Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 132

Almost every parent has told their child they were found in a dumpster as a baby.

But the Jacksons had never said that to her.

Stephanie later realized it was because the Jacksons were afraid she might actually believe it and suffer a second trauma.

After Susan remarried, Stephanie was left all alone in the vast Jackson estate.

At just sixteen, she inherited a colossal fortune that most people couldn't earn in a lifetime.

But her world was falling apart.

She couldn't feel any happiness at all.

If she could, she would have given up all the money just to have her father and brother back, safe and sound.

Nothing was more important than her family's well-being.

A sixteen-year-old girl couldn't possibly carry the weight of a massive company like Meridian Consortium.

She retreated into her own small corner.

No one knew that after the lawyers finalized the inheritance contracts, Stephanie had slit her wrists in the Jackson mansion.

But she didn't succeed.

Because the woman claiming to be her birth mother showed up.

Rora said she had no choice but to abandon her all those years ago.

Now, she was gravely ill and didn't have long to live. Her only wish was to be acknowledged as her mother.

Stephanie refused without hesitation.

She had grown up cherished by the Jacksons; of course, they were the only family she recognized.

As for this biological mother, she felt nothing for her.

Although Serena had made the online post, Stephanie knew someone else was pulling the strings.

Because besides the Jackson and the Gonzalez families, the only other person who knew about her relationship with Rora was Victoria.

Once, during college, Rora had found her at the university.

It was Victoria who had brought her to her dorm room.

But Victoria had promised she would never tell anyone this secret.

But now, she had broken her word.

"But still, she's your birth mother, after all. The woman is sick. How can you just ignore her?"

"After making a scene like this, you'll still have to see each other around. You young people are just too impulsive."

Zachary's lecturing was just so typical.

Stephanie looked at his condescending, paternalistic face.

"No wonder you're so old and still can't have a child."

"Mr. Wright, what embryo would ever want an old man like you for a father?"

Her words struck a nerve. He and his wife had been married for years and had indeed been unable to conceive.

Called out publicly by Stephanie, Zachary felt humiliated. "You... how can you speak to me like that? I'm a friend of your mentor, which makes me your elder!"

"Just an old sycophant who's been chasing my mentor for decades but could never measure up. And you have the audacity to claim seniority."

Stephanie's eyes were filled with warning. "Don't mess with me."

Normally, she wouldn't say something so harsh, but with people like Zachary, showing any mercy would only encourage him to push his luck.

Sure enough, Zachary was intimidated by her presence and didn't dare to speak again.