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She scoffed, her lips curling into a cruel sneer. “She’s not even trying to hide it. A private booth? Really? If I hadn’t walked this way, I wouldn’t have caught her red-handed.”
Lowering the phone, Zara’s eyes darkened with fury.
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” she whispered to herself, venom lacing her voice. “I’m not going to let you live a happy little life, you two-faced slut. You’ll pay for this.”
***
"Mr. Charles Carter, owner of Carter Diamonds, has officially handed over his billion-dollar empire to his daughter!"
"The billionaire magnate has finally crowned his long-lost daughter as the sole heir to his vast business empire!"
The news flashed across every channel. Anchors repeated the same line again and again—this was the breaking news of the day.
"On her birthday, Charles Carter gave his daughter the most extravagant gift any parent has ever given: full ownership of his billion-dollar empire, effective immediately."
Janet sat frozen on the couch, her eyes glued to the screen. Her hands trembled as she clutched the tablet tighter, her excitement bubbling dangerously close to obsession.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
“I have to act fast,” she whispered under her breath. Her voice was urgent, low, almost panicked. “Before someone else snatches that girl away, I have to make sure she marries Dante. If she slips out of my hands now… there won’t be another chance like this.”
Chapter 15 Marry Him
Without wasting another second, Janet grabbed her phone and dialed Charles’ number. It rang once… twice… three times. Then, finally, the voice on the other end answered.
“Hello, Janet,” Charles’s deep voice came from the other end.
She cleared her throat, masking her excitement with honeyed sweetness.
“Hello, Charles! How are you? How’s your health?” she asked in a sickly sweet tone, her fingers twitching with anticipation as she tried to control the eagerness in her voice.
“I’m well. Just busy with work,” he replied casually. “And you? How have you been?”
“I was just watching the news,” Janet said cautiously, her eyes flicking to the muted television screen. “Is it true? Did you really hand the company over to Annie?”
“Yes. It’s true,” Charles replied calmly. “I gave it to her as a birthday gift. I’m getting old, and it’s time my child starts taking responsibility.”
“Of course,” Janet replied immediately, nodding. “We old folks can’t take that kind of pressure after working our whole lives. It’sonly right for the younger generation to take over and continue the legacy. I think you made the right decision giving it to her now—it’ll be great for her future.”
Her thoughts were racing even as she spoke calmly.
‘She’s still young,’ Janet thought, heart thudding with anticipation. ‘If Dante marries her now, he’ll take over the company easily. That girl came from some orphanage, didn't she? What could she possibly know about business or deals?’
Janet’s lips curled into a pleased smile, her eyes gleaming.
‘My son will run everything. She can live comfortably at home. What else would she need? Dante will be praised everywhere—for marrying into wealth and for helping his father-in-law manage the company. It’s a win-win.’
Clearing her throat to hide the eagerness in her voice, Janet softened her tone.
“Charles, I was wondering… how’s Annie doing now? I’ve been worried about her. Dante’s asked so many times too. We wanted to come over, maybe bring some things to help with her recovery.”
“Sorry,” Charles muttered, a frown tightening his face. “She’s still sick. She can’t meet anyone yet. It’s a skin condition… takes time to heal, you know.”
“Ah… I see.” Janet’s voice trailed off awkwardly. Her mind spun with suspicion. “Alright then. I’ll call again soon. I’m really worried about her. You can ask her to call me, at least. I’m like a mother to her. I wouldn’t want her to feel lonely.”
“Sure,” Charles replied curtly and ended the call.
Janet slowly lowered her phone, her jaw clenched tight, eyes narrowing. “Why the hell is he still hiding that damn girl from me?” she muttered through gritted teeth. “What kind of illness takes this long to recover? Something’s off.”