Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 166

Naomi's laugh was grating. "Willa, how much is your dignity worth? If you really had a backbone, you wouldn't be shamelessly trailing after him. You're after his money while preaching to me about dignity. Don't you find that laughable?"

"I'm not after his money..."

"You aren't?" Naomi interrupted sharply, her tone full of disdain. "If you aren't after his money, then why are you with him? He's about to get married, and you're just cheap enough to throw yourself at him as the side piece?"

Willa was rendered speechless, a dense, aching pain spreading through her chest.

She never imagined that it would be her own biological mother driving the most vicious, dagger-like words right into her heart.

"Enough." Naomi sounded impatient. "I've already taken the money, think whatever you want. If you still have a shred of conscience, send me some more. Warren is still waiting for it."

Willa's heart completely went dead. Her tone became unnervingly calm. "Since you think I'm so useless as a daughter, let's just sever ties. I haven't had a family for a long time anyway."

With those words, she hung up the phone and ruthlessly blocked Naomi's number.

Two million dollars to buy out over twenty years of their mother-daughter relationship.

Willa sat paralyzed on the sofa. The sunlight streaming through the window was glaring, but tears still spilled uncontrollably down her face.

She remembered many years ago when Naomi was still a good mother, cooking for her, brushing her hair, calling her Mommy's little angel, and joking, "When Willa grows up, she can take Mommy to live the good life."

What exactly had turned a mother into something so unrecognizable?

Did Naomi ever really love her?

She didn't know how much time had passed, but her eyes were swollen from crying by the time she finally gathered enough energy to call Sophie.

The call connected after two rings, and Sophie's boisterous, chiding voice burst through the receiver.

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