Chapter 109 The Vultures Team Up
Chapter 109 The Vultures Team Up
“Cora, this is Matt’s mother. I’m in the city… could we meet?”
The voice on the phone belonged to a woman in her fifties, tentative and breathy.
Cora’s brow tightened. Memories flashed—Matt’s mother calling to demand she leave her son, Dina’s stunt that stole Cora’s first time. What’s the point of meeting now?
She opened her mouth to refuse, but the woman’s voice wavered. “What happened back then was my fault—I misjudged you. I wanted to apologize to your parents in person, but I heard the Gus have… moved away. I can’t find them, so I’m asking to apologize to you face-to-face. Please?”
Cora sighed softly. “It’s in the past, ma’am. I’m married now. Matt has his own life, I have mine. I can’t meet—sorry.”
She was about to hang up when the woman rushed on, almost whispering, “Cora, I… I just arrived in N City and my wallet was stolen. I can’t reach Matt. Would you… could you cover my meal? Just this once?”
Cora nearly laughed from sheer disbelief. He can’t even take care of his own mother?
She didn’t want entanglements with that family ever again—still, kindness was a habit that died hard.
“Text me the address,” she said at last.
—
Cora changed into a loose maternity dress, grabbed her bag, and left with her assistant, Winny. At the café, a nervous woman was waiting, hands clasped tight.
“Ma’am,” Cora greeted politely as she sat, already feeling the day’s fatigue settle in her limbs.
Winny leaned in. “I’ll settle the bill.” She walked off toward the register.
Matt’s mother tried for a watery smile. “Cora, I’m truly sorry about before. I—”
“It’s over,” Cora cut in, calm but cool. “You’ve apologized. The bill is paid. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go. I have no obligation to support your son or his family.”
She stood to leave.
A shape lunged from the doorway and dropped to its knees.
“Cora, I was wrong—please forgive me!” Matt clutched at her leg, tears and snot turning his face into a mess.
Cora jerked, startled, and sat back before he could jostle her belly. Of course. She angled a look at Matt’s mother. So his phone was “off,” was it?
“Get up,” Cora said coldly. “What do you want?”
“Julian destroyed my company,” Matt babbled, hugging her calf like a lifeline. “I—I didn’t mean to mock you that day. We loved each other once! Please ask him to let me go. I’ve lost everything—debts, lawsuits—if I don’t have the company, I’m finished!”
Matt’s mother chimed in, wringing her hands. “Cora, I never approved of you two, but he always protected you back then. Just… talk to Mr. Watson—”
“Honestly?” Cora snapped. “I’m grateful you never approved. I should’ve listened and never dated him.” She glared down. “And you—if you’re a man, stand up. Kneeling to your ex won’t save you.”
He clung tighter. He’d already learned the truth: every major company in the city had quietly blacklisted him. Nobody wanted to cross Watson Group.
“Matt,” Cora said evenly, prying at his hands, “I don’t run Watson Group, and I can’t help you. Find another way.”
Across the room, a woman in a hood lifted her phone. Dina angled herself, found the perfect line, and snapped the photo. From here, Matt’s kneel vanished in the framing; all the camera caught was two faces close together—soft light, soft focus, a whisper from scandal.
Got it.
She slipped out the side door.
Cora had had enough. She pulled out her phone. “Hello? 911—I need—”
Matt flinched, sprang back. “Cora, don’t! I was just kidding. I’ll let go—see? I’m letting go!”
Winny returned just then, receipt in hand. Cora pocketed her phone, rose, and left without another word.
—
Once Cora disappeared, Dina reappeared—this time in front of Matt.
“Well?” he asked, hope already crowding his eyes. “Did you get it?”
Dina’s smile sharpened. “Of course. I don’t miss.”
“But will Julian pay?” Matt swallowed. “What if he doesn’t buy the photos?”
“Then we leak them,” Dina said, voice sugar over ice. “ ‘Pregnant Mrs. Watson caught cozying up to ex-boyfriend’ is catnip for every outlet in the city—especially after today’s Watson–Mayer headlines. Unless Julian doesn’t care about his reputation—or that deal—he’ll pay.”
Matt sagged in relief.
His mother finally found a seam to wedge a question through. “Matt, what is going on? Why are you with… her?”
“Who says I’m with him?” Dina almost sneered, then forced the expression flat. She still needed him—for now. “We’re friends. Right?”
Matt stared a beat too long at her pretty face, and the past he’d once wished for flickered like heat. “Right. Friends.”
Dina looked away, fighting a curl of disgust. Back in college, Matt had pursued her first—before he ever noticed Cora. Dina, destined for catwalks and magnates, had palmed him off on a girl who wouldn’t threaten her ambitions.
Now that he’d lost everything, she’d swooped back in—with a plan, not affection.
Perfect, she thought, fingers tightening around the phone that held Cora’s ruin. Let’s see how Mr. Watson likes this.