chapter 8

"Monica!" As soon as I stepped down from the courthouse steps, Mom rushed over in a few quick strides.

There was no trace of joy on her face that her daughter had won the case—only anxiety and reproach. "Why were you so impulsive? Dragging this to court! And making him walk away with nothing?

"How embarrassing would this be if it got out? Andrew… he's done so much for our family over the years. How's he supposed to hold his head high in the community after this?"

Dad stood nearby, his face stormy. "Are you even part of the Read family? Doing something like this!

"How could you embarrass me? I think you've lost your mind! What about the company in the future?"

I stopped in my tracks, staring at the parents who had given me life and raised me, yet always put Andrew first—simply because he was their son-in-law, and I was just their daughter.

The last trace of familial affection I had left finally died.

"Who's really crazy?" I said coldly. "Should we let him stay in the company, drain our family's assets, and end with the company under the Morton name? Would that be less humiliating?

"You heard the recordings in court, right? Listen to how he talked about you! And you still rush to bow to him?

"If it weren't for me, you'd be packing up and gone by now!"

My words hit them like a slap in the face.

Mom was too choked up to speak, and Dad's face shifted from pale to red, his lips trembling. "How… how can you say something like that?"

"How can I not?" I met his furious gaze, standing my ground.

"I'm telling you that your precious son-in-law has long treated the company like his family ATM!

"What he's taken is the very foundation of the Read family—the property that I, Monica Read, have earned over the years! You care about him? Fine—then go support him yourself!

"Take his last name… I don't care either."

After saying the last sentence coldly, I turned and walked away, not sparing them a single glance at their disgusting faces.

Once in the car, Sophia handed me a bottle of water. "Is that it?"

"It's just getting started." I smirked, looking out the window as I twisted open the cap.