His Only Heir Is Mine

I let out a quiet sigh.

So much for slipping out unnoticed.

I walked over anyway. "Hi, Ms. Connell."

Talia stepped closer, eyes dragging over my cheap uniform. A smile spread—fake and smug. "It really is you. Working as a server now? And not even inside?" She clicked her tongue. "Must be rough."

She grabbed my hand, already pulling me toward the inner hall, all sweet like she cared.

"Come on, I'll get you inside. Way easier. You might even run into Dad and Mom!"

After two steps, she paused—like she'd just remembered Vivian and the others.

Her face flipped cold.

"You're all fired. Get out. Now." A sharp look. "Filthy trash."

Their legs almost gave out. No one dared speak, let alone beg.

They couldn't touch Talia, so their glares stabbed into my back instead.

Typical Talia.

The second we stepped into the inner hall, she put on that fake 'oops' face. "Joanna, I just remembered—we don't need extra staff in here." A small smile. "Restrooms and trash still need cleaning, though. What do you think...?"

I knew exactly what Talia was doing.

But compared to everything I'd dealt with on my own these past years? This was nothing.

"Alright. I'll handle it."

No hesitation. I took the cleaning supplies.

I was working the trash bins in the corner when the star of the banquet—Bryson's mom, Adeline—made her entrance.

Before anyone could crowd her with compliments, her voice cut through the room, sharp and cold.

"How am I supposed to live long?" she snapped. "Look at the wife you married. She's ruined this family's future."

I looked up.

Five years had passed, but time had been very kind to Bryson. Still handsome. Still impossible to ignore.

Just... colder now. A shadow sat between his brows.

Losing his ability to have kids clearly hit hard.

Bryson said nothing. Talia forced a tight smile. "Please don't be upset. It's bad for your health—"

"Don't act close to me," Adeline snapped. "I can't stand it." Her voice sharpened. "If you hadn't insisted on street racing, would Bryson be like this? What did our family do to deserve this? My perfectly fine son—ruined by you. Ruined to the point he can't even have an heir!"

She turned on Talia's parents, Darren and Margot, who stood there like statues.

"And you two! This is the daughter you brought back? Look at what she's done to my son. Happy now?"

Their quiet apologies barely carried across the room.

Adeline only got more worked up, years of resentment spilling out. "Back then, that girl from your family—Joanna—I thought she was great. Quiet, well-behaved. Bryson must've lost his mind to marry this disaster. I regret it every day!"

Talia's face darkened.

The second my name came up, it was all there—resentment, humiliation. Barely hidden. Then her eyes flicked, and she grabbed the moment.

"Adeline, what a coincidence. You just mentioned Joanna—I actually saw her here tonight."

Before anyone could react, she was already walking toward me.

Next thing I knew, I was dragged straight into the center of the hall.

Under the bright lights, there was nowhere to hide. My worn uniform. The half-wet rag in my hand. All of it, on display.

Humiliation hit hard—first time in a while.

I forced a smile. "Madam Adeline, hello. Mr. Connell. Mrs. Connell."

Adeline looked at me, something unreadable in her eyes. The praise from earlier? Gone. Just awkward now.

Darren and Margot froze too—clearly not expecting to see me like this.

A heavy silence dropped—then someone snickered.

It spread fast.

"Oh my God... it's really her? The one who used to follow Bryson around?"

"Tsk. Look at that uniform—lowest-level cleaner, right? And that rag? Ms. Connell's already being nicer than she deserves. If it were me, I'd've had security toss her out. Just standing here kills the vibe."

"I heard she got a huge settlement after the breakup. How'd she end up like this? Blew it all on some guy, probably."

The humiliation came in waves, ready to drown me—

"Enough."

I didn't expect Bryson to step in.

His face was blank, eyes sweeping the room.

Silence. Instant.

Only then did he look at me.

His voice softened—almost like pity. "Joanna, why are you working here as a cleaner? When we broke up, didn't I give you a lot of money?"

Money?

I looked up, confused.

All these years, I hadn't seen a single cent.

After Kyle was born, I couldn't even cover rent. I went back to work before I'd even healed, picking up whatever jobs I could.

My lips parted. The question slipped out. "What money?"

Three words. Heavy.

Bryson's eyes tightened, shock flashing through.

His gaze snapped to Talia. "Talia. Where's the money?"