The Traps of Black Swan

Despite being angered by what Megan and Jordan heard, a small part of them was actually glad thinking those two won't reach Aarvi again to make her wounds raw.

"So she is dead?" Jordan's cold voice rang to confirm their words.

Shane and Maisie looked at each other in alarm. They had the inkling, their response was going to have a huge impact but they couldn't put a finger on it. However, to maintain the lie they had spread over all these years, they had to continue their act of being humble parents of an adopted child. 

"U-unfortunately, y-yeah." Maisie flashed a painful smile as though hiding her hurts.

Jordan grunted, calling his assistant inside. A man in his late thirties came inside and bowed to Jordan. He started stating the report Jordan had asked as he placed the evidence of everything on the table.

"Elder Rivas, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly has shares in a few small but promising companies."

Maisie and Shane's eyes were as wide as saucers without understanding why the Rivas family was digging up about them.

"The assistant continued, "They have two logbooks at Mrs. Kelly's clothing brand store. They are misleading the actual income to reduce the tax by showing wrong numbers. Despite being in profit, they have swindled money from president Kelly with lies."

Paled, Maisie stood up panicking and stammered, "What are you up to? How could you check into our private life?" Her voice slightly increased but the moment her eyes met Jordan's, her tone fell to the bottom of her throat.

The assistant barely glanced at her before continuing to report, "They have rented out three outlets in the city. Other than that, they get a monthly allowance from President Kelly." He scoffed at the end realizing they were trying to cheat their family members.

Shane wanted to lash out at them and throw them out. But he knew the consequences of his action and he couldn't handle it so he stayed dead silent thinking if he should call Hayden to save himself.

After keeping most of the files that were in his hand, the assistant continued the words which the Kelly couple didn't know, "According to insider information, the couple has hidden about this from President Kelly but they have no idea President Kelly is aware of every little action of them."

Maisie slumped on the couch hearing it. Now she understood why her act of being a good daughter-in-law never got approved by Hayden Kelly.

Whereas Jordan and Megan could understand why the old man never let these two get near him. If that's the case, how did they get money to invest and buy an outlet on the busy streets as they need a lot of money? They couldn't have swindled millions of money from Hayden, right?

Megan questioned, "How did they manage to get the capital?"

The assistant nodded at Megan, with a polite smile and reported the other information he was able to gather, "President Kelly is also aware that Mr. and Mrs. Kelly spent less than 3 million for wedding arrangements bringing everything duplicate, diamond jewelry, a replica of wedding dress and so on. whereas President Kelly had given them more than twenty million." 

Maisie and Shane didn't know it was money given to them for their redemption seeing them enthusiastic and happy for Ava Kelly.

Then the assistant glanced at the two who were quivering after knowing Hayden Kelly knows about everything. The assistant concluded, "They got that money out of Ava Kelly's wedding arrangements, by selling every expensive thing Ava Kelly had in her room. Anyway, everything is bought back by President Kelly and stored in the Kelly mansion."

Megan and Jordan weren't sure why Hayden was tolerating them, but they couldn't believe the couple in front of them was so disgusting to the bones. They could guess Hayden must have wanted the wedding to complete and Ava Kelly probably knew whatever she was wearing was all duplicate but she stayed quiet. And their silence elevated the audacity of the couple.

Megan who had ignited the fire in the social circle knew Maisie was being abandoned by other socialites. Now she wanted to ruin everything she had.

Her hands carelessly shuffled the files and handed a file to the assistant, "Send this to the income tax department. I want all her outlets closed down. Make sure every loyal and diligent employee gets hired somewhere and the sick dogs left out." Her words were menacing as her gaze on Maisie.

The assistant took the file as he responded, "I will arrange it right away, Madam Rivas."

Maisie couldn't believe her ears. She had never offended the Rivas family. So how could she accept the ill-treatment?

"Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you?" Maisie hysterically asked Megan, unable to control herself when her years of efforts to have the name and fame turned into ash right in front of her eyes.

Megan's bodyguard strode ahead and pushed Maisie away from getting closer to Megan. The female bodyguard clasped her hand behind her and stood straight, with coldness in her eyes. She could have broken a bone or two but the two were doctors, it would be better if she does when they leave.

Megan and Jordan could have told Ava Kelly's name but they didn't. They knew, if they said Aarvi's name, Maisie would again call Ava as a jinx who ruined their life. 

Why couldn't the woman understand she was ruining their life but not Ava Kelly?

Megan gracefully shrugged her shoulder as she spoke like a spoiled Madam of the powerful family, "You hurt my eyes."

If Shawn was there, he would have definitely celebrated looking at Maisie bewildered. Shane was trying his best to stay low so that they don't touch his money hence he didn't help his wife either.

Maisie suddenly laughed, laughing hysterically at Megan that could almost give creep one. It was like her elegant facade fell off and her real shrew-like character was uncovered.

"You are jealous of my looks. I knew it." She laughed till the corner of her eyes moistened, "Since you can't win on me, you made those brainless women go against me and came here to show you power."

There was no doubt, Maisie was beautiful. The way she carried herself and dons the clothes, couldn't be done easily by others of her age. But her heart was pitch black against the personality she shows.

However, Megan thought Maisie lost her sense of thinking. Jealous? She has everything she needs, why will she be jealous of a woman like Maisie.

If she was in the position of Maisie, Megan knew Karsen would do everything to support her, instead of sitting like Shane Kelly who was worried about himself.

Father-in-law? Hayden doesn't care about Maisie, whereas Jordan treats Megan more than a daughter, he always kept her ahead of his sons. Looks were superficial, and she was earning the money honestly unlike fooling the people around.

Love, respect, support, career, Megan had everything needed to live. So what's there to be jealous of Maisie?

Maisie, who had thought Megan was like any other woman, stopped laughing and clenched her teeth. If they hadn't offended the Rivas family, how could they get their attention?

Her ill brain ended up remembering Ava Kelly and Shawn. Assuming Shawn must have said something, she turned to Shane and hissed in excessive repulsion and detestation for Ava Kelly.

"I told you, we should have killed that jinx in the bud. See, she brought doom even after the death. She would never leave our back until we are ruined completely."