Chapter 218

Felicia indeed needed money. All her earnings from treating patients had been poured into the development project in Alverton, leaving her penniless. Although Dexter had given her a bank card with a decent sum inside, she refused to touch a single cent of it.
But no matter her meticulous planning had already solved her financial dilemma. She had orchestrated a scheme against Shawn, turning his 50 million into gambling debts. Lance repossessed his house, cars, and all his luxury possessions. Now, Felicia sold all those items back to Lance for 20% below market value, pocketing two million dollars in the process.
It was a brilliant play-money earned without spending a dime.
Lance was more than happy with the arrangement. He’d already taken his cut from the original debt and now acquired a mansion, two luxury cars, and other valuable items at bargain prices. It was a win-win.
As he drove away, Lance couldn’t help but admire Felicia’s cunning.
“She’s ruthless!” he thought.
The money Shawn had swindled from the Fuller family had passed through multiple hands, only to end up back in Felicia’s pocket.
Lance made a mental note-Felicia was not someone to cross.
…
Within ten minutes, the funds hit Felicia’s account. Satisfied with Lance’s efficiency, she pulled out her phone to call Jeremy, whom she had met at the venture capital conference, and arrange the transfer. Before she could make the call, two WhatsApp notifications popped up. Curious, Felicia opened the messages.
They were from Tabitha.
A video began to play. In it, Tabitha sat before a beautifully decorated cake, tears streaming down her face as she sang a shaky rendition of “Happy Birthday”. Her voice cracked as she spoke to the camera.
“Licia, even though you’re not my biological daughter, we were mother and daughter for 18 years.
“I’m so sorry for how I treated you in the past. Today is your birthday, and I bought you a cake. Could you… Could you come to see me? I miss you so much.”
When she was little, Shawn always had a cake on his birthday. Tabitha and Howell would go to town to buy it for him.
Shawn would be the center of attention in the dim glow of candlelight, surrounded by cheers and love.
Four-year-old Felicia would watch from the sidelines, licking her lips in envy. Shawn had noticed her longing once. After everyone had eaten their fill, he deliberately smashed the leftover cake onto the floor and
grinned at her.
“You want some? Too bad!”
Another time, Felicia had timidly asked Tabitha if she could have a tiny cake for her birthday.
Tabitha’s response was a slap across the face.
“You ungrateful brat! Are you asking for a cake? Who do you think you are?”
After that, Felicia never dared to ask again.
Later, she overheard Howell and Tabitha talking and learned she wasn’t their biological child. That knowledge had sparked a new hope maybe her real parents would love her, would make up for all she had lacked.
Now, watching Tabitha’s tearful performance, Felicia’s face remained expressionless.
Barely two minutes passed before a call came in from an unknown number.
Felicia immediately knew who it was. Her first instinct was to ignore it, but something stopped her.
She thought of Shawn and Kayla’s latest schemes.
So this was their next move.
Felicia answered, her tone icy. “What do you want?”
As expected, Tabitha’s weepy voice came through the line.
“Licia, I’m so sorry. Please, give me a chance to make it up to you. Let me celebrate your birthday with you, okay?”
Her voice cracked as she pleaded. “L
bought your favorite cake. It even
has a little bunny on top, just like you used to like. Please, just see me. Let me make things right.”