outsiders‘ hands!”
Brianna and George also started yelling.
“That’s right! Kick that little bitch Xixi out!”
“The Johnson family heir can only be me, George!”
11
My usually calm mother–in–law had recovered from her shock,
She completely ignored Gregory, her expression complex in a way others couldn’t understand.
9:02 AM
She rarely lost composure, her voice trembling as she asked me, “Kala, is it true?”
Seeing her like this, tears suddenly welled up in my eyes.
“It’s true,”
Dissatisfied with his mother’s reaction, Gregory shook her hand: “Mom, hurry and announce that George is the heir!”
My mother–in–law had composed herself. She brushed off his hand and asked calmly, “Do you know who Kaia’s ex–boyfriend is?”
Gregory scratched his head anxiously, “Who cares? The point is, Xixi isn’t of Johnson blood!”
“Kaia’s ex–boyfriend is your elder brother, Jason Johnson. So Xixi is still a Johnson child, and in fact, the only legitimate heir!”
My mother–in–law’s words were like a bomb dropped into the crowd.
“I believe everyone knows the Johnson family tradition only children from the main branch can inherit the family business, Only if this line is extinct can illegitimate children be considered.
My mother–in–law fixed Gregory with a sharp gaze, warning him:
“After Jason’s accident, your father had no choice but to bring you back home. Gregory, don’t forget your place”
Gregory, reminded of his status by his mother, turned pale.
The reason Gregory was named “Gregory” was because it sounds like “return home” in Chinese, a name given by his mother who couldn’t enter the Johnson family.
When Gregory’s father was young, he was tricked by a female secretary who gave birth to Gregory.
But the Johnson family valued pure bloodlines, and not just any child could enter the Johnson family.
The only child he acknowledged was Jason, born to my mother–in–law who came from a scholarly family.
Apart from paying child support on time, Gregory’s father never even looked at him,
which is why Gregory’s mother gave him this suggestive name.
But the unexpected happened. Jason, the heir carefully groomed by his father, had an accident while inspecting a company project at a construction site and became a vegetative patient.
With no other choice, his father turned his attention to Gregory.
He gave Gregory a condition: if he wanted to return to the Johnson family, he had to marry me, because my father was his lifesaver.
Gregory had no feelings for me and had his ideal lover, so he didn’t want to marry me.
But he also knew very well the benefits of returning to the Johnson family, so seeing that I seemed to admire him, he agreed to marry me.
Brianna originally looked down on the penniless Gregory,
but when he suddenly became the young master of the Johnson family, she agreed to be his mistress.
Gregory was quite devoted to Brianna. The reason we went for IVF was not only because of his weak sperm but also because he loved Brianna wholeheartedly and wouldn’t touch me.
The two had planned to swallow up the Johnson family after the old man’s death, but they didn’t expect the old man to have a backup plan.
He divided his 60% stake in Johnson Group Into four parts, letting us keep each other in check,
and designated me as the chairman of Johnson Group to manage it, not allowing Gregory to take any position in the company.
So Gregory could only rely on his shares for year–end dividends. He hadn’t been able to gain power all these years and was very resentful.
“I don’t believe Xixi is my brother’s child. Why should we trust Kaia’s word?”
Gregory was still struggling to make his last stand.
12
I looked at him mockingly and took out another paternity test report from my bag.
“This is the paternity test report for Xixi and Jason.”
I opened the report and showed it to everyone, “You don’t have to believe me. Jason is lying in the nursing home, and Xixi is here. Anyone can apply for an on–site DNA test from a national–level testing institution”
Xixi is of Johnson blood. I’m sure everyone will be convinced now!”
Brianna and her son were dumbfounded.
They never imagined that Xixi was actually Jason’s child.
My mother–in–law still looked calm and composed, but there was a fleeting glimmer of tears in her eyes.
The relatives started to discuss among themselves.
“So Xixi is Jason’s child!”
“This means Xixi is the true heir of the Johnson family!”
“It seems Gregory, this illegitimate child, has no way to seize the Johnson family’s assets!”
They looked at Gregory with disdain.
Gregory seemed to have all his strength drained, slumping to the ground with a vacant look in his eyes.
He hadn’t managed to get Xixi to recognize Brianna, and had even given all his assets to her.
Brianna and George also looked deflated, like frost–bitten eggplants.
The relatives, seeing clearly that Gregory was no match for me, realized they couldn’t gain any benefits by siding with Gregory.
So they all stood up and dispersed quickly.
Gregory stared at me, thinking of something, and then got up as if swallowing his pride. He walked to my side ingratiatingly,
“Kaia, I know you love me, you’re just angry about my affairs outside, right? I promise to break it off with Brianna. Will you let me come back to the Johnson family?”
I looked at him with pity and spoke slowly.
“Gregory, you’re wrong. I never loved you.”
His face instantly turned pale. “What… what did you say?”
He trembled, “Then why… why did you always gaze at me longingly? And insist on marrying me?”
I explained coldly, “I gazed at you because you look like Jason. I found solace in your appearance.”
“I married you to protect Jason’s legacy. You replaced Jason as the Johnson family’s young master, and I needed to marry you to become the Johnson family’s daughter–in–law. That was my ticket to enter and control Johnson Group, to prevent other branches from seizing power.”
“You must be wondering, why was Jason my ex–boyfriend? Why was your father willing to let me manage Johnson Group instead of you, his blood–related son? Why has your mother treated me like her own daughter all these years?”
“You didn’t grow up in the Johnson family, so you don’t know. Although I grew up in the countryside, your father, to thank my dad for saving his
<
life, would invite me to stay at the Johnson family villa every summer and winter vacation. Jason and I were childhood sweethearts and had been in love for a long time. Your mother raised me like a daughter, and your father was grooming me to be Jason’s capable wife. I received the same elite education as Jason.”
I laughed out loud, as if looking at a fool,
“How ridiculous that you thought I was just a country girl who climbed up to the Johnson family using my father’s favor, and stupidly believed I loved you?”
13
Gregory stood there as if struck by lightning.
He had always thought I loved him desperately.
But now, he realized he was just a pathetic replacement.
Everything he had was built on a lie.
Now, the lie had been exposed.
He had nothing left.
Gregory completely broke down.
We had all been acting, for twenty–five years.
Now, the play was over. It was time for the curtain to fall.
I had the housekeeper pack Gregory’s things and kicked him out of the Johnson family villa.
“Mom, I recently collaborated with a foreign medical institution on a project about stimulating coma patients‘ nerves to promote awakening.”
My mother–in–law suddenly raised her head, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“You mean…”
I nodded.
“Jason has undergone several rounds of treatment, and his brain waves are very active.”
“The doctor said he might wake up soon.”
My mother–in–law was overjoyed, tears streaming down her face.
“Jason… my Jason…”
Meanwhile, Gregory, kicked out of the Johnson family, stumbled along the street like a stray dog.
Twenty–five years of false prosperity, shattered in an instant.
He returned to the apartment he had bought for Brianna, but she wasn’t very welcoming.
“It’s all your fault! Now we have nothing left!”
Gregory whirled around, his eyes bloodshot.
“My fault? If you hadn’t switched the eggs back then, would we be in this situation?!”
Brianna was stunned.
She hadn’t expected Gregory to push all the responsibility onto her.
“You… you agreed to it back then too!”
9:03 AM
<
Gregory grabbed her arm, his grip painfully tight.
“Shut up! What’s the use of talking about this now? We have no money! Do you understand? How are we supposed to live on just $50,000?”
Brianna struggled to shake off his hand.
“Then… then what do we do? We can’t go out and work, can we?”
Gregory let go of her hand dejectedly.
Yes, what could they do?
He was used to a life of luxury, used to being the center of attention.
Now, he had nothing.
Suddenly, Brianna thought of something.
“Five million! Xixi still has the five million I gave her!”
Gregory’s eyes lit up.
“Let’s go find Xixi!”
The two stumbled to Xixi’s apartment.
After ringing the doorbell for a long time, Xixi finally opened the door leisurely.
Seeing these two people, she showed no surprise on her face.
“What are you doing here?”
Brianna pushed past Xixi and rushed into the room.
“Give me back my money!”
Xixi let out a cold laugh, “Why should I?”
Brianna pointed at Xixi, trembling with anger.
“That’s my money!”
Xixi sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs.
“Ms. White, that five million was notarized as an unconditional gift to me.””
“So, I don’t need to return it to you.”
Brianna felt her vision go dark.
“You… you…”
She pointed at Xixi, stuttering “you” for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.
A sharp pain shot through her chest, and she collapsed, falling straight backward.
