When Islaâs father and brothers learned of Gregoryâs plans to another woman, especially one of lower
status, with a five-year- son in tow, they were enraged.
They withdrew investments worth billions of dollars and ended cooperation on three projects. The rift
between the two families caused the Salvador Corporationâs stocks to plummet by several
billion dollars overnight.
Later, it was Nigel who intervened. He personally visited the Fowler family to negotiate. While the
Salvador Cooperation was saved, it came with certain conditions.
The condition was that Gregory could not remarry for three years. The woman in question could only
live in the Salvador household as a servant, and her son would never be acknowledged as a legitimate
member of the Salvador family.
However, Grandpa Nigel promptly rejected the last condition. He argued that even if Gregoryâs child
was illegitimate, it was not for the Fowler family to meddle with. His sonâs infidelity in marriage, which
had hurt two women, was the responsibility of the adults involved,
and the child was innocent.
As a result, Justinâs mother was never officially acknowledged by the Salvador family. Without any
legitimate status, Justin grew up enduring rumors and living in extreme humiliation.
Two years later, Gregory brazenly brought back Shannon, who was
pregnant with Bethany.
Mary, with her gentle, kind, and tolerant nature, couldnât compete w Shannonâs cunning schemes. In
the end, the cruel battle for status took a tragic turn, as Mary succumbed to depression and ended her
own life by jumping off a building.
The year of Justinâs motherâs death coincided with the end of the three-year agreement set by the
Fowler family.
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Gregoryâs support. She successfully took Maryâs rightful position and became Gregoryâs second wife.
ââJustin, donât be sad anymore. Your motherâs passing is affecting
all of us too.â
-âFrom now on, I am your mother, and Bethany will be your sister.â
ââSigh, your mother was truly a good person. Itâs a pity that she was just a bit unlucky compared to me.
I hope sheâs not suffering from her illness in the afterlife. Iâm sure she wouldnât blame me for taking her
place, right? She was so kind. She definitely wouldnât blame
me.â
Justin could never forget the thinly veiled derision in Shannonâs words at his motherâs funeral.
Even though he was young at the time, he could still sense the insincerity behind Shannonâs friendly
smile.
In the blink of an eye, more than 20 years had passed. It seemed that he was the only one in the entire
Salvador family who had not forgotten about his mother.
Suddenly hearing his motherâs name coming from Bellaâs lips, Justin felt a desire to cry, his eyes
reddened inexplicably.
âMary⦠Maryâ¦â Gregory looked dazed as he murmured the name of
his old lover.
Flashbacks of the memories emerged from the depths of Gregoryâs mind. They were of Maryâs bright,
beautiful face, filled with affect and tenderness. The deepest part of his heart throbbed with pair
When Shannon, who was standing close to Gregory, heard him repeatedly say the name of her long-
forgotten love rival, she was furious. Her eyes reddened as she unleashed her rage directly at Bella.
âMary? That slut was just Gregâs former mistress! Even after joining this family, she was nothing more
than a servant. What right does she have to be the matriarch of the Salvador family? The matriarch of
the Salvador family is me! Sheâs nothing compared to me!â
âShannon! Thatâs enough!â Emotions that Gregory thought were long gone stirred within him. He roared
angrily at her, completely forgetting there were others present. âMary was not just a mistress, let alone
a servant. Besides, sheâs no longer here. You have no right to say that about her!â
âWhy donât I have the right?â
Shannonâs eyes widened. Her anger got the best of her. âAm I not speaking the truth? She was just a
lowly mistress unfit for society!â
Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt a chilling sensation enveloping her body.
Taken aback, Shannon raised her eyes, only to find Justin standing
before her.
âYouâ¦â
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed through the hall.
his hand and slapped Shannon fiercely.
âUgh!â
Shannon recoiled in pain. Her cheek immediately swelled, and blood
trickled from her lips.
Her eardrums buzzed, and she could see stars.
She staggered back two steps, clutching the back of the sofa for
support, barely managing to avoid falling to the ground in
embarrassment.
âJustinâ¦â Bellaâs eyes narrowed, worrying for him.