Chapter 10
Around noon, I caught a glimpse of Vivian on my surveillance feed–dragging her feet home shoulders slumped.
She spotted the flyer I’d planted on her door handle and instinctively reached to toss it.
But when she saw what it was… she paused. Then slid it quietly into her pocket.
Hook, line, and sinker.
Just as I planned, she took out a high–interest loan.
Two days later, she was on the operating table–full facial reconstruction.
Double eyelids, rhinoplasty, cheek fillers, lip enhancement. The works.
She really believed a new face could give her a new life.
She didn’t know that the loan card I planted came from the most ruthless predatory lender I could
find.
With sky–high compounding interest and criminal ties, it was only a matter of time before the collectors came knocking.
But by then, she’d already moved out.
I was home when the enforcers came knocking, fists slamming on her old door.
I opened mine casually.
“They’ve moved,” I said.
The lead thug turned toward me. “You know where she went?”
“Nope. But I know where her man’s parents live.”
And I handed over Ryan Taylor’s family address with a smile.
I hated Vivian.
But I hated Ryan more.
A few days later, Ryan’s parents invited me out for dinner.
They even brought Ryan–half–hunched, looking pitiful–with them.
Chapter 10
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They’d booked a private room and plastered fake smiles on their faces.
“Vanessa, sweetheart,” Ryan’s mom said, “it’s been so long, We’ve missed you.”
“Cut the crap,” I said. “Say what you came to say.”
Ryan opened his mouth to curse, but his mother elbowed him, and he deflated like a balloon.
“It’s that witch Vivian!” his mom wailed. “She took out a massive loan and vanished!”
“The collectors came to our house swinging! Said they’ll kill Ryan if we don’t pay up…”
His mother dabbed her eyes and looked at me with exaggerated sympathy.
“Vanessa, please… help Ryan. He’s still the father of your boys, isn’t he?”
I just stared at her.
That’s when Ryan snapped.
“Vanessa Winter, don’t be heartless! If you don’t help, I’ll go to your sons‘ university and cause a scene. We’ll all go down together!”
I couldn’t help it.
I laughed. Loudly.
“Hahahaha… Who told you Liam and Ben were your sons?”
The whole room froze.
Ryan leaned in, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh… right. Guess I forgot to mention this at the birthday banquet.
“I had those boys through IVF. Donor sperm. From a sperm bank.”
“You’re not their father. Not even close.”
Silence. Then-
))–
“YOU LYING BITCH! YOU CHEATED ON ME!”
“YOU SLUT!”
1 calm.
“}
ld you.”
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They’d booked a private room and plastered fake smiles on their faces.
“Vanessa, sweetheart,” Ryan’s mom said, “it’s been so long. We’ve missed you.”
“Cut the crap,” I said. “Say what you came to say.”
Ryan opened his mouth to curse, but his mother elbowed him, and he deflated like a balloon.
“It’s that witch Vivian!” his mom wailed. “She took out a massive loan and vanished!”
“The collectors came to our house swinging! Said they’ll kill Ryan if we don’t pay up…“.
and looked at me with exaggerated sympathy.
His mother dabbed her eyes
“Vanessa, please… help Ryan. He’s still the father of your boys, isn’t he?”
I just stared at her.
That’s when Ryan snapped.
“Vanessa Winter, don’t be heartless! If you don’t help, I’ll go to your sons‘ university and cause a scene. We’ll all go down together!”
I couldn’t help it.
I laughed. Loudly.
“Hahahaha… Who told you Liam and Ben were your sons?”
The whole room froze.
Ryan leaned in, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh… right. Guess I forgot to mention this at the birthday banquet.”
“I had those boys through IVF. Donor sperm. From a sperm bank.”
“You’re not their father. Not even close.“–
Silence. Then-
“YOU LYING BITCH! YOU CHEATED ON ME!”
“YOU SLUT!”
I leaned back, utterly calm.
“I knew your biological twins were disabled. I just never told you.”
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“You always obsessed over having heirs, right?”
“Well, didn’t your little mistress just lose the baby?”
I smirked sweetly..
“Ryan Taylor, you’re going to die without ever passing on your name.‘
His face turned ghostly white. He clutched his chest and collapsed from his chair.
“Oh dear,” I said, watching him slide to the floor.
“Looks like someone’s not doing well. You might want to call 911.”
Then I picked up my purse and walked out, not once looking back.
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