He paused, glancing at Arabella before finally looking at Raina. “We made a deal that only one of you could marry into our family. I’m old now, but I don’t have Alzheimer’s disease yet. I still remember what we agreed upon. How could you both have a worse memory than me, given your age? All you want is to marry Gordon, isn’t it? Let me make this clear. You have no chance of marrying into the Jones family unless I am dead.”
Nathaniel turned to look at Carl, who, at the gesture, placed a bank card on the table.
Nathaniel said to Arabella, “You are a smart woman. There are fifty million dollars on the card, which will be enough for your sister to live on for a long period of time. You should know what you can and can’t do. If you accept the money, the Jones family will still recognize you as one of us.”
Nathaniel got up and left without giving the sisters a chance to speak.
Raina and Arabella remained with the silence Nathaniel left behind in the ward.
“What should we do now, Arabella?” Raina asked.
Arabella’s mind was a mess. She looked at the bank card on the table.
Fifty million dollars meant nothing to the Jones family. Nathaniel wanted to drive them away, but he didn’t want to spend a lot of money.
But Arabella knew that it would be difficult for Raina to marry into the Jones family, given the current circumstances.
Nathaniel’s parting words had been quite vicious, too.
If Raina insisted on marrying Gordon, Arabella would no longer be a member of the Jones family. But if Raina took the money and left, Arabella could still be Mrs. Jones.
Arabella had wanted Raina to marry into the Jones family only because she wanted to be a part of the family again.
But Arabella was hesitant now since the Jones family still recognized her as one of them even if Raina would not marry Gordon.
“Arabella!” Raina called loudly, interrupting Arabella’s train of thought just as Arabella was going to ask Raina to accept the money and give up.
Arabella looked up at Raina, guilt written all over her face. “Raina, listen to me. This old man…”
“I know what you are thinking,” Raina interrupted her. “You think there’s no way I can marry into the Jones family now, so you’re thinking that it would be better for you to continue as Mrs. Jones than lose everything. But Arabella, don’t forget that your husband is dead. What’s the use of that title? You think you can use the Jones family’s money?”
Raina had given voice to Arabella’s thoughts, which embarrassed and angered Arabella. “So what’s your plan? Don’t forget that getting rid of us will be as easy as killing an ant for them. Don’t tell me you want to be sent abroad again!”
Raina took her time to calm down before saying, “You know what? Meeting Nathaniel today is a chance handed to us on a platter.”
Arabella frowned. “What do you mean?”
Raina whispered something in Arabella’s ear.
Arabella hesitated as he heard what Raina had to say. “Do you think it will work?” she asked skeptically.
“Don’t worry. It will definitely work!”
Arabella gritted her teeth as she considered this. “Fine. There’s no other way now anyway.”
The sisters continued to discuss their next plan in a low voice.
Meanwhile, Ashlyn had calmed down after attending a meeting.
To her, the bidding that was to take place the next day was more important. “Has Keenan been doing anything lately?”
Keenan would be Ashlyn’s biggest competitor in tomorrow’s bid. She had already asked Talia to keep an eye on him.
Talia brought Ashlyn up to date with Keenan’s latest activities and said, “There is nothing unusual at present.”
Ashlyn nodded. “I see.”
She went back to her office and immediately got busy dealing with two urgent documents. Only then did she get the chance to leave the office.
When Ashlyn walked out, she found that it was raining. There was a spare umbrella in the office, but she didn’t want to go back to get it. It wasn’t raining very heavily, just a drizzle. She tugged at her windbreaker and decided to take a taxi.
“Why don’t you care about your health?”
A black umbrella appeared over her head the moment she walked out into the rain, accompanied by a familiar male voice. Ashlyn turned and her eyes met a pair of familiar, smiling eyes.
Ashlyn smiled sheepishly and said, “There’s a taxi! It would only take me a few seconds to run and get into the car. I won’t get wet.”
She had barely finished speaking when someone got into the taxi she was pointing at.
Devin clicked his tongue. “What now?”
Ashlyn blinked and replied, “It seems that I have to bother you again, Devin.”
Devin stared at her before handing her the umbrella and saying, “I’ll bring my car.”
He then walked into the rain.
Ashlyn held onto the umbrella, wondering what had just happened.
The handle was still warm, but it felt scalding hot to her skin. She quickly moved her hand to avoid it.
Devin drove his car over. Ashlyn zipped up the umbrella and hopped in his car. The car’s warm air encircled her whole body, bringing a modicum of relief.
“It’s drizzling outside, so how about a hotpot?”
After a little pause, Ashlyn agreed and nodded. “Well, up to you.”
Her reasoning was that she didn’t have a say since she wasn’t the car’s owner or driver.
Every time, the places Devin picked had the ideal atmosphere and delicious cuisine.
Ashlyn had been staying in the city for quite some time, but she had never been to this place before.
Not long after they took a seat, Ashlyn got a call from Jessie.
Ashlyn looked at Devin and apologized, “Please excuse me. I have to answer this call.”
In the quiet corner beside the semi-opened window was a pot filled with beautiful orchids. The air carried the sweet fragrance of the orchids, and Ashlyn could smell them as she stood by the window. Ashlyn couldn’t help but admire Devin for finding such a nice place.
“What?” Ashlyn asked.
“Have you not gotten over that cold, Ashlyn?”
Ashlyn realized Jessie had something to say. “If you don’t tell me what you want in the next three seconds, I’ll have to hang up.”
“Hey, wait! Actually, Ashlyn, there is something I really need your assistance with. After dinner, would you mind joining me at ONE?”
Ashlyn felt helpless. “You want me to go to a bar when I’m still recovering?”
“Please, just bring yourself here. There’s no need to do anything else.”
“Did you lose another bet?” Ashlyn asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jessie enjoyed playing dice games immensely, although she would always lose. She wasn’t much of a gambler, but she enjoyed placing bets with others about certain challenges.
And this time, the bet must have something to do with Ashlyn.
Jessie cracked an uneasy grin. “Why don’t you just come on over? Please?”
“Okay, fine.”
After Ashlyn finished her call, she lowered her eyes to the orchids in front of her.
They smelt great.
The hotpot was healthy and nutritious. The broth was tasteless, but the meat was tender. When doused in a secret sauce, the meat tasted good.
“I have to go to ONE,” said Ashlyn.
“Let me drive you there.”
Ashlyn easily accepted his offer. In any case, it was pouring outside and she didn’t have a car, so getting there wasn’t exactly simple.
She had no idea what Jessie wanted her to go to ONE for. Louisa would get into an argument with Jessie if she found out she had gone to a competing bar.
When Ashlyn reached ONE, it was just eight o’clock in the evening. There were not many people in the bar. As soon as Ashlyn walked in, she scowled because the music was too loud.
Sitting at the booth, Jessie caught a glimpse of Ashlyn. She waved and yelled, “Ashlyn, look over here! Come here!”
As she looked at Devin, Ashlyn told him, “So Devin, time to say goodbye.”
As his eyes met hers, Devin said, “Maybe we can stick together for a while longer.”
After a brief pause, Ashlyn remarked with a bright grin, “Don’t you want to chat up with some girl?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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