The Queen's Back

Mona quietly observed the two people on the floor, both looking rather disheveled. Jeremy, in particular, had red marks on his cheeks from slapping himself. Yet, she felt no sympathy for them. Instead, a flicker of satisfaction crossed her mind, though it wasn't enough. She wished for Barbara to experience the same suffering she had endured.

It wasn't just the physical pain she wanted Barbara to feel, but the emotional anguish as well. The words Barbara had spoken to her just before her death had revealed that her entire life had been a cruel joke. And that joke was orchestrated by none other than Barbara and Teddy!

"Enough! Everyone, be quiet!" Bernard shouted, glaring at the three kneeling before him. With a swift motion, he knocked the scalding water off the coffee table.

of

The mix f shattered teacups and spilled water splattered around them, causing the three to flinch. Beatrice's dress was soaked, yet none of them dared to utter a complaint. Indeed, it was Jeremy and Beatrice who had committed such a disgraceful act, and angering the family elders was inevitable. To them, Barbara's very existence was a mistake. How could Bernard not be furious? His beloved daughter was gone, and now this scandal had come to light! "Dad, I..." Jeremy stammered, unsure where to begin.

From t the first day he had joined the family, Bernard had looked down on him. In front of the elders, Jeremy's timid nature had become ingrained. Even though he was now the much-envied general manager of the Clem Group, he remained spineless in their presence. "Come on, explain yourselves. When did this start between you two? You've really betrayed my daughter!" Bernard's clouded with anger, bore into the three on the floor, his hand tapping the armrest of the sofa with authority. eyes,

Beatrice and Barbara remained silent, knowing that saying nothing was the best way to avoid further displeasing the elders. Jeremy glanced at Mona, who was seated next to Jane, seemingly hesitating about whether to speak. "What are you looking at? Speak!" Bernard commanded, his voice brooking no argument, as he hurled a cup to the floor near Jeremy.

Jeremy, startled, quickly lifted his head and shifted his gaze away from Mona.

With a sigh, Jeremy began, "Mom, Dad, this all started when Emily and I got married. Our marriage was an arrangement. Emily was already pregnant when we wed, which means Mona isn't my biological daughter. Emily married me to give her child a father, and you both knew I loved her, so I agreed without thinking twice."

The revelation stunned the Clem family elders and Albert. They were completely blindsided by the fact that Mona was not Jeremy's daughter.

However, Mona felt little surprise; she had known this truth for a long time. The arranged marriage was something she had suspected as well.

Jane looked at Mona with concern, gripping her hand tightly, worried that she might not be able to handle this revelation.

Regardless of whether Mona was Jeremy's daughter, she was Emily's, and she carried the Clem family blood. She was their beloved granddaughter, and that would never change.

"That's no excuse for cheating with her sister!" Bernard exclaimed, his anger also directed at Emily for deceiving them. But

what could anger achieve now? His daughter was gone, and he still needed to stand up for her.

45

"You're right, Dad. It's all my fault. I wronged Emily. It only happened once with Beatrice, and we were both drunk. I only just found out that Barbara is my child. Please, forgive me for the years I've spent working hard for the Clem family," Jeremy pleaded sincerely with the elders.

Hearing Jeremy's words, Mona gave a bitter smile. He spoke so well of himself, yet conveniently omitted the benefits he'd gained from the Clem family.

Mona said, "No wonder I always felt like Dad didn't like me. Now I know it's because I'm not his daughter. It explains why he's so good to my cousin, even personally driving her to the office today-something he never did for me!"

Indeed, over the years, the Clem family elders had noticed Jeremy's lack of attention to Mona's upbringing. Now they understood why.

Suddenly, the elders felt a wave of sympathy for Mona, and even Albert looked at her with newfound compassion. He had never imagined that Mona and he didn't share the same father.

"Mona, Mom, Dad, over the years, I've truly come to see you as my own daughter, and I always will," Jeremy said.

Mona sniffled and chose not to speak further. Some things only needed to be said once; others would think about them in their own time.

Seeing Mona's distressed expression, Bernard made a decision. "Beatrice, you and Barbara need to pack up and leave. From now on, the Clem family has no place for you. Jeremy, I'll let this slide for Albert's sake, but if it happens again, you'll be out of the Clem Group

too.

100.

Beatrice looked up at Bernard in disbelief. She had been raised by his side and had always served the elders with care. Yet now, because of this incident, they were casting her out.

If it had been Emily who cheated, the Clem family elders might have helped cover it up. This was the difference between being a biological child and being adopted.

"Grandpa, isn't this too harsh? Barbara hasn't done anything wrong. Being kicked out is too severe a punishment," Albert pleaded on Barbara's behalf.

He had always liked his sister, Barbara, and now that he knew she was his half-sister, he naturally cared for her and wanted to live with her.

Mona chuckled inwardly. If it had just been a one-time affair, perhaps Beatrice wouldn't have been kicked out. But they had a child together, and the child was already grown.

Living under the same roof as her grandparents would constantly remind them of Jeremy Simon's betrayal of their daughter. How could they possibly endure that?

Barbara looked gratefully at Albert. In this situation, he was the only one willing to speak up for her, while everyone else pretended not to see.

"Yes, she hasn't done anything wrong, but her very existence is a mistake. Enough, no more discussion. My mind is made up. You must move out tonight," Bernard declared, his cloudy eyes fixed on the three people on the floor.

If it weren't for the fact that Jeremy and Emily had a son, Jeremy might have been kicked out as well.

"We'll leave, Barbara and I. Mom, Dad, please take care of yourselves. We'll visit often," Beatrice said, gritting her teeth as she spoke.