He Cheated On Me Thinking My Wealth Was His—So I Kicked Him Out of the Billionaire Game Chapter 09
Cora laughed.
The sound was sharp and raspy at the same time.
Her eyes locked on mine. Pure venom.
“Elise Whitmore, why do you act like you’re some saint?”
“You pulled me out of Rural Kentucky back then. Don’t pretend it wasn’t just to make yourself feel like some
noble savior.”
“Seeing me grovel at your feet, tears streaming down my face-did that give you a thrill?”
I looked at her. There wasn’t much anger left in me.
Just disbelief.
But Cora kept going. Getting more worked up.
“If you really cared about me.”
“You would’ve spent a few million sending me abroad to study.”
“Bought me a house. A car.”
“Found someone in high society and married me off.”
“Not made me your pathetic little assistant!”
Tears poured down her face. Her voice was so sharp it hurt to hear.
“I stayed by your side for years.”
“Got you coffee. Managed your schedule. Drank for you at events.”
“You had so much. Why couldn’t you throw me a bone?”
“I just wanted to live like you. Is that so wrong?”
The tip of the knife pressed a faint red line into my neck.
Behind me, the guards didn’t dare move.
Elliott’s voice was cold enough to freeze blood.
“Let her go.”
But Cora only laughed like she’d lost her last marble.
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“I’ve got nothing left. Why does she get to stand here like nothing happened?”
I looked down at her hands. The knife was shaking. I kept my voice flat as a board.
“Cora. You said I never treated you well.”
“Then tell me.”
“Your first day of school. People laughed at you for being trailer trash. Who bought you a new backpack? Who hired a tutor for you?”
Cora’s face went pale.
“When you couldn’t afford tuition, who told accounting to wire the money early every year?”
“I started you from square one because you had zero work experience.”
“I taught you how to write emails. How to read contracts. How to stand in front of the board without
sweating.”
“I handed you a ladder.”
“Not a shortcut to steal someone else’s life.”
Cora’s breathing got faster and faster.
The knife against my throat started trembling.
I didn’t stop.
“You said I should’ve spent millions sending you abroad.”
“Should’ve bought you a house. A car.”
“Cora, I’m not your mother.”
“And I’m definitely not your personal babysitter.”
“I saved you because you were dying. Not because I owed you anything!”
The lobby went silent except for her ragged breathing.
Cora’s tears fell harder.
But her eyes went wilder, more unhinged.
“You always looked down on me!”
“You never thought I was good enough!”
“You knew I loved Julian, and you still had to keep him all to yourself!”
I finally smiled.
“Love?”
“So you put on his shirt and asked his pregnant wife if she wanted to stay and watch?”
People around us gasped.
I looked straight ahead and said each word slowly.
“Cora, you’re not some poor victim.”
“You wanted to step on me and become me.”
That cut her right to the bone.
She screamed. The knife came down.
In that same instant, the guards behind Elliott finally moved.
One lunged from the side and grabbed Cora’s wrist. Hard.
Another pulled me back by the shoulder, yanking me away fast.
The fruit knife hit the floor with a sharp clatter.
Elliott pulled me into his arms.
He pressed his palm against the cut on my neck. His voice cracked.
“Get the doctor!”
“Now!”
Cora was pinned to the ground, still thrashing.
“Elise Whitmore! I hope you burn in hell!”
“That baby in your belly doesn’t deserve to live either!”
For a second, Elliott looked like he might kill her.
He stepped forward. I grabbed his sleeve.
“Elliott.”
“Don’t. Don’t get your hands dirty.”
Elliott closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his voice was ice.
“Call the police.”
“Every charge that sticks. I want all of them.”
Cora finally panicked.
“No! I can’t go to jail!”
“Elise, I messed up. I’m sorry.”
“I wasn’t thinking straight! I didn’t mean it!”
“Please. Just give me one more chance.”
I looked down at her.
Years ago, a skinny little girl knelt in front of me just like this.
She grabbed my pant leg, crying, “I’ll be good. I promise.”
I sighed. My voice came out soft.
“Cora. I gave you so many chances.
“There is no next time. Not ever.”
The second they hauled Cora off, Julian showed up at the hospital.
He saw I was okay. For a second, he almost looked relieved.
