The Revenge of the Mute Wife by Melanie Paulson
Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Unluckily for him, Frederick wasn't just dealing with hallucinations and an insurance lawsuit. All his troubles seemed to have converged at once-one of his contacts in the police informed him that Alexandra's death case was being reopened. Now, there was a real possibility that the truth about her death would come to light. Frederick was on the brink of a mental collapse. On top of everything else, George wasn't joking-George had already sent his lawyers to demand repayment of the money borrowed during Deborah's marriage. Plus, Frederick's partners in his newly established business were pressuring him for a refund because the venture had failed.

"This is ridiculous! I didn't support you to live like this," Vanessa declared angrily, surveying the sea of papers on the living room table.

"Dad... I'm tired of my clothes. I need money to buy new ones," Cassandra complained.

"Hey, Dad, are you going to give me money to renew my club membership? It's humiliating that everyone knows it got canceled due to non-payment," Ernest grimaced.

Are you listening, Frederick? What are you waiting for? You need to get money fast because your kids ne-"

"SHUT UP!" Frederick yelled as he threw all the documents to the floor. "I know we need money, woman. You don't have to remind me every damn time!" Frederick glared at his wife before turning to his children. "And you two, if you need money so badly, work for it." Silence fell as the twins stared in shock at their father. He had never denied them anything or spoken such harsh words before.

"Oh, right, you can't," Frederick continued to say, pointing his index finger at his daughter, then his son. "Because you got expelled from school for inappropriate behavior, and the other dropped out because he's too dumb to understand his subjects, failing every course in his first year."

"Don't take it out on my children," Vanessa interjected, upset at Frederick's words as she embraced her children who had visibly recoiled from his words.

"I'm not taking it out on them. I'm just stating the truth: that I fathered two useless children."

"Dad..."

Cassandra was already in tears.

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"I'm not useless, and I'll prove it," Ernest said angrily with clenched fists.

"Oh yeah? How?" Frederick asked, stepping closer to grab his son's shirt collar. "Are you going to win the lottery, or will you... replace a job?" "Frederick, enough already! Stop attacking us. Come on, be reasonable... we're your family," Vanessa said, frowning.

"Oh... is telling the truth considered an attack now?" he asked, exaggerating his hand movements. "Come on... how hard was school if Deborah managed to graduate as an accountant with a scholarship because I never paid her tuition?" Frederick could tell that his children were now furious at being compared. "And yet this pair, who I've always given everything to, barely finished high school."

"Don't compare my children to that-"

"Well, at least she managed to use her brain to secure a juicy alimony and live comfortably. Meanwhile, tell me, what have your children done? Nothing. All they know how to do is stretch out their hands and ask me for money we don't have."

"Dad, I'm not going to get angry with you because it's obvious you're going through a crisis," Ernest said, trying to sound calm. "And to show you I'm a good son, I can assure you I'm about to uncover those clues that prevent you from accessing your ex-wife's money." "What..." Frederick looked amazed at his son. "R-Really?"

"Yeah."

"Wow, Ernest, that's wonderful news," Vanessa said, kissing him on the cheek." See, Frederick, our son is very talented, and instead of congratulating him, you've just been scolding him.".

"I guess I went a bit far. I'm sorry, kids."

"Don't worry, Dad, I know you didn't mean it," Cassandra said, hugging him.

Despite their words, the siblings were internally angry and fed up with the situation. They were supposed to be rich but they were suddenly told to work. With a silent glance at each other, they vowed that as soon as they got their hands on that money, they would rid themselves of their father, the most useless of the four, a man who only knew how to lose money in business deals.

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