The Invisible Wife Turned Savage novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174 The Bloodsucking Relatives.

Estella sneered. “Whether I get married in the future or not is none of your concern. And I checked my mom’s phone bill–this month alone she transferred you seventy or eighty thousand, didn’t she? You claim you’re here to visit her, but what you’re really doing is draining her dry.”

Lina’s face flushed with embarrassment. “We’re sisters. You’re really going to quibble over such a small amount of money?”

Estella’s expression turned colder. “When my family went under, you were the first to disappear, faster than anyone else. Now that we’re back on our feet, suddenly you crawl back, whispering poison in my mother’s ear and bleeding her dry. You say I’m being petty? Fine, then I’ll be petty.”

Seeing her stance so unyielding, Lina began to wail. “How can you talk to your elders like this? I’ll let your mother straighten you out!”

Estella’s voice cut like ice. “You might want to think twice. If you dare spin any more lies to my mother, I’ll call in a debt collection agency to handle this. And when those people come knocking, you’ll be too busy hiding to bother her.”

The threat struck home. Lina and Wilson blanched, fear flashing across their faces, and quickly slunk away.

After that, they didn’t dare show up again. But neither did they repay the money.

Estella kept in close contact with her mother’s caretaker and confirmed that Lina and her son hadn’t gone near Victoria. That was enough to put her at ease.

As for Victoria’s anger, Estella didn’t lose sleep over it. Her mother’s thinking was something she could never change. Likewise, her own principles were something Victoria could never

touch.

They were mother and daughter–no matter how heated things got, after a while the resentment would cool.

Estella had learned that even the strongest family bond shouldn’t be used to gaslight her into

submission.

Jonathan eventually heard about the situation. He asked if she needed help.

Estella only smiled, insisting she could handle it on her own. Jonathan respected her decision. He didn’t step in directly, but he did quietly introduce a few contacts to Lana, helping smooth the legal process.

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The Invisible Wife Turned Savage

Chapter 175 Gaslighting

“Thank you, Mr. Hartwell!”

Wilson bent at the waist, hands already reaching for the check.

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But Nathaniel suddenly pulled it back, his eyes cold. “I’ll give you the money, but you’ll do something for me first.”

“Of course, anything. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

At this moment Wilson would’ve worshiped him like a god if it meant keeping himself safe.

Nathaniel’s lips curved faintly. “It’s nothing complicated…”

With Nathaniel’s money, Wilson managed to pay back the debt.

Estella was shocked. “Where did you get that kind of money?” she asked him, but he refused to

answer.

She couldn’t shake the suspicion Nathaniel had stepped in.

Yet Nathaniel hadn’t shown his face to her recently, so she couldn’t be sure.

But according to the caretaker, Lina and Wilson had been frequenting her mother’s hospital room again these past few days.

That left her simmering with frustration. She decided it was time to confront her mother directly.

Wilson was a gambler. He was poison to anyone around him. Lina spoiled him blindly, and together they would only drag everyone else down.

When Estella arrived at the hospital, she paused outside the door. Wilson’s voice carried out into the hall.

“Thank heaven for Mr. Hartwell this time–without him, I’d never have paid it back. A man like him, president of a huge corporation, tens of thousands is pocket change. But money isn’t the point. What matters is the heart he’s shown. Yes, I admit I’ve made mistakes. I deserved Estella’s anger. But family is family–when trouble comes, the man who truly cares for Estella steps up to fix it. The ones who stir up lawsuits and division? They’re the ones driving her away from us. Look at what Mr. Hartwell’s done for me. Now look at Mr. Bennett–stingy, manipulative, pushing her to fight us. Can a man like that really be good for her? He’s just scheming to worm his way in and swallow Estella’s inheritance whole!”

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Victoria wavered.

She’d once thought Nathaniel unforgivable, no matter how wealthy or accomplished. But now… he seemed changed.

And compared with Jonathan, Nathaniel’s gestures suddenly looked more precious.

Lina chimed in eagerly. “Divorced women always lose value. Even if she marries someone with good conditions, the marriage won’t be united in heart. If Mr. Hartwell truly repents, why not give him another chance? After some time apart, people learn to cherish. They already understand each other–no need for years of trial and error.”

Victoria was almost convinced.

Still, she hesitated. “I agree Nathaniel may be her best option. But Estella’s stubborn. You all know she’s not easy to persuade.”

Lina leaned close with a sly smile. “That’s because she earns too much on her own. Give women too much money, and their hearts turn wild. My advice? Convince her to give up that little business. Once she marries Mr. Hartwell, would she really need to grind herself down for scraps?”

Estella stepped inside, laughter sharp as glass.

“I thought you two had finally learned your lesson. Turns out you’re still here, gaslighting my mother. Don’t you ever get tired of having no shame?”

“Estella, watch your mouth!” Lina snapped. “We’re only thinking of you!”

Victoria rose to defend her sister. “It’s true, Estella. You went too far before. You owe Lina and Wilson an apology. And Nathaniel–he helped you. You should be grateful, not hostile. You owe him thanks.”

“Oh, really?” Estella’s eyes glittered. “I don’t see how I went too far. All I did was protect my own interests. As for owing Nathaniel–Wilson’s the one who owes him, not me.”

Her gaze landed on Wilson, sharp and mocking. “From the way you talk about him, you seem pretty smitten. Since you’re so grateful–and since he’s obviously in need of love–why not offer yourself instead? After all, true love knows no boundaries these days.”

Wilson flushed bright red. “What the hell are you talking about!”

Victoria and Lina both went pale, fury flickering across their faces.

Estella cut them off before they could retort. “Mom, if you keep listening to Lina and Wilson’s nonsense, then stop expecting me to visit. I’ll transfer your living expenses and medical fees

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She moved toward the door slowly, deliberately, still waiting–hoping–for Victoria to stop her.

But Victoria stayed silent.

Lina and Wilson had no choice but to walk out.

As soon as they were gone, Estella shut the door with finality.

Victoria sighed. “Estella, why are you always so sharp–tongued? You drove Lina and Wilson away. A girl shouldn’t be so aggressive–it’s not good for you.”

Estella’s smile was clear, even radiant. “What’s so bad about it? Ever since Dad died, I’ve known no one’s going to shield me. This world is a jungle. If I play the sweet, docile, self–sacrificing woman, people will eat me alive and spit out the bones. I won’t be that weak girl anymore. I’ll fight for resources, make my own money, and make sure no one dares to trample us again.”

Victoria let out a string of weary sighs. “What’s the point of chasing all that? Marry the right man, and you’ll have money, you’ll have protection, you’ll have everything you need.”

Estella laughed softly, bitterly. “Mom, staking your whole future on a man? That’s a fantasy. I’ll build my life first, stand on my own feet. Only then will I even consider marriage again.”

“You just don’t understand my good intentions,” Victoria muttered, her frustration bubbling

over.

Meanwhile, Wilson stormed out of the hospital and went straight to Nathaniel.

“She really said that?”

Nathaniel’s face darkened as he listened to Wilson repeat every word. Estella had dismissed her relatives, stood up to her own mother… the docile, obedient girl he’d once known was gone.

She wasn’t the same anymore.

Wilson leaned forward eagerly. “She’s too wild now. Even her mother can’t control her. Mr. Hartwell, what should I do next?”

Nathaniel stayed silent for a long moment. “Let me think.”

But Wilson was determined not to lose the powerful man he now depended on. His eyes gleamed with calculation. “Mr. Hartwell, women who get too strong are impossible to control. She only resists you because she’s making her own money. Take that away–let her taste what it’s like to have nothing—and won’t she come crawling back on her knees?”

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. Estella’s voice echoed in his mind: I hate being controlled, threatened, or

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forced. Do that, and you’ll only push me further away.

He couldn’t forget it.

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