Chapter 156
Chapter 156:
Faced with this reality, Marie surrendered to the inevitable. “You have a point. Gabriela has matured into adulthood, and the house must be restored to her rightful ownership p>
Phyllis pressed herself against the study door, eavesdropping on every damning word, and felt ice crystallize in her veins. She retreated to her bedroom like a ghost haunting familiar corridors.
After her wedding ceremony, she had discovered that adapting to Dustin’s cramped and deteriorating apartment proved impossible, so she continued to stay in her own home. This particular room had once served as Gabriela’s sanctuary—the most magnificent and spacious chamber in the entire villa—but Phyllis had claimed it as her own through sheer audacity.
She had inhabited these walls for sixteen years. There was no way she would surrender her domain to Gabriela now.
Dustin sat on the edge of the bed, absorbed in reviewing a stack of corporate documents with laser-focused intensity. He possessed genuine dedication and burning ambition, yet remained a mere manager at Haynes Group.
Why had the man she had battled so fiercely to capture turned out to be such a disappointment?
Meanwhile, Gabriela had somehow ensnared Wesley, a man wealthy enough to purchase the entire Haynes Group as casually as ordering coffee.
Shouldn’t Gabriela be wallowing in some shady bar, degraded by revolting old predators who traded money for sex?
Resentment burned through Phyllis like acid.
Dustin sensed the weight of her burning stare and looked up to discover her eyes blazing with something that resembled barely contained madness. “Phyllis, what’s troubling you p>
𝘞𝖾𝗲𝘬𝘭𝘆 𝗿е𝗅e𝗮𝘴e𝘴 𝘰𝗇 ѕ.𝘤о𝗺
Phyllis jolted back to the present as though awakening from a nightmare.
Dustin abandoned his paperwork, crossed the room with purposeful strides, and pressed his lips against hers with tender affection. “Phyllis, do you want to—” Phyllis recognized the hunger in Dustin’s voice and touch, but irritation suddenly flooded her like poison. She pushed him away with sharp movements. “I’m feeling unwell today p>
The sun still blazed outside their windows. How could this man not conceive of something more productive to occupy his time?
Phyllis escaped to the privacy of the bathroom and dialed Vivian’s number with trembling fingers. She launched into her interrogation without preamble. “Vivian, you swore you saw Gabriela’s boyfriend—Brenden—with your own eyes. How has Wesley suddenly materialized as her romantic partner? Do you understand the catastrophic position you’ve put me in p>
Vivian’s jaw tightened, the same frustration coiling in her chest. The wedding disaster had reached her brother’s attention like wildfire, resulting in days of brutal lectures that had nearly shattered her sanity, and her monthly allowance had been slashed as punishment.
She fired back with venom, “You also claimed with absolute certainty that Gabriela’s boyfriend was some disgusting older man, didn’t you p>
Phyllis’s exasperation erupted like a volcano. “This catastrophic blunder has created an enemy out of Mr. Moss himself. Gabriela might exploit this golden opportunity to snatch my family’s home p>
Vivian’s curiosity sharpened to a razor’s edge. “Explain the situation to me in detail p>
Phyllis recounted the conversation she had overheard between her parents, carefully editing the narrative to cast herself in the most sympathetic light possible. Vivian detected something peculiar in the story. “If the house legitimately belongs to your family, why would you fear her p>
“The property originally belonged to Gabriela’s late mother,” Phyllis confessed reluctantly. “But my mother possesses substantial wealth, so she undoubtedly secured legal ownership years ago through proper channels. After sixteen years under my parents’ care, she comes of age and immediately attempts to seize the house, leveraging Mr. Moss’s intimidating influence. Ultimately, it’s my father’s bleeding
His father’s bleeding heart was causing this mess—he felt guilty about failing to assist Gabriela’s mother in her final days and now sought to compensate Gabriela for his perceived failures.
After hearing Phyllis’s bitter complaints, Vivian’s mind sparked with malicious inspiration. “Phyllis, I know an influencer with thirty million devoted followers. Let’s orchestrate something spectacular that will obliterate Gabriela’s reputation completely. Are you ready to join this war p>
Recognizing Vivian’s proven capabilities, Phyllis felt a thrill of excitement surge through her. Without hesitation, she declared her allegiance. “Why would I refuse such a perfect opportunity p>