Chapter 401

Chapter 401

Before Levi left for the office, Natalia maintained her composure. But the moment he was gone, she broke down crying again.

Faye and I watched, hearts aching. I was probably the only one who knew about Cleo's pregnancy.

"Natalia, if you keep crying like this, you're going to fall apart. Levi said he'd handle it—you need to trust him."

Natalia shook her head. "Levi may act like he doesn't care about anything, but deep down he craves love just as much as anyone."

"I'm completely helpless when it comes to Cleo. What can Levi possibly do? Nothing except break his own heart even more."

"Levi will figure something out. If we can't get through to Cleo, we'll go after that scumbag. He just wants something out of this, right?"

I'd thought of Faye's suggestion too.

"We could give him money and connections to keep things stable temporarily. But once the money runs out and the resources dry up, he'll just come back to harass Cleo. It's humiliating for our family, and it doesn't solve the root problem."

"Blair, I think losing that bid really hit him hard. Now he's just trying to squeeze whatever he can out of Cleo."

"You're right."

I gave Faye a thumbs-up.

"But Cleo's being an idiot. Everyone can see it—there's no way she doesn't know."

Faye sighed. "Natalia, Cleo just can't let go of that lowlife. That's why she keeps wavering, keeps holding on."

"Even if she caught him cheating red-handed, she'd still fall for Michael's sweet talk."

I thought back to that time at her house when Michael insulted and slandered me. Cleo had fought back then. How had things changed so much?

We were still talking when her voice came roaring from outside.

"Mom, you think you can hide from me? You think I won't find you here?"

The click of Cleo's heels made my heart race. I glanced at Natalia, who was staring anxiously toward the window.

"I'm not a child anymore, and you can't control me! Come out here and give me my documents!"

Now I understood why Natalia had been so conflicted. She was holding Cleo's documents hostage—that way, if Cleo wanted to remarry, she'd have to get the family's approval first.

"Blair, I should go out there. I can't let you be put in this position."

Natalia stood up, but Faye pulled her back down.

"Natalia, don't move. She'll be in here any second."

Sure enough, Cleo's footsteps were rapid. She appeared before us in moments.

"Ms. Cleo Morgan, you're here." Indigo greeted her respectfully.

"Get out of my way!"

Cleo had no patience for pleasantries.

"Living the good life at home, I see."

Her words dripped with sarcasm aimed at me.

"Cleo, don't be rude."

She laughed dismissively. "Mom, how should I be polite? If I'm polite, will you give me my documents?"

"You—"

Cleo started to crouch down, but Faye grabbed her arm.

"Cleo, don't do this."

"What a good little lapdog you are."

Faye let go of her. "Cleo, your words are vicious. I'll let it slide this time, but don't push it!"

Natalia looked apologetically at Faye, clearly upset that she'd been dragged into this.

"What, now you're lecturing me? She's got your back, is that it? That's why you dare talk to me this way!"

Cleo pointed her finger at my nose, blaming me without rhyme or reason. I hated how she was pinning false charges on me.

"Don't make things up. You're in a bad mood—don't take it out on everyone else."

"Spending all day with her, and now you talk just like her. Absolutely disgusting."

Cleo turned her mockery on Faye.

I knew she saw me as an outsider, so I could tolerate her occasional hostility toward me. But Faye was her sister—there was no excuse for talking to her like that.

"Cleo, don't push me. Even rabbits bite when cornered."

Faye was so angry she could barely get the words out.

Natalia coughed several times, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Cleo, I'll pretend everything you just said was nonsense. We all disagree with this remarriage."

"'We all'? Who's 'we'? You mean her?"

Cleo pointed at me again. Did she really think I was the one blocking her plans?

"Blair has nothing to do with this."

"Look at all of you defending her. Back when Levi didn't like her, you weren't so nice to her either!"

Natalia stood up, furious. "Cleo, stop making things up!"

"How am I making things up? Ever since she started working, she's squeezed Michael's company until it can barely survive. Now it's in complete ruin."

"That's what he deserves! Betraying you was his karma!"

Faye's quick tongue and sharp mind hit the mark.

The comment left Cleo speechless.

"Blair never targeted him. If anything, she's suffered because of your mess. She's kept quiet and put the family first."

"She's suffering? Which eye of yours saw her suffering?"

Cleo sneered. "She's got all of you wrapped around her finger now. I bet she's the one who told you to hide here."

Natalia waved her hands frantically. "No, no, Blair has nothing to do with this."

From the moment she walked in, Cleo had aimed all her hostility at me.

She thought I'd advised Natalia to hide at my place and withhold her documents.

"Don't think that baby in your belly gives you the right to boss everyone around. You don't get to call the shots in the Morgan family."

Cleo glared at me viciously.

Then she turned around, holding out her hand palm-up. "Mom, give me the documents. I need them to remarry him. Hurry up."

Natalia's hands trembled with rage. She pointed at her daughter. "You're absolutely possessed. He has another woman!"

Cleo's face went pale. "Mom, how do you know?"

"So you knew too, didn't you? You know he hasn't changed, and you still want to jump into the fire?"

"Stop pretending. I'm pregnant. All of you know perfectly well what's going on—quit playing dumb. It's pointless."

I'd planned to keep her pregnancy secret, but she'd just blurted it out herself.

Natalia covered her mouth in shock, unwilling to believe something so awful had happened.

"Cleo, this is absolutely insane. Why would you do something so destructive to yourself?"

She shot Faye a glance. "Who are you to judge? Didn't you get pregnant because of that man? You were pretty determined back then too."

"I—"

Faye's heart ached, but she tried to reason with her. "Exactly—so you've seen how it turned out for me! I ended up with nothing."

"It's not the same thing."

Cleo moved closer to Natalia and grabbed her arm, shaking it forcefully. "Mom, I'm begging you. Give them to me. The baby can't wait—there's so much paperwork needed for having a child."