Chapter 5

That's enough! Seriously, enough!

I couldn't bear to listen anymore. Just as I was about to rush over, I was suddenly pulled back forcefully.

Georgina, followed by several bodyguards, frowned at me.

"Are you crazy? Those are all agitated men, who can you stop? You'll just get hurt for nothing!"

I forcefully shook off her hand and yelled,

"Don't pretend to be kind! Do you think I don't know that all of this is your doing?!"

"Georgina, my mom never forced Phillips; it was all his choice!"

"My mom was kind to you; how can you do this to her?!"

Exposed by me, Georgina showed no sign of guilt.

She sneered.

"It's precisely because I considered that, that I didn't do it myself. Compared to how your mom snatched Phillips away from me back then, I've been quite lenient."

"You're her son, of course you'd say that. But I believe Phillips; he wouldn't lie to me."

"Since you know now, Stephenson, you should know what to do."

That person immediately shrieked excitedly,

"Holy cow, thanks to this righteous person, we're only 100 away now! Everyone, push harder!"

"Every second you hesitate is a show of leniency toward this slut!"

I clenched my fists suddenly. She would actually go through with it!

Taking a deep breath, I said, "Okay, I'll go apologize to Phillips."

To my surprise, Georgina shook her head.

"Phillips is kind-hearted. He knows you're sensitive, so an apology isn't necessary."

"You just need to give him the 15% shares your mom left you, as an apology."

I looked at her in disbelief. "Georgina, that's the last thing my mom left me."

She gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Silly, with me taking care of you, what good are those things to you?"

"Your mom took up five years of Phillips's youth; consider it compensation for him. You love me so much, you wouldn't disappoint me, right?"

Her tone was as gentle as ever, but I detected a full measure of coldness.

In the live stream, they were only fifty likes short of five hundred.

Georgina raised her phone again, her fingertip hovering lightly over the 'Boost' button.

"Stephenson, Phillips is waiting for me. I can only give you three seconds."

"Three."

"Two."

My sharp fingernails dug into my flesh, and blood seeped out. "Okay, I promise!"

Georgina made a satisfied call, shutting down that person's live stream and removing all trending topics.

At the same time, she ordered her bodyguards to drive away the crowd causing trouble at the cemetery.

Watching me sign the contract, she pinched my cheek.

"I just love how obedient and kind you are."

"See? Now, besides me, you have no one else to rely on. Be this good in the future, okay? I'll take good care of you, just like your mom would have."

"City Hall on Friday, help Phillips and me with photos. Don't be late. I promise you, I'll give you a grand wedding at the end of the month."

After Georgina left, I staggered to Mom's gravestone.

I tried my best to wipe the paint off her photo on the gravestone with my sleeve.

But unexpectedly, those people from earlier returned, carrying shovels.

"So you're her son."

"Your mom monopolized that young man, and you stole someone else's girlfriend. Your whole family is shameless trash!"

"Don't think that just because you got the live stream shut down, we'll let her off the hook. Today, we'll turn her to dust and exact heavenly justice!"

Terrified, I tried to stop them, but they shoved me down.

In a blink of an eye, the gravestone was shattered to pieces.

In my helplessness, I called Georgina. It took a long time for her to answer.

"Georgina, help me, those people are back, they're going to my mom's..."

"That's enough, Stephenson. Don't bring up your mom again; it's disgusting to hear. Because of you, Phillips's red marks still haven't faded from his face."

"He's worried sick it'll affect the photos on registration day. I'm busy helping him apply compresses. Instead of discussing dead people, you should practice your photography skills!"

My hand dropped limply.

While holding me down, those people laughed as they smashed Mom's urn to smithereens.

Even her ashes were defiled by their filth.

The sky suddenly unleashed a torrential downpour, washing everything away in the blink of an eye.

Only then, muttering curses about bad luck, did they toss me aside.

I knelt numbly on the ground, clutching a shattered piece of the gravestone inscribed with Mom's name.

My tears instantly burst forth.

"Mom, I'm sorry."

"Give me some time; I will definitely get justice for you!"

On Friday, City Hall was packed with people.

Because Georgina and Phillips were finally getting their happy ending, many media outlets and curious onlookers came to witness the moment.

"True love really can overcome all obstacles; after all the twists and turns, they're still together."

"I always felt Stephenson was too soft-looking; he could never handle a sexy beauty like Ms. Georgina. It has to be a hunk like Phillips."

"Where did Stephenson go? Wasn't he supposed to take photos for the happy couple? Maybe he realized how shameless he and his mom are and dared not show his face?"

Hearing that, Georgina suddenly found it a bit grating.

She gave a cold glance, then lowered her gaze to check the time.

It was already half an hour past the agreed time.

These past few days, I hadn't sent her a single message.

I had always been a good boy, and very dependent on her.

Even when angry, I was always the first to back down.

It was precisely because of this that Georgina was convinced I would never leave her.

But this time, a sudden unease stirred within her. Just as she was about to call me,

a reporter from some media outlet suddenly raised their phone and shouted,

"Oh my god, Stephenson just registered his marriage with the Casino Magnate's daughter!"