The Heiress's Guardian

During my summer holiday, recovering abroad, I saw the wedding announcement for my daughter, Emily.

Her fianc was a sixty-year-old man.

I rushed home immediately, only to find the three young men I had hand-picked and raised as potential sons-in-law fawning over our housekeeper's daughter.

When they saw me, they spoke one after another, their words a rehearsed chorus of condescension.

"Victoria, Emily insists she has a taste for older men. We tried to stop her, we really did."

"But don't you worry. After Emily is married off, we'll take good care of all the Shaw family businesses for you."

"And as for Jessica, we'll respect whoever she chooses to marry. The most important thing is that she produces a worthy heir for the Shaw family, to continue the legacy."

I looked at my own daughter, Emily, standing silently beside them, her eyes dull and lifeless, a chilling numbness etched onto her face.

A tremor of pure rage shook my body.

These little pretenders, these would-be sons-in-law, thought they could steal everything from my daughter?

They were living in a fantasy.

Their mouths kept moving, a relentless stream of noise, but I couldn't hear a single word.

I had chosen them myself from an orphanage years ago, bringing them into the Shaw family with the sole intention of grooming an excellent husband for my daughter.

I never imagined their ambition would be so monstrous.

As they prepared to speak again, I hurled my luggage directly at them. "Get out!"

They froze for a second, stunned.

But it was the housekeeper's daughter, Jessica, who scurried to pick up my bags.

"Mrs. Shaw must be exhausted from her flight," she cooed.

"Don't blame the boys for not picking you up. They've been working themselves to the bone at the company, just to make you proud."

For the first time, I took a hard look at her.

Though she was the housekeeper's daughter, her face was flawlessly made up, and she was adorned in jewelry that screamed expense.

In stark contrast, my own daughter was dressed in worn, ill-fitting clothes.

A stranger would have mistaken Jessica for the heiress of the Shaw family.

As if sensing my thoughts, she cast a shy, flirtatious glance at the three men standing beside herBrandon, Tyler, and Nathan.

"The boys are just so wonderful to me," she said, her voice dripping with false modesty.

"I can't possibly choose between them right now. But you can rest assured, Mrs. Shaw, I'm not a materialistic person. I only look at the heart. When I become the young mistress of the Shaw family, I promise I'll take very good care of you."

Her words made my head spin.

Who gave her the audacity to say such things to my face?

The three men behind her didn't stop her. Instead, they puffed out their chests with pride.

In that moment, I understood.

Perhaps I had been too subtle in my intentions, leading them to believe they were being groomed as heirs to the Shaw fortune itself.

But even so, that was no excuse for tormenting my daughter.

I took a deep breath, took Emily's hand, and turned to Jessica.

"I don't care if you're looking at their hearts or their wallets. The affairs of a low-class servant are of no interest to me."

Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief, then quickly filled with tears.

"Did I did I do something to upset you, Mrs. Shaw?"

Brandon was the first to react, stepping in front of Jessica protectively.

"Victoria, don't talk to Jess like that. Look at the stray puppies in the yardshe rescued every one of them. A person that kind couldn't possibly have a malicious bone in her body."

My heart sank.

I yanked up my daughter's sleeve.

Just as I feared, her arm was covered in an angry, red rash, swollen and raw in places, with scratches that looked like they'd been reopened countless times, some even oozing pus.

I pointed a shaking finger at Brandon, my voice trembling with fury.

"This is how you take care of her? Don't you know Emily is allergic to dog fur?"

Tyler immediately pulled Emily away from me.

"Emily, tell your mother! Since when are you allergic to dogs? How could you lie to her like that?"

He then turned to me, his face a mask of false concern.

"Victoria, you have no idea. Emily is constantly bullying Jess! When you were away, she'd order Jess around, even faking sickness to make Jess take care of her all night She does it all out of jealousy because she can't stand us being good to Jess."

"So all these marks on her body? She did them to herself for attention."

I almost laughed.

I carried this child for ten months.

I knew her better than my own heart.

He thought he knew her better than me?

I was about to take Emily to the hospital, but Nathan blocked our path.

"Victoria, you've treated us like your own sons since we were children. Don't you trust us?"

He shook his head in feigned disappointment.

"Emily she's truly a lost cause."

As if to prove his point, he pulled out his phone and began swiping through photos of my daughter in compromising positions with various men.

He shot Emily a look of pure disgust.

"You have no idea how filthy she is. The moment you left the country, she started bringing all sorts of men back to the house. If it weren't for Mr. Johnson being so generous, no one would want her!"

At his words, I felt Emily's body tremble violently.

I had always known that of the three, Nathan was her favorite.

To hear such vile words from his lips must have been like a knife to her heart.

Jessica looked at the photos, a smug smile playing on her lips before she covered it with a look of feigned distress.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Emily be so reckless with herself."

The three men rushed to comfort her.

"It's not your fault she has no self-respect! Don't blame yourself! This is all her own doing!"

Hearing their words, Emily ducked her head, her hand tightening on my sleeve.

She bit her lip and whispered, her voice barely audible, "Mom, I didn't."

My heart broke.

I pulled her into a fierce embrace and glared at the vipers in front of me.

"You are my only child. If I don't believe you, am I supposed to believe these outsiders?"

I swept my cold gaze over the three ungrateful wretches, a plan already forming in my mind.

Before they could process the menace in my tone, I started leading Emily towards the door, only to run straight into the leering face of Mr. Johnson.

His eyes raked over Emily with a possessive, unsettling hunger before he smiled at me. "Mrs. Shaw. I'm here to take Emily for her wedding dress fitting."

His oily expression filled me with revulsion. "You're older than I am, and you want to marry my daughter? Are you insane, or am I?"

The air went still for a moment. Brandon quickly stepped forward. "Emily agreed to it herself! Besides, after all the years she's spent running wild, her reputation is in tatters. A man of Mr. Johnson's standing is a huge step up for her."

He didn't finish his sentence before my hand flew out, the crack of my palm against his cheek echoing in the hall. "Did I give you permission to speak? What gives you the right to negotiate my daughter's marriage in front of me?"

Brandon looked stunned, as if he couldn't believe I would strike him.

After all, I had once invested so much in him, believing he had the most promise of the three.

He stood frozen, speechless. "I"

Jessica rushed forward, cradling his face with a look of theatrical pain before turning to me, tears streaming down her face.

"Mrs. Shaw, Brandon has been the one looking after Emily for you all these years! Without him, Emily would have probably ended up selling her body on the streets! Marrying Mr. Johnson is the best she can hope for! How could you hit him?"

Mr. Johnson, recovering from his shock, puffed up with indignation.

"Mrs. Shaw, I'm willing to overlook her impurity. And you have the nerve to call me old?"

He then shot a sneering look at Brandon and the others.

"Everyone knows you spent all those years abroad trying to secretly birth a male heir. Too bad you're hitting menopause and couldn't pop one out, so you had to adopt some boys from an orphanage to be your successors!"

"And as for this worthless daughter of yours," he spat, "I'm still expecting a dowry of one billion dollars! You don't actually think I want this soiled cabbage for free, do you?"

And there it was.

Now I understood how they dared to treat my daughter this way.

But Mr. Johnson's information was fatally flawed.

My years abroad weren't just for recovery, I was expanding my business empire overseas.

An empire that included a critical project for his company.

He thought he was so clever, didn't he?

I couldn't wait to see how pathetic he looked when he was on his knees, begging a woman like me for mercy.

Seeing my silence, he took another step closer, his smile turning predatory.

"You know, compared to your daughter who's been passed around, I think I prefer you. How about this? Forget the billion-dollar dowry. You and your daughter can marry into my family together."

He didn't finish the thought.

Emily, as if possessed by a different spirit, lunged forward and slapped him hard across the face.

"Keep your filthy mouth shut!"

Jessica's smile vanished.

She grabbed Emily's arm.

"Emily, do you have any idea what you're doing? If the Johnson family calls off the wedding, who do you think will want you? Or are you still hung up on the boys? Are you refusing to leave so you can stay here and fight me for them?"

At her last words, Brandon and the others let out a derisive snort.

"Don't worry, Jess. She's no competition for you. Whether she likes it or not, she's marrying into the Johnson family today. It's for the good of the Shaw family's reputation."

Mr. Johnson, recovering from the slap, roared with fury.

He grabbed a fistful of Emily's hair and started dragging her toward the door.

"So-called heiress? You're just a worthless piece of trash nobody wants! Let's go!"

I slapped his hand away.

"Emily is my only daughter. Do you really think I would let her marry a piece of garbage like you? I'm warning you, touch her again, and I will make the Johnson name disappear from this city."

He faltered, letting go but muttering under his breath,

"You're the one who threw her away in the first place. Don't come back now playing the loving mother. This family will belong to Brandon, Tyler, and Nathan soon enough. You'd be smart to get rid of this hot potato while you still can."

Just then, several luxury cars pulled up outside.

I recognized the emblem of a high-end auction house.

They had called an auction house to the home. That must have cost a fortune.

I quietly pulled Emily aside and sent a quick text to my assistant.

A few minutes later, she replied. [It's done. I'm on my way now.]

I breathed a sigh of relief and told Emily to stay calm.

The men from the auction house walked straight to Jessica, laying out case after case of exquisite jewelry before her.

"Miss Davis, here are the items the gentlemen won for you when they lit the lamp at the auction. We've brought them personally. And here are some new arrivals they asked us to bring for your consideration."

Jessica shot a triumphant look at my daughter, then delicately touched a diamond necklace with a perfectly manicured finger. "Oh, there's so much," she sighed with fake nonchalance. "I'm running out of room."

Nathan glanced at Emily. "Well, since Emily's getting married and moving out, her room will be free for your things."

The auctioneer smiled. "In that case, gentlemen, if you would please settle the final payment today."

Even Mr. Johnson's eyes widened at the dazzling display. "Truly the heirs of the Shaw fortune. So generous."

At his words, Jessica's pride swelled. She deliberately picked up a crystal hairpin shaped like a rooster and pinned it in my daughter's hair.

I recognized it instantly. It was the "Phoenix Pin," the final masterpiece of a legendary designer, and by far the most expensive item there.

"I think this suits you," she said to Emily, her smile a cruel slash across her face.

"A gift."

Then she feigned surprise.

"Oh! It's a chicken. I thought it was a phoenix."

With that, she yanked the pin out and threw it to the ground. The crystal shattered. "How tacky. We don't want something as low-class as a chicken here."

Emily started to lunge, but I stopped her with a cold laugh.

"Smashed it? Wonderful. You couldn't afford to replace it even if you sold yourself."

Brandon grabbed my arm.

"Victoria, Jess didn't mean it. Besides, she's the future daughter-in-law of the Shaw family. Of course she can afford it."

Tyler and Nathan chimed in. "Yes, didn't you always teach us to be generous with the people and things we love?"

Yes, I did.

I thought they would cherish my daughter.

Even while I was abroad, I sent them a substantial allowance every month, so she would want for nothing.

I never dreamed they would spend it all on the housekeeper's daughter.

Brandon pulled out a black credit card and handed it to the auctioneer. "Move all of it to Jessica's room."

A few seconds later, the machine beeped. Insufficient funds.

Brandon frowned. "How is that possible? Try this one."

The same result.

Tyler and Nathan laughed, handing over their own cards. "No money, and you're still trying to light the lamp for Jess? Don't worry, we can afford it."

I pulled Emily over to a chair, sat down, and calmly sipped my tea as the card machine repeatedly chirped its denial.

The auctioneer's patience was wearing thin. "Gentlemen, are you certain you can afford these items? As you know, lighting the lamp and then failing to pay incurs a penalty of double the value."

Finally, they all turned to me, their faces pale with panic. "Victoria," they stammered, "what did you do?"

At that exact moment, my assistant burst in, followed by a team of people in sharp suits. "Mrs. Shaw, we've pulled all funding from the Johnson Group's domestic projects! All overseas collaborations have been terminated as well!"

Mr. Johnson stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Pulled funding? What are you talking about?"

He ran his tongue over his teeth, a mixture of panic and rage on his face.

"Without me, who's going to marry Emily? If it weren't for me, the whole city would know what a tramp she is! And what overseas projects? My overseas projects have nothing to do with you! Don't you dare try to bluff me!"

My assistant, her own face flushed with anger, threw a dossier at his face.

"Are you really that ignorant, Mr. Johnson? Mrs. Shaw is the silent owner of your overseas partner."

His eyes widened in horror.

"You mean The O-Brey Group?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"My husband's name is Alexander. My daughter's middle name is Brooke. You didn't even bother to do that much research before you came here to spout your nonsense?"

He started to speak, but his phone rang.

He listened for a moment, his face draining of all color, and then stumbled toward me.

"Mrs. Shaw it's all a misunderstanding"

My assistant blocked his path.

"You should probably head back to your office, Mr. Johnson. Now that news of our withdrawal is out, I imagine your creditors are already lining up at the door."

Mr. Johnson paled, then turned and fled, practically tripping over himself.

Brandon, Tyler, and Nathan watched him go, their own faces a mask of shock.

"Emily's father's name is Alexander? But we thought you married into the Shaw family how could"

The auctioneer, seeing how things were turning, looked pointedly at the three of them. "Gentlemen, the matter of payment for these items is still unresolved."

They didn't even dare to look at him.

Only Jessica, still oblivious, tugged at their sleeves.

"Boys, what's wrong? Why are your cards empty? Is something wrong with the company? Mrs. Shaw adores you, she can just pay for it, right?"

My assistant, her patience finally snapped by Jessica's shamelessness, let out a cold snort. "Our Mrs. Shaw merely cleared the balance on a few supplementary cards. Is there a problem?"

At her words, they all stared at each other in stunned silence.

Jessica finally understood. She burst into tears.

"Mrs. Shaw! The boys are the future heirs of the Shaw family! How could you cut off their cards? People will laugh at us!"

I rose slowly from my chair and slapped her across the face.

"Are you illiterate? Is it that hard to understand? Emily's father's name is Alexander. He married into the family! Therefore, the Shaw legacy belongs to a Shaw!"

"And these 'boys' you're so fond of? They were nothing more than potential husbands I was raising for my daughter!"