The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 155

But she had never actually considered cutting ties with her entirely.

Especially after this latest financial crisis. Diana had realized that Jocelyn wasn't completely useless after all.

If she kept her around, she might actually be able to squeeze more favors out of her down the line.

Diana stumbled over her words before aggressively softening her tone.

"Who said anything about disowning you? You're just being dramatic and putting words in my mouth."

Jocelyn let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"Are you just worried that if I cut ties, you won't be able to use me anymore?"

Diana's stomach dropped.

How the hell did Jocelyn know exactly what she was thinking?

"What I'm trying to tell you..." Jocelyn sighed, the sound barely audible, laced with absolute disappointment.

"Is that I am not the idiot you think I am. The only reason I never fought back is because I knew I was living under your roof on borrowed time."

"The only reason I never demanded a piece of the pie was because I didn't want to break Dad's heart. I didn't want to put him in the middle."

"But if I actually wanted to take what's mine? You wouldn't be able to stop me."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it practically radiated an overwhelming, suffocating dominance.

Diana wasn't even sure who she was talking to anymore.

Was this really the docile daughter she had raised for twenty-eight years?

Diana sat in stunned silence.

"Jo..."

"Don't call me that," Jocelyn snapped, severing the olive branch. "Don't slap me across the face and then try to play the doting mother. Stop throwing me crumbs of affection just to confuse me into thinking I actually have a mom who loves me."

Diana desperately wanted to explode.

But for some inexplicable reason, she couldn't.

Because she couldn't argue with a single thing Jocelyn had said.

It was all true.

She had failed completely as a mother, and the blatant favoritism between her two children was undeniable.

And it all boiled down to one simple fact.

Jocelyn wasn't her biological daughter.

It was a massive psychological barrier for her.

She resented her.

Jocelyn's heart sank.

"Which orphanage?"

"It wasn't local. And from what I heard, the place was shut down over a decade ago."

Jocelyn didn't press any further.

She had a gut feeling that Diana was lying through her teeth.

There was no way you just 'forget' details about something that important.

She was deliberately withholding the truth.

What kind of orphanage could perfectly supply Diana with a baby whose exact birth chart met her superstitious requirements?

Jocelyn realized her only hope was her adoptive father.

Maybe he would finally give her some answers.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Maria went to answer it.

A second later, her highly annoyed voice carried back into the room.

"Miss Jocelyn, Adrian is here."