Chapter 86
Chapter 86:
She approached with ease and added softly, “I hope we didn’t disturb your rest p>
“Age steals sleep from us. Don’t worry about it.” Kendrick placed a gentle hand on her head. His eyes were warm with affection. “What’s all this ruckus?” He paused briefly, noticing her attire. “Why aren’t you dressed yet? Didn’t you plan to meet Paola at six for the charity gala p>
Rylie kept her tone light as she answered, “Yes, I just bumped into a few familiar faces p>
Kendrick turned to Tessa and asked Rylie plainly, “What were you discussing p>
Marcus answered before she could speak, “Not much, really. They were just saying Rylie should go back to being Mrs. Kirk’s personal masseuse. A live-in servant, essentially. What do you think of that, Grandpa p>
Kendrick’s expression changed in an instant. The warmth in his eyes faded. “So you think the daughter of the Owen family should be sent back as someone’s household help? After how you treated her p>
Tessa’s complexion turned ghostly. “That’s not what I meant. I had no idea Rylie was from the Owen bloodline p>
Kendrick gave a cold, bitter laugh. He cast a hard look at Octavia and snapped, “Do you really believe all those business opportunities landed in your hands by coincidence? And then you come here and speak so proudly p>
“No, no, no, I didn’t mean it! I never said a thing about this!” Octavia, overcome by panic, nearly dropped to her knees. “I never insulted Rylie. This is all Tessa’s fault. She’s the one who caused this. Our family has always thought highly of Rylie. It’s Stacey who ruined everything by chasing after Fred. If not for her, Rylie would have been part of our family by now p>
Desperate to save face, Octavia scrambled to recover the situation, adding, “Once we return, we’ll cut off all ties with the Kirks. I swear it. Please, Mr. Owen, show us some mercy. The Dury family can’t survive without your support p>
Stacey gasped for air, her body threatening to give out, while Tessa looked just as shaken. Clinging to each other, Tessa’s voice trembled as she stammered, “Stacey, d-did you hear what he just said p>
The truth crashed down on Stacey, impossible to ignore. Rylie, the girl she’d gone to such lengths to exile, had not sunk into hardship — she’d risen to become the beloved granddaughter of the world’s richest man.
gⱯlnσν𝒆𝓁s․com, the heart of storytelling
“No, it can’t be… it just can’t!” Stacey’s face drained of color, her lips quivering as she refused to believe what she was seeing. “Why would Rylie end up with everything?” The shock left her swaying, barely able to stand.
Tessa’s instincts kicked in as she hurried to steady her. “Stacey, hold on!” With a cold stare, Rylie watched their drama unfold, her mouth twisting into a sly, mocking grin. “Relax. She’s having a fit, not dropping dead p>
Kendrick gave a low, disdainful snort. Turning to the butler, he said, “See them out before they make more of a scene p>
Wasting no time, the butler moved in, his tone courteous but unyielding. “Ladies, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave p>
Sensing which way the wind was blowing, Octavia quickly put space between herself and the others, slipping away without so much as a glance back at Tessa and Stacey.
Tessa, still holding up a faltering Stacey, kept her eyes downcast and left quietly, humiliation burning in her cheeks.
Jealousy and panic flickered in Stacey’s eyes as she cast one last look over her shoulder at Rylie.