Chapter 203: Are you trying to kick me out?

Lily, Gen, and Silvia had been busy working when they suddenly noticed the man approaching Clara.

"Who is that?" Lily whispered.

"How would I know? I’m seeing him for the first time too," Silvia replied, making Lily frown.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Gen interrupted.

"I think we should hear what he wants first."

Lily and Silvia exchanged a glance before reluctantly nodding.

Meanwhile, the man stopped in front of Clara and introduced himself.

"I’m Kevin, a representative of Crownwell Holdings. I’m here to serve you with a legal notice."

Clara’s brows immediately furrowed.

"A legal notice?"

Kevin nodded before pulling an envelope from his briefcase and handing it to her.

"You’ll need to vacate these premises within two days."

Clara’s expression darkened.

She quickly opened the envelope and scanned the document inside.

"Illegal property," she muttered before looking back at Kevin. "This isn’t an illegal property. My grandfather owns this place."

Kevin remained composed.

"I’m afraid that’s where the problem lies, Miss Clara."

"What problem?"

"This property was never legally registered under your grandfather’s name. And now that Crownwell Holdings legally owns the land, you have no choice but to leave."

Clara stared at Kevin, his words sending her thoughts into a spiral.

She had practically grown up here. She had never met her grandparents, but her mother had always told her how much they cherished this place. According to her, they had bought it with their hard-earned money and considered it a part of the family.

"Wait. There must be some misunderstanding," Clara said firmly. "You can’t simply walk in here and tell us to vacate the property."

She was certain something was wrong.

Kevin, however, didn’t seem surprised by her reaction.

"There’s more."

He pulled another file from his briefcase and handed it to her.

"The legal owner has already sold the property to Crownwell Holdings."

Clara’s confidence disappeared the moment she opened the file.

Her eyes immediately fell on the documents confirming Crownwell Holdings’ ownership.

But it wasn’t the company’s name that caught her attention.

It was the name of the person who had sold the property.

Dorothy Hayes.

Clara froze. Her expression turned grim, and her eyes grew cold as ice.

Her stepmother had sold the property?

"I hope this gives you some clarity," Kevin said calmly. Before Clara could respond, he turned and walked out of the bakery.

Clara remained rooted to the spot, staring at the documents in disbelief.

"Madam..." Silvia hesitantly approached her. "What are we going to do now?" she asked, taking a glimpse from the document in her hand.

Clara didn’t answer. Her eyes remained fixed on the name staring back at her.

Clara didn’t answer. Her eyes remained fixed on the name staring back at her.

"Confront the liar," she muttered.

Without wasting another second, she stormed out of the bakery and headed straight to Hayes Mansion.

The cab came to a stop outside the mansion gates. Clara stepped out and marched inside, her expression controlled despite the anger burning beneath the surface.

She found Dorothy sitting comfortably in the living room, calmly sipping her coffee as though nothing had happened.

"What is all this nonsense, Dorothy?" Clara demanded.

Her voice was calm, but her eyes were practically burning with fury.

Dorothy slowly lowered her coffee cup and looked at her.

"No greeting, Clara?" she remarked sarcastically. "Such bad manners."

Clara scoffed. Their relationship had never been harmonious to begin with. She had never felt the need to pretend otherwise, especially when Dorothy had given her little reason to show her any courtesy.

"I asked you a question, Dorothy."

Dorothy leaned back against the sofa. "And I’m sure you’ve already figured out the answer."

Clara’s jaw tightened.

She had already pieced together how Dorothy must have gotten access to the papers she had left behind in her old room.

She had foolishly assumed no one would bother going through her belongings. She had planned to return one day and collect whatever remained.

Now, she regretted it.

Dorothy had clearly made her move first.

"Well?" Clara pressed.

Dorothy calmly picked up her coffee again.

"By now, you must have seen the documents. So let’s not waste each other’s time pretending you don’t know what’s going on."

Clara’s hands curled into fists.

"What do you want, Dorothy?" Clara asked, blinking slowly as she struggled to keep her temper in check.

Dorothy smiled smugly.

"Smart girl. I never knew you had it in you. But I suppose Julianna was right when she told me how much you’ve changed."

She rose from the sofa and walked toward Clara, stopping right in front of her.

"I wonder what brought about such a drastic change." Dorothy paused, her eyes gleaming with something sinister. "But that’s not why you’re here, is it?"

Clara remained silent.

"You asked me what I want. Well, here’s my offer." Dorothy smiled. "Convince Dominic to withdraw the case against Vincent and get him released. In return, I’ll make sure that precious little bakery of yours doesn’t get bulldozed."

Clara’s eyes flickered, but she said nothing.

For a moment, she simply stared at Dorothy.

Then she scoffed.

And before Dorothy could understand what was happening, Clara burst into laughter.

Dorothy’s smug smile slowly disappeared.

"What exactly is so funny?"

Clara shook her head, struggling to contain her amusement.

"Oh, Dorothy. I never thought I’d live to see the day when you became this desperate."

Dorothy’s brows knitted together.

"What?"

"Let me guess." Clara tapped her forefinger against her chin, pretending to think. "No lawyer is willing to take Vincent’s case, and now that you’re running out of options, you’ve decided to come after me."

Her lips curved into a mocking smile.

"How clever. Threaten my bakery and hope I’ll go crying to my husband, begging him to save it."

Dorothy’s expression darkened.

"You little bitch! How dare you mock me?"

Clara merely raised an eyebrow.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Do you seriously think you can win just because Dominic is backing you?" Dorothy snapped. "Don’t forget that I still have the power to ruin everything you’ve worked for!"

Clara’s smile slowly faded.

Dorothy took another step closer.

"And trust me, Clara, I’m the only person who can help you get that bakery back. Without my cooperation, you’ll lose it."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Call it whatever you want. I’m giving you a chance to save yourself."

Clara stared at her for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle.

"How generous of you."

Dorothy clenched her fists.

"Don’t test my patience, Clara!"

"Then stop wasting mine."

Clara’s voice turned cold.

"You want Mr. Hayes out of trouble? Find another way. Because I’m not asking Dominic to withdraw anything."

Dorothy’s face twisted with anger. "Then you can forget about your bakery!"

Clara met her furious gaze without flinching. "We’ll see about that."

Dorothy’s face twisted with rage as she watched Clara turn on her heels and walk away without looking back.

"That little bitch!" she spat, clenching her fists.

Her eyes burned with fury, but moments later, a sinister smile slowly spread across her lips.

"You think you can just walk away from this, Clara?" she muttered, her gaze lingering on the doorway.

A wicked glint flashed in her eyes.

"Let’s see how long you can keep that arrogance when your precious bakery is reduced to rubble."

Dorothy scoffed, folding her arms.

"This time, even Dominic Sterling won’t be able to save you."

While Dorothy was busy plotting to destroy Clara’s bakery, Julianna found herself facing an entirely different problem.

With Vincent under investigation, all financial transactions involving Hayes Enterprises were being closely scrutinized. Julianna’s access to the family fortune had been temporarily suspended, leaving her unable to withdraw a single penny.

"What do you mean you can’t get the money?" Alex demanded, staring at her in disbelief.

Julianna shot him an irritated look. "Are you deaf? I told you, all our accounts are being monitored!"

Alex stared at Julianna, struggling to suppress his irritation.

Unbelievable! She doesn’t have a single penny to her name right now, yet she still acts like some wealthy princess.

Ever since Julianna had moved into his apartment last night, his expenses had practically doubled.

She demanded expensive meals, branded clothes, and every little luxury she had grown accustomed to at Hayes Mansion.

And somehow, she expected him to pay for everything.

Does she think money grows on trees? I can barely afford my own expenses, and now I’m supposed to maintain her luxurious lifestyle too?

"Alex! Are you even listening to me?" Julianna snapped, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Alex looked at her irritably but quickly composed himself.

"Julianna, are you seriously not planning to go back home anytime soon?" he asked cautiously.

Her expression immediately darkened.

"What? Are you trying to kick me out now?"

"That’s not what I meant—"

"Don’t forget, Alex. Everything you’ve bought for this pathetic apartment came from my money. And now you have the nerve to throw me out?"