The Doormat Wife’s Ultimate Glow-Up novel Chapter 58

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The next day, Reese took a half-day off and went to the cemetery.

A cool breeze carried the first hint of autumn, brushing against her cheeks as she crouched in front of Marie's headstone. Her fingers traced the gentle, kind face in the photo, over and over.

“Mom, Uncle Dylon tanked the family company for a project. The courtyard house you left us is gone. They seized it and sold it to Sofia.

“But don't worry. I swear I'll find a way to get it back.

“What really breaks my heart is that Uncle could just throw away everything you and Grandpa built, all for one deal.

“Mom, do you think family really doesn't matter at all when money's involved?”

The woman in the photo smiled softly, but of course, offered no answer.

Reese covered her face with her hands. All the pain she'd been holding back finally spilled over, hot tears slipping through her fingers.

“Reese, I knew I'd find you here.”

A familiar voice, full of concern, made Reese freeze. She looked up to see Tara a few steps away, holding a bouquet of white daisies.

“What are you doing here?” Reese's voice was stuffy and blunt, her eyes cool.

She didn't buy for a second that Tara hadn't known what Dylon was up to. Just like she didn't believe Tara didn't know how much it would hurt to see her and Zach together.

Tara set the flowers next to the headstone. “I figured you'd come. Some things don't change—you always came here whenever you were upset, even as a kid.”

“Reese, you're grown up now. If you always come to Aunt Marie with your troubles, it would only worry her.”

Reese stared at her for a moment, pushing down the ache in her throat. “Where else am I supposed to go?”

“You and your family are all I have left. And even you turned your backs on me.”

Some strange emotion flickered in Tara's eyes. She spoke more softly.

“I know about the company. What my dad did was wrong. But you know how tough it's been these past few years. He was never as capable as Aunt Marie. After she died, he had to keep the company going by himself.

“We were already about to go under. If he hadn't taken that risk, and if he hadn't gotten the Eastside project, the company would've gone bankrupt anyway.