Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 288

“But look at Stephanie. She kicked him out of the company just like that, with no regard for our family’s reputation. If that’s not burning the bridge after crossing it, what is?”

“Have you forgotten? When her father and brother died, we took over Meridian Consortium during its most difficult time. Without us, the company would have gone bankrupt long ago! Even if she had given half the shares to our son, Quennel would have deserved them!”

“But Quennel didn't ask for anything. Out of respect for their history, he didn't even try to fight to get Meridian Consortium back. He just let Jonathan have it.”

“Ever since I heard what happened to our son this morning, I’ve been thinking… what if Stephanie has been using us all along?”

Ternence frowned. “What do you mean?”

“She used the Gonzalez family to prop up Meridian Consortium. Now that the time is right and the company is stable, she took it back and used it as her stepping stone… to climb the social ladder to the more powerful Vasquez family.”

Ternence’s expression darkened.

“If that’s true, then Quennel is the real victim. How else could she have married into the Vasquez family less than a month later? Maybe she was already involved with that Vasquez boy, just waiting for a chance to catch our son making a mistake. She played the victim so that we would all feel like we owed her.”

“And the engagement gifts our family gave her… that villa… she turned around and sold it to our son for over a billion? The wedding never even happened. Shouldn’t she have returned it to us?”

“So now Quennel has lost the girl, had his wallet emptied, and wasted years of his career…”

There was a chilling logic to Wilma’s words that gave Ternence pause.

He remained silent for a long time, his face grim. Finally, he said, “Don’t assume the worst of her. We watched that girl grow up. She wouldn’t scheme against us like that.”

Wilma just shook her head and said no more.

Stephanie had no idea the Gonzalezes were privately turning against her.

“So, you’re just flaunting the fact that my boyfriend is still obsessed with you?” Vivian snapped.

“Ms. Yates,” Stephanie held up a hand to stop her. “To you, Quennel might be a god, but to me, he’s just a cheating ex. Strictly speaking, we’re not even rivals.”

It was the truth. Her relationship with Quennel ended because of Victoria. Vivian was just a fool who had willingly waded into this mess.

“I just want you to understand that if you can win Quennel over, I get my freedom. It’s a win-win. I have absolutely no interest in competing with you over a man.”

It was all so pointless. She didn't want her life to revolve around a man, especially not one she had already broken up with, only to be constantly harassed by his new girlfriend who saw her as an imaginary rival.

Of course, there was another reason. Vivian was Susan's stepdaughter, and she didn't want to put her mother in an awkward position between them.