She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 126

Chapter 126 He's My Stepfather

Freya didn't have much to say about the outcome.

Yet, as her mind wandered back to Vivien's earlier words, she absentmindedly twirled the contract between her

fingers and sighed, "She once threatened me, claiming that once her father found out, I'd be shown the door."

Hugh's face faltered for a brief moment. What wild tales had Vivien been spinning this time?

"Her father has no say over you, much less the right to meddle in Briggs Group's business," Hugh declared, his

stance unwavering.

Freya's eyes met his, her expression unreadable, ensuring he didn't feel cornered. "Next t| step foot into the

company, | expect her to be nowhere near the planning department. If she can't cut it after training, then she

should be let go."

Dismissals at Briggs Group weren't handed out on a whim. If an employee underperformed, they'd be given paid

training for half a month or even a full month. Only if they still couldn't meet the standards would they be

reassigned- and only then, if nothing improved, would they be let go. Vivien's incompetence had long crossed

the line.

"Understood." Hugh nodded, fully backing Freya, his cherished daughter.

As the conversation wrapped up, Hugh observed that Freya seemed a little distant, her demeanor still cool. He

hesitated, clearing his throat before speaking, "When we step outside, you should make the announcement. It

wouldn't be proper forto do it."

Freya didn't protest.

They both stood and opened the door to the meeting room.

As Freya and the chairman made their way out, the room fell silent, the air thick with anticipation. Everyone's

eyes darted anxiously toward Freya, worried she might bear the brunt of sfallout.

"Mr. Briggs, this matter is my responsibility. Please, don't let this investment advisor go," the team leader spoke

first, her voice steady but firm. "If blmust fall, let it fall on my shoulders."

Hugh blinked in surprise. When had he ever spoken of dismissing Freya?

Instinctively, he glanced at Freya, her calm gaze unwavering, but a twinge of unease gripped him. Could she be

thinking he had dismissed others for Vivien's sake in the past?

The mere thought of such a misunderstanding made him uneasy. If Freya believed he'd been unjust in favoring

Vivien, would that distance between them only grow wider?

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Chapter 126 He's My Stepfather

"Mr. Briggs hasn't dismissed me," Freya interjected, her voice slicing through the tension. She then turned to

Vivien, her tone unwavering "Pack up your things and head to the training department."

"What?" Vivien blinked, her usual compliant demeanor faltering as she looked to Hugh, confusion clouding her

face.

Freya didn't sugarcoat it. "Your skills aren't up to par for the planning department's editorial role. You're being

transferred to the training department, where you can pursue a field that aligns more with your talents."

"What is she saying?"

"Did | hear that right? Vivien's really being moved out of our department?"

"No way! Isn't she Mr. Briggs's daughter?"

"What kind of pull does this investment advisor have to make him transfer his own daughter?"

The murmurs swirled around Vivien like a storm, and she longed for the earth to swallow her up. She never

imagined Hugh would be so cold.

Despite her usual obedience, why was he treating her like this?

"That won't be necessary!" Vivien quickly tried to backpedal, her voice dripping with false humility. "Maybe I'm

just not cut out for a company like Briggs Group. | don't want to waste anyone's time, so I'll just resign."

"Get her a resignation form," Freya instructed the team leader, her voice calm and decisive.

The team leader hesitated, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.

How did the investment advisor know she handled resignation forms?

Nonetheless, after a glance at Hugh, who said nothing, she quickly retrieved a form. "Here you go."

Vivien was frozen, her mind scrambling. What in the world was happening? Was Hugh really going to let this

stand without saying a word?

"Didn't you want to resign?" Freya asked bluntly, cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter.

Vivien clenched her jaw, her eyes flashing with barely contained rage, before reluctantly taking the form and

glaring at Freya. With everyone watching, she couldn't back down-not with Hugh present. Slowly, she picked up a

pen, deliberately dragging out the process, hoping that Hugh would step in and somehow fix this, reprimanding

the investment advisor, and announcing her as his daughter to save face. But Hugh remained silent.

"It's not a crto be slow," Freya remarked, her eyes narrowing as she observed Vivien's drawn-out resignation

process. "The real cris being slow and never trying to improve."

Vivien's eyes stung with unshed tears, her humiliation mounting. What gave this woman the right to treat her

like this?

Without a moment's hesitation, Freya snatched the resignation form from Vivien's hand, then proceeded to hand

it to Hugh for his signature.

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Chapter 126 He's My Stepfather

"Your final paycheck will be wired to your account soon," Freya said, her tone indifferent. "You can leave now."

Vivien was livid, her face flushed with indignation.

She could feel the eyes of everyone on her, their silent mockery weighing on her like an anchor.

She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.

Hugh, watching the unfolding scene, cleared his throat awkwardly, mentioning he had other matters to attend to

before quickly exiting the room. He didn't want Vivien to make any more false moves, particularly calling him

"Dad" in front of everyone. He didn't want others to misunderstand, nor did he want Freya to misunderstand

The moment Hugh left, the tension evaporated, replaced by an air of gossip.

"I swear, for a second, | thought the chairman was her father."

too."

"Vivien, now that you're out of here, maybe it's tto get serious. No company runs on charity, they need real

competence."

Vivien's temper flared, her pride wounded. "Do | need you to lecture me?" she snapped, once Hugh was gone.

"Even if | don't work, my dad will still givepocket money."

"Is Mr. Briggs really your dad?"

"Seriously, if he was your father, how could he let you resign like this? Maybe your

dad's too busy, so M. Briggs had to step in."

"Our chairman's last nis Briggs, not Garza."

"What if she took her mother's surname?"

"Vivien's mom's maiden nis Newman."

Vivien's frustration deepened as the gossip buzzed around her. Her hatred for Freya grew in that moment.

She turned to face the group, her voice dripping with scorn. "Mr. Briggs isn't my biological father, but he is my

stepfather. If | ever want to return to Briggs Group, he can find a job forwhenever | like. Even if | do nothing

but show up and clock in, I'll make more than any of you." She spat out the words, desperate to assert her

superiority.

Freya, already prepared to leave, halted in her tracks. Vivien's words had struck a chord.

The chill in her demeanor grew.

Neither she nor Ethel had ever flaunted their connection to Hugh, never used it to elevate themselves in others

eyes. Vivien, however, clearly hadn't learned a thing.

"As far as | know, your mother and Mr. Briggs aren't legally married, are they?"

Freya turned on her heel, her voice carrying with the weight of truth. "In that case,

what kind of stepdaughter are you?*

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