Patricia choked on my words.
I let out a cold laugh.
"You keep saying I'm your daughter. When have you ever once treated me like one?
"All these years, the only thing you've ever asked me to do is step aside for Althea, your precious little heiress with her shares and her dividends. What have you ever given me?"
Kevin and Patricia frowned.
Solomon stared at me, something like surprise flickering across his face.
My smile turned bitter.
"You won't give me anything, and then you have the nerve to blame me for fighting. For grabbing what I can.
"You want me to be generous? Then put your money where your mouth is!"
The room went dead silent.
I scoffed.
"If you won't, then don't talk to me about apologies. Don't talk to me about getting on your knees.
"You don't deserve to."
"Stop right there!"
Kevin and Patricia called out as I turned to leave.
"Fifty million. It's yours. But you get on your knees right now and apologize to Althea."
Ha.
These clueless parents.
Even when giving their own flesh and blood what she was owed, it was still about making the fake heiress happy.
I turned back.
"Fine. While you're at it—
"Sign this."
A notarized gift agreement.
Stipulating that no matter what happened in the future, the money could never be reclaimed.
Kevin and Patricia signed.
Then tossed the pen aside.
"Clearly all those years running wild out there turned you into nothing but a schemer."
I didn't take the bait.
Because.
Fifty million dollars had just hit my account.
I knelt before Althea.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Three solid bows, forehead to the floor.
"I'm sorry. I was wrong."
I stood up the moment the words left my mouth.
Ignoring every pair of eyes on me.
I walked out of the Winfield mansion without looking back.
As I passed Solomon, he seemed like he wanted to say something.
I didn't lift my head. I walked straight past him.
His outstretched hand froze in midair.
His phone rang.
It was the police.
"The missing person you reported three years ago, that was Doreen Winfield, correct?
"She's been found."
