The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 408

Michelle had never felt any real affection for Claire.

For years, she had only played along and faked a harmonious front because Eleanor had forced her to.

Deep down, Claire's very existence was an agonizing humiliation to her.

The sharp, venomous words hit Eleanor like a physical blow. She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently.

"You! You're trying to stage a coup, aren't you!"

"If this is how it's going to be, then fine! I'm staging a coup!" Michelle no longer cared about the consequences; she was throwing it all away.

This was utterly ridiculous!

She had suffered all these years just so her son could seize the reins of the family empire.

And now this old hag was stabbing them in the back.

It was intolerable!

"It's just because Adrian looks like your dead husband! He cheated on you, and you hate him for it. So every time you look at Adrian, all you see is his betrayal!"

"Is that fair to him? He deserves to be punished just because of his face? You're completely unhinged! No, it's not just psychological—there's something seriously wrong with your brain!"

Eleanor was reeling, her vision blurring as the world spun out of control.

Riding the high of her adrenaline, Michelle unleashed every ounce of her suffocating resentment.

"Do you want to know why your husband cheated on you? It was your fault, not his! You were just too damn domineering!"

"You!" The color vanished from Eleanor's face, leaving her ashen.

"You deserved to be abandoned!"

That final sentence struck the killing blow.

Eleanor clutched her chest, her mouth hanging open as she struggled to pull air into her failing lungs.

Only then did Michelle realize something was horribly wrong. Panic instantly overtook her rage.

"Adrian! Adrian! Hurry! The doctor just prescribed her heart medication!"

But Adrian stepped forward and grabbed his mother's arm in an iron grip.

Michelle met his dark, unfathomable gaze and froze completely.

"Call an ambulance."

The paramedics arrived within minutes.

They did everything they could, but it was far too late.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lowell. Too much time has passed. There's nothing more we can do."

The moment the words left the paramedic's mouth, Michelle burst into theatrical, earth-shattering sobs.

Her wails echoed through the house.

Anyone watching would have thought she was the most devoted, heartbroken daughter-in-law in the world.

Audrey hid behind Adrian, entirely lacking the courage to even step forward and look at the body. She was in total shock.

"Adrian... Grandma... how could this happen so suddenly?"

He didn't answer her. Instead, he reached down and hauled the sobbing, hysterical Michelle to her feet.

"Mom, start making the funeral arrangements."