But now it was clear, it had always been my wishful thinking. In his eyes, in his heart, there was only Hyacinth and the children.

He wasn’t unwilling to divorce because he couldn’t bear to lose me, but because he couldn’t afford to lose his cash cow.

As my tone grew sharp, Vale’s face darkened. In the end, he gritted his teeth and made his final threat.

“Lettie, if you want a divorce, I’ll take half the assets. And forget about getting the company listed.”

He had calculated it well. He knew the company was like my own child, something I had built with my blood, sweat, and sleepless nights. I’d spent three years preparing for its IPO.

He was betting that I couldn’t let go of him. I couldn’t bring myself to let go of the company that I would surrender.

But what he didn’t realize was that my children weren’t just tied to one company. I had countless children.

Seeing the storm on my face, Vale softened his tone and coaxed gently.

“Lettie, you know I love you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have stayed by your side all these twenty years, leaving the kids behind.”

“I just made a mistake. That doesn’t mean I stopped loving you.”

“You once said that when we got older, we’d set the company aside and travel across the rivers and mountains together. Now that we have heirs, he can help manage the company. They both carry my blood, and you know their character. Isn’t that better than handing everything to outsiders?”

He spoke so gently, stringing together all sorts of reasoning like a rehearsed script. If it weren’t for the glances he exchanged with the children, I might’ve believed him, just a little.

But the fleeting glint of calculation in their eyes couldn’t be hidden.

When he insisted on being DINK back then, he had already started planning for this day, waiting until I was too old, past childbearing age.

Then he’d manipulate and coax, bringing in his mistress and illegitimate children to smoothly take over everything I built.

Behind my back, they laughed. “Who told you to be such a fool, blinded by love? You deserve to die alone and pitiful.”

I said nothing as they left, cheerful and smug.

Soon after, social media was filled with their happy photos, family shopping sprees, and a grand airport welcome with 999 roses for the mistress’s glorious return.

For three straight days, Vale didn’t come home. I knew he was at the suburban villa, far too happy to even think of me.

Each day, he sent a message, reminding me to handle the equity transfer as soon as possible, always ending with a kissy-face emoji.

[Wifey, Hyacinth just got back. She’s unfamiliar with everything here. Once I get her settled, I’ll come back to you. Love you!]

I stared coldly at the screen, watching him buy her a luxury car and a designer watch, and then post a picture with a peace sign, full of pride.

The caption read, [After twenty years of storms and trials, I can finally hold you openly.]

Men like him weren’t just deceitful; they were masters at hiding it.

After twenty-two years, he finally didn’t have to pretend anymore.

I calmly gave his post a like.

That single reaction made them believe I had surrendered, that the transfer of the company to the twins was already set in stone.

After all, even if I divorced him, I’d lose both love and money. So why not bow my head, win some favor, and earn myself a few so-called “relatives”?

Besides, I was already over fifty. Without biological children, what use was more wealth?

Vale had already begun contacting reporters and searching for a venue to hold a press conference.

Secretary Larkin Scott arrived with a stack of documents in hand, ready to escort me. Vale smiled and reminded me warmly, “Make sure the listing goes smoothly. Once it's done, the market value will jump by a hundred million. It’ll be easier for Percy and Margaret to take over.”

Larkin added with a polite smile, “Yes, with family involved, everything will move faster. After all, blood runs thicker than water.”

Vale didn’t catch the subtle weight behind those words. He assumed I had already discussed everything with Larkin.

After all, Larkin had been by my side since graduating from college, both my secretary and personal assistant. He was nearly forty now and still unmarried.

There had always been whispers in the company about me and him, but the truth was, we were clean.

The moment I stepped out the door, I turned to Larkin with a calm look.

“How many have you found?”

“Twenty-eight confirmed so far,” he replied. “Some are still submitting documents, and others came in with everything. I’m handling it.”

“Good. Make sure their food and lodging are taken care of. When the time comes, bring them all over.”

In the days that followed, I didn’t go home. I stayed at the company, sorting through every account, every detail.

When I finally walked back into the house, the first thing I saw was the fish tank, completely empty.

Laughter floated in from the kitchen. Hyacinth came out wearing an apron, smiling, holding a plate of freshly cooked fish.

On that plate was my koi. Worth twenty million.

Our eyes met. I had seen her photo before, and I recognized her instantly.

The two children were lounging on the sofa, legs propped up, phones in hand. From the kitchen, Vale’s cheerful voice rang out.

In that moment, fury rushed straight to my head.

"Who told you to cook my fish? Taking without asking is theft. Don’t you even know that much?"

From the kitchen, Vale’s voice rang out cheerfully, “Hyacinth, come taste the soup, does it need more salt?”

The two kids suddenly stood up, faces twisted with indignation.

“What do you mean, theft?”

“Yeah, this is our dad’s house. That means it’s ours too. What’s wrong with eating a fish?”

I let out a cold laugh.

“That koi was bought at a Canadian auction for twenty million. And you’re asking what’s wrong?”

The girl still hadn’t grasped the weight of the situation. She let out a gasp.

“Wow! A twenty-million fish? Quick, take a picture! I finally have something to flex on my besties. Let’s see who dares show off next.”

Vale poked his head out from the kitchen. The moment he saw me, guilt flickered across his face.

“Lettie, you’re back. You hadn’t come home in days, so I brought them over for a meal...”

I sneered.

“So you cooked my koi?”

He lowered his gaze. “You knew how much it was worth.”

Then he mumbled weakly, “Lettie, Hyacinth didn’t mean it. The kids wanted braised fish, but there wasn’t any at home…”

“When I saw it, Hyacinth had already killed the fish. Since it was already dead, it would’ve been a waste not to cook it, right? It’s not like strangers were the ones eating it.”

My gaze landed on the empty fish tank, and my chest tightened. That koi, I had raised it for five years, spending no less than two hundred thousand dollars a month. And now, with just one careless sentence, “it was already killed”, it was gone.

I took a slow breath, forcing down the fury that boiled beneath the surface. My expression turned to ice.

“She can accompany the fish, get out. Or I’ll call the police right now.”

The boy shot up instantly, his face twisted with arrogance.

“Old woman, who are you telling to get out? Call the police? Try it. I’ll break your legs.”

The girl stood as well, eyes blazing with indignation.

“You better show respect to my mom. She’s our real mother. If you keep acting like this, don’t expect us to treat you like family in the future.”

I lifted my eyes and looked at the two of them. Shameless. Just like Hyacinth.

Hyacinth stood between the two children, one eyebrow raised with a crooked grin, like an old scoundrel enjoying the chaos.

I had no desire to waste words on them. My gaze shifted to Vale.

“Vale, it’s time we had a proper talk.”

I turned and sat on the sofa. Vale glanced at the three beside him, then hesitated before sitting across from me.

It felt like a tribunal, four against one.

The two children glared at me. Hyacinth wore a look of complete detachment, as if none of it concerned her.

I didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“Vale, send them abroad immediately. I’ll provide ten million for living expenses. Otherwise, we’ll finish this conversation at the police station.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Hyacinth slammed her palm on the table.

“Ten million? Are you trying to send beggars away?”

“The Solana Group is already worth a billion even before it goes public, and it’ll be worth more after. There are over a dozen cars, five properties... and you’re offering ten million?”

I turned to Vale, my gaze cold. So, he had already handed everything over to Hyacinth? And this, this was what he dared to call an accident?

The two children’s eyes lit up at the word billion.

“A billion? Mom, doesn’t that make us billionaires?”

“This is crazy! Once I get the money, I’m buying a private jet and traveling the world, maybe even get a celebrity boyfriend.”

Watching their excitement grow, I spoke slowly and clearly.

“Vale, you should know that I earned money. If I get angry, I can donate every cent or drag the company into bankruptcy. I have no family anyway. What do I care?”

Before Vale could say anything, Percy rushed over and punched me straight in the face.

“Old hag, say that again! You actually want to donate our money?”

“If we don’t have a cent to our name, how are we supposed to eat or drink? You want to ruin us? I’ll break your legs first!”

As he spoke, he kicked my leg hard.

Vale rushed forward and pulled him back.

“You little brat! Speak properly! She’s your Aunt Lettie! How dare you lay a hand on her!”

Hyacinth finally spoke, calm as ever.

“Big sister, you’re older than me. Why are you still so impulsive?”

“Vale slept with you for twenty years. Even if you were paying for a gigolo, that wasn’t free either. At least he gave you warmth, gave you a home.”

“So what if he had kids? And now you’re heartlessly turning your back, ready to toss the three of us onto the streets?”

Vale’s face darkened.

“Lettie, I never thought you’d be this cruel, so heartless.”

“I don’t care about the money. But how can you stomach donating everything and making Percy and Margaret suffer? They’re my children, which makes them yours too, doesn’t it?”

“Oh?”

I looked at Vale with calm indifference.

“Vale, are you saying I should turn a blind eye to your betrayal and generously accept your children?”

“Then tell me, if I had children outside, would you treat them like your own?”

Vale let out a cold snort.

“Of course. If you had kids, they could move in too. They could inherit the company alongside Percy and Margaret.”

“I’m not petty and selfish like you.”

I was already past fifty. After years of business dinners, late nights, and unrelenting pressure, my health, especially my liver, had long deteriorated. Even if I wanted to, having children now was impossible.

Vale was betting on that. Betting I couldn’t have children anymore. But since he said that, I wouldn’t be polite anymore.

With a soft smile, I dialed Larkin.

“Secretary Scott, bring the children over.”