Chapter 3 Taking Back What's Mine

I sat in Gabriel's car. The only sound in the cabin was the hum of the AC. The courage I'd had on stage faded fast, replaced by an awkward silence.

"Um… Mr. York, thank you for stepping in back there." I muttered as I shrank father into the seat.

The system said we were a match, but this whole thing still felt unreal.

Gabriel glanced at me, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee.

"It's a mutual benefit, nothing more," he said evenly. "Ms. Rhodes, since the system brought you to me, we're going to play this out properly."

I looked up at him, stunned. "You… You know about the system?"

He raised a brow and tapped his temple.

The car pulled up in front of a villa. Before getting out, Gabriel commented, "You'll stay here for now. The Forrests will definitely come looking to harass you. As for your reward of 100 billion, the system has already transferred it under your name. You can check it anytime."

I stared at the banking notification on my phone. That long string of zeros made my breath catch.

With so much money in my bank account, why would I be afraid of them?

The moment I stepped inside, my phone started buzzing. It was Dylan in the "Happy Family" group chat.

I tapped on a voice message. Dylan's voice came through, sharp and furious.

"Summer, don't think landing a rich guy makes you untouchable! Mr. York's just playing around with you. You're a used woman carrying someone else's kid. Why would he take you seriously?

"I'm telling you, get your ass back here, apologize to my mom, and pay up the 500,000! Otherwise, I'll freeze the secondary card I gave you! Let's see how you survive out there!"

I rolled my eyes. That card had a monthly limit of 5,000. Big threat.

Gideon jumped in next.

"Summer, you're being ridiculous! You've driven Mom's blood pressure through the roof! Get back here and pay the down payment on the house, or I'll go to your company and make a scene! I'll make sure everyone knows you're a gold-digging slut!"

Then Alice sent a voice message.

"If you don't come back, I've got a hundred ways to make sure that thing in your belly never sees the light of day."

I stared at the messages. But this time, I didn't shake with anger. I felt calm.

I opened my banking app and froze the secondary card. Then I typed in the group chat.

'You don't need to come looking for me. I'll be back tomorrow to get my things. I won't leave a single thing of mine behind for you.'

After that, I exited the group and blocked them all.

…

Early the next morning, I returned to that home with two bodyguards.

That house was my premarital property.

The lock had already been changed. From inside came the sounds of things being moved and Gideon shouting.

"Mom! This TV is the latest model worth tens of thousands! Move it to my room!

"This couch is pretty good too. We can sell it secondhand and make a decent amount!"

I let out a cold laugh and gestured to the bodyguards. "Kick it in."

The security door burst open.

The Forrests who were inside the house froze in shock.

The living room was a complete mess. My belongings were scattered everywhere. Gideon was stuffing my speakers into a box.

Alice sat on the floor as she went through my jewelry box, my emerald necklace hanging around her neck.

The moment she saw me, she froze before scrambling to her feet. She pointed at me, cursing, "You jinx! You've got the nerve to come back? And you brought some random men to tear the place apart?"

She shrank back slightly when she noticed the bodyguards, but quickly puffed herself up again.

"Good. Since you're here, hand over the property deed! The wedding's off, so this house counts as compensation for our emotional damages! After all, you're carrying Dylan's child. This house will belong to my grandchild sooner or later!"

I slowly scanned the wrecked home as my hands clenched into fists.