"Vanessa is the capable one—her first child was a boy. If it weren’t for that, our family would’ve been in trouble. Anyway, I like Cooper, so I’ve already recognized him as my god-grandson. From now on, Vanessa’s status will be the same as yours.”
My mother-in-law was different from those who cared about social class or family background—she cared about one thing only: whether you could give her a grandson.
She had only escaped her bitter life because she gave birth to a son.
Back when Anthony had no money, she went out of her way to flatter me—just so my family would give him the funds to start his business.
Later, when Anthony’s company went public and his business grew, my own family was framed and our company went bankrupt. My only brother fell from a cliff, his body was never found. I lost my worth to them overnight.
From then on, she decided my education was too high, my looks too eye-catching—women like me were hard to control, restless by nature. She could never stomach me.
Vanessa covered her mouth and laughed happily, then led Cooper over to me. She pulled a few crumpled bills from her bag.
“Ms. Brooks, although you falsely accused me, it was still our Cooper Jimenez being naughty. This money is my token of goodwill to you and Cherry. You must accept it.”
She deliberately stressed the word Jimenez.
I lowered my gaze. Not too much, not too little—666 dollars.
Go to hell.
“Ms. Brooks,” she went on with a faux-innocent smile, “don’t blame me for being blunt, but I do know a little about face-reading. Your daughter—well, she looked short-lived from the start. Even without our Cooper, she would have died sooner or later.”
So—she was saying my daughter’s death was deserved?
I shoved her hard.
“Shut your filthy mouth! You, a murderer, have no right to speak of my daughter. Take your bastard and get out!”
Vanessa stumbled backward, caught just in time by Anthony. He gave me a cold look.
“Diana, watch your mouth. You’ve already lost the lawsuit. Cherry’s death was an accident. What right do you have to speak to Nessa like that—let alone lay hands on her?! Apologize, now!”
Nessa? How affectionate.
“Anthony, have you forgotten who your wife is? Your mother deliberately invited Vanessa to this family gathering to disgust me. She and you both insulted me and Cherry, and you just stood there."