After comforting her mother on the phone for a few minutes, Faye took a deep breath and called Horace.

"Where are we meeting?" she asked, suppressing her emotions. She had to find Horace and learn what he knew about her father.

Horace had worked at her father's company for a year; he must have known plenty about his private life.

On the other end, Horace sounded surprised by her promptness. He gave her the name of a restaurant near his place. "Seven o'clock tonight. See you there."

After hanging up, Faye sank back into her chair. Horace's information was probably true. She couldn't believe her father actually had an illegitimate son and was now willing to abandon his family for him.

Of course. In a family that had always favored sons over daughters, no amount of effort on her part would ever earn her father's approval.

Just then, her phone rang again. Seeing it was her mother, she quickly answered, "Hello? Mom."

"That bastard! Your father secretly moved a billion dollars into an overseas account!" her mother's furious voice screamed through the phone.

Faye's heart skipped a beat. What? One billion? An overseas account? Her father had secretly transferred that much money?

"Mom, are you sure you read that right?" Faye's voice trembled with shock.

"There's no mistake. As soon as your father left, I figured out the combination to his safe. The deposit slips were split across several accounts, totaling one billion dollars, tucked inside his passport!" Her mother's voice was a mix of tears and despair. "Faye, he's been planning to abandon us all along! He's going to take that billion and start a new life!"

A chill shot up from Faye's feet, leaving her limbs cold. Not only did her father have an illegitimate son, but he had also been secretly moving a massive fortune. This meant that even with a divorce, she and her mother would likely get very little. Her father had already prepared his escape route.

Faye told her mother not to tip him off and that they would discuss a plan when she got home tonight.

After ending the call, Faye's mind went blank for a few seconds. If her father was going to be ruthless, then so would she.

She would not let that bastard and his mother get their hands on that billion dollars. She had to fight for her share.

Now that the Yeatons were

bankrupt, Vanessa and her mother

had vanished. Faye had heard

rumors that Vanessa had moved on to a tech tycoon, Walden Wells, becoming his kept woman, Faye didn't have Vanessa's skill

she had

to seize this chance to turn her life around.

At the very least, she had to get half of her father's one billion.

At seven o'clock that evening, Faye arrived at the restaurant on time Horace was already waiting. Though Faye's career was unremarkable, in

Horace's eyes, she was already. incredibly successful.

After leaving the lab, he often

yearned to return, but he knew the black mark on his record was

permanent. He would ent

never

foot in the industry again.

And that black mark was the price he paid for protecting Faye. Now, he was just collecting what he was owed.

"Faye, you're here." Horace eagerly pulled out a chair for her.

Faye ignored his attempt at chivalry, sat down, and stared at him. "Horace, tell me everything you know about my father and that illegitimate son."

Seeing her impatience, Horace just smiled. "What's the hurry? The night is still young. Let's eat first."

A flicker of disgust crossed Faye's face. Of course, Horace wanted more than just dinner. He wanted her to spend the night at his place.