Phoebe's POV
My uncles wouldn't be able to bail me out much longer—they had their own messes to deal with.
Once Sergio dragged me back under his control, I'd be completely on my own. And that bastard would have free rein to destroy me however he pleased.
He'd manipulated my mother Natalie like a puppet years ago. In his twisted mind, I was just another naive girl he could break.
"Phoebe, I'm your father, your only real family," Sergio's voice dripped with fake warmth. "I would never harm you. Just cooperate with me. I'll bring Devin the lawyer over so you can sign the transfer documents."
"Tomorrow, you'll break off your engagement to the Brady boy. After that, you can return overseas. I won't interfere with your life again, I swear."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Do you actually believe the garbage coming out of your mouth? You think I can't see right through this pathetic act?"
"You don't give a damn about me—you just want to drain me dry and dump me when I'm no longer useful."
The second I caved to his demands, Sergio would cut me loose permanently. I'd lose everything, and my plans for revenge would crumble to dust.
"You think I'm some pushover just because I haven't retaliated yet?" I said. "Let me spell it out for you—I'd rather watch everything burn than hand you a single penny."
I jabbed my finger toward Atticus and Patty. "My mother only had one child. I don't have any brothers or sisters. Those two are the bastard children you had with your whore. They have zero rights to anything that belongs to me."
Sergio's face contorted with fury. He swung his hand back, ready to strike me. "You disrespectful little bitch! I'll beat some sense into you!"
But I grabbed his wrist before he could land the blow. Sergio let out a strangled yelp.
I might have looked delicate, but I was far from helpless. Sergio had no clue what I was capable of. He assumed I'd been barely surviving overseas all these years. He figured a kid abandoned by her parents would crumble at the first hint of fake affection.
But I'd never lacked love or protection. Hell, I could obliterate Sergio using just one of my secret identities.
Over the years, I rarely visited, keeping my relationship with Sergio superficial at best.
I'd waited until my eighteenth birthday to return because that's when I could legally claim my mother's shares.
But there was another reason—I had evidence connected to my mother's disappearance. I needed an excuse to stay in the country and investigate further.
Sergio's desperate power play had handed me the perfect opportunity, so I came back.
Sergio screamed as I twisted his wrist harder, but no amount of cursing would make me let go. Nobody dared intervene—my cold fury had them all paralyzed with fear.
My phone started ringing. I scowled, shoved Sergio away, then delivered swift kicks to Nathalia and her brats, sending all four of them tumbling into a pathetic heap.
I glanced at my phone, declined the call, and shoved it back in my pocket.
Then I stared down at the wreckage before me. "Dad, you're the one who begged me to come home. Did you really think you could swindle my shares and kick me out immediately after? Dream on."
"I'm not the doormat you were counting on."
Something about my words must have struck a nerve. Sergio suddenly scrambled to his feet and charged at me, hand raised and voice trembling with rage. "I'll murder you, you ungrateful piece of trash!"
I calmly stepped backward. Sergio swung at empty air and slammed face-first into the floor, hitting his knees hard.
Nathalia and the kids scrambled to help him up, all of them shooting me murderous looks—but none of them had the guts to make another move.
Lucky for Sergio, he'd dismissed the servants and bodyguards earlier because he didn't want witnesses to his little scam. If they'd seen this disaster, his humiliation would have been complete.
"You actually thought you could steal what's rightfully mine?" I sneered.
Sergio struggled to his feet, trembling with rage, but now there was genuine terror in his eyes. "I'm still your father," he snarled. "You'll obey me. I'm the head of the Hale family!"
I didn't bother looking back as I headed for the door. I stopped just before leaving. "I've already called a shareholders' meeting for the day after tomorrow," I said icily. "Let's see how long you survive without the company propping you up."
"What?" Sergio went rigid. His face drained of color as he frantically called his secretary. Behind him, I strolled away without a care in the world.
Outside, my phone rang again. I answered. "Selena? What do you want?"
"Phoebe! Are you in Coralia?" Selena's voice bubbled with excitement. She was my business partner overseas.
"Yeah. What's the deal?" I replied, then added a warning, "Don't try dumping work on me. I'm on vacation."
Selena laughed. "I know, I know. But this is just a quick gig. There's a batch of experimental drugs that needs delivery within the hour. Super time-sensitive. The payment is 3 million dollars. You interested?"
I raised an eyebrow. "3 million? Who's throwing around that kind of money?"
"Harold from Clearwater. His grandfather just had a medical crisis. He needs black market medication to keep him alive," Selena explained. "Since you're already there, it's a local delivery. Easy cash."
"Fine. When will the drugs be ready?" I didn't exactly need the money, but I wasn't going to turn down easy profit either.
Selena hesitated and let out an awkward laugh. "Here's the thing. It's too short notice. Even if we shipped it now, it might not arrive in time. But don't you still have some of those All Miracle Pills on you? Maybe you could—"
I laughed in disbelief. "So that's what you're really after."
Selena chuckled nervously. "Come on, Phoebe, do me a favor?"