Chapter 4 - The Poisoned Phone Call
Before Hayden could formulate another lie, his phone began ringing furiously in his pocket.
He tried to ignore it, but the screen kept flashing with his mother's name: BRENDA.
"Answer it," Grandma Margaret ordered coldly. "Put it on speaker."
Hayden hesitated, looking between the security guards and his phone. Pale and sweating profusely, he swiped the screen and pressed speaker.
"Hayden!" Brenda’s screeching voice echoed loudly through the quiet hospital room. "What is going on with my credit card? I’m at the country club resort in Palm Beach and the front desk just told me my card was declined! They humiliated me in front of the entire board!"
Hayden stammered, "Mom, quiet, not right now—"
"Don't tell me to be quiet!" Brenda screamed. "Did that useless orphan wife of yours forget to pay the monthly transfer again? I told you to keep her on a tighter leash! She’s supposed to be working those warehouse shifts to pay for her own expenses so you can keep our family fund properly maintained! Tell her to transfer twenty thousand dollars immediately!"
I closed my eyes tightly, feeling the sickening sting of her words. For three years, Brenda had treated me like dirt beneath her shoes. She had made me serve food at her dinner parties, mocked my homemade clothes, and constantly reminded me that I was "lucky Hayden took in a broke girl with no parents."
All the while, she was living off my inheritance.
Grandma Margaret stepped closer to the phone. "Brenda," she said softly.
The line went dead quiet for three long seconds.
"Who... who is this?" Brenda asked, her voice suddenly losing its arrogance.
"This is Margaret Huntington," Grandma said, every word dripping with absolute authority. "The woman whose money built your Hamptons house, paid for your daughter's tuition, and funded your country club membership."
A sharp intake of breath came over the speaker. "Mrs. Huntington... I... I didn't mean—"
"In precisely two hours," Margaret continued, ignoring Brenda's panic, "sheriff deputies will arrive at your residence with an eviction order and a search warrant for all assets purchased with stolen Huntington funds. I suggest you pack a small bag. You won't be returning."
"Wait! No! Hayden, do something!" Brenda shrieked.
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Grandma Margaret didn't wait for a response. She tapped the screen, ending the call, and tossed Hayden’s phone onto the foot of my bed.
"Pamela," Grandma said, turning her back on Hayden entirely. "Have the private transport prepared. Matilda and my great-granddaughter are leaving this place."
