Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1159

The news exploded online. Within minutes, social media was flooded with gossip and speculation.

“This is about to get wild. Has Hazel seen the news yet, or is she already on her way to confront the mistress?”

“Honestly, Nicholas Lee is something else. I heard forever ago that his wife was by his side helping him build everything, and now, not long after Cynthia was born, he’s off with another woman?”

“I can’t believe he managed to hide a mistress and two illegitimate sons for years without his wife knowing.”

“Are we sure the wife didn’t know and just played along?”

“Come on, don’t be ridiculous. I work at The Lee Group. The chairman’s executive floor only has male assistants. Any young, pretty woman gets kicked out by Mrs. Lee before she even settles in.”

“Same here. Mrs. Lee is insanely jealous. If she’d known, there’s no way she’d have stayed quiet all these years.”

Cynthia was still at the hospital when her phone buzzed with the news alert. She stared at the headline, completely stunned.

This can’t be happening…

Her first thought was that someone was targeting her family. But the men in those leaked photos looked too much like her father—same nose, same jawline. There was no way to fake that kind of resemblance.

Her dad had actually cheated?

If what people were saying online was true, then everything the Lee family owned might end up in the hands of some mistress and her two sons.

No. She couldn’t accept that. Not ever.

Her hands shook as she raced back home. The moment she stepped inside, she found her mother in the middle of a meltdown, smashing anything she could get her hands on and shouting at Nicholas Lee.

“Is it true? What they’re saying online—is it true? You’re still seeing that woman?”

If she hadn’t been clinging to the last bit of self-control, the ashtray in her hand probably would’ve ended up in Nicholas’s face.

Nicholas was pale and tight-lipped. He had no idea how a secret he’d buried for years had suddenly blown up. But there was no hiding it now.

He let out a heavy sigh. “It’s true. You couldn’t stand Ines, so I had to send her overseas.”

Nicholas’s voice was sharp. “How could you be the heir? You’re a girl. Sooner or later you’ll get married and leave. And don’t say I’m being unfair. You don’t have what it takes to run the Lee family. As your father, I’ve done my duty. I’ve paved your way. Your best future is to marry well and help the family that way. Dennis Williams is the best option for you. From now on, don’t worry about the Lee family’s business. Just focus on marrying into the Williams family and becoming Dennis’s wife.”

Cynthia’s vision swam with fury and hurt. Her eyes were red as she stared at him.

“So everything you did for me—including helping me get rid of Camila Davis—was just to make sure I married Dennis Williams and brought connections to the family? For you and your precious illegitimate sons?”

Nicholas didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

Cynthia could barely breathe. She’d always thought she was her family’s darling, the number one socialite in Cabinda. But now she realized she was just a bargaining chip in her father’s game.

Hazel looked like she’d been drained of all life. She struggled to stand, her lips white, voice shaking.

“I won’t let you bring those two bastards back. Everything the Lee family has belongs to my daughter!”

Just then, the elder Mr. and Mrs. Lee walked in. Grandma Payne tried to calm Hazel down.

“Hazel, don’t be so stubborn. Girls get married off and everything they have belongs to another family. It’s just better to keep things in the family, isn’t it?”