Chapter 2 - The Aftermath of the Gala
The ride home was dead silent. Simon sat in the passenger seat of Joanna's battered sedan, holding the yellow blanket in his lap. Joanna kept her hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel, her mind racing. She was terrified of what would happen next. Denise was vindictive, and she now had a wealthy, powerful man—or so it seemed—backing her.
When they pulled into the driveway of their modest rented home, another car was already waiting. It was Denise’s luxury SUV.
Denise stepped out, her emerald-green suit looking wrinkled, her eyes flashing with pure rage. Dorothy and George were in the back seat, looking guilty but refusing to get out.
"How dare you!" Denise screamed before Simon could even open his door. She marched over to Joanna’s side of the car, banging on the window. "You poisoned him! You turned my own son against me, Joanna! You've been planning this public humiliation for years, haven't you? You jealous, pathetic little thief!"
Joanna rolled down the window halfway, her voice trembling but resolute. "I never said a single bad word about you to him, Denise. You did this to yourself. You walked in there acting like I was a hired nanny."
"You were just a placeholder!" Denise shrieked. "I gave birth to him! The law recognizes me. I am his biological mother, and Jonathan’s lawyers will make sure I take back what's mine. Simon is moving to Chicago with us next week. You have no legal rights over him!"
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Simon stepped out of the car, slamming the door. He stood over a foot taller than Denise, his presence commanding. "I am nineteen, Denise. I am a legal adult. You can’t 'take' me anywhere. And if you ever speak to my mother like that again, I will file a restraining order so fast your head will spin."
Denise backed up, startled by his fierceness. She looked at Dorothy and George for backup, but her parents looked away. Realizing she had lost this battle, she pointed a manicured finger at Joanna. "This isn't over. You think you won? You're broke, Joanna. Let's see how well your 'motherhood' holds up when I cut off every cent of the family inheritance."
