Chapter 854
chapter854
As the whispers rippled through the crowd, Kathleen Rodriguez's face twitched, a vein throbbing in her forehead.
How could this be happening? Did Rodriguez patriarch and matriarch know?
No... they couldn't... they absolutely couldn't...
But the probing, judgmental stares of the guests were like a hundred sharp knives, slicing at her without mercy. For over twenty years, she had been the pampered 'Mrs. Sullivan' of the illustrious Sullivan family, with a distinguished husband and an outstanding son.
Everywhere she went, she was the center of attention.
When had she ever been subjected to such open gossip and scrutiny?
Kathleen took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain composed. She put on a smile and moved to greet Neely Rodriguez as he stepped down from the stage.
"Father, happy birthday! It's your eightieth, and with my sister returning to the family, it's a double celebration for us!"
Neely merely lifted his eyelids, his gaze cold and distant.
He deliberately avoided her outstretched hand.
"Was I not clear enough just now?"
Kathleen's face went pale.
Neely left her no room to maneuver. "I'll say it again. The Rodriguez family has only one daughter, and her name is Madge. So, don't call me father."
What... what are you saying? I... I know something must have upset you. I'll fix it..... please don't be like this..." She tried to frame his public disavowal as a simple father-daughter squabble.
Even now, she was trying to paper over the cracks. And it almost worked. The guests began to murmur amongst themselves, thinking it was just a family dispute.
No one truly severs ties like that, right? It was just an argument, something that would blow over soon enough.
"And here I thought we were getting some real drama..." "Turns out it's just a family tiff." "Well, that's that."
Just as everyone was about to dismiss the incident and find their seats, the old matriarch, Geneva, let out a cold laugh.
"I've met shameless people in my life, but you take the cake."
"We didn't expose you completely for Corley's sake. If you had just kept your mouth shut, we could have maintained a semblance of civility. But you're never satisfied, are you? You still want to use the Rodriguez name as a shield to prop up your status as Mrs Sullivan If that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Mother? You-" Kathleen tried to stop her, but it was too late.
Geneva's words came out in a torrent, as if releasing years of pent-up resentment
and bitterness.
"Did you think we didn't know what
you did to Madge all those years ago? How do you have the gall to say these things to play dumb and think you can just get away with it?
"We were careless once and let you harm Madge. We will not let you harm her a second time!"
the matriarch declared, her voice ringing with conviction.
The guests fell silent, but every ear was pricked, afraid to miss a single detail.
Kathleen trembled, her teeth chattering.
It was over... Everything was over...
The final, thin veil of respectability had been torn away, and all her ugly secrets were laid bare for the world to see.
Her reputation, her dignity, her pride... all of it was being crushed under the weight of their stares.
Kathleen's eyes turned red.
She couldn't accept it!
Why? Why could Aberdeen Rodriguez disappear for twenty years and return as the cherished princess of the family, while all Her own efforts amounted to nothing? Was it all just a waste?
"You forced me to do this! I
"Mom!" Corley Sullivan's voice cut through the tension. He stepped forward, grabbing her arm. Looking down, he said, "You're tired. I'll help you upstairs to rest."
"Corley, let go of me! Today, I have to
"Mom!" he repeated, his tone a low warning. "Things are already this bad. Do you really want to make the situation worse?"
Kathleen froze. In the end, she allowed Corley to half-guide, half-force her up the stairs.
After she was gone, Neely turned to the guests with a cheerful smile. My apologies for the scene, everyone. Please, find your seats. Eat, drink, and make yourselves at home."