Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Leo never expected Alicia’s mouth could be this venomous, and every word was fired straight at him.

‘Is she really trying to kill me with anger?’ he thought, feeling his chest tighten even more.

“You… you… you rebellious daughter,” he stammered, his voice trembling with rage.

Alicia raised an eyebrow. “So you don’t think this is right, huh?

Then how did you have the nerve to make me play nice with those two conniving women?

“Is it just because you’re old, or because you’re so thick-skinned?”

Then she turned to Ian and sighed. “Uncle Ian, seriously, how can someone have such a double standard?”

Ian was trying not to crack up the whole time. Today, he finally got to see what it meant to be truly savage with words.

Watching Leo get so mad he could barely breathe-it was honestly so satisfying.

Wasn’t he always the one playing favorites? Now the tables have turned and he can’t take it?’ Ian thought.

‘Serves him right!’

He chuckled. “Now that he’s all wrapped up with his new wife and stepdaughter, playing the happy family, he doesn’t even remember he has a real daughter.

“Honestly, cutting him off was the smartest move you could’ve made.”

He couldn’t help but sigh. “My biggest regret is not having a daughter like you. Some folks just don’t appreciate what they have.”

He honestly wished Alicia was his own daughter.

Alicia shot him a regretful look. “Honestly, I wish you were my dad too.”

Ian suddenly had a thought. “You’ve cut ties with your father, and I’m never going to have kids of my own.

“Why don’t we just call it even and be father and daughter?

“That way, I can officially help your mom take care of you.”

‘Yeah, I could totally take Alicia in as my goddaughter, Ian thought.

That way, it’d be totally legit to leave everything to her down the line.

Alicia honestly hadn’t even thought about the inheritance.

In her past life, Uncle Ian had treated her way better than her own dad ever did.

She only found out later that, even before she’d helped him with his illness, he’d already put her in his will and planned to leave her a fortune.

He truly loved her mom, so of course he took care of her too.

But when even someone who wasn’t her real dad could do all that, and her actual father couldn’t, the difference just hit even harder.

Her eyes sparkled at that, and she didn’t even hesitate-she just blurted out, “Deal, Dad!

Uncle lan had always been good to her, so making him her godfather was a win in her book.

And honestly? The fact that it would drive her old man up the wall was just icing on the cake,

Just picturing her dad’s sour face was enough to make her day.

Ian’s face lit up with pure joy. “That’s my girl!”

Then, with a sincere smile, he turned to Leo, who was still stunned. “Honestly, Leo, I really have to thank you today. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have such an amazing daughter.”

Leo finally snapped out of it, his face twisted in disbelief and complete denial, like he just couldn’t process what was happening.

He clutched his chest, looking pale as a ghost as he stared at Alicia. “You seriously want to call someone else your dad?

Alicia fired back, “Already did. Weren’t you listening? I just called him Dad right in front of you.

“So, as my former father, are you just bursting with joy and ready to congratulate me for finally landing a real dad?”

She flashed a sweet, mocking smile. “Great, I’ll gladly accept your congratulations.”

Leo was left speechless.

Happy for her, my ass! I’m about to blow a gasket here!’ he thought, seething.

Now he was really gasping for air.

His face went even paler, and he raised a trembling hand, pointing at Alicia. “You… you…”

Seeing this, Alicia turned to Jan and said, “Dad, look at Mr. Hammond-he’s so ‘happy’ he can’t even speak.”

lan laughed. “Yeah, Mr. Hammond is just so thrilled he’s speechless.”

With lan’s company being loaded and influential, having Lucent Media as a competitor was already a pain-but it lan joined the fray, things would get seriously messy

And Alicia’s medical know-how was a game-changer for that eco-project.

That’s why they pulled her out of the entertainment industry in the first place-they wanted to put her to work on that project.

But before they could even put their plan into action, she was already joining forces with the competition.

Alicia rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Mr. Hammond, aren’t you a little old to be this clueless? Why do you always have to run your mouth like that?

“Lucent Media’s project looks like a goldmine to me. Investing in it is just smart business-how does that make me crazy?

That’s called having vision, ever heard of it?” she shot back.

Leo took a deep breath. “You know full well that the Hammond Group and the Delaney Group are also working together on that eco-project, and we need you to join us

He shot her a suspicious look. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

Alicia didn’t even blink. “No need to wonder-1 totally did it on purpose.

‘So tell me, if I join your joint project, what exactly do I get out of it?

Are you actually offering me an equity stake or any dividends?

If I bring in my own formula for medicinal fragrance, are you going to pay me royalties and a share of the profits?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Looks like none of that ever even crossed your minds, huh?

“But Jason is offering me an equity stake and dividends in the project, plus royalties and a share of the profits.

“So why would I bust my ass for you guys for free? I’m not stupid,” she added.

Leo stared at her in disbelief. “We’re family! Has the Hammond family ever let you go without anything all these years?

“What do you even get out of teaming up with outsiders against your own family?” he demanded.

In his eyes, Alicia had always been pampered-she never lacked a thing.

‘Family should stick together. How could you help outsiders instead of your own people?

‘Even if you say you’re cutting ties, you shouldn’t be going against us like this.

‘How did my own daughter end up like this?’ Leo thought, completely stunned and unable to wrap his head around it.