Chapter 69

The urge to leave faded as Amelia heard those words,so she dropped back onto the sofa.

Lainey's plan revealed a cruelty that surprised even Amelia. Lainey intended to break up Ricky and Janessa's marriage without a second thought.

Janessa's eyes burned red with anger. She raised her voice at Lainey,ignoring the fact that Ricky was still here."What kind of mother are you? Telling your son to get a divorce-you are out of line!"

Not a flicker of guilt appeared on Lainey's face. She met Janessa's outrage with calm self-assurance."Lower your voice. You were nothing but a mistress before getting married to my son. You don't have the right to yell at me."

The insult stung so badly that Janessa felt both furious and aggrieved.

She also wanted to have a son, but she just couldn't.

Decades of bitter remedies flashed through her mind,the taste of countless herbal concoctions rising up in her throat. She'd tried everything to have a son,but she hadn't succeeded.

Doctors had given her a clean bill of health.Sometimes, she wondered if Ricky was the problem all along.

Still, one glance at Ricky's dark expression kept her silent. Janessa buried her face in her hands and wept quietly on the sofa.

Lainey,unwilling to relent, watched Janessa's tears fall with a frown. She scolded, "Why are you crying?You are the one who can't give the Flynn family a son."

Without missing a beat, she turned her focus to Ricky."Listen to me. Divorce this woman. Find someone younger,someone who can give you a son.l-"

Ricky hadn't felt so humiliated in years. Even though Lainey was his mother, he couldn't help but growl at her, "That's enough! Whether we divorce is between Janessa and me; stay out of it."

Lainey flinched at his sudden tone, but then,she flopped onto the carpet, shouting, "I raised you, and this is how you treat me? Ricky, have you no shame?"

Fists pounding the carpet, her cries echoed off the walls.

The room became a storm of Lainey's shrieks and Janessa's quiet sobs, while Ricky's face clouded with rage. Off to the side, Amelia watched the unfolding drama and tried hard to keep herself from bursting into laughter.

She then composed herself and walked over to help Lainey to her feet.

Lainey, realizing someone was there for her, let Amelia settle her onto the sofa but didn't pause her cries.

"Your father doesn't care about me at all. I raised him on my own, and now, he stands against me for a woman."

Siding with Lainey, Amelia said to Ricky, "Dad, how could you speak to Grandma like that? She's always got your best interests at heart. Maybe show some gratitude for once."

"Shut up!"

Ricky's temper threatened to erupt, prompting Amelia to fall silent immediately.

With her mission to unsettle the Flynn family accomplished,Amelia slipped away from the house,quietly pleased with her handiwork.

Stepping outside, she caught sight of Dayna, who wore a bright smile. Dayna had just returned from the hospital. Due to winning the project bid, Jaxton was in a great mood and treated her with exceptional kindness today.

Even Laura had started warming up to her. Dayna almost believed she could take Amelia's place entirely and become Jaxton's wife soon.

So,upon seeing Amelia, she was no longer fearful or cautious. Instead, she rushed forward to accuse her,"You're truly malicious, hurting Jaxton like that."

Dayna's smug expression told Amelia everything she needed to know. She said with a sneer,"Nothing can outshine your deep love for Jaxton, especially when you're willing to steal for him!"

Mention of the word "steal" jolted Dayna, and her eyes betrayed a quick surge of unease.

A moment later, she remembered there were no cameras in Amelia's apartment, and her self-assurance returned. "Steal? I have no idea what you are talking about."

Dayna felt convinced Amelia lacked proof, or she would have confronted her head-on. She believed there was nothing to worry about.

Straightening her posture, she continued, "It's wrong to accuse someone without proof. I could easily take you to court for slander,you know."

Amelia heard Dayna's threat and found it almost laughable

While thoughts of the project's hidden risks swirled in her mind, she locked eyes with Dayna. "I hope you won't come begging me soon."

The Morrison Group's finances might be stronger than the Flynn Group's, but they weren't enough to sustain the Eastside Project.

The ink wouldn't even dry on the contract before the Morrison Group's cash flow dried up, and no bank loan would save them.

Amelia, not wanting to waste another second on Dayna,shot Dayna a look and turned to leave.

Left behind, Dayna mulled over that glance, an uneasy feeling pricking at her heart.

However, the thought of marrying Jaxton quickly drowned out any hint of worry.