Chapter 5

The next day, I took them to check out the old apartment.

The hallway was dark and gloomy. The walls were peeling, and dust covered everything.

Eileen wrinkled her nose, clearly disgusted.

Gerald, on the other hand, was inspecting every corner, especially the layout and size, already calculating the potential.

"It's a bit old, but with a little cleaning, it could work," Gerald finally said, turning to Eileen. "Sharon's right. It's quiet here, perfect for us. We shouldn't keep relying on the family."

Since Gerald had said it, Eileen just nodded in agreement.

And just like that, the newlyweds found a place to call home.

I even thoughtfully had someone clean it up quickly and let them move in a few things early, all under the pretense of helping them settle in.

Sure enough, just a few days later, Brielle came to me privately, saying the neighbors had complained about shady people coming and going from the building, and that it always seemed noisy in Gerald's apartment.

I just nodded, not feeling a thing inside.

A leopard would never change its spots. Gerald's type, always hustling at the bottom, would never really change.

I secretly contacted Darren and asked him to pull a few strings, making sure something "unforgettable" would be left behind.

*****

Nicole's paperwork for going abroad was processed without a hitch.

I topped up her account with plenty of money and reminded her to stay safe, focus on her studies, and not to worry about things back home.

When I took her to the airport and watched her thin but determined figure disappear through security, I felt a small weight lift from my heart.

At least Nicole was safe for now.

With Nicole out of the house, everything felt a lot more "peaceful."

Eileen and Gerald were busy with their so-called "love nest," Fiona was still brooding and nitpicking, and Miguel was enjoying the quiet.

As for me, I started planning the so-called grand wedding.

I carefully put together the guest list, and of course, I'd "invite" a few media friends. The bigger the audience for this circus, the better.

I picked up my pen and slowly wrote down some familiar names of the relatives who thrived on gossip and always shifted sides depending on who was winning.

I wanted them to see for themselves how I, the one they used to look down on, whether openly or behind my back, was now "generously" orchestrating my stepdaughter's so-called "great love."

*****

With me at the helm, wedding preparations were in full swing.

I took charge of everything like the venue, wedding planner, dress, and jewelry. I oversaw every detail myself, aiming for "perfection."

I picked the flashiest hotel in town, dripping with gold and glitter, clearly showing off the Welch family's wealth.

The wedding dress was a long train style, covered in cheap rhinestones that sparkled so much that it could blind people under the lights.

The wedding ring was a huge diamond, but the cut was basic, perfect for Gerald's superficial style.

Eileen was absolutely thrilled with everything I was doing, constantly bragging to the family. "Mom's got it all figured out. She always spoils us with the best."

She was completely lost in her wedding fantasy, and for once, she actually leaned on me a little, treating me like her "enlightened" stepmom.

Gerald was walking around the Welch residence in that designer suit I'd had made for him, even though it didn't fit quite right. He was barking orders at the staff like he owned the place, acting like he was already in charge.

Fiona winced at every bill I spent, but she didn't dare complain out loud. Instead, she whispered her grievances to Miguel in private. "Look at her. Has she lost her mind? Throwing all that money at that thug without even blinking. She never spent money like this when Nicole was going abroad."

At first, Miguel was unsure too, but every time he saw me "tirelessly" working on the wedding plans, clearly exhausted but still pushing through, and noticed the "happy" smile on Eileen's face, his doubts began to fade. He started to believe I was making a huge sacrifice for the sake of family harmony, and his attitude toward me softened. He even started treating me with a bit of guilty kindness.

I watched everything unfold, totally unfazed.

They had no idea that every penny I spent was just setting up traps for Gerald and Eileen down the road.

The over-the-top wedding, the tacky dress and bling, and those "guests" I carefully invited would all be the slap in the face they never saw coming.