Page 85 of Filthy Elites

There’s a reception after the recital, and that’s when we need to suck up to parents and alumni to milk them for money. This is a charity event, after all. Isabelle is currently chatting with the Montgomerys, a powerful Triton Cove family. They come to every single event despite the fact that they don’t have any children or grandchildren attending the school.

I give the room a cursory glance and spot my mother. My good mood drops to below zero. I was hoping she would skip the recital, but that would be like asking for a miracle. To protect Isabelle from her forked tongue, I walk over before she can ambush us.

The scowl on her face makes it clear this won’t be a pleasant conversation.

“Did you enjoy the show, Mother?”

“Oh, yes. I loved seeing how whipped my son is. You disgrace the Petrov line.”

I smirk. “Good thing I’ve always considered myself a Novak.”

“Then you really are a fool. You believe the Novaks are gods walking on Earth, untouchable. You’ll soon learn you bleed like every mortal.”

I don’t know if I should consider her statement a threat or simply the ravings of an egomaniac.

“Did you just come here to insult me?” I ask calmly.

“I came to see if there was any hope left for you. I can tell now you’re a lost case.”

I roll my eyes, knowing she detests the gesture. “Please, Mother. Why do you have to be so dramatic?”

She laughs without humor. “Oh, you think this is drama? Wait until I take away all your privileges. Who will you be without money?”

I scoff. “Are you threatening to cut me off financially?”

“Yes. I am the trustee of your funds, after all. You can’t touch the money your father left you until you’re twenty-one.” She smiles maliciously, thinking she has me cornered.

It’s not the first time she used that trump card to control me, so I was expecting she would go that route. And therefore, I prepared for it.

“Unlike you, I don’t need to live surrounded by luxury, and I had one asset that was worth a pretty penny. I think I can survive on sixteen million dollars until I have access to my money.”

Her eyebrows rise. “Sixteenmilliondollars? Where the hell did you come up with that amount?”

I shrug. “Oh I just sold something I didn’t need.”

The realization of what I did finally dawns on her, making her face twist into something akin to a dragon.

“You sold the Lady Blunt. You had no right.”

“On the contrary. I had every right. The Lady Blunt was not part of my inheritance, it was a gift from Grandpa.” I smile like a fiend. “You had no control over it.”

Fuming, she walks away. I watch her go until she disappears in the crowd. I doubt she’ll linger. I begin to retrace my steps toward Isabelle, but Sloane appears out of nowhere and blocks my path. She looks pitiful. Her eye makeup is smudged as if she’s been crying.

“Jason, I need to tell you something.”

“Jesus, what now?”

Her face is pinched and her gaze is troubled when she replies, “After I discovered Isabelle’s secret, I wasn’t thinking clearly. I Googled her, which led me to her ex, Juan Alcantara.”

My chest feels tight. I curl my hands into fists, but it does little to tamper the rage slowly brewing into explosion.

“What have you done?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“I-I wanted to know more about her, so I reached out to him. That was before our conversation.”

“You stupid bitch!” I blurt out, not caring that I’m drawing attention.

Her eyes widen and she steps back. “I didn’t tell him she was alive. I swear it.”

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