Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 586

"Grandmother, let's cross off Frederick Hawthorne's name. There's no need to invite his family," Stella said, having absolutely no desire to see them.

Nadine hesitated. "Stella, Frederick is still your father. They even came over during the holidays. Are you sure you don't want to invite him?"

"Grandmother, it's really not necessary. He isn't my biological father, and he never loved me. And then there's his daughter, Chloe Hawthorne..."

Stella proceeded to tell Nadine everything that had happened in South Africa—Chloe cozying up to the old man, and Errol Rox actually being her biological father.

She didn't buy for a second that the old man was some relative of Chloe's. They had been kissing. What kind of relative does that?

She had gone straight to Bay City after returning from South Africa, so aside from her and Julius, no one else knew the truth yet.

To back up her story, Stella showed Nadine the video she had secretly recorded.

After watching it, Nadine shook her head. "I had no idea. That Chloe girl is utterly shameless. And your past is so complicated... Fine, we won't invite him.

I didn't invite the Jeter family either, though I suspect Byron Jeter will still try to show up uninvited. Take a look and cross off anyone else you don't like."

Nadine continued, "Don't let a man like Frederick upset you; he's not worth it. I could somewhat understand his behavior if he knew you weren't his daughter.

But the fact that he treated you with such cold indifference while believing you were his own flesh and blood is unforgivable. From now on, the Blackwood family is your anchor.

I've got your back. Everything I own will be left to you and Jason's future wife, Sabrina. Once Sabrina officially joins the family, I'll draw up my will.

Those two brats won't get a single dime. They can make their own money, and I'll make sure they hand their paychecks over to the two of you."

Thank goodness Julius hadn't married Chloe. To think a girl that young was capable of such shameless behavior!

"Silly girl, who ever complains about having too much money? The more you have, the more leverage you hold. If Julius ever dares to mistreat you, kick him out with nothing!"

Nadine didn't know about Stella's thriving business empire in Bay City. Because she rarely saw Stella go to a traditional office, she worried about her financial independence.

Just then, a voice rang out from the doorway. "Grandmother, why are you badmouthing me to my wife?"

He had heard every word. His grandmother had literally just suggested stripping him of everything in a prenup if he upset Stella.

Stella was already itching for him to leave with nothing; he spent every day worrying about his status in the household.

And instead of putting in a good word for him, his own grandmother was advocating for his financial ruin.