the point where their lawyer was left speechless.
In the end, the judge ruled in my favor, ordering my aunt and uncle to return my parents‘ house to me and pay me 1.5 million in compensation. 500,000 of which was for raising me.
After the trial, I ran into Joziah on the way out.
Due to the message I had sent to his half–brother, he had been swamped with work lately and looked noticeably thinner.
Lucas gloated, “Joziah, something got you down? Why don’t you tell me so I can cheer up?”
“You-” Joziah’s face darkened, but he knew better than to argue with Lucas. He didn’t want to embarrass himself further.
He turned to me instead. “Let’s talk, alone.”
As he tried to pull me aside, I stepped back. “Now’s not a good time.”
His frustration was obvious. “Kaelyn, we have been in love for so many years, and I’ve done a lot for you. Can’t you even spare me a moment to talk?”
He was always a master of guilt trips, especially when it came to playing the victim. I couldn’t stand his tactics, as he would pull this exact act whenever I tried to break up with
him.
I couldn’t bear to throw away all the good he had done for me, as I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. So, I chose to endure everything.
Now, I was slowly learning that Lucas was right. I’ve come to understand that if anyone continued to cause me misery, that was enough grounds for keeping one’s distance.
So, I didn’t say a word and turned away from Joziah.
He chased after me, looking utterly distraught.“Aren’t you concerned about what has been happening in my life lately? My dad promised me shares of the company, but that’s all gone now. He found out the mistress was someone I had arranged, and he was furious! He has even asked someone to re–write his will, leaving me only a tenth of his estate!”
“Oh, that sounds fantastic,” I replied with a wide grin. It didn’t take long for me to burst into giggles.
He looked utterly shattered. “How can you laugh at this? You know he was going to leave me most of his fortune, not just a tenth! And you were the only one I ever told about arranging the mistress. I’ve been so good to you. Why would you betray me like this?”
