Chapter 319
Dorothy’s face stiffened, and with a snort, she declared, “So what if I cut it myself?”
Hearing that, I lost interest in arguing further and turned to Susan, “Susan, can I leave now?”
I thought she was defending her daughter. But with everything laid bare, it was clear it had nothing to do with me.
Unexpectedly, Susan affectionately pinched Dorothy’s cheek. “Have you lost your mind? Sacrificing your reputation to slander her?”
Dorothy pouted, whining, “Mom, I’m sorry. She’s as stubborn as they come. I had no other choice but to resort to this:
“It’s okay.” Susan spoke lovingly, “Go upstairs, honey. I will handle it.”
Her tone was gentle, devoid of any blame. Probably, she was the most indulgent mother in the world.
Dorothy beamed with joy. “Mom, thank you, you’re the best!”
With that, she bounded up the stairs while Susan watched her go with a tender smile.
Once Dorothy was out of sight, Susan slowly turned her gaze to me, looking at me as if I was something filthy. “Jane, I offered you a way out, but you refused.”
Then, she turned to the bodyguards and ordered, “Make her kneel outside! Bring her back to me when she’s ready to leave the country.”
Stunned, I faced her. “What right do you have to do this?”
“Right?” Susan scoffed, “Maybe you should ask yourself what ‘right‘ means.”
My face went pale. Indeed, it was a foolish question.
I let the bodyguards drag me outside, where snowflakes landed on me and quickly melted into water. But I refused to kneel! I clenched my teeth, struggling desperately.
Susan watched me through the patio door, looking amused. Eventually, she grew irritated, draped herself in a fur coat, and came out. with an umbrella. “Useless. You can’t even handle one woman!”
The next second, she took advantage of the bodyguards restraining me and kicked the back of my knee with her high heel. Pain and reflex forced me to my knees!
The cold snow instantly soaked through to my kneecaps. It was cold and painful.
Looking up at Susan, I, who hadn’t cried even during my divorce, found my face wet with tears, bewildered, “Susan, where did I go wrong?”
I never fought with Dorothy. She pressed me hard, and knowing I had no one to rely on, unable to fight back, I always endured.
“If you have to ask, then you didn’t do anything wrong,” Susan looked down at me like I was an ant. “Your only mistake was being Bryant’s ex–wife. Dorothy sees you as a threat. I know, and I can tell you’re not interested in competing with her.”
I asked, “So why…”
“Why would I treat you this way? Force you to leave?” Mentioning Dorothy, her eyes softened with motherly warmth, but her gaze remained cold toward me, “Because I’m her mother, the only person who will protect her unconditionally.”
What touching words. Yet my tears flowed even more fiercely.
She turned to the bodyguards, her voice cold, “Keep her here. If she gets up, you’re all fired.”
The snow fell heavier. It was so heavy that my knees froze, unable to rise even if I wanted to.
Lifting my head, I saw Dorothy standing at the second–floor window, her face alight with triumph. “Looks like you’ve lost.”