Roses for My Mother's Grave, Divorce Papers for Your Funeral - Chapter 119: Chapter 119
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The words "married into wealth" struck Gregory like a physical blow.
Years ago, he'd been nothing but a broke college student who'd somehow charmed Marlow's mother, Evelyn Reeves. Marrying into the Reeves family had transformed his life overnight.
Every cent of his wealth, every ounce of his social standing—all came from his dead wife. He was, at his core, simply a man who'd hitched his wagon to a wealthy woman.
This history was his most sensitive point, and Marlow had deliberately jabbed at that wound.
Gregory's face contorted with rage as he raised his hand to strike her, but Marlow caught his wrist mid-swing.
"You think you're worthy of touching me?" Her eyes hardened to steel.
Those three years in prison hadn't been wasted. If she hadn't developed the ability to defend herself, she would have been dead long ago.
She squeezed his wrist with surprising strength, making Gregory howl in pain.
Marlow made a sound of disgust, releasing him and wiping her hand on her clothes as if she'd touched something filthy.
Liam approached, his expression softening to the same look of tender affection he'd used before betraying her. "We're family. There's no need for this ugliness. Why not hand over the inheritance... then perhaps you and Jade could both share in my affections."
Ever the strategist, Liam recognized that the fortune would ultimately end up with either Marlow or Gregory. By playing both sides, he couldn't lose.
Jade bristled at his suggestion. Since childhood, she'd compulsively coveted anything belonging to Marlow.
Even if she despised Liam now, she couldn't bear the thought of Marlow getting any piece of him.
"My sister is an ex-con," Jade clung to Liam's arm with performative sweetness. "She's hardly worthy of someone like you. Marlow, you're not actually desperate enough to be the other woman, are you?"
Marlow watched their little performance with the expression of someone observing cockroaches.
"A bitch and her dog—a match made in heaven. I wish you both every happiness," she smiled, though her eyes remained glacial. "Though speaking of 'other women,' I believe someone else in this room has more experience with that role."
Victoria's face suddenly blanched, her gaze toward Marlow turning venomous.
Just then, a gentle knock interrupted them. A courier stood at the door. "Delivery for Ms. Marlow Reeves."
Marlow frowned. She'd just been released from prison—who could be sending her packages?
When she opened the box, she found a decomposing dead rat inside!
She instinctively threw the box away, but the rat landed directly at Victoria's feet, with maggots crawling out and onto her designer shoes.
Victoria let out an ear-splitting scream before collapsing in a dead faint.
At the hospital, Victoria underwent examination in a private room.
Marlow stood against the wall, arms crossed, expression impassive.
Jade charged toward her. "You're nothing but bad luck! Everything falls apart the moment you return! If anything happens to my mother, I'll destroy you!"
Marlow's expression remained unchanged, her lowered gaze unfathomable as a deep pool.
She had nothing to do with the rat incident. When she took revenge, she preferred to do it openly and directly—she considered such petty tactics beneath her.
"The legal principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' applies here. You have no right to accuse me without evidence. Don't you have security cameras in that mansion of yours?"
Before she finished speaking, a figure lunged forward and slapped her hard across the face.
Caught off guard, Marlow staggered, her cheek instantly swelling.
"Cut the legal bullshit! This is a hospital, not a courtroom! Take a good look at yourself—you're not a lawyer anymore!" Gregory spat.
A dangerous chill swept through Marlow's eyes, but just then, the doctor emerged.
"Are you Victoria's family? How could you let a pregnant woman get so stressed? Fortunately, there's no serious damage, but you need to be more careful going forward."
Pregnant?!
Everyone froze, including Marlow. Victoria was nearly fifty years old.
Gregory slapped his thigh in excitement. "The ancestors have blessed us! Finally, a son to carry on the family name!"
Jade watched this scene unfold, her pretty face darkening with fury. What good was another child except to compete with her for the inheritance?
The hallway filled with a strange tension as everyone retreated into their private calculations.
Gregory fixed his gaze on Marlow. "Victoria is carrying your brother. You caused her distress, so some form of compensation seems appropriate, doesn't it?"
Marlow stood firm, her tone dripping with contempt. "Only someone born from the same mother counts as a sibling. Your mistress doesn't qualify as my mother."
Gregory's expression darkened as he loomed over her, his large frame casting Marlow completely in shadow.
"Consider it a debt you owe Victoria. Hand over the inheritance."
He used the most entitled tone to make the most unreasonable demand.
Jade and Liam immediately closed ranks with Gregory, the three of them backing Marlow into a literal corner, clearly attempting to intimidate her into submission.
Jade affected a sympathetic tone. "We're both women—surely you don't want to see my mother suffer? Just show some goodwill, and I'll overlook how you frightened her."
Liam nodded in agreement, softening his voice. "We're family. Blood is thicker than water."
Outside, the rain intensified, hammering against the windows with growing fury.
Marlow lowered her eyes, appearing to contemplate deeply. Then she slowly raised her gaze, sweeping it across all three faces, her eyes filled with hidden meaning.
"I'll give it to you. But to properly inherit the estate, we need the token my mother left behind."
Years ago, he'd been nothing but a broke college student who'd somehow charmed Marlow's mother, Evelyn Reeves. Marrying into the Reeves family had transformed his life overnight.
Every cent of his wealth, every ounce of his social standing—all came from his dead wife. He was, at his core, simply a man who'd hitched his wagon to a wealthy woman.
This history was his most sensitive point, and Marlow had deliberately jabbed at that wound.
Gregory's face contorted with rage as he raised his hand to strike her, but Marlow caught his wrist mid-swing.
"You think you're worthy of touching me?" Her eyes hardened to steel.
Those three years in prison hadn't been wasted. If she hadn't developed the ability to defend herself, she would have been dead long ago.
She squeezed his wrist with surprising strength, making Gregory howl in pain.
Marlow made a sound of disgust, releasing him and wiping her hand on her clothes as if she'd touched something filthy.
Liam approached, his expression softening to the same look of tender affection he'd used before betraying her. "We're family. There's no need for this ugliness. Why not hand over the inheritance... then perhaps you and Jade could both share in my affections."
Ever the strategist, Liam recognized that the fortune would ultimately end up with either Marlow or Gregory. By playing both sides, he couldn't lose.
Jade bristled at his suggestion. Since childhood, she'd compulsively coveted anything belonging to Marlow.
Even if she despised Liam now, she couldn't bear the thought of Marlow getting any piece of him.
"My sister is an ex-con," Jade clung to Liam's arm with performative sweetness. "She's hardly worthy of someone like you. Marlow, you're not actually desperate enough to be the other woman, are you?"
Marlow watched their little performance with the expression of someone observing cockroaches.
"A bitch and her dog—a match made in heaven. I wish you both every happiness," she smiled, though her eyes remained glacial. "Though speaking of 'other women,' I believe someone else in this room has more experience with that role."
Victoria's face suddenly blanched, her gaze toward Marlow turning venomous.
Just then, a gentle knock interrupted them. A courier stood at the door. "Delivery for Ms. Marlow Reeves."
Marlow frowned. She'd just been released from prison—who could be sending her packages?
When she opened the box, she found a decomposing dead rat inside!
She instinctively threw the box away, but the rat landed directly at Victoria's feet, with maggots crawling out and onto her designer shoes.
Victoria let out an ear-splitting scream before collapsing in a dead faint.
At the hospital, Victoria underwent examination in a private room.
Marlow stood against the wall, arms crossed, expression impassive.
Jade charged toward her. "You're nothing but bad luck! Everything falls apart the moment you return! If anything happens to my mother, I'll destroy you!"
Marlow's expression remained unchanged, her lowered gaze unfathomable as a deep pool.
She had nothing to do with the rat incident. When she took revenge, she preferred to do it openly and directly—she considered such petty tactics beneath her.
"The legal principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' applies here. You have no right to accuse me without evidence. Don't you have security cameras in that mansion of yours?"
Before she finished speaking, a figure lunged forward and slapped her hard across the face.
Caught off guard, Marlow staggered, her cheek instantly swelling.
"Cut the legal bullshit! This is a hospital, not a courtroom! Take a good look at yourself—you're not a lawyer anymore!" Gregory spat.
A dangerous chill swept through Marlow's eyes, but just then, the doctor emerged.
"Are you Victoria's family? How could you let a pregnant woman get so stressed? Fortunately, there's no serious damage, but you need to be more careful going forward."
Pregnant?!
Everyone froze, including Marlow. Victoria was nearly fifty years old.
Gregory slapped his thigh in excitement. "The ancestors have blessed us! Finally, a son to carry on the family name!"
Jade watched this scene unfold, her pretty face darkening with fury. What good was another child except to compete with her for the inheritance?
The hallway filled with a strange tension as everyone retreated into their private calculations.
Gregory fixed his gaze on Marlow. "Victoria is carrying your brother. You caused her distress, so some form of compensation seems appropriate, doesn't it?"
Marlow stood firm, her tone dripping with contempt. "Only someone born from the same mother counts as a sibling. Your mistress doesn't qualify as my mother."
Gregory's expression darkened as he loomed over her, his large frame casting Marlow completely in shadow.
"Consider it a debt you owe Victoria. Hand over the inheritance."
He used the most entitled tone to make the most unreasonable demand.
Jade and Liam immediately closed ranks with Gregory, the three of them backing Marlow into a literal corner, clearly attempting to intimidate her into submission.
Jade affected a sympathetic tone. "We're both women—surely you don't want to see my mother suffer? Just show some goodwill, and I'll overlook how you frightened her."
Liam nodded in agreement, softening his voice. "We're family. Blood is thicker than water."
Outside, the rain intensified, hammering against the windows with growing fury.
Marlow lowered her eyes, appearing to contemplate deeply. Then she slowly raised her gaze, sweeping it across all three faces, her eyes filled with hidden meaning.
"I'll give it to you. But to properly inherit the estate, we need the token my mother left behind."
End of Roses for My Mother's Grave, Divorce Papers for Your Funeral Chapter 119. Continue reading Chapter 120 or return to Roses for My Mother's Grave, Divorce Papers for Your Funeral book page.