Chapter 9: Mrs. Jones’s Interrogation

Caroline's POV

I stood up fast, my hand flying to my chest, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.

I was ready to bolt or explain or something, anything to get out of the mess I was in.

But then she held up her hand, stopping me cold.

“Not you, young lady,” she said, “I’m talking about her.”

She pointed to the woman sitting on Anderson’s right side. I’d been on his left.

My knees wobbled, and I sank back into my chair, my breath shaky.

The woman beside Anderson didn’t say a word.

She just stood up, her face pale, and walked out of the hall.

Mrs. Jones didn’t stop there. She pointed at five other people, three men and two women, her finger poking the air like a judge handing out sentences.

“You. You. You. You. And you. Out.”

They didn’t argue either. They got up quick, heads down, and walked toward the door.

My heart was still racing, heaving in my chest like it wanted to run too.

Mrs. Jones sat back in her big chair.

She looked at us all, her eyes hard and piercing, like she could see right through us.

“There are two reasons I called this meeting,” she said, “First, I need to tell you something important.”

Everyone leaned forward a little, waiting. I did too, even though I didn’t want to.

“I’ve been fighting a deadly cancer,” she said. My stomach dropped. Cancer? She didn’t look sick, but her face was strong, like she was holding herself together by force.

“Sooner or later, I’ll be gone. That means I don’t have time to waste picking an heir for the properties. The room is open to anyone.”

I glanced at Anderson beside me. His jaw was tight, his hands resting on his knees.

He was her first son, I knew that much, but she wasn’t handing him anything easy.

“Anderson might be my oldest,” she said, “but if he slips up, he’s not getting it. I’ll give it to someone else.”

She paused, her eyes scanning the room. “Where’s your brother Liam?” she asked, pointing at Anderson.

Anderson shifted in his seat. “He had to meet with some investors for me,” he said, his voice calm, “So I could be here.”

Mrs. Jones didn’t say anything for a long moment.

The silence went on, heavy and tense, like she was deciding something big.

Then she nodded, just once. “Like I said, this position as heir is open to anybody in this family. Liam has shown me he’s not very responsible, so if Anderson slips off, I won’t give it to him. That’s for sure.”

My head spun, this family was a mess, and I was stuck right in the middle of it.

Mrs. Jones wasn’t done, though. “The second reason for this meeting,” she said, “is to look into the issue of Anderson’s marriage.”

My heart raced faster, a wild thump that made my chest hurt.

Marriage. That was me. I was the one he’d dragged into this.

I wanted to sink into the floor, disappear under all those staring eyes, but there was no way to do that.

Before she went on, Mrs. Jones held up her hand again. “But first, I want to introduce someone,” she said.

“My late husband’s brother, Alex, is here.” A man stood up from the crowd near the back.

He had a deep voice. “Hello, everyone,” he said. “I’m Alex.”

Mrs. Jones kept talking. “He’s been away since my husband died eighteen years ago, but now he’s back to help me. My workload and my health need it.”

Alex smiled and thanked her, saying something about her warm welcome, but I didn’t turn around to look at him.

My neck was stiff, my eyes glued to the floor.

Anxiety was eating me alive, and I couldn’t focus on anything but the pounding in my ears.

“Anderson,” Mrs. Jones called, her voice loud and commanding. “Step forward.”

I wrapped my sweaty hands around the edge of my seat, gripping it tight.

My breath felt hot in my nose, coming out fast and shaky.

Anderson stood up like he wasn’t scared at all, and walked toward his mother.

He stopped in front of her, hands behind his back, waiting.

“A man who cannot choose a good woman as his spouse is not qualified to be a leader,” Mrs. Jones said.

Her words hit me hard, like a slap. “This is the last time I’ll give you room to bring a woman to me. If this one doesn’t impress me, forget about being heir.”

Anderson nodded, his voice steady. “Yes, Mum.”

Mrs. Jones turned her head, her sharp eyes landing on me. “Is that the lady you intend to marry?” she asked.

“Yes, she is,” Anderson said, not even looking at me.

“Step forward, lady,” Mrs. Jones ordered.

I stood up slowly, my legs shaky like they might give out.

Every step toward her felt like walking through mud.

I could feel everyone watching me, their eyes digging into my back.

Whispers floated around again, “Mrs Jones is going to reject her.”

“Why would Anderson bring someone like her here?” But I kept my head up, even though my palms were wet with sweat.

I stopped beside Anderson, a few feet from Mrs. Jones.

Her gaze swept over me, top to bottom, like she was sizing up an item at a market. “What family do you come from?” she asked.

I swallowed, my mouth dry as an empty well. “The Rodrigo family,” I said, trying to keep my voice from cracking.

Mrs. Jones nodded, just a little. “I’ll make my findings about your family,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “But for now, I have some questions for you.”

My stomach flipped. Questions? I didn’t know what was coming.

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locking onto mine. “If you tell me the truth,” she said, “I’ll reward you with thirty million dollars plus a position in the company. But if you lie, I’ll see to it that you know what it means to live like a prisoner.”

I nodded, but I didn’t say anything.

My throat was too tight, my words stuck somewhere deep inside.

Thirty million dollars? A job? That was huge, life-changing.

But the other part, prison, made my hands shake harder.

“First question,” she said. “Did my son pay you or any member of your family to pretend to be his bride so he can have access to his inheritance?”

The room went dead silent. My heart stopped, then started again, racing so fast I thought I’d pass out.

Sweat trickled down my back, cold and sticky under my dress. She knew. She had to know.