THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS-Chapter 212: FAMILY DINNER 2

This Chapter is dedicated to Mich 34. I love you. Thanks for the golden ticket.

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Elisa scowled, her anger bubbling to the surface as she fixed her glare on Harlow. "Harlow!" she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. She had endured enough of Harlow’s foul tongue, enough of her constant taunts.

Harlow, undaunted, tilted her head with a polite smile. "What, stepmother? Does the truth hurt?" she asked, her voice with amusement. She was enjoying this, far too much. It had been a while since she had the pleasure of watching Elisa and Claudia squirm like this. Maybe a week or so...

"That’s enough, Harlow," Frank said, his tone calm but firm.

Harlow shrugged. "I’m only defending you, Father."

Frank sighed, rubbing his temples. He wasn’t blind to the fact that Harlow was provoking them, but at the same time, she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Claudia, however, had had enough. "It seems you’ve learned nothing from last week," she said, her tone biting.

Harlow turned to her with a smirk. "Oh, I think you’re the one who hasn’t learned anything, big sister. I see you want to spend another week in juvie. Did you make some friends while you were there?"

Claudia’s face darkened, her hands clenching into fists. "You—"

"Careful, sister," Harlow teased. "If you’re wrong, you might end up back there."

Claudia’s jaw clenched, but then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, she turned to her mother. "Mother," she said, her voice suddenly softer, more calculated. "Do you really think I’d lie about something like this? Father knows what he’s done. He knows how badly he’s wronged you."

Elisa’s lips pressed into a thin line, her nails digging into her palms. There it was, that seed of doubt she had planted long ago, finally sprouting. She knew Frank was cheating on her, no wonder he no longer paid attention to her or her daughter.

Frank exhaled heavily, staring at his wife and daughter. "What exactly are you accusing me of?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

Claudia lifted her chin. "You tell us, Father," she said coldly. "You seem to be full of secrets these days."

"Mother if I’m wrong, I wouldn’t mind spending another week in the Juvie." Harlow chuckled at her sisters words. She couldn’t understand how Claudia lied with so much confidence. It was because she knew the reason for the meeting, she knew Frank wanted to talk about his company’s bankruptcy and that he has sold it.

And she knew about it because she was the one to buy the company. Claudia on the other hand was confident because in her past life her father has done the same thing.

Elisa’s fingers curled into fists, her voice sharp as she asked, "What is it you wanted to talk about, Frank?"

She felt utterly betrayed. Frank had a son somewhere? All her carefully placed plans to take everything was ruined in an instant. But nothing could have prepared her for what he said next.

"The company has been struggling... and I sold it a few days ago."

Silence.

Claudia’s eyes widened in shock. Elisa’s breath hitched. They both reacted the same except of course the one who knew about everything.

"What did you just say?" Elisa demanded, her voice rising. What will become of her? What will people say? The world was truly going to mock her.

Frank remained calm. "I don’t know what Claudia is talking about, but selling the company was my only announcement."

"What did you do?!" Elisa barked, slamming her fist on the table. Her life was truly ruined.

Claudia was shaking with rage. "Father, how could you make such a decision without talking to us?"

She had never felt more desperate. That company was her lifeline, her everything. The only thing keeping her afloat. Without it, how would she pay off her debt?

No one knew the truth, but Claudia had borrowed money in secret when her father seized her allowance, believing she could pay it back once her father reinstated her allowance. But she had made a terrible mistake.

The loan wasn’t normal. It wasn’t from a bank.

It was from them.

A loan shark.

And because she was Frank Blackwood’s daughter, the interest rate was 80%, growing higher every three days. The debt had snowballed into something she could no longer control. Desperate, she had stolen from the company, blaming it on Harlow. It was one of the reasons she embezzled those funds.

Now, with the company gone, she was trapped.

"Because the company is mine," Frank said simply, "and I have the right to do as I please."

Claudia’s nails dug into her palm. "We’ve worked for years, Father! You could’ve at least given us a chance..."

Frank scoffed. "I gave you the diamond company to manage, and look how that turned out. I don’t need advice from you."

Claudia’s mouth fell open.

"How could you say that?" Elisa’s face twisted with fury. "Claudia did her best! She stayed and ran the company while Harlow abandoned us!"

Harlow chuckled, shaking her head. "She did nothing but steal my designs and claim them as hers." She glanced at Frank. "Hell, you all stole my designs. You kicked me out of the family and company remember? Because I refused to marry that old fool." Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

They had stolen from her before. But not this time.

Claudia scoffed. "Stop flattering yourself, Harlow. Those stolen designs weren’t even good."

"Enough ladies, not is not the time to fight or argue." Frank turned to Harlow, "You should come work with us Harlow. Get your former position and start working again."

Before Harlow could respond, Claudia turned back to Frank, pushing forward her next move. "Father, there’s an upcoming diamond auction next week, hosted by the Texla brand."

Frank’s brow furrowed. "And?"

"I submitted our company to compete in the auction," Claudia said proudly.

Elisa’s lips curled into a smile. "That’s wonderful, Claudia! This means our diamonds will be back on top."

Claudia nodded. "Yes, and the auction is being judged by the Diamond Queen herself. She’s the biggest diamond producer in the world and they say, she’ll finally be hosting the show live again.

Frank’s expression changed. Everyone in the industry knew who the Diamond Queen was, a mysterious, powerful figure who set the standards for luxury diamonds. If she rated their diamonds as the best, their reputation would soar.

"But we don’t have new designs," Frank pointed out. "And how do we know she’ll choose us?"

Claudia smirked, eyes flicking toward Harlow. "Who says we don’t?"

Harlow narrowed her gaze. She knew that look, Claudia was up to something.

"I have contacts," Claudia continued, "and if everything goes as planned, we will win."

Harlow leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. Oh, she was going to enjoy watching this plan crumble.