After Divorce She Becomes the Billionaire Heiress (Sylvia and Cyril) novel Chapter 3

Hearing the front door open, the two women chatting on the couch fell silent.

Sylvia let out a derisive laugh as she strode inside the lavishly decorated mansion that represented years of her painstaking efforts - soon to be foolishly squandered by these two interlopers. This would be her last glimpse of a home that could have been.

"So the prodigal daughter returns. Where exactly have you been wandering about? Didn't I tell you this morning to be back here by 8AM sharp to help with the guests? Or did you really think you could land someone better than my son after the divorce? Don't kid yourself - a vain social climber like you will always be looked down on wherever you go. Now hurry up and start cooking. Don't you dare embarrass me when my friends get here later. If you even think of causing me to lose face, just you watch how I'll punish you!"

Cyril was self-made, having built his business empire from nothing. So his mother was an avaricious woman determined to marry her son to someone useful to expand the family connections and wealth. Naturally she had always looked down on Sylvia's supposed commoner background, even though that wasn't truly the case.

Glancing at the bustling kitchen, Sylvia guessed there would be at least 10 guests today - the number her mother-in-law regularly invited specifically to overwork and demean her. Whenever there was a dinner party, not a single servant would be allowed to help. Sylvia was the sole worker expected to cater to everyone's demands without complaint or retaliation. Her mother-in-law was quick to interpret any objections as unwillingness to continue the marriage.

Before Sylvia could respond, Karina jumped in with a smile. "Auntie, isn't that too much work for Sylvia to handle alone? Let me give her a hand. We wouldn't want your friends later thinking I don't know how to cook!" She made to stand up and help.

But her mother-in-law quickly yanked Karina back onto the sofa. Not without first shooting Sylvia a look of pure contempt.

"How could you compare yourself to the likes of her? She was born to serve, so of course these menial tasks suit her. But you - you're an international superstar! You should relax here while we wait on you."

"But Auntie, I'm your guest. It wouldn't be right for me to just sit by while everyone else works," Karina protested.

"Guest? Once you and my son get married, then she'll be the guest - no, she won't even qualify to be a guest! At best, she'll just be a stranger passing through."

Standing silently to the side, Sylvia listened to the duo's chorus with growing exasperation.

Karina didn't utter a single unkind word and kept up the pretense of defending her. But they were empty placations that only fueled her mother-in-law's vitriol towards Sylvia.

As their farcical mother-daughter bond strengthened, Sylvia couldn't resist laughing. "Are you two quite done with your theatrics?"

Her mother-in-law bristled at the interruption. "What nerve you have! Can't you see we're in the middle of a conversation? Hurry up and get cooking!"

"In case you've forgotten, your dear son and I already finalized our divorce. You seem so thrilled to welcome your dreamed-of daughter-in-law. Why don't you get her to demonstrate her cooking skills instead?" Sylvia smiled sweetly at Karina, not missing the flash of delight in her eyes.

Weary of their act, Sylvia headed back towards the bedroom to gather her minimal belongings. She had no intention of keeping any of the clothes and possessions here that held nothing but bitter memories now.