THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS-Chapter 20: FIRST OR SECOND BREAKFAST 2

The room fell silent. Garth froze, her smile faltering. Even Harlow turned to him in surprise.

Alanis’s gaze didn’t waver, his tone calm but firm. "She can’t eat that."

Harlow’s breath caught. This... this had never happened before. In her first life, he had never intervened, never acknowledged her suffering. What game was he playing now?

Was this some trick?

She stared at Alanis in disbelief.

Was this another multiverse?

Did her past change?

This is not meant to happen.

"Why not, this are her favorite foods."

"She’s allergic to them." Alanis said.

"Oh my, maybe your father made a mistake. If Alanis hadn’t known. Thank you so." Garth said.

Garth’s sharp gaze met Jane as she gave her signal, things like this are the things she was trying to avoid, Alanis noticing or standing up for Harlow. She shouldn’t even speak to her or look her way.

"It’s alright, Mother. I know you had no idea," Harlow said with a small smile, her voice soft but deliberate. She reached for the plate, intending to hand it to the servant beside Garth. But as she lifted it, she tilted the plate with another intention in mind, and its hot contents spilled entirely onto Garth’s lap.

She jumped immediately, shaking profusely as her skin burned.

Gasps erupted around the dining table as everyone stared at the scene with wide eyes.

"You inso—" Garth started but caught herself, her lips tightening. Her sharp glare softened into forced composure when she remembered who had caused the accident.

If it were anybody else, their head would have been on the table by now.

"How can you be so clumsy, Harlow?" George exclaimed, his voice held both irritation and an eagerness to humiliate.

Harlow’s eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh, I’m so sorry, Mother. It was an honest mistake. Let me help you clean up." She grabbed a napkin, reaching toward Garth, who flinched but recovered quickly.

"No, that’s alright," Garth said through gritted teeth, snatching the napkin from Harlow. Her composure was cracking, but she forced herself to maintain the mask. "It was an accident. Anyone could have done it." frёewebηovel.cѳm

She stood abruptly, stepping back from the table. "Excuse me," she said curtly and left the room.

"Harlow, I heard your father owns one of the best jewelry company?" Lia saw the need to interact with her sister in law now her mother was gone.

"Yes." Harlow responded. She was the one in charge of the company, as well as his other little businesses. In her past life, she had abandoned the business to focus solely on her marriage and it fell.

"Then you must know about jewels a lot." George asked and Harlow nodded.

"Next month, there’s an auction solely on jewels, we would love for you to be there to help us pick the best jewel." Harlow remembered this offer, she had picked the right jewel on this day, but someone else took the glory for it. Claudia had exchange her jewel with hers and took the praises for it.

Alanis made a billion from that jewel alone, it was the jewel that skyrocketed his company, along with her inheritance. She would be at the auction, but not because of Alanis or his family. She’ll be there for herself.

"I’ll pass."

.

.

As soon as Garth was alone in her chambers, her anger exploded. She yanked the soiled dress off, tossing it to the floor as if it had personally insulted her. Her thoughts raced with venom.

**That wretched girl! How dare she humiliate me like this? First, she comes to breakfast in her nightdress, and now this? The Blackwoods may have wealth, but they clearly lack grace. Such a boorish family** Garth clicked her tongue.

Her eyes narrowed as she paced the room. **This was my mistake. I let my guard down. I have to get her to sign that contract today. Once we get her inheritance, she’ll be useless to us. Alanis can divorce her, and we’ll be rid of her cheapness forever.**

"Mistress," Jane called, entering the room cautiously. She had witnessed the spill and could sense Garth’s simmering fury.

"They asked us to play nice," Garth snapped, "but that girl is testing my limits." She threw her jewelry onto the vanity, replacing it with new pieces to match the fresh dress she was pulling on.

"She even threatened to know a lot about me." Jane said. "Do you know mistress, she knew my name before I even told her today." Jane still found such act to be strange.

"Forget that, it’s useless right now." Kate waved it off. Jane was Kate’s personal maid sent to Alanis’s villa to disrupt the marriage between Alanis and Harlow.

"Jane, bring me the document she’s meant to sign. It’s in my drawer."

Jane nodded and fetched the papers quickly. When she returned, Garth adjusted her earrings and turned to face her maid. "Listen carefully. Alanis cannot, must not, develop feelings for her. That girl is beneath him. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, ma’am," Jane replied, lowering her gaze.

"Good," Garth said, her lips curling into a cold smile. "Distract them, cause misunderstandings, whatever it takes to keep them apart. Once we’ve secured the Blackwood fortune, we’ll deal with her properly."

Garth exhaled slowly, composing herself before heading back to the dining room. She couldn’t afford to let her temper ruin their plans.

When she returned, the table was mostly quiet. Harlow sat composed, finishing her tea, while George was rambling about some business deal. Alanis remained silent, his brooding presence commanding attention without effort.

Garth forced a smile, stepping back into her role. "Harlow, dear," she said sweetly, holding up the document as Jane handed her a pen. "I have the agreement here. It’s time for you to sign it."

Harlow looked up, her gaze cool and detached.

"What contract?" she asked evenly.

Garth blinked, momentarily thrown off by the calm question. "Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten," she said, forcing a chuckle. "You promised to help the Hamilton family and elevate us from bankruptcy if Alanis married you. He’s done his part of the deal, so now it’s your turn."

The fake warmth in her smile didn’t reach her eyes, but she still held the contract forward with an air of triumph.

Harlow didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze to Alanis, who was watching her intently. Those black, intimidating eyes were locked on hers, as unreadable as ever. For the first time, she didn’t flinch or look away.

She met his gaze head-on, her voice calm but resonant. "I want a divorce."

The room froze.