Old Mr. Hunt said, “Fine, takeaway food it is. Serena, don’t forget to pay the man later.”
Serena wanted to laugh.
Leopards sure could not change their spots.
These people were always trying to milk her in every way possible.
She coldly blurted, “You order, you pay.”
Serena took a glance at the local produce John and Mike hoisted into the shop. Since the sacks were not sealed, she could see they were a bag of sweet potato and a sack of yam.
Old Mr. Hunt thought he could handle the money of her business with two sacks of produce.
She could not make this stuff up. Only her granddad would do such a thing.
“Let bygones be bygones, Serena. We have put the matter behind us. Don’t hold grudges. I’m your granddad no matter what. We’re more than willing to make it up to you and even make a public apology online.
“I told John to draw up an apology, and it will soon be published online.
“Now that all the misunderstandings are cleared up, we’re still one big happy family. You made it big. Your husband’s family is wealthy. I’m talking billions! Tell your husband to stop his open fire at your uncles and cousins. Leave them to run their businesses and work.
“John was a top executive in a company, making up a million a year, but he lost his job because of you. By right, you should compensate for his loss of income, but since you’re cousins, we can forget about the compensation. Just give your cousin back his old job.
“You’re rich now. What’s breakfast going to cost you? Don’t be so stingy and fuss over every single detail. That reminds me, where’s my grandson–in–law? I knew he was the finest, the best of the best when I first met him.
“Haha. You have good taste in men, Serena. I heard your husband has eight younger cousins and brothers. Can you help set your cousin sisters up with them? I can die happy, knowing they would be well taken care of by the York family.”
Serena and Jasmine were lost for words.
The pair knew the Hunts were something else and wacky, but this statement took the cake. Every time they thought the Hunts could not go any lower, the Hunts always seemed to outdo themselves.
“Old Mr. Hunt, do you think just anybody can marry into the York family?” Jasmine jumped in to give her sarcastic two cents.
The old man was a dreamer for sure.
To think he tried to get the Yorks‘ last name attached to all his granddaughters.
It was unimaginable even to Jasmine.
Old Mr. Hunt spoke in a matter–of–fact manner. “Serena is an orphan, and she could marry into the York family. My other granddaughters have both parents around and come from good families. They’re no lesser than Serena, so why can’t they marry into the York family?”
“Serena, your granddad’s right. Family should always come first and stick together. Hook your cousins up so they can marry into the York family. Your position as the lady of the house will be secured with them around to help you. No one will be the boss of you.”
One of Serena’s uncles had a daughter who was younger than Serena by two years. She was still single.
The uncle’s eyes lit up at the opportunity of marrying his daughter into money.
In the past, the Hunts believed marriage with the rich and powerful was out of reach. It was not like they had seen the upper crust up close and personal before.
Now that a nobody like Serena became the wife of the wealthiest man in the city, they thought marrying up was not that hard after all. They began to fancy themselves in Serena’s position.
Their niece married a rich husband, but she might not help them since they were not on good terms. However, it was a different story if their daughters were the ones with wealthy husbands. Surely, their daughters would help out the family financially.
The Hunts might join high society in a few years with the York family taking them under their wing.
The Hunts would go on and tell people that they were related to Mrs. York, and the envious looks the Hunts got from the public fed into their ego. Alas, the Hunts were too blind to tell apart envy from cynicism.
It was no secret to the whole of Wiltspoon what the Hunts had done to Serena and her sister.
The Hunts put on airs and walked around town as the in–laws to the Yorks now that they realized Zack was Mr. York. The Hunts took shamelessness to a whole new level.
“You must be kidding. The door’s right there. Get out right now!”
Annoyed by their brazenness, Serena did not want to waste her manners on them and showed them the door.
John and the others fell back, but they only kept one foot out of the door.
They were counting on Old Mr. Hunt to face Serena solo.
Since the old man was a senior, Serena would not resort to violence no matter how angry she was.
“Serena!”
Scowling, Old Mr. Hunt shouted Serena’s name and waited until he got Serena’s full attention before uttering, “We can leave but not before I get a million bucks. I can go back and look after your grandmom. I’ll take them to cause a scene at your husband’s office if you don’t give me the money.
“Without the money, I’ll make sure to embarrass you and make you a laughingstock so you’ll never live it down with your in–laws.”
Serena turned on her heel to grab the broom.
With Serena ready to pick a fight, John and the rest scrambled out of the shop.
Still, Old Mr. Hunt held his ground, thinking that Serena would not lay a finger on him. It would be better if Serena hit him as he could demand more money.
Serena did not hit him.
Putting the broom down, she turned around and walked away.
It was a triumphant win for Old Mr. Hunt.
Whatever the reason, it was wrong to inflict physical harm on a senior, especially when he was just sitting there.
Serena could not play rough with a shameless old man like Old Mr. Hunt, so she went into the loo and filled a bucket of water. She carried the bucket and splashed the water on Old Mr. Hunt.
Old Mr. Hunt was taken aback by the surprise attack.
The water came gushing down his head, drenching him from head to toe.
The Hunts were dumbfounded.
That was cold, even for Serena!
She did not whack the old man, but she poured water all over him.
“Serena!”
Old Mr. Hunt wiped the water off his face, feeling his authority as the head of the household challenged. Blowing his top, he cussed Serena and her forefathers out with a finger up her nose.
Serena remarked snarkily, “Aren’t my forefathers yours too? Aren’t you afraid your father’s father might come back from the grave to haunt you?”
Old Mr. Hunt choked.
“The day you took my parents‘ blood money, kicked me and my sister out, and denied us the visit to our parents‘ grave was when you were no longer my granddad. So don’t try to act like one now.
“You won’t get a penny out of me. You’re welcome to take my life though, but that’s if you dare.”
With an ashen face, Old Mr. Hunt pointed his finger shakily at Serena. The anger overtook his every being.
Why did he have an unforgiving granddaughter like Serena?
“Just you wait. I’ll kick up a fuss at your husband’s office and demand that he forks out the money. Otherwise, I’ll ask your in–laws instead. You won’t be able to show face there. Your in–laws will find you an eyesore and kick you out!” threatened Old Mr. Hunt.
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.