Chapter 6: The Good-for-Nothing

"Emilia has been sending you one hundred thousand dollars every month," Bosco said, his voice rising with fury that made everyone turn.

"That’s three point six million dollars in three years, Julia! How can you stand there and say you have no money?"

Julia stood calmly, her hands folded in front of her. Her face was unreadable. "I never received a dime from you or anyone here," she said quietly.

Bosco’s laugh came short and sharp. "You’re bold enough to tell such a blatant lie? Julia, you never change." He turned sharply. "Let me prove it. I’ll call Emilia here right now so you can face her yourself."

He scanned the hall and raised his voice. “Emilia!”

From the crowd, a young woman hurried forward in her black uniform. She bowed slightly, her voice shaky. “Master Bosco.”

Bosco pointed at her. “Tell everyone what you’ve been sending to Julia every month for the past three years. Speak up.”

Emilia froze, her fingers trembling. Her lips moved slowly. “Sir… I haven’t sent her any money.”

The words struck the room like thunder. Gasps filled the air. Even Gavin Reynolds turned sharply to look at her. “What nonsense are you saying?” he demanded.

Bosco’s expression darkened instantly. “Didn’t I tell you to give her one hundred thousand dollars every month?!” His voice echoed through the hall. “Why didn’t you do it?!”

Emilia began to shake. “Sir, I was going to transfer the money as you instructed,” she said quickly, “but Madam Reynolds said Miss Julia was too inexperienced to handle such an amount. She said I shouldn’t send it.”

All eyes turned to Megan Reynolds.

Megan, who had been standing beside Bella, slowly tilted her head, her expression tightening. “I… I only said that because I was worried,” she began softly. “Julia was too young, too naïve. I didn’t want her to misuse the money. I planned to keep it safe until she was more mature. I was protecting her.”

Bosco’s face hardened. “Protecting her?” he repeated, glaring at his mother. “You could have told me that! Why did Emilia keep giving me fake reports every month?”

He turned back to Emilia. “Why did you tell me the money was going out to her? You’ve been stealing from me all this while?”

“No!” Emilia almost screamed. “I didn’t steal it! I transferred it to Miss Bella. Madam Reynolds said Miss Julia’s return made Miss Bella insecure. She said the money would help Miss Bella feel better, that it was only fair since Bella had been here all along. That’s why—”

“You’re such a good mother,” Julia’s voice cut through Emilia’s words. Calm but cold.

Megan froze. Bella’s fingers tightened around her glass.

Their eyes met briefly, both uneasy.

Julia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on her mother. “You were scared I’d go astray with money,” she said. “But you weren’t scared Bella would. You even gave her my monthly allowance. You just love your adopted daughter and hate your real one. Me.”

A sharp gasp ran through the hall. Guests exchanged looks, murmuring under their breath.

Megan’s face flushed. “Bella is fragile,” she said defensively. “She can’t handle hardship! You—” she pointed at Julia—“you were raised by a poor family for fifteen years. You’re tough and resilient. A little hardship won’t hurt you.”

Julia let out a low chuckle. She didn’t say a word. Just kept looking at her mother with that small, hollow smile.

“Julia, I’m sure you understand where I’m coming from,” Megan added weakly, trying to steady her voice.

Julia shook her head slightly, her eyes glistening but steady. “Understand you?” she said softly. “You left me to rot in jail for three years for a crime I didn’t commit. You never once came to see me. And now you tell me you were ‘protecting’ me? You’re truly a good mother.”

The guests whispered louder now, some covering their mouths, some shaking their heads. Megan tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.

Bosco quickly stepped in, his tone rough. “Even without the monthly allowances, Julia, we still gave you pocket money and gifts. You can’t say we completely neglected you. We even celebrated your birthdays!”

Julia turned slowly to face him. “Pocket money?” she asked, voice trembling between disbelief and irony. “Which pocket money, Bosco? Which birthday gifts? You mean the same gifts that never reached me because they were redirected to Bella? Or the birthdays that went by without a single call from any of you?”

Gavin, who had been silent through most of it, finally spoke. His voice was low but thunderous. “Enough, Julia. That’s enough.”

Julia turned to him slowly. “You were my father,” she said softly. “All I ever wanted was to be treated like your daughter. But to you, I was just a mistake you never stopped regretting.”

Her words sank deep. Gavin’s mouth moved, but nothing came out.

And far away from the chaos, at the Hurst mansion, six black SUVs rolled to a halt at the grand entrance.

Twelve heavily built men stepped out in unison, two from each car, their movements disciplined and sharp.

They knelt on one knee as Bernard Hurst — Julia’s adoptive father, descended the marble stairs in his dark coat, his expression firm and focused.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly, his voice steady with purpose. “Let’s go to my daughter’s celebration party.”