Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!-Chapter 649: The Strange Stepmom

"I didn’t want you to marry Gianna either—did that stop you? Dad, I’m not with Miss Wilson just to spite you. I genuinely like her. But you? You’ve turned yourself into someone else’s pawn over a kid."

Mr. Langston inhaled sharply. He never really understood how much Everett’s biological mother had affected him—just knew his son had this odd quirk: he didn’t like women.

Now that Everett actually liked someone, shouldn’t he just let it be?

"You okay now?" The old man suddenly softened. He wasn’t that stubborn of a person. But divorcing Gianna? That was off the table.

Because they still had a sweet, lively little daughter at home.

"I’m fine," Everett replied flatly.

"If you’re fine, come home for dinner tomorrow night. And if you want to bring Miss Wilson... I won’t object. I still don’t like the idea of you marrying an actress, but I respect your choice," Mr. Langston said with obvious displeasure. "You bailed on Delilah last time. You better go to the Chengs’ in a couple of days and apologize."

"Apologize? I’ve made it clear I won’t see her. Stop throwing women you like at me!"

"How dare you! You’re arrogant and ungrateful!" Mr. Langston was furious, jumping out of his seat. He only pushed those women on Everett because he was afraid the guy would stay single forever.

Everett didn’t even glance back. A week ago, Delilah had flown to Country S to see him—but he’d deliberately avoided her.

She even texted him later, calling him cold and heartless.

Everett found it laughable. He’d never promised Delilah anything. They weren’t even dating. How could she accuse him of being cold?

"I’m not just arrogant. I’m cold and heartless too. If you don’t want your son’s reputation to keep getting worse, stop pulling these little stunts."

Without looking up, Everett grabbed his phone and checked his inbox.

Ever since shooting the MV, he’d barely had time to handle work. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Opening his email, he winced at the hundreds of unread messages.

⸻

Meanwhile—

Aurora was in her hospital room. Dominic had come back with dinner.

"I was looking all over for you! Where did you go? This VIP floor is huge. I even saw that Tobias guy—he told me you went out."

Aurora pressed her lips together. "He locked us inside."

Dominic’s eyes went wide. "Wait, what?!"

Aurora’s face darkened. "Like boss, like underling. Tobias is just as shady."

She’d fallen asleep in there—only to wake up and find Everett’s dad and stepmom had shown up. And she’d been sprawled out, completely unaware.

Even if she claimed it meant nothing... who would believe that?

"Do you think any reporters got pictures? If they did..." Dominic trailed off, blinking as someone knocked on the door. She put her meal down and cracked the door open.

"Who are you looking for?"

Standing outside was a woman in a long red dress with a black shawl. In this cold weather, she was only wearing sheer tights.

Sure, the hospital had heating... but still. She was doing the most. Looked to be in her thirties, with a sultry, over-the-top vibe.

"I’m looking for Miss Aurora. Is she here? I’m Everett’s stepmother—Gianna."

Gianna smiled sweetly, her charm dialed all the way up. Even Dominic was briefly stunned—she really was beautiful. Just... too much.

Dominic never liked women who were too seductive. Felt like they lived just to please men.

"Aurora, someone’s here for you. Says she’s Everett’s stepmom."

Aurora paused mid-bite, swallowed, wiped her mouth, and nodded. "Let her in."

Gianna walked in, glanced around the tidy room, and raised a brow before flashing an even brighter smile.

"Miss Wilson, I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner?"

"No, it’s fine. If you’ve got something to say, Mrs. Langston, go ahead." Aurora sat calmly. She didn’t know why Gianna was here, but she could feel it—that mix of jealousy and hostility in the woman’s eyes was impossible to miss.

Gianna turned her head gracefully and tilted it slightly at Dominic. "Miss, would you mind giving us a moment?"

Dominic glanced at Aurora. Aurora nodded, so Dominic quietly stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Aurora sat with her hands gently folded, calm and composed, her whole presence serene and lovely. The sight sparked a wave of jealousy in Gianna’s chest.

No wonder he fell for her.

It had to be that quiet elegance, and maybe that angelic voice too. But... if her voice were to become hoarse, would he still love her then?

The thought made Gianna’s smile even sweeter. "Miss Wilson, Everett said you’re his girlfriend. I just wanted to confirm that. His father’s been so worried about his love life over the years."

Aurora looked at the woman before her—draped in red like some kind of seductive rose—and slowly shook her head. "No, I’ve said before: Everett was joking. Someone like me doesn’t match someone like him."

At least she knows her place. A flicker of joy passed through Gianna’s eyes, and she let out a cheerful laugh.

"I see... That explains it. Seems Everett really likes you, but you don’t feel the same, right?"

Aurora pressed her lips together and gave a faint smile. "Mrs. Langston, whether he likes me or not, I honestly don’t know. But there’s nothing between us."

Gianna felt a weight lift from her chest. So, this woman had her heart set elsewhere?

"Oh, so Miss Wilson doesn’t like our Everett? Is there already someone else in your heart?"

"No, it’s just... we’re not right for each other." Aurora rubbed her temples. She couldn’t explain why, but something about talking to Gianna made her uneasy.

There was something off about her expression.

When Aurora said there was no future between her and Everett, Gianna’s eyes lit up—like she saw a glimmer of hope.

"I see. Well then, I won’t keep you from your dinner. Goodbye, Miss Wilson." Gianna got the answer she wanted and left looking very pleased with herself.

Aurora frowned slightly. Dominic came back in, noticing the confusion on her face.

"What’s wrong? What did that woman say to you? She’s Everett’s stepmom? She’s so young!"

Aurora paused, and to her own surprise, felt a twinge of annoyance.

"Nothing much. Just asked if I was Everett’s girlfriend," Aurora said calmly, opening her takeout box again and eating slowly.

"Such a young stepmom... Geez. Rich men these days—doesn’t matter if they’re 60 or 70, they all want to marry girls in their 20s or 30s. No wonder people say men can share hardship, but not wealth," Dominic muttered.

Aurora kept eating slowly. "That’s just a few cases. It doesn’t mean all men are like that."

"Oh, you’d be surprised. I grew up in the countryside. Plenty of men struck it rich from mining, then dumped their first wives and started chasing mistresses left and right... Tch, society these days is a mess."

Dominic kept rambling. "That’s why women today are practical. Everyone’s looking for a guy with a car, a house, and money."