Chapter 289
That night, the Milner Family received a video sent over from the golf course.
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Wilbur Milner was already seething when he heard Joyce had embarrassed herself in front of Daron. But when Howard handed him the video, his rage exploded. He hurled the tablet straight at Joyce.
“All those years of Milner Family lessons. Did you just toss them to the dogs?” Wilbur bellowed.
The tablet smacked Joyce right in the forehead. She lost her balance and crashed to the floor.
Wilbur stared at Joyce’s disheveled state, his brows furrowed in disappointment and anger.
“Get up,” he barked.
Joyce bit down hard on her lip, fighting off a wave of dizziness as she pushed herself up. When she looked at her father, there was a flicker of fear in her eyes.
“Dad, I know I messed up. I just lost control for a second, I…” Joyce stammered.
Wilbur cut her off with a cold snort. “You’ve been back with the Milner Family for five years now. As soon as you came home, your grandfather shipped Allison off.
“And what did you do with those five years? Not only did you fail to get close to Daron, you managed to trash your own image beyond repair.
“If I didn’t care that you’re my own flesh and blood, you would’ve been the one kicked out back then.”
After being scolded like that by Wilbur, Joyce’s hands balled into tight fists at her sides, her expression frozen.
Debby Milner, Wilbur’s wife, sitting beside Wilbur, let out a soft sigh, her eyes still full of hope.
She averted her gaze from Joyce and said quietly, “We should find a time to bring Allison back from abroad.
“That girl’s always been thoughtful. Even though she’s been overseas all these years, she never forgets to send me holiday greetings. We’ve always stayed in touch.
“The marriage arrangement with the Zamoras still hasn’t gone anywhere, and it’s clear Daron won’t give his consent. Vrufield isn’t ruled by the Zamoras alone. Let’s bring Allison back and maybe she’ll have better luck with other powerful families.”
Wilbur nodded at Debby’s words.
“You’re right,” he replied.
“Allison’s smart. She’ll handle things properly. Her way of doing things is so much like ours, I still don’t get how we ended up swapping the kids by mistake,” he added.
With that, Wilbur stood up from the couch, his eyes sweeping over Joyce with clear displeasure.
“Starting tomorrow, you’re grounded. Lock yourself up and think about what you’ve done, and brush up on your manners and upbringing from scratch!” he ordered
“You can’t even beat that down–on–her–luck Ms. Marina from the Finley family. The Milner Family has spoiled you like royalty all these years, and this is what we get?” he scoffed.
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Chapter 289
Joyce bit her lip so hard her nails dug deep into her palms, leaving deep red welts.
“Spoil me, huh?” Joyce sneered to herself.
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“If you really raised me like precious princess, you wouldn’t always be thinking about Allison. She’s not even blood–related!
“She took my spot. You held her in the palm of your hand since day one, grooming her to be the heir. And now you blame me for not measuring up? Is it that you never truly cared about me, or am I really just not as good as Allison?”
She was their biological daughter, but she didn’t hold any real power. Even her shares in the Milner Group were just a tiny cut, barely enough for a dividend payout.
She had less influence in Milner Group than some senior executive.
Seeing Joyce’s face contorted with rage, Debby slapped her hard across the cheek, completely ignoring the fact that her face was already hurt.
“Making such a scene, you’re nothing compared to Allison.
“The Milner and Zamora families were already talking about the marriage, but after the stunt you pulled, how could the Zamoras ever accept someone with your behavior and attitude into their family?
“If we weren’t still trying to look out for you, we could’ve just had Allison come back and take your place. But you’re a lost cause. No matter what we do, you’ll never measure up!” Debby spat.
Debby fixed Joyce with a stern, unyielding gaze. There wasn’t a trace of affection in her
The Zamora family had already reached out earlier to check on the situation.
Harris was just about to give his blessing, but after Joyce’s mess, he did a complete 180.
He kept making excuses and dodging the whole thing.
eyes.
Now that Harris had made his position clear, there was no way the marriage between the Milner and Zamora families was happening.
Wilbur was done trying to shape Joyce into anything. He had zero intention of investing in her anymore.
Just as he was about to leave, Howard called out.
“Dad, Howard said.
“Joyce brought up something at the golf course earlier. It’s about Leo,” Howard added.
Wilbur’s face clouded over, eyes blazing with anger as he stared Joyce down.
Joyce bit lightly at her lip, then lifted her head to meet his furious gaze.
“Harris already contacted me. He said he’s going to announce my engagement to Daron at the Zamora Group’s annual gala! 1…” Joyce blurted out.
But Wilbur cut her off, his expression icy and merciless.
“Don’t you realize Leo and Daron have been locked in a fierce battle over the financials of the overseas branches lately?” Wilbur snapped.
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Chapter 289
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“And you still went and contacted Leo? He’s been living abroad for years–sure, people say he’s building up the overseas business, but let’s be real, Harris just wanted him out of the power game at Zamora Group,” Wilbur sneered.
“You idiot! At a time like this, you’re still reaching out to Leo, and you didn’t even give us a heads–up about something this major?” Wilbur roared.
If Leo actually went ahead and announced Joyce and Daron’s engagement at the Zamora Group’s annual gala, with Daron’s temper, he’d never acknowledge anything he hasn’t personally agreed to.
If Daron shot it down right there at the gala, the Milner Family would get dragged right into their messy feud.
They’d lose both face and substance, nothing left to hold onto.
Joyce’s eyes widened in shock. She had no clue Leo and Daron didn’t get along at all.
Weren’t they father and son?
Whenever Leo called her, he always spoke in such a gentle, friendly way, way more patient than her own dad ever was.
Howard glared at Joyce’s bewildered face, but Wilbur’s voice was cold as he gave the order.
“Keep someone on her at all times. She’s not to step foot outside. Make sure she stays home and actually learns something for once. I won’t have her embarrassing the Milner Family any further,” Wilbur commanded.
Howard nodded. “Understood, Dad.”
Wilbur strode off, Debby following close behind. She gave Joyce a cold glance before speaking in a low voice to her husband.
“We hired the same etiquette teachers who taught Marina, so how come there’s such a gap between them?” Debby said quietly.
“I just watched the security footage. Marina’s composure is flawless, which only makes Joyce look even worse by comparison. It was downright embarrassing. If Harris hadn’t brought back that DNA test, there’s no way I’d believe she was really my daughter,” Debby said, unable to hide her contempt.
The Milner Family had always seen themselves as aristocratic, clinging to their inherited arrogance and elitist attitude no matter what.
They cared about nothing more than keeping up appearances and would never let anyone make them lose face.
All these years, they’d looked down on the Finleys, but now, watching Joyce get utterly humiliated by Marina, their disappointment in her was stronger than ever.
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