She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 14

Luther was always ruthless, even when dealing with Jolie.

In his eyes, Jolie saw a flicker of genuine irritation. The reality of the situation hit her instantly: because of old Mrs. Sanford's failing health, Hilda was temporarily returning to the family fold. For how long, she couldn't say—that depended entirely on how long the old woman clung to life.

Swallowing her bitter resentment, Jolie backed out of the room.

The lounge door clicked shut.

Luther finally released Hilda, his demeanor reverting to freezing indifference.

"Get dressed."

"I'll write the check."

"Lori will arrange for you to move into my penthouse. Make sure you coach that kid properly; I won't tolerate any slip-ups. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, she is our legitimate daughter. Cut off all contact with that man for now. Once the divorce is finalized, I couldn't care less who you sleep with."

Hilda's legs were still shaking uncontrollably.

When she finally spoke, her voice was completely wrecked. "Don't worry. He's leaving the country for a few months anyway."

His eyes darkened noticeably.

Back in the main office, Luther wrote out the fifty million dollar check. He tore it off and handed it to Hilda.

She took it with a perfectly blank expression, but internally, she knew there was no going back. She had officially sold herself to him. The naive girl who had been hopelessly devoted to him, dreaming of a fairy-tale future, was dead and gone.

As Hilda walked out, her eyes were slightly damp. Those few steps felt like the agonizing culmination of a lifetime spent loving him.

Jolie was waiting in the outer hallway. Seeing Hilda emerge, she couldn't hold back her venom. "You're completely pathetic, Hilda. Still desperately clinging to him after all this time? He's utterly sick of you. Are you completely blind?"

Hilda looked at her. From childhood to adulthood, how much misery had she endured because of this woman?

Take Luther, for instance. Jolie could have openly claimed him from the start. But she didn't, because her status as an illegitimate daughter meant the prestigious Sanford family would never accept her. So she used Hilda as the perfect, oblivious placeholder.

Hilda slowly raised her hand. Sparkling on her ring finger was a flawless six-carat diamond.

"I am still Mrs. Sanford. Tell me, Jolie, who's the pathetic one here?"

Jolie opened her mouth to shoot back a vicious reply.

*Crack.*

Hilda slapped her across the face with every ounce of strength she had.

It was the first time Luther had ever spoken to her with such ice.

Did he really just bring Hilda back for his grandmother's sake?

Was there truly no residual affection there?

After all... Hilda was devastatingly beautiful.

Panic began to claw at Jolie's throat.

A moment later, she lifted her chin in arrogant defiance.

So what if Luther still wanted to sleep with her? Men always wanted a shiny new toy. It never lasted.

Hilda couldn't handle the loneliness and had shacked up with another man and had a kid. If she stayed in her lane, fine. But if she pushed her luck, Jolie wouldn't hesitate to destroy her.

Once the truth about the bastard child came to light, Hilda would be cast out and despised by everyone.

Hilda having that baby... was the biggest fatal mistake she could have ever made!