Chapter 437 A Rift Between Spouses
Ken glared at Fiona, fiery rage smoldering in his eyes.
"What did you just call me?" Fiona crossed her arms. "'A nobody'?"
"You're the product of your mother's affair. What else should I call you?" Ken hissed. "If I had known that she was carrying a child you when she left, I would have made sure she lost you!"
As his words hung in the air, Mike snapped his arm.
Ken's scream was agonizing.
Those who hadn't left, lingering outside and eavesdropping at the corners of the meeting room, felt a chill shoot from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads upon hearing that horrific scream.
"Ken, do you not know the truth about my mother and what happened back then?" Fiona looked at him, not particularly angered.
Getting worked up over such a fool just wasn't worth it.
Ken looked back at her, seething with rage.
Seeing the situation escalate, Alice took a step forward. "Chelsea, your dad's just blowing off steam right now. His words don't count."
"Shut up," Fiona snapped, her gaze piercing Alice. "Who do you think you are to speak here?"
Alice turned pale at the rebuke.
"It was you who drugged my mother, wasn't it? You orchestrated the whole takeover of the Rhoads family business, too, didn't you?" Fiona pressed, her words sharp as knives. "You'll get your comeuppance, but there's no need to dig your grave right now."
"Chelsea, you don't know anything about us elders. How can I…?” She began, tears welling in her eyes.
Fiona was unmoved by the display.
Twirling a pen in her hand, she sneered, "A shameless mistress dares to claim respect as an elder? Interesting."
The word "mistress" was a red rag to Alice, a taboo never to be crossed, yet here it was, thrown in her face repeatedly.
Her mouth twitched, and her gaze toward Fiona turned venomous. "Chelsea, stop twisting the truth. Ken and I have been betrothed since birth. I was switched at birth with your mother, who stole my life, my wealth, my father, and even my husband!"
Fiona shook her head, unmoved. "It's tragic, the mix-up at birth. But by the time you were found, Ken had already been with my mother for seven years and married for two. That's the unalterable truth. Your biological father and Janna have been trying to find you suitable matches from prestigious families. But you rejected them all to be a mistress."
Alice's face grew rigid.
"Bastard!" Ken couldn't contain his rage and bellowed.
"Ken, stop it! It would help if you didn't get hurt over me," Alice cried, trying to calm him. "Regardless of how she was born, she is still your daughter. I don't want to see you two like this."
Fiona stood by, watching the scene with detachment, then signaled to Mike to let go of Ken.
With a scoff, Mike released his grip and stepped beside Fiona.
Once free, Ken sprang up, positioning himself protectively in front of Alice. "She is not my daughter! She's a bastard!"
Listening, Fiona couldn't help but let out a wordless laugh.
Ken felt a tingling in his scalp as he saw Fiona laugh off being called a bastard.
"Ken, the paternity test is right there in front of you, and you're still in denial," Fiona said, looking him in the eye. "Is it because deep down, you know you were misled by Alice? You wronged my mother, and you can't face your foolishness and mistakes. So you’re just denying the truth. You are as arrogant, cowardly, and useless as I thought."
"Nonsense!" Ken roared, his face a picture of defeat.
"Do you think Alice is just head over heels for you?" Fiona inquired, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"She's nothing like your worthless mother, Fiona. Alice is devoted and faithful; she's always been devoted to me!" Ken asserted, gripping Alice's hand with conviction, as though to physically manifest the bond he claimed they shared.
"Really?" Fiona chuckled, her gaze landing on a visibly uncomfortable Alice.
"Ken, there's no point in engaging with her. Let's go," Alice urged, tugging at Ken's arm, attempting to make a hasty exit.
But the darkened screen flared to life before they could even take a step.
It showed a narrow dressing room where Alice appeared, disheveled and entwined with a strapping young man, their embrace intense.
The perspective was damning.
Alice's face, glistening with sweat, was captured in high definition.
Ken had bid on a pair of diamond earrings last month at the Sotheby's auction as an anniversary gift for her. Those diamond earrings glittered under the dressing room lights.
Ken's eyes widened in shock before pivoting back to Alice.
"Honey, that's not me! It's a computer-generated image!" Alice pleaded through her tears, looking utterly frantic.
"But those earrings... I got them for you from that auction. How could they include such specific details if this was all fabricated?" Ken's voice trailed off as he noticed the details – the expressions of raw emotion on their faces, the shadow on her skin, the distinctive mole below her shoulder blade.
"Alice, are you accusing me of framing you with a fake video?" Fiona lightly tapped her nails on the desk, not bothering to look back. "Sorry to break it to you, but I've received numerous clips of you with different men in different places. If you claim I'm falsely accusing you, I'll just play them all, one by one. It might make a lovely viewing for you and Mr. Ken."
Alice's gaze was fixed on Fiona, but she was rooted to the spot.
Seeing her like this, Ken understood everything.
"There's more than one?" he asked, pointing at the muscular man on the screen, disbelief etched into his face. "Alice, I was disowned for you and cut off from an inheritance. Is this how you repay me?"
"Honey..." Alice began.
But her plea was cut short by a sharp slap from Ken that sent a ringing through her ears. Staggering back, she barely managed to steady herself.
After a brief silence, Alice chuckled spitefully despite her throbbing cheek. "Ken, who's to blame here but yourself? And as for losing your inheritance, it wasn't because of me. No, it was your inadequacy!"
Alice knew Ken well enough to understand that he would remain in denial until the evidence was undeniable.
Now that he knew about her affairs and his failed coup attempt within the family business, this torrid mess of life was more than she could bear.
Deciding there was no turning back, Alice let her façade fall away entirely.
"You're worthless, and for years, I've been cleaning up the messes you've left behind. You? You're just a man-child, squandering your days with your degenerate buddies, gambling, and living recklessly. And you dare complain about me looking for company elsewhere? As if you haven't been doing the same with a string of women!"
"Alice…" Ken had always seen her as a gentle and soft presence. Her sudden transformation into this quarrelsome figure was both alien and terrifying to him.
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