echo compared to the turmoil swirling in my mind. The way Rebecca was being treated, like the center of attention, made my insides churn. While she was being introduced to the elite, I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered understanding of everything.
I took a moment to center myself, heading to the food area. It wasn’t about seeking comfort in food, but I needed something to anchor myself—something to keep me from spiraling. As I reached for a piece of cake, my thoughts were still scattered when I accidentally bumped into someone. The cake toppled off my plate and splattered onto someone’s suit.
My stomach sank when I looked up to see Joe, his expression a mixture of disdain and amusement. It wasn’t the first time he’d been difficult, but his smug attitude made everything worse. I fought to keep my composure, knowing that apologizing wouldn’t make a difference. If anything, it would just make the situation worse.
Joe’s words stung, and his sneering face only added fuel to the fire. “Tell me, Scarlett, are you bitter now? Jealous, maybe?” His voice dripped with mockery. “Rebecca is Cameron’s daughter now. She’ll have everything she’s ever wanted, while someone like you, who grew up in the slums, will never be worthy of someone like Ashton.”
His taunt hit me hard, but I wasn’t going to let him get under my skin. I glared at him and replied, “Since I’m not worthy of him, do you think you are?”
Joe’s anger flared, and he prepared to fire back, but I cut him off, speaking with an icy calm. “I’ve married Ashton. We have a child together. What’s the matter, Joe? You’re so fixated on me because you don’t feel good enough for Rebecca, are you? Is that why you’re coming at me with all this nonsense?”
His face flushed with fury, and without thinking, he yanked off his suit and threw it at me. “Get it cleaned,” he demanded, seething with anger.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the absurdity of the situation. Joe was always the one trying to get under my skin, but it seemed like every time he tried, he only ended up embarrassing himself. It was almost endearing, in a way.
As I looked down at his ruined suit, I raised an eyebrow. “You might want to think twice about handing it to me,” I said coolly. “Who knows, you might end up wearing a wet suit tonight. And that certainly won’t make the best impression on Rebecca.”
Joe’s face reddened even more, but he didn’t have a retort. The moment was absurd, and for the first time in a while, I felt a small sense of satisfaction. In a world where everyone seemed to be playing games and hiding the truth from me, Joe’s petty behavior almost felt like a small victory.
But as I stood there, holding his suit, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get much more complicated. It wasn’t just about Joe or Rebecca or even Cameron’s grand celebration. The truth, whatever it was, was still out there, and I was starting to realize that I might be the last person to know what was really going on.