NovelEnglishChapter 148
Crash!
Out of nowhere, the courtyard door was kicked off its hinges! Mr. Stone, face like thunder, hobbled in on his cane, with Cheryl, sporting a bruised cheek, at his side, steadying him. Yafe followed, looking just as sour.
"Grandpa! Dad!"
Celena, jolted by the racket, dropped her papers and rushed to meet them.
However, Cheryl was on her like a storm, scattering Celena's papers to the wind before slapping her hard across the face. "I warned you! I won't let this slide! You had the nerve to hit me!"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtStunned by the blow, Celena's eyes brimmed with tears.
It was the second ttoday Cheryl slapped her.
In front of her grandfather and father, no less. She couldn't fathom why the Stones had it in for her so badly. Wasn't she one of them?
Why such a stark difference in the way they treated her, even though she was a granddaughter, a daughter, just like the others?
Mr. Stone didn't bat an eye at the slap. He snorted with disdain and stepped forward, his voice icy as he demanded, "Where's Liam?"
Celena stood off to the side, her hand pressed against her tear-streaked face. "He's gone out with Jovie," she said, her voice quivering with hurt. "Grandfather, please, take a seat."
Despite the ache in her heart and the sting of injustice—how could her grandfather just stand by while Cheryl slapped her and pretended nothing happened?—Celena fetched a chair for him. She couldn't forget that Mr. Stone's legs weren't what they used to be, he couldn't be on his feet for too long.
Mr. Stone's brow furrowed at her offer, and he let out a dismissive snort. "Save it. I'm not here to sit. I'm here to make it clear: you're out of the upcoming deal. Cheryl's running the show now."
Celena's heart pounded at his words. She stared at him, disbelief etched on her face. "However, Grandfather, wasn't it decided that the best plan would win the lead on the project? Didn't my proposal get the green light?"
She thought she misheard when her grandfather showed up unexpectedly, intent on stripping the project from her grasp—and for Cheryl's sake, no less.
At that moment, she wanted to scream, to demand answers. Why was he so indifferent, so harsh with her? Wasn't she his granddaughter too, just like Cheryl?
"You're challenging me?" Mr. Stone's voice was laced with anger. "I still call the shots in the Stone family. Since when do I owe you explanations?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHis words cut deep, and Celena's tears fell freely. "I wouldn't dare," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "We'll do it your way. Whatever you say goes!"
Her gaze was distant, her spirit crushed. She didn't even notice when Mr. Stone and the rest slipped away.
"Celena, I've told you before, you'll never beat me! Anything you have, I'll take it from you. There's no place for you in the Stone family, ever!"
With a taunting smirk, Cheryl flung those words over her shoulder as she left.
As soon as Cheryl was out the door, Celena's strength drained away, and she crumpled to the floor, hugging her knees, burying her face, and sobbing uncontrollably.
She poured her soul into preparing for days on end, foregoing sleep and food to research and learn, crafting a partnership proposal with painstaking care. And then, with just one sentence from her grandfather, her labor of love was handed over to Cheryl.
She could not stand it!
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