The Revenge Donna Hid for Two Decades Chapter 02

The Revenge Donna Hid for Two Decades Chapter 02

Twenty years ago, I severed all ties with my original family and gave myself a brand-new name.

I abandoned Ivy Vance and became Cleo Vance.

Time seemed to stand still for Vera, my younger sister. Her waist-length hair was now neatly tied up, and mature elegance lingered on her features.

She froze the second her gaze landed on me.

“So Theo’s mother is actually you?”

I chose not to answer her question.

“My Sister,” Vera’s tone was laced with sharp sarcasm. “Everyone says you’ve stayed single for two whole decades. I never thought you’d even have a son.”

I finally spoke up. “What business brings you here, Vera?”

Vera quickly recalled her original purpose for coming, her gaze turning icy cold. “Vivian has been crying nonstop ever since she got home.”

“I see.”

“Don’t you think you went way too far?”

“Pardon me?”

Vera stared straight at me fiercely. “You couldn’t beat me back then, so now you take all your resentment out on an innocent child!”

I wore a faint, unamused smile and said nothing.

“Cleo,” Vera said coldly. “Don’t think you can act however you want just because your son is now the richest man. Don’t forget, my husband was once the wealthiest man alive too, the youngest top-tier business magnate across the entire East Coast. Not to mention Vivian’s grandmother, my own mother, who is a world-renowned figure even acquainted with royalty.”

I sat calmly on the main seat, completely unfazed. “So what exactly are you trying to say? Your family holds such great power, yet you dare to meddle in my family affairs? Who are you to interfere with who my son marries?”

“I—” Vera tightened her grip on her handbag. “I’m just here to warn you not to push things too far!”

“You burst into my private banquet just to force me to accept your daughter.” My eyes turned frosty. “Who is truly being unreasonable here?”

Vera gritted her teeth in frustration. She was far too used to being treated with deference in high-society circles, all thanks to her powerful husband and influential mother.

Yet none of that privilege worked on me.

I shot a subtle glance at my bodyguards. Two men stepped forward at once and firmly held her by both arms.

“Cleo! How dare you treat me like this!” Vera flew into a rage.

I never even lifted my head.

For the first time in her life, Vera was dragged out in complete disgrace.

“Cleo! You’re going too far! This is unforgivable!”

The heavy doors shut tight, blocking out all her furious shouts.

I wiped the corner of my mouth, set down my wine glass, stood up and nodded politely to every guest present. “My sincere apologies for ruining everyone’s pleasant time tonight. Gifts have been prepared for all of you; you may collect them from the steward on your way out. I wish you all a wonderful rest of the evening.”

With that said, I turned and left the banquet hall, with Theo following closely behind me.

The next morning right after I got up, I was informed someone was waiting outside the manor gates to see me.

As soon as the doors opened, our eyes locked together.

It was Ethan Sterling, my former fiancé, the man I had built our path to wealth and supremacy side by side with.

We had been mere steps away from marriage, until everything fell apart.

It had been exactly twenty years since we last met.

Ethan cut straight to the point without any idle chatter. “I’ve come here on behalf of my wife and daughter.”

He glanced around at the luxurious decorations of my manor, a hint of emotion flickering in his eyes. “You built all of this from scratch entirely on your own all these years?”

I replied indifferently. “Was there ever anyone else willing to lend me a hand?”

His eyes lingered on my figure, and he let out a soft sigh. “I acted far too impetuously back in those days.”

“Then why are you still acting so impetuously now, Mr. Sterling? Do you truly believe your sudden appearance can change my mind?”

Ethan fell speechless for a moment.

The soft, clingy girl who used to wrap her arms around his arm and call him endearing pet names had long vanished.

In her place stood a powerful, sharp-tongued woman who did not hesitate to confront him head-on.

Ethan heaved another weary sigh. “My wife and daughter have always been spoiled rotten by me. You know full well how much both of us dote on them. You were far too harsh and unyielding yesterday. Both of them are utterly heartbroken and have barely eaten a single bite since then.”