Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 165

"So, I want you to stay by his side." Eleanor pushed the check toward her. "This is ten million dollars, your compensation."

"Mrs. Yates." She sneered. "Do you think everything can be solved with money? Whether I stay or go isn't something you can dictate with a single word."

Eleanor's eyebrows twitched, a flash of annoyance in her eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"My meaning is simple. I don't want this money. I'll decide whether I stay or go, and it's none of your business."

"You don't want it?" She scoffed, her tone turning sharp. "Ms. Vance, stop acting so high and mighty. Didn't you take the money and leave five years ago?"

"Besides, there's no need to put on an act. I've already given your mother a hefty sum."

Willa froze, almost doubting her own ears. "What did you say? My mom? You mean Naomi Whitman?"

A smug smile curled onto Eleanor's lips, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

"Yes, your stepfather is desperately trying to use your relationship with Randal to cling to the Yates family, without even considering his own worth. The Yates family couldn't be bothered to deal with people like that, so we just gave your mother some money to send them away."

Willa stood rooted to the spot, her mind completely blank, the blood in her veins seemingly freezing over.

Her mother actually used her as a bargaining chip to extort money from the Yates family?

"Ms. Vance." Eleanor stood up and smoothed her clothes. "I don't care what your attitude is towards me, but your mother has already taken my money. You know exactly how this debt should be settled."

"You can take this ten million or leave it, but as long as you obediently stay by Randal's side until he's completely cured, I won't stop you from going wherever you want after that."

Eleanor walked out, leaving the door wide open.

The bodyguards outside looked a little lost. "Ms. Vance, this..."

"Two million?" She let out a low laugh. "Do you think your daughter is worth that much?"

Naomi's voice instantly spiked. "You're with that Mr. Yates without any proper status or title. What's wrong with me, as your mother, asking for a little compensation for you?"

"Don't think I don't know that you took five million from the Yates family before you went abroad five years ago. When I asked to borrow some money, you humiliated me with a measly fifty thousand. Do you even respect me as your mother?"

"Does that have anything to do with you?" Willa's emotions finally erupted, her voice rising with a sob. "Five years ago, when you took all our family's money without a word to remarry, did you ever consider that you were my mother? What right do you have to talk to me like this!"

Naomi scoffed coldly, becoming even more caustic. "Willa, don't think that just because you've climbed the social ladder you can disown me. Let me tell you, I took the two million, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Willa's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Mom, by doing this, you've completely stripped me of all my dignity in front of the Yates family."