The Revenge Donna Hid for Two Decades Chapter 03

The Revenge Donna Hid for Two Decades Chapter 03

“Unfeeling and harsh?” I set down my coffee mug and stared straight into his eyes without backing down. “Mr. Sterling, have I even lost the right to decide matters within my own family?”

“That’s not what I meant…” Ethan hesitated briefly. “Anyone with eyes can see clearly what you’re doing. You’re simply taking revenge on them out of old grudges.”

I let out a quiet laugh. Revenge was the last thing on my mind.

If I truly wanted to get even with them, they would have long lost their footing in every major business district across the country.

Still, I saw no point in explaining myself. “If that’s what you insist on believing, then fine, I admit it.”

“Deep down, you’re still bitter that I chose not to marry you back then, aren’t you?” There was a faint trace of arrogant pride in Ethan’s tone, as if he was still confident in his own charm.

His voice softened slightly. “What happened in the past can never be undone. If you’re set on getting revenge, take it all out on me instead of picking on those two innocent girls! Name whatever compensation you desire. I’d hand over my entire fortune without a second thought if it means you’ll agree to let Vivian marry Theo.”

I stared at the man standing before me in utter astonishment before bursting into laughter. “Ethan, you built your empire entirely from nothing.”

I was right there beside you through every hardship, so I know perfectly well how much blood, sweat and tears it took to amass all that wealth.

Ethan froze in place and looked away with a heavy sigh.

My voice trembled slightly with suppressed emotion. “You once swore you’d never let yourself live a poor and difficult life ever again. How can you be willing to throw away everything you worked so hard for just for their sakes?”

Ethan sighed once more, his tone resolute. “They mean far more to me than all the wealth in the world.”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Those exact same words had once been spoken to me by him too.

I closed my eyes and quickly regained my calm composure. “Unfortunately for you, I have absolutely no interest in your fortune. Please leave now.”

I instructed my servants to politely escort him out.

He kept turning back to glance at me as he walked away. “Is there really no way we can reach a compromise? I’m dead serious about offering you any compensation you want. Cleo, I’m begging you. They’re truly devastated.”

I gazed out the window silently. They were heartbroken?

What about me, who had knelt on the ground begging for mercy and insisting I was framed all those years ago?

Shortly after Ethan left, another visitor requested an audience with me.

The moment the doors opened, both of us froze in surprise.

It was Julian Ashford, the very man I had woken up beside that fateful night, my younger sister’s former boyfriend.

For twenty long years, he had firmly believed I had deliberately seduced him out of sheer infatuation, desperate to be with him before my wedding.

He had burned every piece of clothing that carried my scent the morning after that incident, and the undisguised disgust in his eyes was etched permanently into my memory.

“I have never met such a shameless woman in my life. You’d even stoop so low as to steal your own sister’s boyfriend!”

Just like me, he had remained unmarried all throughout these two decades.

“I never expected you to come here too.” I let out a cold laugh. How many more people would they send over to persuade me to give in?

Julian took a seat across from me, his expression filled with complicated emotions as he admired the grandeur of my manor before finally turning his gaze back to me. “I never thought you’d hold onto your grudge this stubbornly.”

I had no desire to entertain him and did not even ask the servants to serve tea, yet he made himself right at home regardless. “Cut to the chase and say whatever it is you’ve come to say.”

He hesitated awkwardly for a moment before speaking up. “I only found out yesterday that Theo is your son.”

I kept my eyes fixed on him and said nothing.

“That night…” He spoke vaguely, making it clear he was referring to the night my own mother set me up.

I shook my head firmly. “I’ve told you countless times before. I was just as much an innocent victim in all of this.”

He let out a weary sigh. “There’s no need for you to keep denying it. I already know the truth.”

“I really didn’t do anything of the sort.”

He looked at me with helplessness in his eyes. “You’ve been this stubborn for twenty whole years now. But you ought to know the real reason I’ve stayed single all these years. You’re taking your unrequited feelings for me out on Vera and her daughter, and quite frankly, you’re going way too far.”

A sharp cold glare shot out from my eyes. “Are you also planning to meddle in my family affairs?”

Julian called out my name softly. “Cleo. Strictly speaking, Theo is my son, which makes this my family business as well.”

“I’ve already told you plainly, he is not your son.”

Julian stared intently at me. “Cleo, I can see it clearly with my own eyes. That boy looks just like me.”

I could not help but find the whole situation utterly ridiculous.

Julian had always had sharp, rugged masculine features, and Theo shared a similar tough aura.

“Many men carry that same bold, strong demeanor, Mr. Ashford. That appearance style is by no means exclusive to you alone. You’re simply overthinking everything.”

Julian finally gave up arguing and sighed in defeat. “Fine, I’ll drop the subject. I’m willing to marry you if that’s what you truly want.”