10x Cashback: Your Wealth Is Mine-Chapter 136 This Is Your Punishment

136 This Is Your Punishment

The door to Clarisse's private study closed with a soft click and Jasmine entered, her posture stiff.

Clarisse sat at her desk, studying her daughter. Judging by her stiffness, she was still furious with Clarisse's decision and judging by the red around her eyes, she'd cried about all this.

But the most important emotion, the one that was fighting with her fury and had made her come here to the presence of her mother, was fear.

Jasmine knew that her mother's discipline wasn't trivial. Especially as they grew. Just for partying, she had cut Jenny off from the family. Yes, she'd accepted her back home but that was because her mother didn't see partying as that unforgivable an offence.

But for making a scene and threatening her mother in front of the board, Jasmine didn't know what her own punishment would be but it would definitely be worse.

"Sit." Clarisse said in a voice so cold, Jasmine shivered.

Shee hesitated, then lowered herself into the chair opposite her mother. For the first time in years, she felt small under the eyes of her mother, like a little kid about to be whipped for breaking the rules.

She'd forgotten how this felt like, having made sure over the years that Jenny was the one who was always in this position and not her.

"I don't understand what this is about." Jasmine said, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. "If it's another chance to sing Jenny's praises, save it."

Clarisse arched a brow, unimpressed by her daughter's bravado. "You don't understand, do you? That's exactly the problem. You've spent your entire life misunderstanding what it means to lead and that… is my fault."

Jasmine's anger surged forward, overpowering her fear. "I've done everything you taught me! I've been decisive, strategic and even ruthless when necessary."

"No." Clarisse interrupted, her tone like the sound of a whip. "What you've done is confuse ambition with leadership." She spat. "You've torn down everyone in your path, even when it wasn't necessary. That's not strength. It's shortsightedness."

Jasmine recoiled as if struck. "I-"

Clarisse slammed her hand on the table and Jasmine flinched. "You put the reputation of Apex at stake with your actions." She said through gritted teeth. "And your actions on WireFrame? That was foolishness of the highest order."

Jasmine's eyes widened in surprise at her mother's words. Then, her anger came back. "I've worked harder than anyone else in this family! I've delivered results! And now, because of one mistake, you're turning your back on me?"

Clarisse's eyes narrowed at her daughter, her face dark. "One mistake? Do you truly believe that? Or are you simply unwilling to take responsibility for the choices that led you here?"

Jasmine's hands gripped the arms of her chair. "WireFrame was necessary."

"Necessary?" Clarisse sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Your justification doesn't change the reality, Jasmine. You sabotaged a company working closely with Apex just to weaken your sister. Not because it was good for Apex, but because it was good for you."

"And what about Jenny?" Jasmine shot back, her voice rising. "She's not innocent in this. She's always been waiting for a chance to take me down."

Clarisse shook her head. "Jenny doesn't need to play your games. That's why she won. While you were busy plotting her downfall, she was positioning herself to protect Apex. You didn't lose because she was better, Jasmine. You lost because you made yourself worse."

The words hit Jasmine like a slap. She straightened in her chair, her voice cracking as she spoke. "So, that's it? You've made your choice. You've decided she's the better daughter."

"This isn't about being better." Clarisse said, shaking her head in disappointment. "It's about understanding what the company needs. And right now, Apex needs someone who can build, not destroy."

Jasmine opened her mouth but no words came out. Even with her confidence in her worthiness, she couldn't find something to say to that.

"When I founded Apex," Clarisse said, staring at her daughter, "I had competitors who tried to tear me down no matter what I did. They thought the only way to win was to destroy the enemy.

But I learned something important, Jasmine. True power comes not from tearing others down, but from creating something so strong that no one can touch it."

"You've spent so much energy trying to outshine your sister that you've forgotten how to shine on your own. That's why you lost. Not because of Jenny, not because of me, but because you never stopped to think about what you were building."

"You think I don't understand power, Mother?" Jasmine snarled. "I've fought for every scrap I've ever gotten in this family. I've had to be ruthless because that's what you taught me."

"I taught you to be strong." Clarisse said quietly. "But strength without purpose is chaos. And that's what you've brought to Apex. Chaos."

Jasmine's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "So, what now? You expect me to grovel? To congratulate Jenny and step aside like some kind of failure?"

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"No." Clarisse said evenly. "I expect you to reflect and take accountability for your actions. If you want to make something of yourself, you'll need to start by understanding where you went wrong."

"And this brings us to your punishment." Clarisse said and Jasmine's heart leapt into her mouth. "I have destroyed the major evidence against you in the WireFrame case and have made sure Nicholas would keep the peace."

"But you still have to pay. I have sent enough to get the authorities to come for you." She said, staring at her daughter. "Spend some time in jail and reflect on your actions. When you get out, we'll see if you've learned a thing or two."

"Mother." Jasmine said, a tear running down her face. "Don't do this to me."

Clarisse stood and walked to the window, turning her back on her daughter. "This… is your punishment, Jasmine. Go and think long and hard about what you did wrong."