Stella had indeed said she only wanted the outcome she demanded.
Now she was changing the terms.
But what could they do?
They had no leverage against her.
“This is all your fault!” Vivian snapped.
Leon said nothing.
“Monique’s reputation is completely ruined now. Have you even seen what people are saying about her online?”
Just thinking about those vicious comments made Vivian’s heart ache.
She had been counting on Monique returning as soon as possible so they could suppress the scandal and minimize the damage to her reputation.
Instead, when Shane called to say Monique would not be released for another week, Vivian felt as though the sky were falling.
“What do you expect me to do?”
Leon gave her the same answer again.
What could he possibly do?
Stella was deliberately making things difficult for them, and they were powerless to stop her.
“If anyone is to blame, it’s you for being so ruthless,” Leon added.
Vivian stared at him.
“You think I’m ruthless?”
“Were you not trying to destroy Jennifer’s reputation too?” Leon asked sharply.
Even now, he believed Vivian had been behind the entire scandal.
She had admitted to doing everything herself.
And he believed her.
Monique was open and straightforward. She would never stoop to plotting against someone behind their back.
That was why Leon was deeply disappointed in his mother.
“You’re calling me ruthless?” Vivian demanded. “If I hadn’t been ruthless, would Jennifer ever have left you?”
“In my opinion, she still hasn’t given up on you. That baby is probably still inside her.”
How else could Vivian have driven that woman away without being firm?
“That’s enough!”
Vivian froze.
Leon looked at her coldly.
Never in all these years had he looked at his mother that way.
But later…
He had discovered that love truly could consume a person.
In that respect, Leon was beginning to understand Evan’s obsession with Stella.
Jennifer had become the same for him.
There was something about her that drew him in completely.
Vivian stared at him.
“What did you say?”
“But you and Monique are different,” she insisted. “You grew up together. Your feelings for her…”
“I’ve never loved her,” Leon cut in, already knowing exactly what Vivian intended to say.
Vivian shook her head.
“You don’t love her? How is that possible? You simply haven’t understood your own feelings yet. You…”
“They’re my feelings,” Leon snapped. “How could you possibly understand them better than I do?”
He had never viewed Monique romantically.
Yet Vivian continued insisting that he did.
“If you ask me, you played a large part in Monique ending up like this,” he said coldly. “She and I have never been anything more than friends.”

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