Chapter 3

I scoffed and hung up right away. Then, I blocked Regina's number and deleted it from my phone.

Seconds later, another call came in, this time from an unfamiliar number. However, it was still Regina's voice on the other end of the line.

"Dominic Carlson! Why did you hang up on me like that? Don't you know that Randy is the only family I have left in this world?

"You told me you loved me. If that's the case, why won't you do this one thing for me? Do you mean to tell me that you never meant it all those times you told me you loved me? They were just empty words?

"How could you refuse to help the woman you loved? It can't be that you're just unable to do it. You're so useless!"

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Regina, love may not wither from a lack of response, but it certainly does with repeated disappointment. Ask yourself honestly—I've done everything for you ever since I fell for you, but have you ever done a single thing for me in return?

"Sorry, but I don't like you anymore. We're over. And I'm never helping you with anything anymore."

I made myself clear with her once again, because I liked seeing things through.

There was silence on the other end of the line. Just as I was about to hang up, Regina softened her tone.

"Donnie, I know it was wrong, what I did at the engagement party. But I was just trying to test you. I wanted to see if you really meant what you said, that you'd always respect, support, and tolerate me no matter what I did.

"Let's hold the engagement party again after Randy's been released, alright? I promise I won't make a scene this time.

"You know that Randy is the last male heir in my family. Even if I die, we can't let anything happen to him. Just take it as me begging you this one time, Donnie. We've been together for so long, and I've never asked you for anything—"

In the past, it didn't matter how much trouble Regina or Randy got themselves into because with one phone call, I would gladly help them out. But now, I just found it ironic and amusing.

She still treated me like I was the same as before, only caring about the trivial matters and nothing else. Unfortunately for her, she could never control me like she always did anymore.

"Get lost!"

I then hung up on her, blocked her, and deleted that number from my logs once again. After putting my phone away, I was suddenly met with two pairs of teary eyes before me.

"You did so well, Dom!"

Mom and Dad each hugged me from the side, crying their hearts out.

They were the ones holding absolute power in Valdington, whose words were akin to law, and yet, they were now crying like children before me. I felt my heart aching with a bittersweet emotion.

My parents' love for me was deeper and more profound than I ever expected.

During the time I was being manipulated, I nearly squandered half of our family fortune away, and their hair turned gray overnight. They took back my shares and most of my authority, controlled my expenses, and rebuilt the family fortune.

I couldn't imagine how hard they must have worked those past two years to stabilize Carlson Group again and let it maintain its dominant position in the business world—all while allowing me to be the carefree heir.

I couldn't, and wouldn't, ever let them down again.

Later, I got the details on Randy's accident. He had hit five elementary school students from a top-tier elite school, and two of them were reportedly still in the ICU.

Children these days were spoiled and pampered terribly, as most of them were their families' only children. Moreover, as the capital of the country, Valdington was full of powerful and influential people.

Offending just one of such families would put anyone in a difficult position, and now, Randy had gone and offended five of them all at once. At this rate, his entire family could be uprooted just because of this incident.

Something told me Regina and Randy were about to have a very hard life ahead of them.

Regina didn't try calling me again. Instead, she sent me messages on my social media accounts.

"You have 30 minutes to settle this issue, Dominic. If you don't, then we're done for good! If a single hair on Randy's head is out of place, I swear that I will never forgive you for the rest of your life!"

This wasn't the first time she had threatened me like this. If she realized that the stick didn't work anymore, she would switch to the carrot, and vice versa. And it had worked every single time in the past.

But this time, I didn't even bother replying to her. Instead, I blocked her from all of my social media.

An hour later, the other influencers who had agreed to collaborate with her for future shoots in the next three months suddenly announced publicly that they were calling it off.

The few commercials and acting gigs she booked also announced that they were replacing her with other talents. One director even posted on his account that he'd never work with her again.

At this point, Regina's fans finally realized that something was wrong.

"Wait, are those people serious? Is what they said true? Did Regina only achieve everything because of Dominic's connections?"

"Does this mean she won't be doing any more street interviews? That's so sad."

"But I want to see her collaborate with them! Why are all the contracts cancelled? What am I supposed to do now? Can't I ship them both together anymore?"

…

Around three in the morning, Regina updated her status on her official social media account.

"I started from scratch anyway, so there's nothing hard about starting over."

Her fans showered her with their support in the comments, along with subsequent edits and fan art.

"Regina might look delicate, but she's strong and resilient! She's unstoppable once she sets her mind to something!"

"I'm a fan for life now! This woman has guts! Kudos to her indeed!"

"Look, it's our iron lady, Regina Horton, rising from the ashes once again! Keep it up, Regina! We'll always be there for you!"

I scoffed when I read the comments. Fate would never let anyone stubborn and foolish get away with it. And now, it was time for her to pay the price for her actions.