Chapter 304: The Ungrateful Son Gets What’s Coming
“What zombie? What brain?” Mabel blinked, totally confused, and even reached up to touch her head on reflex.
Gemma could barely hold in her laugh.
“I mean, you’d have to be brain–dead–like, full–on zombie–infected–for that kind of nonsense to come out of your mouth.”
Mabel’s face turned bright red in an instant.
“Gemma, you are still as insufferable as ever.”
Gemma didn’t back down.
“And you’re still as thin–skinned as a soap bubble.”
Mabel, “_”
She placed a hand on her belly.
Forget it.
She wasn’t about to get into a screaming match with Gemma and risk stressing out the baby. Not worth it.
Especially since–well–she’d already gotten what she wanted.
Jarrett had even promised to buy her a coffee as an apology.
So there was zero reason to waste another breath on Gemma.
She turned and left without another word, practically speed–walking away like any second longer might turn into a catfight.
Gemma shook her head. She never used to see it, but suddenly, it all made sense.
Marcus and Mabel really were a match made in heaven.
Birds of a feather, rotten eggs and all that. No wonder the marriage fell apart. No wonder Mabel slithered into his life so easily.
It was destiny, really.
And with that, whatever bitterness she’d been holding onto finally let go.
After checking on her last patient, she decided to grab lunch at the hospital cafeteria. She pulled out her phone, scrolled a bit, and there it was–a
video of her.
The content was simple.
A press conference, featuring none other than Madeline and Jonathan.
Right in front of the cameras, they presented a DNA test.
Confirmed: Gemma was the Doltons‘ granddaughter.
The internet exploded.
Every major video and gossip site was covering it.
The genius doctor, turns out, had blue–blooded genes.
Suddenly, her talent wasn’t so unbelievable anymore.
People started digging through the Doltons‘ entire lineage, even comparing her to long–dead ancestors.
Simon, the current heir, apparently shared a name with a historical legend.
The Doltons were basically elite across every field–and Gemma’s success?
Clearly inherited.
Gemma scrolled through the headlines and couldn’t help but laugh–equal parts amused and furious.
So all her hard work meant nothing now? Just because she happened to have Dolton blood?
“Dr. Kelestine!”
A nurse rushed over, clearly out of breath.
“It is you! I thought now that you’re officially a Dolton, you’d be too fancy for the cafeteria.”
Gemma rubbed her temples.
How’s that possible!
She’d rather wrestle a raccoon than get tangled up with the Daltons!
But it looked like even if she tried to distance herself, they weren’t going to let her.
The Doltons had made their move.
“Dr. Kelestine, can you tell me about your three amazing uncles?”
Setting
1541
Chapter 304: The Ungrateful Son Gets What’s Coming
“That time your Uncle Ashton upgraded the hospital systems–was that for you?”
Ashton’s little stunt had been downplayed by the hospital director. Everyone just thought it was a standard upgrade.
Kept people calm.
But it definitely made the Doltons look good.
“I honestly had no idea I was a Dolton back then,” Gemma said.
The nurse nodded thoughtfully. “Ohh, makes sense. But I always knew there was something special about you. You’ve got that rich–girl aura.”
Gemma gave her best polite–but–awkward smile.
And that was just the start. Everyone who saw her had something to say, trying to strike up a conversation, acting overly friendly.
Gemma:“–” Guess she’s not eating lunch today.
Meanwhile, at the kindergarten-
Alijah, who used to barely show up, had been attending every day lately.
The teachers found it odd, but hey–if the kid came in daily, their performance bonuses stayed safe.
No one was complaining.
After nap time, while the kids were getting dressed, a few teachers started chatting.
“So Ms. Kelestine’s actually a Dolton now? Do we call her Ms. Dolton? Or Dr. Dolton?”
“Crazy, right? And I used to be friends with her! Lucky me.”
The funniest part? Ali didn’t even want her as a mom. He wanted that washed–up celeb instead.”
“Yeah, and now that she’s got the Doltons backing her? The Wilson family must be sweating.”
“Shh, keep your voice down–Ali might hear you.”
“I’m just saying, Noah clearly has good instincts. That kid was basically an orphan, and look at him now–attached himself to Ms. Kelestine like a pro.”
“If I had to choose, I’d pick Noah too.”
Total sweetheart. Polite. Thoughtful. A real little gentleman.”
“Plus, who wants a kid that might stab you in the back one day?”
“Noah’s definitely the better investment.”
“Getting betrayed by your own flesh and blood? That hurts.”
“Anyway, Ms. Kelestine’s finally getting the life she deserves.”
“Some people, well… too late for regrets.”
In the bathroom next door, Alijah was already awake.
Only a thin wall between him and the teachers, and the wall did nothing to muffle their voices.
Every word felt like a dagger straight into his tiny heart.
He was fully dressed, but didn’t dare flush the toilet. Didn’t dare walk out.
Didn’t want to see their faces. Didn’t want to hear their judgment.
Didn’t want to hear them say he was stupid. That he was blind. That he was an ungrateful little brat.
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Now he realized he’d been wrong. But was it too late?
Mabel kept saying a child had to be her own to truly matter.
But he wasn’t her biological son–so she didn’t care anymore.
He’d been loved his whole life, so deeply and so easily, he thought it was just… normal.
That he deserved it.
But now that he’d lost it all, he realized–he’d been wrong. So wrong.
Could he still apologize to his mom? Would she forgive him?
He thought of the archery club. That moment haunted him. He had no confidence left.
His mom the really seemed to prefer Noah now.
No matter what Noah said, she believed him.
But he remembered a time when she’d believed him, too.
He was three. A kid in the neighborhood fell, and the parents accused him of pushing.
