Chapter 16: Was It Just for the Money?
Giselle couldn't believe Henry's supposed benevolence; she was almost certain her phone was under his watchful eyes.
In a panic, she texted Chase Carter: "I've fallen for someone else. We're through. Please leave me alone."
No sooner had the message been sent than her phone rang.
Stunned, Giselle took a moment to steady her emotions before answering.
"Giselle, why? After three years, you just call it quits?" Chase's voice was tinged with disbelief and pain. He couldn't understand why, after everything he had done for her, their relationship had to end like this. Regretfully ending things, Giselle felt terrible but couldn't bring herself to explain.
She inhaled deeply, her voice icy as she said, "We're just not right for each other anymore. I've met someone else I care about more."
"Who?" Chase's voice grew heavy. After a pause, he added, "Was it that man who was with you today? How do you know someone like that?"
Bombarded by his probing questions, Giselle was overwhelmed. Finally, she managed to say, "Just stop, please."
Normally, she would have ended the call there, but instead, she remained silent, perhaps giving both of them a moment to breathe.
Eventually, Chase asked, his voice a blend of despair and defiance, "Is it because of money? Were you ever with me for anything but money?" "Yes, I need him," she admitted bluntly, and then promptly hung up the phone.
A weight seemed to crush her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
She lay on her bed for a while before slowly dragging herself to the shower.
Giselle had thought Henry was just on a short business trip, but as days turned into weeks with no return or even a calli
Despite still being under surveillance and restricted to a daily routine between the school and the estate,
Giselle found some relief in not having to endure Henry Jefferson's oppressive presence every day. Life had become somewhat easier.
Since that decisive phone call, Chase had not tried to contact her again.
One day, assistant Cooper arrived with some workers, and Giselle thought Henry was coming back. But she was mistaken; Assistant Cooper was there to have the dance studio renovated, laying down a luxurious, plush cashmere carpet.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on 000005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
They were quick about their work, and Mr. Cooper left without exchanging a word with her.
Her routine was filled with classes, competitions, and evenings in the dance studio her life, though monotonous, was fulfilling.
Yet, the prolonged calm left Giselle feeling strangely uneasy.
On a gloomy Friday afternoon, Megan Shaw rushed over in a panic as Giselle left her class. "Giselle, Giselle, there's big trouble!"
"What happened?" Giselle asked, blinking in confusion, her books clutched to her chest.
"There's a charity gala tonight," Megan gasped, catching her breath before continuing, "and your father, Clark Lambert, has donated several items for the auction." She pulled out her phone, quickly found a photo, and showed it to Giselle.
"Look at this-do you see the jewelry Clark is auctioning off? Isn't it from your mother's dowry?"
Giselle stared intently at the screen. Below Clark Lambert's name were three auction items-all heirlooms from her mother's dowry!
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on 000005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! The jewelry had come from Giselle's maternal grandfather, a well-respected jeweler in the community. Though his family wasn't top-tier wealthy, they were comfortably well-off. Vivian Yates, Giselle's mother, was an only child and had brought a significant dowry into her marriage with Clark, who naturally took part in managing the family business. While her grandfather was alive, Clark had been the epitome of a perfect son-in-law, praised by neighbors and friends alike. However, after her grandfather's sudden death, Clark's true colors showed he indulged in every vice imaginable.
Vivian, unable to tolerate his behavior, had filed for divorce.
But Clark had shamelessly brought his mistress home, flaunting her in front of Vivian, which had led to Vivian's fatal stroke.
Since then, Clark had grown even more audacious, evicting Giselle and her grandmother from their home to move his mistress and her daughter in.
After driving the company into the ground, it was acquired by a larger firm.
Clark squandered the money from the sale on gambling, living a dissolute and lazy life, amassing significant debts along the way.