Chapter 66 No special skills
At the Fletchers' residence, the news of Tonia being expelled hit hard. Unable to reach Karen through any of the usual channels, Tonia's grades were their last hope in helping her secure a job with the Dawsons to be close to Roger.
Even though he was married to Karen, his obsession with Tonia might make him want to keep her on the side.
"Without education, you are nothing. You have no special skills," Gordon lamented. Tonia was pale. She was losing everything so fast.
Even the modeling agencies didn't want her despite her flawless body, and none of those rich kids she always wanted were giving her any more attention.
The moment she was caught with those prepared questions, she lost everything, including her friends.
Her time in college was already shaky the moment Karen left. Karen had been her rock, but now, nothing seemed to work out. If only she had played her cards well, Roger would have never known her true colors, or she should not have sent those men after Karen.
There was so much regret streaming in with little or no power at all. Now she hoped Karen would face some embarrassment, but the news was equally devastating.
"What? The Dawsons cut off the Summers?" Her father called Mr. Summers on the phone after hearing the breaking news, and the more they talked, the greater his anxiety until he hung up the phone.
"Karen. The Summers lost everything because of her. Just because Loretta bullied her, the Dawsons were up against them," Gordon murmured, but it came out loud due to the shock.
Katherine sank into the couch with regret. The last time they saw her at the party, Karen treated them like strangers, but how could they blame her? "We shouldn't have disowned her. Only she can help us now," Katherine cried, and Tonia's heart was breaking.
After all Karen had, she still managed to steal her parents' hearts, so what about her?
Roger wanted her, and given the chance, she would have been the one enjoying the Dawson's fortune if she had accepted to marry Roger.
Tonia believed that if she had gone along with the proposal and planned to elope at the time of the marriage, she would have discovered Roger's true identity and stayed with him.
All she desired was a secure future, so what was wrong with that? "Mom, dad, aren't you forgetting that I'm still here? Roger is doing all this to make me jealous because I rejected him. I know it," she smiled but was met with a scowl.
"Don't be delusional. If Roger was only trying to make you jealous, then why did he give everything to your sister? We should never have adopted you. You ruined our family," Gordon said, his voice filled with regret.
Patience would have prevented them from adopting Tonia, and all their love and attention would have been on Karen, but then again, Roger had come because of Tonia.
If not for her, they were certain Roger and Karen wouldn't have met. Perhaps they should have been nice to Karen and not disowned her when they thought she married a bodyguard, but who wanted to be associated with poverty?
Tonia was in tears. "Dad, are you rejecting me? There are other rich heirs. I just need time."
Her father's words were as sharp as a razor blade, cutting through her heart. "Oh, you don't have time because you are getting old. A month from now, you'll be twenty-seven and yet you are still living off us. So shameful."
Most young adults at twenty-seven could have completed both their bachelor's and master's degree programs, working profitable jobs, and taking care of themselves, but Tonia was still a burden.
Katherine's anger boiled even more, pointing out, "The least you should have done was study your books and graduate with flying colors, but your interest was only in your beauty, and no amount of money can buy you brains."
Gordon was amazed at this part because Katherine had been the one encouraging Tonia all this while to focus on beauty and seduction. "Are you really gonna walk that path?" He asked seriously, his annoyance visible.
Katherine was guilty but quickly defended herself. "Yes, I told her to always look beautiful, but I never told her to neglect her studies. Karen is a very smart kid. She got it from me."
Tonia's heart ached. She wanted this family to herself, but even after getting Karen out of the picture, she was still the love child. Her phone rang, and seeing it was Loretta, she answered it.
“Hi, can we meet?" Loretta asked, Tonia's teeth gritted together. After witnessing the downfall of the Summers, she wanted nothing to do with them.
The stench of poverty was just too repulsive. "What for? I'm busy right now."
Just as she was about to end the call, Loretta's voice came through. "You better not, because I've figured out a way for us to destroy Karen."