The Orphan Billionaire’s revenge

Future In-Laws

“No,” Garnet said instantly, peeling off her shoes. “Not now mother. I’m not in the mood to see anyone. Unless they are a fairy godmother with a bottle of wine and a one-way ticket out of my already sorry state.”

"I might not have wings but i do have the solution to the problems that plague you." A voice said from behind Beth.

Garnet's eyes widened as the tiny, stately old lady stepped out from behind her mother.

 

“Grandmother?” Garnet blinked, stunned.

Delilah Lancaster was the kind of woman who wore fur coats in April and smelled like the inside of a luxury perfume lab. Her hair, pure silver and coiled in an elegant bun, looked like it hadn’t moved in thirty years. Her lipstick never smudged. Her heels were always polished. And her judgment?

Legendary and extremely harsh.

“Darling, darling” Delilah drawled, leading Garnet to the sofa and gently easing her onto a seat and examined her critically. “You look… tired.”

Garnet stiffened, knowing that there were no positives from her grandmother being there.

Her grandmother’s voice sharpened just a fraction, just enough to be noticeable. “I heard about the divorce.”

The word cracked like ice in the air between them, Garnet glanced up at her mother who at that moment was looking everywhere but at her. She bristled, arms crossing over her chest. “So?”

“So,” Delilah said smoothly, “I thought I would come and check on my granddaughter. A woman in your position shouldn’t be left to fend for herself. Especially after marrying that… most unsuitable man.”

“His name is Thor,” Garnet muttered.

“Yes, yes. Like the Greek god, how unfitting for that bum.” Delilah’s smile was thin. “But at least he had the decency to give you a divorce without cleaning you out and leaving you destitute.”

"We were so worried that he would demand that Garnet keep taking care of his bills." Beth chirped in and slunk back as Garnet glared at her.

Delilah sighed deeply. "This would not at all have been a problem if you had allowed me find you a husband befitting of our family status and your beauty. A woman should not have to concern herself with working to take care of bills."

"First it was your mother marrying that useless father of yours and always having to crawl to me for help and then even you who i had so much hope in." Delilah continued. "I had such high hopes and i am happy that all is not lost, this divorce has made you a less than ideal candidate for a good husband and i have my work cut out for me but i can make miracles." 

"But my husband had good prospects, he just got into some bad luck. . And i tried my best with Garnet. You know she can be very wilful."

"Unfortunately, that wilfulness has made her lose the most eligible bachelors, who is going to want a divorcee as a wife now?"

Garnet’s chest tightened. “Grandmother, I’m not ready to talk about this. Or anything, really and i am definately not ready to dicuss another marriage.”

Delilah stood, smoothing her tailored coat with a graceful flick of her wrist. “I’m not here to press, darling. Only to help. You look exhausted. Why don't you go up to your room, take a nap. your mother has drawn a bath for you. And when you’re ready, come downstairs. The family is having dinner together tonight, and i have all your favourites prepared."

Garnet’s eyes narrowed. “Since when do you pepare special dinners for me?”

Delilah was already pulling her to her feet. “Tonight,” she said simply. “Be a dear and wear something with shape. You always look best in jewel tones and wear the diamonds i gifted you, hopefully you did not have to pawn that off to feed your leech of a husband.”

With that, she pushed Garnet up the stairs and when Garnet turned to look at her grandmother and mother standing at the foot of the stairs and looking up at her with calculated smiles, she could not help but worry.

As soon as she entered the room, Garnet collapsed onto the bed, groaning into the pillow. “What unfortunate plan are they up to?”

Whatever it was, she didn’t have the energy to fight it just yet.

Two hours later, Garnet stood at the top of the stairs, hesitating.

She had put on a sleek A line emerald green dress more out of obligation than a desire to dress up. She had twisted her hair into something neat enough to pass inspection and she had reluctantly put on the diamonds, she did not want to hear anymore about her freeloading husband. Despita ll the preparation for dinner, she still wasn’t in the mood for company. Especially not family wide company where she would have to smile and reassure everyone that she had gotten a nice job that would keep them from starving or having to sell off all their property.

As she decended down the stairs, she heard laughter.

"good to see that no one is bummed by my recent unemployment," Garnet thought sourly.

The closer she got to the bottom, she heard… unfamiliar voices.

Her brows drew together.

Family dinner didn’t usually include strangers.

Cautiously, she stepped down the stairs, one hand trailing along the railing.

The moment her heels touched the last step, her grandmother’s voice rang out.

“There she is! Our beautiful Garnet. Come now, darling, come meet your new future in-laws.”

Garnet stopped cold.

“What?”