Chapter 117

Chapter 117

A parent who truly loves their child plans for their future.

Cleo had long since given up on Xanthe as a daughter. But blood was blood—undeniable, unbreakable. She never said it aloud, but she thought of Xanthe often.

At the mention of Cleo, Xanthe's tone turned venomous. "Oh, please. Cleo only has eyes for you and Kenna. I've never mattered to her."

The memory of storming the hospital to force Cleo into signing a will flashed through her mind. Her voice went colder. "Cleo said she no longer has a daughter. Fine. Then I no longer have a mother."

Octavia laughed. A sharp, humorless sound. "So you unilaterally cut ties with the family. And I've told you we're done too. So what are you doing here?"

"Or do you operate on a double standard? Everything revolves around you—you decide who counts and who doesn't on a whim. Don't be so self-centered."

Octavia stood and shoved the door wide open. "It's late. Leave. I've cut ties with both of you. If you won't go, I'm calling security."

Realizing she meant it, Jasper's fury surged—but he swallowed the insult forming on his tongue. He remembered why he'd come.

Xanthe couldn't contain herself. As a mother, she'd always believed she had Octavia firmly under her thumb. To her, Octavia wasn't just a daughter—she was a puppet to be manipulated at will.

A compliant daughter suddenly turning defiant was unacceptable. "Say that again, you ungrateful girl! You dare disown me? I gave birth to you—nothing will ever change that. Keep this up and I'll cause a scene at your office again."

"And since you're so worried about Cleo? If you keep treating me like this, I'll go make her life hell. You care about her so much? Then I'll make sure she never has a moment's peace."

Under the bright lights.

Xanthe stood in her Chanel suit, makeup flawless—but every trace of her usual poise had vanished. She looked like nothing more than a common bully.

And when she spoke of Cleo—her own mother—there was zero respect in her eyes. Only the contempt one reserves for an enemy.

The sight filled Octavia with a cold, hollow sadness.

Cleo owed debts to many people in her life. But never to Xanthe. She'd doted on this daughter, never shortchanged her once.

Some people simply don't know when they have enough.

Octavia drew a steadying breath. "Enough. I know exactly why you're here. It's about my money. Greed has no limits with you two. The moment I have anything, you want to take it."

"But hear me clearly—that money is mine. What's mine stays mine. No one takes it. No one."

"And don't even think about using underhanded tricks. I've already signed the paperwork. If anything happens to me, every cent goes directly to charity. Think very carefully before you try anything."

Jasper would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, and his methods were bottomless.

Octavia's last words were aimed squarely at him.

Xanthe was about to erupt again, but Jasper raised a hand to silence her. "Alright, alright. We didn't come here with any agenda. We just wanted to see you. The three of us haven't been together in so long. I thought we could have a nice chat, but clearly we've upset you."

For the sake of money, he could leash his own rage. The look he gave Octavia was pure fatherly warmth—so convincing that any stranger would think he adored his daughter.

"You're about to go through a divorce. As your father, I was worried you might be unhappy. That's all. Don't overthink it. Your money is your money—I'd never suggest otherwise. I just thought, sitting in a bank account, it's not growing. Let me manage it for you. I could invest it properly."

"Manage it? Into your own pocket?"

Octavia's retort was merciless.

"If I remember correctly, that's exactly the line you used on another woman years ago. Took control of everything she had. And what did she get in the end? Left with nothing. Walked away empty-handed."

The words struck a nerve.

Xanthe exploded. "Who are you calling a fool? I gave him everything willingly! And investments don't always pay off—everyone knows that! All you do is stir up trouble. A daughter trying to drive a wedge between her own parents—you have no manners whatsoever!"

"Right, right. I'm the one nobody wanted—no father's love, no mother's care, no one to raise me properly. How could I possibly have manners? If you want a well-bred daughter so badly, go have another one. I'm grown. I don't need parenting."

Octavia was done. She shoved Jasper and Xanthe out the door and slammed it shut.

"You little—"

"Let it go. She's about to get divorced. She's in a bad mood. Let's head home—no point making things worse for her."

"Look at what a wonderful father you are, and she doesn't even appreciate it. So ungrateful..."

The voices faded down the hallway until silence returned.

Octavia glared at the paper-thin door, then buried her face in a throw pillow.

Stupid woman. Xanthe had thrown her entire life away on Jasper.

But the money situation was becoming a real problem. The Lavien family, Yvaine—everyone was circling like vultures.

She checked her bank balance, then made a call. "The company needs investors, right? What if I invest? Also, I have an invitation to a charity gala. Let's go together."

Half an hour later, she hung up.

For the Miller family, securing Octavia's investment was welcome news.

But what they truly needed was transformation.

Octavia climbed off the bed and sat at her computer, scanning every emerging industry she could find.

AI was booming. Nearly every top-tier company was pouring money into the field.

A small company with limited capital had no shot at competing head-on. But positioning as a downstream partner? That was viable.

Time slipped away as her fingers flew across the keyboard.

By dawn, a complete business proposal glowed on her screen.

She hadn't slept a wink, yet energy hummed through her veins. Before heading to her own office, she stopped at the Miller Group first.

Kenna took one look at Octavia's radiant face and grinned. "If I'd known divorce would do this for you, I'd have told you to file years ago."

Octavia smiled. "Maybe. But that's not what matters now. Let's talk business. Clear your schedule today—we're going to that charity gala together. Good chance to expand our network."