Chapter 111: A jackpot?

Words : 1257 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Chapter 111: A jackpot? Jeanne stood frozen, the words she had been holding all day now stuck in her throat, her heart heavier than before. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides as she fought to keep her emotions in check. More than thirty years of marriage—and yet Gabriel remained the same. Cold. Distant. Unmoved by anything that mattered to her. "I didn’t call you back for some dinner surprise," she said tightly. Her eyes glistened, but she refused to let the tears fall. "I have something serious to tell you. Something about Denis." At the mention of their son’s name, Gabriel halted mid-step. His brow lifted, sharp with suspicion. "Denis?" Jeanne nodded and steadied her breath, bracing herself for his reaction. "I went to see Tania—the actress. She is pregnant. With Denis’s child." Gabriel stiffened. "What?" he barked, as though the word had struck him like a blow. "Pregnant?" "She is," Jeanne confirmed grimly. She stepped forward and retrieved a document from the table. Holding it out, she added, "Here is the report. It’s real. And she has no intention of terminating the pregnancy." Gabriel snatched the paper from her hands, his eyes scanning the contents. As the confirmation sank in, his brows furrowed deeply. "I tried to offer her money," Jeanne went on. "I thought she’d accept the money and walk away. But she refused. Claimed she loves Denis... said she wants to marry him." She scoffed, her lips twisting with disdain. "She even threatened to go public if we try to break them up. She is determined to force her way in." She paused, watching her husband’s reaction. "I didn’t want to act rashly. That’s why I waited—for you. We need to talk to Denis before this explodes." Gabriel didn’t say a word. He stood there, rigid, staring down at the report in his hands. His eyes gleamed with something dark. The initial shock had passed, replaced by a cold, calculating intensity. His jaw tightened as he recalled the heated exchange he had had with his father, those words still echoing in his mind: ’The shares will go to the next generation—to my great grandchildren.’ And now, fate had handed him a weapon. This unborn child, as unexpected as it was, could change everything. Augustine, still unmarried, had no legitimate heir. But Denis was now about to become a father. His grandchild would be the firstborn of the next generation. A slow, wicked smile crept across Gabriel’s face. He didn’t even notice Jeanne watching him, her expression morphing from concern to sheer annoyance. "I’m talking about a scandal that could destroy everything—and you’re smiling?" she barked. Gabriel’s grin widened. "This isn’t a disaster, Jeanne. This is a jackpot." She blinked, stunned. "A jackpot?" she echoed, unsure if she was hearing him right. "Are you out of your mind?" He stepped closer, placing both hands firmly on her shoulders, his eyes lit with renewed purpose. "My dear wife, you are too naïve. This child is our key. The firstborn Beaumont heir. That carries power. With this child, we gain the upper hand over Augustine. Dad said the shares go to the future generation—this is the future. My legacy." Jeanne stared at him, horrified by how quickly he had twisted the situation into a strategy. She had come to him for support, for guidance as to how to get rid of the threat called Tania, and instead found him plotting like a man hungry for conquest. Jeanne thought she no longer recognized him. For years, Gabriel had walked with his nose in the air, scorning anyone who didn’t meet his impossible standards—especially those without pedigree or status. And now, here he was, speaking almost reverently about the unborn child of a third-grade actress. She shook her head slightly, still trying to wrap her mind around his sudden change in tone. "You... you have no problem with that actress anymore?" she asked with disbelief. "Are you actually considering accepting her as Denis’s wife?" Gabriel’s expression hardened. "I don’t care who the mother is," he said with icy detachment. "The woman is irrelevant." His hand moved as he tapped the sonography report. "What matters is the child. That baby is the future of this family—and our key to everything." Jeanne’s lips parted in stunned silence as she listened to him continue. "My father made it clear—his legacy, his shares, will go to the next generation. This child will be the firstborn of that generation. That makes this baby invaluable." He looked at her, his eyes gleaming with ruthless intent. "Once the child is born and legally recognized, we’ll take care of that actress. She won’t be a problem." A dark, satisfied grin tugged at Gabriel’s lips as his mind raced ahead. He could already picture it—his father’s shares, the family empire, all falling into his hands. Augustine was still unmarried, and even if he managed to secure the Granet girl, it would be too late. Gabriel was determined to make sure Augustine never had the chance to catch up. Once Denis’s child was born and secured his position as heir, Augustine would be cut out of the picture for good. In his mind, the outcome was already decided. He was the rightful heir to the Beaumont legacy. The property, the business, the influence—it all belonged to him. This child, born of convenience, was merely a stepping stone to claim what was his. Jeanne remained rooted in place, her mind still foggy with disbelief. She hadn’t anticipated this reaction—this chilling composure and strategic ruthlessness. Then, Gabriel’s voice sliced through the heavy silence, snapping her back to the moment. "You’ve brought me wonderful news tonight. I’m in a generous mood. Call Denis and tell him to bring that woman to the family dinner this weekend." Jeanne blinked, her heart skipping. "You... want her at the dinner?" "I do," he said without hesitation. "Dad has invited Augustine too. Perfect timing. I want to announce Denis’s engagement—make it official in front of everyone." Jeanne swallowed hard, dread coiling in her chest. Her instincts screamed that this was a dangerous game Gabriel was playing. Deep down, she couldn’t shake the unease Tania had stirred in her. That woman was too calculating, too eager to latch onto Denis. It wasn’t love—it was ambition, plain and simple. Jeanne had sensed it from the moment they met. But she also knew Gabriel wouldn’t listen to her and that he would do what he wanted. "I’ll invite her to the dinner," she muttered reluctantly, the words tasting bitter. "But I still don’t trust her. She is after the wealth of this family... she seems too greedy." Gabriel let out a low chuckle, stepping forward and wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a mockingly tender gesture. "My sweet, naïve Jeanne," he murmured. "Do you really think Denis loves her? He is my son—he would never seriously consider marrying someone like that. She is just a passing indulgence." He brushed her hair back gently, his voice smooth and coaxing. "But the baby is a Beaumont. That child matters. That child is our future." Jeanne’s body remained tense, her mind still whirling, but Gabriel’s words were beginning to soothe the storm inside her. "Don’t worry," he murmured as his hand slid down her arm. "When the time is right, we’ll handle her. Quietly. She won’t be part of this family." Only then did Jeanne finally sigh in relief. Her shoulders eased. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips as she leaned into his embrace.

Chapter 111: A jackpot?

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