Oops! My Secret Baby Is Caught By His Top-Lawyer Daddy! Novel

---- Chapter 33: I Don't Want a Love That Cheap Owen let out a long breath, startled by the fire burning in Aaron's eyes. His tone softened just a touch. "Clara, can you just stop fighting with Luke over this? You're not exactly getting shortchanged. The demolition payout for those two apartments is just a few million-around the same value as your little villa. And besides, your mom chose to give up her claim to the money." Clara wiped away her tears, eyes brimming with fury. "Money, money, money! Is that all you ever think about?! What about my mom's life?

Huh?!" "That's not on me!" Owen snapped. Yeah, he'd noticed Sue wasn't doing well mentally, but it didn't bother him enough to care. He waved impatiently, like brushing away a pesky fly. "She did that to herself! I'm telling you now, for the last time: you're not getting a damn cent from me!" ---- Clara trembled with rage, her whole body shaking. She couldn't get a word out-this man, this murderer, was colder than ice! Even Aaron, a man himself, looked at Owen like he was dog crap on a new rug. He sneered and said coldly, "Mr. Hartley, we've already gathered quite a bit of evidence.

And I've been recording this whole conversation. Even if we can't pin you for murder, bigamy's still a felony. As for the money-whatever, we don't care. We'll just go to court, get your assets frozen, and drag this out for ten, twenty years if we have to. We've got time. Hell, even if you kick the bucket before it's over, Clara's still your legal heir. That doesn't change." Owen's face twisted in panic. He turned to Clara, immediately switching tactics, playing the doting father card. "Clara, sweetheart, we're family. There's no need to drag this into court, right?

I loved you, you know I did. I raised you, put my heart into it. Don't tell me you've forgotten all that?" Clara felt like throwing up. "Oh please. Your ---- 'love' didn't stop you from cheating. Didn't stop you from having a kid behind our backs. If your so-called love's that cheap, keep it to yourself. No need to disgust the rest of us." Owen looked both pained and reluctant, like a man parting with his last dollar. "Alright, fine. How about this-I'll compromise. I'll give you a million. You sign a waiver, give up all inheritance rights.

Deal?" Linda shrieked from the sidelines, practically foaming at the mouth. "A million?! Are you insane?!" Clara, crushed and exhausted, felt nothing but cold. "Save it. I don't want anything from you. Just write me a statement severing our blood ties. From now on, let's pretend we never existed to each other. " Some things... had to be cut clean before peace of mind was even possible. And Clara? She'd etched this debt into her bones. ---- It was unforgettable. Unforgivable. Owen and Linda exchanged a glance, eyes lighting up with delight. Damn, that was easier than expected!

Clara was just like her mother-fake noble, real idiot. Owen didn't waste a second. He quickly scribbled out the legal document severing ties and handed it to Aaron to review. Clara couldn't stand the sight of them anymore. She turned and walked out without another word. Aaron followed soon after. When he got in the car, he saw Clara silently crying, tears streaming nonstop. His heart ached. He pulled her into his arms. "It's okay... it'll pass. You've got Leo. And you've got me." Once they left Crystal Bay, Clara went straight to the little villa.

Right now, all she wanted was to sit in her mother's room for a while. Even Aaron, who'd seen his fair share of the world, couldn't help but marvel. ---- "Not many villas this well-kept still around." Clara nodded. "My mom put a lot of effort into it back in the day. She hired professionals to maintain the exterior. Every winter and summer break, she'd bring me here to help clean and organize. Even after I moved to Greystone, I hired a cleaning service to come once a month. Feel free to look around-I'm going to sit in her room for a bit." Aaron nodded.

He knew grief like this didn't ease up ina day. Clara stood in the room, surrounded by the familiar warmth of her mother's touch-the layout, the scent, everything. Her mom's gentle smile seemed to linger in the air. She'd been such a graceful, lovely woman, the kind who should've been adored by the world. But she'd chosen the wrong man. It turned out... mistaking someone's character could cost you your whole life. She stayed in there for hours. By the time Aaron knocked on the door, the sun had already