From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots

Chapter 171 The Truth About Reba

Back then, she’d wanted to get rid of the baby.

But by that point, she could already feel the child kicking.

She couldn’t bring herself to do it.

And Franklin had kept sweet–talking her through it all.

She believed him–just once more.

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But when she gave birth, he still hadn’t divorced his wife. And because Martha gave birth on the bexact /bsame day, he didn’t even have time to visit her.

She brought that baby into the world all alone.

She nearly died doing it.

At the time, she thought maybe dying would’ve been easier.–

But the sound of the baby crying pulled her back from the edge.

That cry gave her a reason to live.

She had truly loved that child. But she didn’t have the means to raise her properly or give her a decent future. So she left, even though it broke her.

Over the years, she never stopped thinking about that baby. And every time she did, it felt like a knife through her chest.

She even tried to go back and look.

But the child was gone.

She went crazy trying to track her down.

Eventually, someone told her the baby had gotten sick and died.

That was when she gave up.

And now Franklin was saying Reba was her daughter.

She couldn’t wrap her head around it.

Franklin knew words alone wouldn’t convince her. So he pulled out his phone and showed her photos bof /bReba through the years.

“Look for yourself. Doesn’t she look just like you?”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“I wasn’t there when you gave birth, and that was my fault. But I had a n. I bwas /bbgoing /bbto /bbswitch /bbyour /bbbaby /bwith Martha’s. That way, our child could have a better life. But something went bwrong /bband /bbwe /bblost /bbthe /bbaby in the shuffle. Martha was devastated. I had no choice but tofort bher /bbfirst/bb. /bbLater/bb, /bbwho /bbshe /bbalmed /bdown, I found out you were gone. Then the borphanage /bbcalled/b. bThey /bbsaid /bbReba /bbhad /bbbeen /bbabandoned /b

Chapter 171 The Truth About Reba

346 Peart Chloe’s hands trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks. She covered her mouthb, /bbtrying /bbnot /bbto /bmake a sound.

She had every reason to distrust Franklin. But now that she knew the child might still be balive/bb, /bbshe /bbcouldn’t /bhelp but hope. Even if there was only a tiny chance, it was still something.

Franklin went on.

“I adopted Reba myself and raised her on my own. I waited for the right time to tell Martha bthat /bbthe /bdaughter we lost had been found. But then Reba got sick–she needed a kidney transnt. bThat’s /bhow bwe /bended up choosing Scarlett as the donor.”

Chloe hadn’t known any of this.

“So no matter what, you have to help Reba,” Franklin said, stepping forward to grab her hand.

Chloe snapped back to her senses and jerked away from him.

“What, you’re not even willing to acknowledge your own daughter now? That’s cold, Chloe.”

The guilt she felt toward Reba hit her all at once.

She clenched her teeth.

Even if Franklin was lying, it was just one child. Helping her would at least be an act of kindness.

“Franklin.”

Her voice was calmer now, tinged with quiet authority.

“Once this is over, you and I are done. Completely.”

Franklin chuckled under his breath.

“Wouldn’t dream of getting in the way of your fancy life.”

“But that Scarlett girl isn’t someone to take lightly. You’d better be careful.”

Chloe turned away.

“That’s not your concern.”

-He added, “We took her in for six years and ended up bankrupt. That should tell you how ruthless she bis/bb./bb” /b

Chloe didn’t respond. She nced at her watch.

She had to get back. If someone noticed she was missing, the old matriarch would start asking questions.

Without another word, she turned and walked away.

She didn’t even say goodbye.

Franklin barely had time to react before her figure disappeared into the estate.

He stomped his foot in frustration and walked off in the opposite direction.

13:44 bTue/bb, /bb12 /bbAug. /b1). 2

Chapter 171 The Truth About Reba

By the time Chloe returned, the banquet was already winding down.

Quincy ran up to her, whispering excitedly.

“Mom, I heard Aurora’s friends are all students from Jalindale University. They said they’re going bto /bhumiliate Scarlett. Should I help Aurora out?”

Chloe forced herself to stayposed. She couldn’t let anything slip.

Back when she gave birth to Reba and moved to Jalindale, she met Grayson.

He worked in the entertainment industry and had a talent for spotting beautiful women.

She’d wanted to act. But she was a total rookie–clumsy and mistake–prone.

Strangely, Grayson, who was used to dealing with clever beauties, found her inexperience oddly brefreshing /b

Things progressed quickly from there.

A wealthy heir fell in love with a clumsy Cindere.

But what really made their marriage possible was the fake background Grayson had forged for bher/bb. /b

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