Chapter 9 My Name Is Daphne Mae Blythe

“Enough!” Daphne shouted.

She glared at Olivia, unable to restrain herself any longer, and said, “‘No money’, you say? If there’s no money, what’s that new bag you’ve just bought? If I’m reading that label correctly, a bag from that brand would cost 30,000 bucks! And that necklace you’re wearing! Those bracelets on your arms! Those rings! And you have the nerve to claim that you don’t have money?”

What irony! They had gone to her, claiming that the family was going bankrupt, asking her to sell her body, yet they were parading around in gold and silver!

And when she needed money, they continued parading their finery and claimed to have none at all!

Olivia was stunned. She did not expect that her usually quiet stepdaughter, whom she had abused for many years, would have the nerve to speak to her in that way. Her face reddened in anger!

However, she was momentarily at a loss for words to retaliate against her. All she could do was glare at Daphne and wish that she could tear her to pieces.

Daphne completely ignored Olivia and turned around to stare at Wesley again and said, “Father, this is my first time calling you this, before severing our ties! I have never asked you for a single cent since I started high school. The total amount for my schooling fees and allowance over the past few years should be around €1,800!”

Wesley’s old face trembled. He looked straight at his daughter, who was now boldly opposing him. Daphne’s eyes looked exactly like her mother’s, which stunned him immediately.

“Daphne, I-I…” Wesley stammered. He still held a twinge of guilt toward this daughter of his.

“Hmph!” Olivia, who was right next to him, suddenly let out an icy scoff and eyed Wesley beadily.

Wesley trembled. However, his voice changed its tune once he looked back at Daphne. “Daphne, I’m in dire straits. How about a compromise? I’ll give you some of the cash that I have on hand.”

‘Compromise? He doesn’t want to give any money at all! Do I look like an idiot? Do I look that gullible?’

Daphne stared at Wesley steadily, then suddenly rose to her feet. Her voice was just as cold as her glare. “If I ever had a choice, I’d never choose you as my father!”

Daphne immediately walked back upstairs. Olivia’s shrieks soon followed behind her. “Heh. Would you listen to that? He’s your father! Does he even exist to you? You don’t even know the basic meaning of respect. Uneducated, motherless thing!”

Daphne paused on her way upstairs. She stared steadily at the staircase in front of her, narrowed her eyes, slowly turned around, and stared loftily down at Olivia.

“You’re absolutely right,” she replied tauntingly. “I don’t have a mother, and she hasn’t taught me a thing! Because if she were still around to raise me, you wouldn’t have had the chance to sit here! What gives you the right to spend my mother’s money?”

“Daphne! That’s enough!” Wesley roared. His eyes glared at Daphne furiously.

‘Look at these two, united against a common enemy!’

Daphne numbly stared at the scene before her, then turned around and walked back upstairs.

‘Soon, all of this will have nothing to do with me. I’m going to leave this place forever!’

Downstairs, Olivia shot Daphne a vicious glare from behind, faltered, then collapsed on top of Wesley’s chubby body and began choking with sobs. “Darling, how could she? Why did your daughter speak to me like that...”

Wesley hurriedly consoled his beloved wife. “Alright, I’ll make her apologize when she comes downstairs. Don’t cry. My heart aches whenever you cry…”

Daphne returned to her room. She had packed her bags long ago.

She only had one mid-sized suitcase that contained her spring, summer, fall, and winter clothes for the year and her shoes. It also contained a few of her most treasured photographs.

Daphne picked up her suitcase, took one last look at the small attic that had been her bedroom for four years, then walked downstairs.

Daphne ignored the gossipy stares of the maids as she carried her suitcase downstairs. She pursed her lips as she walked toward the door.

“Daphne, where do you think you’re going? Aren’t you going to apologize to your stepmother?” Wesley shouted at Daphne.

Daphne seemed deaf to his words. She did not stop. Olivia’s lamenting cries began ringing in her ears. “Ooh, aah… My heart hurts. Darling, I can’t breathe, I’m having palpitations…”

‘What a waste of potential acting talent!’ Daphne curled her lips into a mocking sneer.

Wesley hurriedly tried to pacify his beloved wife, then lifted his head to find that Daphne wasn’t stopping to apologize like she used to do in the past. Instead, she was hurriedly making her way to the door. He was immediately filled with rage and yelled in a tone mixed with anger and panic, “Daphne Mae Montgomery! What do you think you’re doing? Stop right there!”

‘Stop right there…’

Daphne’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. She was just a few steps away. Once she stepped out the door, she would be out in the garden beyond the porch. All she needed to do was walk through a small, straight path, then toward the main road that connected all the other villas outside…

Bang!

Daphne released her grip and let her suitcase land on the ground, causing a loud, booming sound.

“I’m cutting you out of my life, Wesley Ken Montgomery. From this day onward, you are no longer my father, and I am not your daughter anymore! From now on, my name will be Daphne Mae Blythe!”

Blythe, that was her mother’s maiden name.

Wesley’s face turned into an unsightly shade. He never imagined that Daphne would actually have the courage to cut him out of her life.

“Daphne Mae Montgomery, are you cutting me out just because I’ve refused to give you €1,800? Is money that important to you?” Wesley roared, frowning.

Olivia promptly stopped complaining about her heart and leaned into Wesley’s arms, staring at Daphne with ridicule in her eyes.

“Let me remind you again. From now on, please address me as Daphne Mae Blythe if you ever see me again!” Daphne reminded him with a frown. Then, she gave Wesley one last icy glare, bent down, picked up her suitcase, and walked out.

Wesley stared at Daphne’s back in shock. She looked so frail yet unyielding at the same time…

Daphne walked very quickly, as if she were gripped by a particular sense of eagerness to leave this house.

“Joan!” Daphne spotted Joan in the garden and hurriedly made her way to her.

“Miss!” Joan cried out to her.

“I’m leaving, Joan! Get ready and wait for me. I’ll pick you up in a few days!” Daphne exclaimed.

She had to find a place to stay first before bringing Joan along with her. Joan was getting old and shouldn’t be made to suffer along with her for no good reason.

“Alright. I’ll wait for you, miss,” Joan replied.

Daphne nodded vigorously, released Joan’s hand, and picked up her suitcase from the ground.

She took a few steps and paused, then turned around and called out to Joan, “Joan, from now on, my name is Daphne Mae Blythe! Remember that! Don’t get it wrong!”

‘Blythe…’

Joan was taken aback. Her elderly face lit up with a knowing smile as she nodded at Daphne and replied, “Okay! I’ll remember that!”

“Take care, Joan. Wait for me!”

Daphne smiled and hurried out of the villa’s compound.

Joan watched Daphne as her figure drew further and further away and nodded with relief.

“Have you washed the laundry today? Are you slacking off?” A maid’s harsh voice suddenly snapped derisively from behind her.