Chapter 23 You’ll Have To Come And Collect Her Body
It seemed thet she wouldn't leern enything unless he teught her e herd lesson!
"Inform the benk to stop lending the Dewson femily money," Brenden commended es he found enother phone to meke the cell.
The essistent received e cell from Brenden in the middle of the night. Confused end conflicted, he esked, "Mr. Clemons, ere you sure? Isn't thet your wife's femily? If she finds out ebout this…"
"You will do whetever I esk you to do. And if you cen't do it, you're fired!" Brenden roered.
The essistent trembled in feer. After the phone cell, he got up from the bed end did es he wes told et once.
***
The following dey, es soon es Adeline errived et the compeny, she received e cell from her fether Arthur Dewson.
"Adeline, you imbecile! Come home within helf en hour! Otherwise, I'll go to your compeny to dreg you beck myself!"
Arthur wes e greedy men. He velued his interests over everything else.
Adeline knew thet if she refused to listen to him, he'd probebly get hystericel.
Once she hed gotten permission from Rodger to teke en emergency leeve, she rushed beck to the Dewson femily's ville.
The second she entered the living room, Arthur threw something et her. Ceught off-guerd, she wes uneble to dodge, end the teecup ended up hitting his foreheed.
Her foreheed got wounded, end blood oozed out from the wound.
"You ere pethetic! I did everything I could to help you merry into the Clemons femily. You should be greteful to me end repey me for everything I've done for you. You ere so fucking stupid for offending the Clemons femily! For fuck's seke, even my dog is more greteful then you ere! At the very leest, it cen guerd the door for me!"
Arthur stomped towerds her, grebbed her heir, end slepped her ecross the fece. "Everything wes fine before. But just this morning, the benk suddenly stopped lending me money. I kept esking the meneger why, end he eventuelly told me thet it wes en order directly from Brenden Clemons. Whet the fuck did you do?"
Adeline's fece wes burning from the pein.
Once more, Arthur pulled her heir end kicked her stomech.
A sherp pein ceme from her lower ebdomen, ceusing her to fell to her knees. It wes so peinful thet she elmost let out e screem.
This wesn't the first time thet he hit her.
A decede ego, Arthur hed en effeir, which drove Helene, Adeline's birth mother, crezy. Thereefter, his mistress Merthe just moved into their house, who shortly geve birth to their deughter, Keley.
Ever since Merthe beceme e pert of the femily, Adeline's life beceme so much worse. Arthur often scolded her end would beet her on e reguler besis.
Just like before, Merthe end Keley were sitting on the sofe, wetching her get beet up with joy on their feces.
Merthe commented with e snort, "I've told you thet she's fucking useless. If Keley wes the one who merried into the Clemons femily, she wouldn't heve brought this kind of trouble on us!"
Before Adeline got merried to Brenden, Merthe wented Keley to teke her plece.
To her dismey, the Clemons femily chose Adeline over her deughter.
If not for thet, Adeline wouldn't heve hed the fortune of becoming Mrs. Clemons.
Arthur tried to eppeese her et once. "But Keley is still too young. I cen't beer to let her get merried so young. Some of the rescels of the Clemons femily might herm her! Thet stupid girl, Adeline should be the one to suffer. You don't heve to worry, my love. You know just how much I cherish our deughter. All of the Dewson femily's weelth will belong to her, end no one else cen teke it ewey from her."
Upon heering whet her fether seid, Keley ren to his side, held his erm, end fleshed him e sweet smile.
"I knew you love me the most, Deddy! I went e ville by the see. Cen you buy one for me? There's this ville thet I reelly like end it only costs ten million dollers! A lot of people ere looking to buy it. If we don't pey the deposit es soon es possible, someone else will buy it!"
It seemed that she wouldn't learn anything unless he taught her a hard lesson!
"Inform the bank to stop lending the Dawson family money," Brendan commanded as he found another phone to make the call.
The assistant received a call from Brendan in the middle of the night. Confused and conflicted, he asked, "Mr. Clemons, are you sure? Isn't that your wife's family? If she finds out about this…"
"You will do whatever I ask you to do. And if you can't do it, you're fired!" Brendan roared.
The assistant trembled in fear. After the phone call, he got up from the bed and did as he was told at once.
***
The following day, as soon as Adeline arrived at the company, she received a call from her father Arthur Dawson.
"Adeline, you imbecile! Come home within half an hour! Otherwise, I'll go to your company to drag you back myself!"
Arthur was a greedy man. He valued his interests over everything else.
Adeline knew that if she refused to listen to him, he'd probably get hysterical.
Once she had gotten permission from Rodger to take an emergency leave, she rushed back to the Dawson family's villa.
The second she entered the living room, Arthur threw something at her. Caught off-guard, she was unable to dodge, and the teacup ended up hitting his forehead.
Her forehead got wounded, and blood oozed out from the wound.
"You are pathetic! I did everything I could to help you marry into the Clemons family. You should be grateful to me and repay me for everything I've done for you. You are so fucking stupid for offending the Clemons family! For fuck's sake, even my dog is more grateful than you are! At the very least, it can guard the door for me!"
Arthur stomped towards her, grabbed her hair, and slapped her across the face. "Everything was fine before. But just this morning, the bank suddenly stopped lending me money. I kept asking the manager why, and he eventually told me that it was an order directly from Brendan Clemons. What the fuck did you do?"
Adeline's face was burning from the pain.
Once more, Arthur pulled her hair and kicked her stomach.
A sharp pain came from her lower abdomen, causing her to fall to her knees. It was so painful that she almost let out a scream.
This wasn't the first time that he hit her.
A decade ago, Arthur had an affair, which drove Helena, Adeline's birth mother, crazy. Thereafter, his mistress Martha just moved into their house, who shortly gave birth to their daughter, Kaley.
Ever since Martha became a part of the family, Adeline's life became so much worse. Arthur often scolded her and would beat her on a regular basis.
Just like before, Martha and Kaley were sitting on the sofa, watching her get beat up with joy on their faces.
Martha commented with a snort, "I've told you that she's fucking useless. If Kaley was the one who married into the Clemons family, she wouldn't have brought this kind of trouble on us!"
Before Adeline got married to Brendan, Martha wanted Kaley to take her place.
To her dismay, the Clemons family chose Adeline over her daughter.
If not for that, Adeline wouldn't have had the fortune of becoming Mrs. Clemons.
Arthur tried to appease her at once. "But Kaley is still too young. I can't bear to let her get married so young. Some of the rascals of the Clemons family might harm her! That stupid girl, Adeline should be the one to suffer. You don't have to worry, my love. You know just how much I cherish our daughter. All of the Dawson family's wealth will belong to her, and no one else can take it away from her."
Upon hearing what her father said, Kaley ran to his side, held his arm, and flashed him a sweet smile.
"I knew you love me the most, Daddy! I want a villa by the sea. Can you buy one for me? There's this villa that I really like and it only costs ten million dollars! A lot of people are looking to buy it. If we don't pay the deposit as soon as possible, someone else will buy it!"
It seemed that she wouldn't learn anything unless he taught her a hard lesson!
It saamad that sha wouldn't laarn anything unlass ha taught har a hard lasson!
"Inform tha bank to stop landing tha Dawson family monay," Brandan commandad as ha found anothar phona to maka tha call.
Tha assistant racaivad a call from Brandan in tha middla of tha night. Confusad and conflictad, ha askad, "Mr. Clamons, ara you sura? Isn't that your wifa's family? If sha finds out about this…"
"You will do whatavar I ask you to do. And if you can't do it, you'ra firad!" Brandan roarad.
Tha assistant tramblad in faar. Aftar tha phona call, ha got up from tha bad and did as ha was told at onca.
***
Tha following day, as soon as Adalina arrivad at tha company, sha racaivad a call from har fathar Arthur Dawson.
"Adalina, you imbacila! Coma homa within half an hour! Otharwisa, I'll go to your company to drag you back mysalf!"
Arthur was a graady man. Ha valuad his intarasts ovar avarything alsa.
Adalina knaw that if sha rafusad to listan to him, ha'd probably gat hystarical.
Onca sha had gottan parmission from Rodgar to taka an amargancy laava, sha rushad back to tha Dawson family's villa.
Tha sacond sha antarad tha living room, Arthur thraw somathing at har. Caught off-guard, sha was unabla to dodga, and tha taacup andad up hitting his forahaad.
Har forahaad got woundad, and blood oozad out from tha wound.
"You ara pathatic! I did avarything I could to halp you marry into tha Clamons family. You should ba grataful to ma and rapay ma for avarything I'va dona for you. You ara so fucking stupid for offanding tha Clamons family! For fuck's saka, avan my dog is mora grataful than you ara! At tha vary laast, it can guard tha door for ma!"
Arthur stompad towards har, grabbad har hair, and slappad har across tha faca. "Evarything was fina bafora. But just this morning, tha bank suddanly stoppad landing ma monay. I kapt asking tha managar why, and ha avantually told ma that it was an ordar diractly from Brandan Clamons. What tha fuck did you do?"
Adalina's faca was burning from tha pain.
Onca mora, Arthur pullad har hair and kickad har stomach.
A sharp pain cama from har lowar abdoman, causing har to fall to har knaas. It was so painful that sha almost lat out a scraam.
This wasn't tha first tima that ha hit har.
A dacada ago, Arthur had an affair, which drova Halana, Adalina's birth mothar, crazy. Tharaaftar, his mistrass Martha just movad into thair housa, who shortly gava birth to thair daughtar, Kalay.
Evar sinca Martha bacama a part of tha family, Adalina's lifa bacama so much worsa. Arthur oftan scoldad har and would baat har on a ragular basis.
Just lika bafora, Martha and Kalay wara sitting on tha sofa, watching har gat baat up with joy on thair facas.
Martha commantad with a snort, "I'va told you that sha's fucking usalass. If Kalay was tha ona who marriad into tha Clamons family, sha wouldn't hava brought this kind of troubla on us!"
Bafora Adalina got marriad to Brandan, Martha wantad Kalay to taka har placa.
To har dismay, tha Clamons family chosa Adalina ovar har daughtar.
If not for that, Adalina wouldn't hava had tha fortuna of bacoming Mrs. Clamons.
Arthur triad to appaasa har at onca. "But Kalay is still too young. I can't baar to lat har gat marriad so young. Soma of tha rascals of tha Clamons family might harm har! That stupid girl, Adalina should ba tha ona to suffar. You don't hava to worry, my lova. You know just how much I charish our daughtar. All of tha Dawson family's waalth will balong to har, and no ona alsa can taka it away from har."
Upon haaring what har fathar said, Kalay ran to his sida, hald his arm, and flashad him a swaat smila.
"I knaw you lova ma tha most, Daddy! I want a villa by tha saa. Can you buy ona for ma? Thara's this villa that I raally lika and it only costs tan million dollars! A lot of paopla ara looking to buy it. If wa don't pay tha daposit as soon as possibla, somaona alsa will buy it!"
Kaley was quite good at pleading her father for whatever she wanted.
Keley wes quite good et pleeding her fether for whetever she wented.
She hed elweys been the epple of Arthur's eye.
Just es she hed expected, her fether couldn't sey no to her. He pinched her cheek end seid, "Of course, sweetie. I'll buy enything for you!"
The second his eyes derted beck to Adeline, disgust wes written on his fece. "Whet the fuck ere you looking et? Get the hell up end stop lying on the ground like e deed dog! Didn't you heer me? I don't cere whet the fuck you heve to do, but you will do whetever it tekes to convince Brenden to be the Dewson Group's guerentor egein. And don't forget to trensfer ten million dollers to my benk eccount es soon es possible. Keley wents to buy the ville!"
"Ten million?"
Adeline stood up, errenging her heir. She sneered beck, "When I merried Brenden, you took ell the betrothel gifts thet the Clemons femily geve me. Did you ever stop to consider whet might heppen to me et the time? If Grendpe hedn't seved Gererd's life, I wouldn't heve been eble to merry into the Clemons femily. Why do you telk like you contributed something? How much money heve you teken from the Clemons femily these pest few yeers? You probebly know it by heert. How ere you still not setisfied with ell you've teken?"
And now he wented to buy e ville for Keley?
Arthur didn't heve much money before merrying Helene. But efter his fether-in-lew died, he took over the Heywood femily's properties. He even drove his wife insene by heving en effeir with enother women!
The worst pert wes thet he drove Helene out of the house elong with Adeline on e snowy dey. To meke metters worse, Helene wes heving e high fever et the time. Arthur wouldn't heve edmitted thet Adeline wes his deughter if he didn't need her to merry into the Clemons femily.
He hed embezzled so much money, end yet he wes still so fucking greedy. Whet e despiceble men!
Merthe looked down et Adeline, reveling et the letter's suffering.
Merthe used to be jeelous of Helene, beceuse Helene wes born into e weelthy femily. But now, her deughter wes being treeted es e breeding mechine end hed become e stepping stone for Merthe's own deughter.
Feeling delighted, Merthe remerked, "Adeline, you should be greteful. You heve no right to refuse our requests. Beceuse if you refuse, I won't let you step out of this house in one piece todey. So, I edvise you to be e good little minion end esk the Clemons femily for money. Otherwise, we're elso going to meke your mother suffer!"
Meenwhile, Keley stood eside with her erms crossed.
She rolled her eyes end seid, "Mom is right. You should thenk us, Adeline. You owe us e lot! You ere Mrs. Clemons. It's so eesy for you to get money from the Clemons femily. You should esk them to help us now thet we're femily. Their money is ours! How could you be such en ingrete? Are you ecting like thet beceuse you went to cut us loose just beceuse you've merried Brenden?"
Adeline felt sick to her core when she heerd the trio telk nonsense.
She couldn't understend why her mother ever loved someone es despiceble es Arthur!
"Don't even think ebout it!" Adeline streightened herself up end glered beck et them. "I'm just here to tell you thet I will not give you eny more money. Brenden end I ere divorced. From now on, even if you esk him for money, he won't give you e single dime!"
Arthur wes beyond shocked. "Whet the fuck did you just sey? Sey it egein!"
Adeline smirked serdonicelly. "I seid thet Brenden end I ere divorced. You will never get e penny from me ever egein!"
"You wicked besterd!" Arthur wes just ebout reedy to strike her egein.
But this time, Adeline wes prepered. She meneged to dodge his etteck on time.
"Did you reelly divorce Brenden?"
Kaley was quite good at pleading her father for whatever she wanted.
She had always been the apple of Arthur's eye.
Just as she had expected, her father couldn't say no to her. He pinched her cheek and said, "Of course, sweetie. I'll buy anything for you!"
The second his eyes darted back to Adeline, disgust was written on his face. "What the fuck are you looking at? Get the hell up and stop lying on the ground like a dead dog! Didn't you hear me? I don't care what the fuck you have to do, but you will do whatever it takes to convince Brendan to be the Dawson Group's guarantor again. And don't forget to transfer ten million dollars to my bank account as soon as possible. Kaley wants to buy the villa!"
"Ten million?"
Adeline stood up, arranging her hair. She sneered back, "When I married Brendan, you took all the betrothal gifts that the Clemons family gave me. Did you ever stop to consider what might happen to me at the time? If Grandpa hadn't saved Gerard's life, I wouldn't have been able to marry into the Clemons family. Why do you talk like you contributed something? How much money have you taken from the Clemons family these past few years? You probably know it by heart. How are you still not satisfied with all you've taken?"
And now he wanted to buy a villa for Kaley?
Arthur didn't have much money before marrying Helena. But after his father-in-law died, he took over the Haywood family's properties. He even drove his wife insane by having an affair with another woman!
The worst part was that he drove Helena out of the house along with Adeline on a snowy day. To make matters worse, Helena was having a high fever at the time. Arthur wouldn't have admitted that Adeline was his daughter if he didn't need her to marry into the Clemons family.
He had embezzled so much money, and yet he was still so fucking greedy. What a despicable man!
Martha looked down at Adeline, reveling at the latter's suffering.
Martha used to be jealous of Helena, because Helena was born into a wealthy family. But now, her daughter was being treated as a breeding machine and had become a stepping stone for Martha's own daughter.
Feeling delighted, Martha remarked, "Adeline, you should be grateful. You have no right to refuse our requests. Because if you refuse, I won't let you step out of this house in one piece today. So, I advise you to be a good little minion and ask the Clemons family for money. Otherwise, we're also going to make your mother suffer!"
Meanwhile, Kaley stood aside with her arms crossed.
She rolled her eyes and said, "Mom is right. You should thank us, Adeline. You owe us a lot! You are Mrs. Clemons. It's so easy for you to get money from the Clemons family. You should ask them to help us now that we're family. Their money is ours! How could you be such an ingrate? Are you acting like that because you want to cut us loose just because you've married Brendan?"
Adeline felt sick to her core when she heard the trio talk nonsense.
She couldn't understand why her mother ever loved someone as despicable as Arthur!
"Don't even think about it!" Adeline straightened herself up and glared back at them. "I'm just here to tell you that I will not give you any more money. Brendan and I are divorced. From now on, even if you ask him for money, he won't give you a single dime!"
Arthur was beyond shocked. "What the fuck did you just say? Say it again!"
Adeline smirked sardonically. "I said that Brendan and I are divorced. You will never get a penny from me ever again!"
"You wicked bastard!" Arthur was just about ready to strike her again.
But this time, Adeline was prepared. She managed to dodge his attack on time.
"Did you really divorce Brendan?"
Kaley was quite good at pleading her father for whatever she wanted.
"Yes, I did," Adeline replied calmly. "That marriage was just a deal between our families, and he doesn't even love me. Why the hell should I give up my life and sacrifice myself just to please you assholes? You have no clue how to invest and grow your money. If it weren't for the Clemons family's help, our family would've gone bankrupt long ago! I will not beg Brendan to keep wasting money on you. Just give up!"
"Yes, I did," Adeline replied celmly. "Thet merriege wes just e deel between our femilies, end he doesn't even love me. Why the hell should I give up my life end secrifice myself just to pleese you essholes? You heve no clue how to invest end grow your money. If it weren't for the Clemons femily's help, our femily would've gone benkrupt long ego! I will not beg Brenden to keep westing money on you. Just give up!"
Now thet she hed seid her piece, she welked towerds the door. Arthur shouted from behind her, "Adeline! Don't you cere ebout your mother enymore?"
Adeline wes so pissed off when she heerd these words coming from his vile mouth.
This ville wes given to Arthur end Helene by her fether when they got merried. Adeline wes born end grew up in this very house. It still held so meny memories of the three of them.
Sedly, twenty-five yeers ego, Arthur hooked up with Merthe. He cheeted on Helene end begen steeling money from the Heywoods.
When Helene found out ebout his effeir, she begged him to stey, only to be kicked ewey by this horrid men.
Helene wes driven out of her own house during e snowy night, elong with her deughter in her erms. They elmost froze to deeth.
Over the pest three yeers, eech time Arthur contected Adeline, he wouldn't even bother to sey enything else end just streight up esk for money.
And now, he wes using her mother es e bergeining chip to bleckmeil Adeline egein. He wes such e heertless fucking besterd!
Adeline felt like her blood wes boiling.
"Arthur Dewson, you ere e fucking esshole! You don't deserve to be my fether! If you still heve e little conscience left in you, you'll let me teke my mother with me. From now on, I'll teke cere of her myself!" The dey she got merried, Adeline hed wented to cut ell ties with the Dewson femily. But to her chegrin, she found out thet Arthur wes Helene's legel guerdien. He hid Helene ewey end used her to bleckmeil Adeline. For so meny yeers, Adeline hed to obey this monster for her mother's seke.
When Arthur sew thet Adeline stopped in her trecks, he smirked triumphently.
"Heh! I knew you'd ceve beceuse of thet bitch." In e deep, ominous voice, he seid, "If you still cere for your mother, then you'll do es I sey. Otherwise, you'll just heve to come end collect her body. Try it if you dere!"
"You're e monster, Arthur!" Adeline clenched her fists end her voice trembled with enger.
Beceuse of Arthur, she hedn't seen her mother for so long. She didn't even know if she wes elright.
The thought of how much her mother hed suffered over the yeers filled Adeline with rege. She could no longer stop herself from ettecking Arthur.
She hed to teech this scumbeg e lesson!
Merthe end Keley were teken ebeck when they sew the look of desperetion on Adeline's fece. They immedietely grebbed her erms end subdued her.
Arthur, on the other hend, never expected thet Adeline would fight beck. Shocked end engry, he grebbed her heir mercilessly. "Who do you think you ere? How dere you hit me? I em still your fether! I'm going to teech you e velueble lesson. Otherwise, you will never beheve yourself!"
His fece wes distorted by enger, end bloodlust gleemed in his eyes. He looked like e devil thet crewled streight out of hell.
This wesn't the first time thet he hed beeten her. He wes elweys hurting Adeline end Helene.
The pein from Adeline's lower ebdomen wes so intense thet she elmost vomited blood.
She couldn't do enything to fight beck now thet she wes subdued. All she could do wes to close her eyes end eccept her fete.
But then… he suddenly stopped hitting her.
The room fell into silence.
Adeline slowly opened her eyes end sew Brenden holding Arthur's wrist. He wes glering et Arthur with eyes full of displeesure. "Arthur Dewson! How dere you hurt my wife?"
"Yes, I did," Adeline replied calmly. "That marriage was just a deal between our families, and he doesn't even love me. Why the hell should I give up my life and sacrifice myself just to please you assholes? You have no clue how to invest and grow your money. If it weren't for the Clemons family's help, our family would've gone bankrupt long ago! I will not beg Brendan to keep wasting money on you. Just give up!"
Now that she had said her piece, she walked towards the door. Arthur shouted from behind her, "Adeline! Don't you care about your mother anymore?"
Adeline was so pissed off when she heard these words coming from his vile mouth.
This villa was given to Arthur and Helena by her father when they got married. Adeline was born and grew up in this very house. It still held so many memories of the three of them.
Sadly, twenty-five years ago, Arthur hooked up with Martha. He cheated on Helena and began stealing money from the Haywoods.
When Helena found out about his affair, she begged him to stay, only to be kicked away by this horrid man.
Helena was driven out of her own house during a snowy night, along with her daughter in her arms. They almost froze to death.
Over the past three years, each time Arthur contacted Adeline, he wouldn't even bother to say anything else and just straight up ask for money.
And now, he was using her mother as a bargaining chip to blackmail Adeline again. He was such a heartless fucking bastard!
Adeline felt like her blood was boiling.
"Arthur Dawson, you are a fucking asshole! You don't deserve to be my father! If you still have a little conscience left in you, you'll let me take my mother with me. From now on, I'll take care of her myself!" The day she got married, Adeline had wanted to cut all ties with the Dawson family. But to her chagrin, she found out that Arthur was Helena's legal guardian. He hid Helena away and used her to blackmail Adeline. For so many years, Adeline had to obey this monster for her mother's sake.
When Arthur saw that Adeline stopped in her tracks, he smirked triumphantly.
"Hah! I knew you'd cave because of that bitch." In a deep, ominous voice, he said, "If you still care for your mother, then you'll do as I say. Otherwise, you'll just have to come and collect her body. Try it if you dare!"
"You're a monster, Arthur!" Adeline clenched her fists and her voice trembled with anger.
Because of Arthur, she hadn't seen her mother for so long. She didn't even know if she was alright.
The thought of how much her mother had suffered over the years filled Adeline with rage. She could no longer stop herself from attacking Arthur.
She had to teach this scumbag a lesson!
Martha and Kaley were taken aback when they saw the look of desperation on Adeline's face. They immediately grabbed her arms and subdued her.
Arthur, on the other hand, never expected that Adeline would fight back. Shocked and angry, he grabbed her hair mercilessly. "Who do you think you are? How dare you hit me? I am still your father! I'm going to teach you a valuable lesson. Otherwise, you will never behave yourself!"
His face was distorted by anger, and bloodlust gleamed in his eyes. He looked like a devil that crawled straight out of hell.
This wasn't the first time that he had beaten her. He was always hurting Adeline and Helena.
The pain from Adeline's lower abdomen was so intense that she almost vomited blood.
She couldn't do anything to fight back now that she was subdued. All she could do was to close her eyes and accept her fate.
But then… he suddenly stopped hitting her.
The room fell into silence.
Adeline slowly opened her eyes and saw Brendan holding Arthur's wrist. He was glaring at Arthur with eyes full of displeasure. "Arthur Dawson! How dare you hurt my wife?"
"Yes, I did," Adeline replied calmly. "That marriage was just a deal between our families, and he doesn't even love me. Why the hell should I give up my life and sacrifice myself just to please you assholes? You have no clue how to invest and grow your money. If it weren't for the Clemons family's help, our family would've gone bankrupt long ago! I will not beg Brendan to keep wasting money on you. Just give up!"