The young couple, Nydia and Jason, didn't dare to delay. They hustled to the hospital with all the speed they could muster.
As Nydia gripped Jason's hand, they reached the hospital room door only to hear the unmistakable shouting of Cedric, the proverbial old dog that just couldn't learn new tricks. His voice boomed through the walls, mingled with Mrs. Dempsey's sobs.
"Dad! Mom! I have hit rock bottom, all because of Jason, the backstabber! He's supposed to be part of the Dempseys, my own flesh and blood! Did you see what he pulled off in court? That's no way to treat family! He's in cahoots with the Ashbournes, playing right into their hands! And he's thrown me, his own brother, under the bus! I'm telling you, he's gonna be the death of me - do you hear?"
Cedric was swearing like a sailor, his voice sharp and grating, barely recognizable as the once-glamorous Lawyer Cedric.
A silent rage ignited within Jason, his jaw clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Nydia heard every word, her gaze burning into Jason's reddened eyes as she shook her head slightly, urging him to keep his cool.
"Dad! You've slaved away for the Ashbourne family all your life, and now they're using your precious son like a pack mule! They're manipulating him with their illegitimate daughter, leading him by the nose and stirring up trouble in our family!"
Cedric's voice was shrill and uncontrolled with anger. "After you stepped down, I brought the Dempseys back from the brink. And now, Thaddeus and Evadne have ruined everything! And that fool Jason still can't see the forest for the trees, shamelessly cozying up to the Ashbournes. That girl's just playing him until she can climb higher and kick him to the curb! He doesn't even see it - he's not in her league! How could he ever match up to an Ashbourne?"
His words were a barrage of insults, tearing Nydia's tender heart to shreds, a thousand pains entwined with a profound sense of injustice, making her feel small and useless.
Jason's family, an unending source of conflict, and she was at the heart of it.
Had she really been such a curse on his otherwise tranquil life? She felt so inadequate.
"That son of a gun!" Jason could stand it no longer. With an intense fury, he burst through the door!
Though both sons of the same parents, Cedric had always been jealous of his charming, intelligent younger brother, and had never missed an opportunity to put him down.
Anything Jason said, Cedric contradicted; any ambition Jason had, Cedric opposed, always mocking and belittling him. He cloaked his bullying in the guise of brotherly concern, but it was nothing short of emotional tyranny.
For years, Jason had borne it for the sake of familial blood and to spare his parents worry.
But now Cedric dared to insult the woman he loved. If he held back now, what kind of man would he be?
"Jason! Don't..." Nydia's heart clenched, but it was too late to stop him.
The heavy thud of the door swinging open shocked everyone in the Dempsey family!
It was a wake-up call, a jolt to the system that made headaches and tears vanish in an instant.
"Cedric! Shut your damn mouth!"
Jason glared at his brother's ridiculous, bandaged head, which resembled a garlic bulb, but his eyes were devoid of humor, only a tumultuous anger, "If you dare speak against Nydia again, your head will suffer more than just a concussion. Mark my words!"
"Did I say anything wrong?" Cedric's lip quivered, and he looked desperately to his father for protection.
At over thirty years old, still running to daddy for help – a sight that would make anyone laugh out loud!
"Nydia and I love each other truly, and your accusations are nothing but slander and lies!"
Jason's voice was firm and filled with righteous indignation, echoing as if they were back in a courtroom in fierce debate, "Everything I've done has been out of my own free will, no one forced or coerced me! I stand with Miss Evadne and Mr. Thaddeus because they speak up for the less fortunate, they have integrity and walk the path of righteousness! Unlike you, with your self-serving ways, contributing to injustice! You brought this upon yourself, reaping the consequences of your misdeeds!"
"Dad! Mom! Listen to what he's saying.."
Cedric's bravado deflated in front of Jason, and he turned to play the victim to their parents, trying to whitewash his own actions and pressure Jason, "Jason, I know you want to impress your girlfriend, and I know you're trying to curry favor with the Ashbournes. But you can't betray your own family! I'm your brother, from the same womb. How can you forsake brotherly love for a woman?"
The blatant quarrel reached Nydia's ears as she stood outside, feeling an icy chill spread throughout her body.
Hearing about being used and played, Mrs. Dempsey was overcome, her face turning pale as she clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. "What sins have we committed to deserve such misfortune?"
Cedric tried to comfort his mother while continuing to drive a wedge, playing the victim, "Jason, I understand you want to please your girlfriend, and I know you want to win over the Ashbournes. But at what cost to your own brother? I'm your brother, your own kin. How can you turn your back on family for the sake of a woman?"
The next second, Mrs. Dempsey scoffed, "Oh, Ms. Nydia, no need to trouble yourself. My son has hired a professional caregiver for me. You, with your delicate upbringing, unused to menial tasks, attending to me? I wouldn't want to shorten my lifespan because of it."
Nydia's breath hitched, her lips trembling, her cheeks flushing with humiliation.
"Mom! Nydia means well. Even if you don't appreciate it, you shouldn't say such hurtful things!" Jason's brow lifted in defense, his grip on Nydia's waist tightening.
"What did I say? What have I done? Don't I even have the right to speak anymore?"
Mrs. Dempsey's eyes reddened with anger, and she struck the bed in frustration, "She hasn't even fully stepped into our family, and you've already cast aside the mother who bore and raised you?"
"Mom. Please, don't get upset, you've just been through a lot!" Cedric consoled, patting her back, playing the dutiful son.
Dave sat on the couch, witnessing his wife's tirade against Nydia. He opened his mouth several times, hesitating, but he didn't intervene.
Mrs. Dempsey clutched her chest, her gaze cutting across Nydia's delicate complexion like a blade, "Ms. Nydia, there are things I meant to discuss with you in private, but since you're here today, I'll be blunt. I do not approve of you and Jason being together."
Nydia stood rigidly, her slender back straight as an arrow, feeling as though struck by lightning, overwhelmed by an immense sense of humiliation.
"Mom!" Jason's voice was hoarse with emotion.
"I may have three sons, but Jason is the apple of my eye, my most cherished. In choosing a future daughter-in-law, I don't ask for a superior lineage or a powerful background. I just want an honest, kind, and simple girl. With her, I can let my guard down, not worry about him being used or manipulated. I won't have to feel inferior in her family's presence or be treated like a servant without dignity."
"Enough! Don't say another word!"
Jason couldn't bear it any longer. He grabbed Nydia's cold hand, intending to leave, "Nydia, don't listen to her, come with me!"
But no matter how hard he pulled, she wouldn't budge.
Mrs. Dempsey didn't stop, continuing with her cruel words, "In your world, Jason is just a subordinate, a tool for obedience. But to me, he is a treasure of the Dempsey family! Let’s just admit that the Dempsey family is out of your league, Ms. Nydia. Please, let go of my son, will you?"
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The readers' comments on the novel: His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus)
Please upload further chapters...
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Where is the continuation of this story? You should not have started writing a story if you dont intend to continue till the end you left us hanging, thats very unprofessional as a writer....
Next chapter please.....
1 chapter per day??...
Hurry up and load more better yet just load the whole book...