17 Chapter 17 – The Matriarch’s Verdict
The room fell silent as Mrs. Margaret’s question cut through the air. Her frail body seemed to gain strength from her anger, straightening up on the sofa as she glared at Imogen.
“I asked you a question, young lady,” Mrs. Margaret said, her voice eerily commanding despite her age.
Imogen’s face paled. “Mrs. Ricardo, I… I wasn’t referring to you. I was-”
“Lying. You were lying, as you’ve done since you arrived,” Mrs. Margaret interrupted. Her gaze shifted to Mom, who stood frozen beside Imogen. “And you. I recognize you both now.”
My heart skipped a beat. Had they met before?
Mom stepped forward, plastering on her most ingratiating smile. “Mrs. Ricardo, we’ve never been formally introduced. I’m Ivy Ollie, Juliana’s mother. This misunderstanding-
old
“Misunderstanding?” Mrs. Margaret’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You called me a ‘crazy bat‘ when I visited the garden center last month. You refused to help me find my driver and told me to ‘get lost‘ when I asked for assistance.
The blood drained from Mom’s face. I glanced at Nathaniel, who stood watching the exchange. with cold calculation in his eyes.
“And you, Mrs. Margaret pointed a trembling finger at Imogen, “told your staff not to waste time on ‘senile old women who can’t remember what they want.”
Liam stepped forward. “Grandmother Margaret, there must be some confusion. Imogen would
never-”
“Don’t interrupt me, Liam.” Her voice cracked like a whip, silencing him instantly. She turned back to me. “Only this girl–Juliana–showed me kindness. While these two mocked an old woman behind her back, thinking I couldn’t hear.”
The realization hit me like a lightning bolt. The frail elderly customer at Garden Haven wasn’t just any old woman–she was Old Mrs. Margaret Ricardo, the matriarch of one of Oceanion’s most powerful families.
Imogen recovered quickly, tears springing to her eyes. “Mrs. Ricardo, Juliana tricked us! She never told us who you were. She kept it secret so she could manipulate the situation.”
“That’s right,” Mom jumped in. “My daughter has always been deceitful. She purposely hid your identity from us!”
I stood there, stunned by their audacity. “That’s ridiculous! I didn’t know who she was either!”
Nathaniel finally spoke, his deep voice commanding attention. “My grandmother frequently goes out incognito. Few people recognize her outside of formal events.”
17 Chapter 17 – The Matriarch’s Verdict
Mrs. Margaret’s gaze hardened as she looked at Imogen and Mom. “You treat people differently based on who you think they are. That tells me everything I need to know about your character.”
With shocking speed for a woman her age, she grabbed her teacup from the side table and hurled it at my mother. Hot tea splashed across Mom’s expensive blouse as she shrieked and jumped back.
“Get out of my sight,” Mrs. Margaret commanded.
“But Mom sputtered, dabbing at the stain.
“Now!” The old woman’s voice was powerful enough to make everyone flinch.
Mom backed away, her face contorted with humiliation and rage.
Nathaniel cleared his throat. “Liam, perhaps you should escort your fiancée and Mrs. Ollle to the garden while we sort this out.”
Liam hesitated, clearly torn between obeying Nathaniel and staying to control the damage.
Imogen wasn’t ready to give up. She stepped closer to Nathaniel, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper that was still loud enough for everyone to hear. “Nathaniel, surely you see what’s happening here. Juliana is using your grandmother. She’s been telling people she’s married to you!”
I felt my face flush with anger. “I never said-”
“Is that so?” Nathaniel’s gaze shifted to me, his dark eyes unreadable.
Imogen pressed her advantage. “Yes! Ask her yourself! She showed up at the Civil Affairs Bureau claiming to be your wife!”
All eyes turned to me. I squared my shoulders, refusing to be intimidated.
“I went there because I discovered I was apparently already married–to someone I’ve never met. I was trying to get answers.”
“What a convenient story, Liam sneered.
Nathaniel studied me for a long moment before turning to his grandmother. “This woman is not my wife.”
The words shouldn’t have hurt–I knew we weren’t really married–but they stung nonetheless. Imogen’s triumphant smile made it worse.
“See?” she crowed. “She’s been lying all along”
“I asked her to look after you,” Nathaniel continued, addressing his grandmother while ignoring Imogen completely. “You’ve been mistaking her for someone else.”
Mrs. Margaret frowned, confusion briefly clouding her eyes. “But she’s your little J–bird.”
17 Chapter 17 – The Matriarch’s Verdict
I blinked in surprise. J–bird? The childhood nickname only my father had used–before he abandoned us.
Nathaniel’s expression flickered for just a moment. “Grandmother, your medication is making you confused again.”
He turned to Imogen, his face hardening. “What I find interesting is your behavior, Imogen. My grandmother makes a simple mistake, and instead of gently correcting her, you use it as an opportunity to attack someone. Then, when caught treating an elderly woman poorly, your immediately try to shift blame.”
Imogen’s smile faltered. “I was only trying to protect the family from an opportunist.
“Were you?” Nathaniel’s voice was deadly quiet. “Or were you protecting yourself from the consequences of your actions?
Liam stepped forward. “Uncle, this is a misunderstanding. Imogen meant no disrespect-
“I’m not your uncle yet, Nathaniel cut him off coldly. “And I suggest you choose your future wife more carefully. The Ricardo name deserves better representation than what I’ve witnessed today.”
Imogen’s face crumpled as the implication of his words sank in.
Mrs. Margaret spoke up, her voice firm despite her frailty. “Liam, I’ve decided. The wedding ist
off.”
“Grandmother!” Liam protested, panic flashing across his face.
“I won’t have someone who mocks the elderly and vulnerable joining our family,” she continued, her chin lifting with regal authority.
Liam dropped to his knees beside her sofa. “Please, Grandmother. Imogen made a mistake. She’s sorry, aren’t you, Imogen?”
Imogen rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. “I am so sorry, Mrs. Ricardo. I didn’t. know it was you. I would never intentionally disrespect you.
Her words only seemed to harden the old woman’s resolve. “That’s precisely the problem. You shouldn’t need to know someone’s status to treat them with basic dignity.”
For several tense moments, no one spoke. Finally, Liam tried again.
“Grandmother, we’ve been planning this wedding for months. The merger between our companies-”
“Will proceed as planned, Nathaniel interjected smoothly. “Business is business. Personal matters are separate.”
Mrs. Margaret sighed, her momentary strength seeming to fade. “Fine. The engagement can
00:47
17 Chapter 17- The Matnarch’s Verdict
stand for now. But the wedding gift I promised you–the two percent of Ricardo shares–those will remain with me until I see genuine change in your fiancée’s character.”
Imogen gasped. Two percent of Ricardo shares would be worth millions.
“Thank
you, Grandmother, Liam said, relief evident in his voice despite the financial blow.
Mrs. Margaret waved her hand dismissively. “Take them away, Nathaniel. I need to rest.”
As Liam ushered a shell–shocked Imogen and my furious mother out of the room, Nathaniel turned to me.
“Stay.
“Stay. We need to talk”
The butler and doctor discreetly exited, leaving me alone with Nathaniel and his grandmother. Mrs. Margaret closed her eyes, seemingly drifting off to sleep almost immediately.
“You said you discovered we’re married, Nathaniel said without preamble, his voice low and controlled. “Explain.”
I took a deep breath. “I went to register a marriage at the Civil Affairs Bureau. They told me I was already married–to you. They showed me a certificate with both our signatures, dated three years ago.
*Impossible,” he said flatly. “I’ve never married anyone.”
“Well, someone with your name and ID number married me. I have the proof right here. I pulled the document copy from my bag and handed it to him.
He examined it, his brow furrowing. “This appears to be my signature, but I didn’t sign this.”
“Well, I didn’t either,” I countered. “Yet here we are.”
His eyes met mine, searching for deception. “What do you want?”
“The truth. And if we are somehow legally married, a divorce. My company is going public soon. I can’t have complications.”
Something that might have been respect flickered in his eyes. “Fine. We’ll go to the Civil Affairs
Bureau tomorrow to sort this out.
“Thank you,” I said, relieved he wasn’t fighting me on this.
*But understand this,” he continued, his voice hardening again. “If you’re lying about any of this, or if you’re using my grandmother as an excuse to get close to me, you’ll regret it. My patience
has limits.
I met his gaze steadily. “I have no reason to lie. I don’t want this marriage any more than you do.”
For just a moment, I thought I saw something like disappointment cross his face, but it was gone before 1 could be sure.
