The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 129

As the mother and daughter turned to leave, the Sullivans, of course, blocked their path.

“Fine! You want a million? We’ll give it to you!” Mr. Sullivan yelled, utterly exhausted.

But the money came with conditions. They demanded that Mrs. Winters take the check and leave immediately, and never set foot in their house again.

Mrs. Winters refused. She would take the million, but she was also staying in Orenth until her daughter safely delivered the baby.

Defeated, the Sullivans had no choice but to agree.

Under the family’s contemptuous stares, Rebecca couldn’t even lift her head. She quickly pulled her mother back across the street to her room. The moment the door closed, she burst into tears.

“After a scene like that, how am I ever supposed to hold my head high in this family?”

Mrs. Winters, who had been gleefully examining the check, slapped her daughter on the back of the head. “If I hadn’t come, they would have eaten you alive!”

“I just had to endure it a little longer! Once the baby is born and those two break up, I could have been Mrs. Sullivan openly!”

“Are you an idiot? You think they’ll just welcome you after the baby is born? Don’t be naive! They’ll take the child and kick you to the curb!”

“No, they wouldn’t. They’re good to me, and Zebulon is… okay.”

“Based on how they treated you tonight, you call that ‘good’?”

“I…”

Mrs. Winters sighed and sat beside Rebecca, taking her hand. “My dear daughter, you’ve suffered.”

The word “suffered” made Rebecca’s eyes well up again. “Mom, I didn’t want to hide it from you. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“It’s okay, Mommy’s here now. You have someone to back you up.”

“But I’m afraid…”

“Afraid of what? You are his legal wife, and that baby in your belly is a Sullivan. Those two facts alone mean you stand tall! I’ll talk to them again. They need to sort this mess out before you give birth. You will recover in the Sullivan mansion, and they will acknowledge you as their daughter-in-law in front of all their friends and family.”

“Mom,” Rebecca sobbed.

Mrs. Winters hugged her daughter tightly. “Remember, your mother is the only person in this world who truly has your back. You can’t rely on anyone else.”

“I know.”

They talked for a long time, and Rebecca, holding her mother’s arm, felt a sense of security she hadn’t felt in ages.

“Mom, about that million… I was thinking of using some of it to renovate my old apartment.”

“You won’t touch a single penny of this money.”

“Ah, Rebecca has to work so hard, even while pregnant. Not like you… ahem.” Mrs. Winters leaned in closer. “Rebecca told me she’s staying here as your guest.”

Penelope nodded. “That’s right. But don’t worry, I’m not charging her rent.”

Mrs. Winters chuckled. “You’re good friends, of course you wouldn’t. But this is a big house for just one person.”

“It is.”

“Are you renting it?”

Penelope shook her head. “The house is mine. The deed is in my name.”

Mrs. Winters was stunned for a moment, then assumed Zebulon must have bought it for her, and a wave of jealousy washed over her.

“Your husband treats you so well.”

“He does,” Penelope agreed. “He gave me this house.”

Mrs. Winters assumed she meant Zebulon. Penelope was talking about Theodore.

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