My Two Billionaire Husbands: A Plan for Revenge-Chapter 236: The Competition Within

The room erupted into a silence so sharp it could cut.

Daniel.

He stood at the edge of the room, an arrogant smirk twisting his mouth as his hands met in deliberate, mocking applause. "Well, isn’t this touching?" he sneered. "Another stray kitten brought into the fold. How noble.

Tell me, Dad—how many more people are you planning to adopt who have no intention of helping this family’s empire grow?"

"Daniel, please," Aarya hissed under her breath, her eyes darting nervously around the room. "Not now."

But Daniel was only getting started. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"Sorry, Mother," he said, raising his glass, "but let’s not act like we’re all thrilled about this revelation. We don’t even know if this woman is telling the truth. For all we know, she’s just Greg’s little pet—his girlfriend playing dress-up in the big house.

And now that Cross Tech is in trouble financially, she’s decided to latch onto the bigger fish. Cross Holdings has deeper pockets, after all."

The air shifted—then snapped.

"Enough!"

Greg’s voice boomed like thunder across the room, catching everyone off guard. Even Richard sat up straighter, startled.

Greg rarely spoke during these family meetings. He was the quiet storm—rebellious, yes, but distant. Controlled. Until now.

He stepped forward, his jaw clenched, eyes blazing. "Watch your damn mouth, Daniel. You think you’re so righteous? You’re not even a Cross. You were legally adopted, remember? You and your mother were taken in off the streets—and you should be thanking my father every day for giving you a name."

The room gasped. Even Richard’s brows shot up.

Cammy’s heart pounded in her chest. This was spiraling.

"Boys!" Aarya snapped. "Stop this! This isn’t the time—"

But Richard raised a hand, silencing the room.

"We’re not here to tear each other apart," he said firmly. Then, turning to Cammy with a pointed stare, he softened just slightly. "Cammy came here tonight for a reason. She has the results of the DNA test."

All eyes shifted to her. Cammy gave a single nod, slowly reaching into her bag to retrieve the envelope. With a trembling hand, she handed it to Richard.

He tore it open with a hunger that bordered on desperation. His eyes scanned the paper—and his face lit up like a man receiving proof of a long-lost treasure.

A triumphant grin spread across his face as he waved the document for all to see. "Here it is!" he roared. "She’s mine! She’s my daughter!"

Without hesitation, Richard strode toward Cammy and pulled her into a fierce embrace. "I knew it," he whispered. "The moment I saw you—I knew you were mine."

But the joy was short-lived.

Daniel’s bitter laugh cut through it like a blade. He downed the last of his whiskey in one gulp, slammed the glass down, and spat, "So what now? Since she’s officially part of the family, I assume she and Greg will stop screwing each other?"

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

"Daniel!" Aarya screamed, her voice breaking.

But Cammy stood tall, steady. Her eyes locked onto Richard’s.

"A-Actually..." she began softly, pulling another envelope from her bag. "Greg and I were never together."

The words dropped like stones into water.

She handed the second envelope to Richard, who opened it immediately, confusion flickering across his face as he read.

Cammy cleared her throat and said, "That document is a notarized contract. Our relationship was a ruse. It was all part of a plan—revenge, really. My ex-husband, Duncan, was cheating on me with Greg’s ex-fiancée, Annie. We staged a relationship to get back at them."

And then, with a smooth grace, she stepped to Ric’s side and slipped her arm around his.

"This," she said, voice firm but gentle, "is Ricardo Rossi. My real boyfriend."

A hush fell over the room—until Geraldine suddenly clapped her hands in recognition.

"Oh! That’s why he looks familiar!" she gasped. "He’s the celebrity chef! You’re on that cooking show!"

Ric chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head, feigning modesty. "Ah, yeah. That’s me. Nice to meet you all."

Richard gave a short nod, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I see. That explains a lot. A betrayal on both sides... a staged romance... clever. Painful, but clever."

He turned toward Ric. "How did you three meet?"

Ric answered smoothly, "Cammy was my co-worker, actually, and I’ve catered several events in Greg’s company. I’d admired Cammy for a long time—even when she was still married.

But when I caught Duncan and Annie in my restaurant, everything changed. When Cammy discovered their affair, we knew we had to turn the tables. It wasn’t about hurting anyone... just making them regret doing the things they did. Making them feel what they made everyone feel."

"Hm," Richard mused. "Interesting. I’d like to hear more about that. Later. In private."

"What?" Ginger pouted. "Daddy, come on! That’s a soap opera and we’re family—we deserve the tea!"

Richard chuckled. "You’ll get the tea after you finish college. Hell, finish high school first."

Laughter danced around the room, easing some of the tension.

Richard clapped his hands together. "Enough drama for now. I’m starving. Let’s eat."

**********

In the grand dining room, a long mahogany table shimmered under soft chandelier light, already set for a royal feast.

Ric, ever the gentleman, pulled out Cammy’s chair for her with a warm smile. "M’lady," he teased gently, earning a grateful glance from her.

Cammy sat, and Ric took the seat beside her, his presence calm, steady—her anchor.

Across the table, Greg watched them with a tightly controlled expression, but the flicker of jealousy in his eyes was unmistakable. He said nothing—but his silence screamed volumes.

And in the corner, Daniel sat sipping a fresh glass of whiskey, his eyes narrowed like a hawk. He watched every move, every glance, taking mental notes—calculating.

Planning.

Because Daniel Cross may have lost this round...

But he wasn’t done yet.

Dinner was served, but the tension remained, simmering beneath the polite clatter of cutlery. Daniel was not too far from Greg, eyes gleaming with calculated malice. Every smile was a provocation, every toast a jab.

When Richard praised Greg’s latest innovation, Daniel laughed under his breath and muttered, "Too bad innovation doesn’t save sinking ships."

Greg met his gaze, jaw clenched, refusing to take the bait.

For Daniel, every interaction was a battlefield—one more opportunity to prove he was the better son, the smarter heir, the true Cross.

But Greg’s silence said it all: he wasn’t playing Daniel’s game... yet.