“I recall that necklace was originally from the royal collection, with over a thousand years of history. It’s valued at one hundred and seventy million dollars.”
“One hundred and seventy million dollars? Incredible! Tiffany is dressed in a gown worth thirty million dollars and a necklace valued at one hundred and seventy million. She is basking in lots of fondness and affection.”
“I used to envy Melinda for the three-million-dollar necklace she received from her future mother-in-law. Now that I compare the two, it’s clear who is the favored one.”
As murmurs filled the air, Melinda wished she could disappear completely
Suddenly, Lorna’s voice cut through. “I disagree!”
Everyone stared at Lorna, puzzled by her declaration. Flushed with embarrassment, Lorna blurted out, “Arabella, your dowry is too valuable. How can you just hand that necklace over to someone else like that?”
Arabella replied with a straight face, clearly upset, “Do I need your approval to do so?”
Lorna stuttered, “I… That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what are you trying to say?” Arabella asked
Lorna struggled to find the right words. When Arabella was married, her family was quite prosperous and distinguished, leading to a substantial dowry, with each piece of jewelry being exceptionally valuable. Lorna had long coveted Arabella’s wealth, dreaming of one day claiming her exquisite jewelry for herself. Arabella had once declared that these jewelry pieces would be handed down to the family’s hostess. Lorna had eagerly awaited the day she would become the hostess, following Neil’s plan to kill Connor. But before she even became the family’s hostess, the most valuable piece of jewelry had changed hands. How could she not be anxious and unsettled?
Her vocal objection had emerged without a solid justification, leaving her somewhat embarrassed
Arabella snorted. “I will give my jewelry to whomever I choose. Today, I officially declare that all my jewels will go to Tiffany!”
Lorna was startled. It felt like a knife twisting in her heart
Neil, aware of Lorna’s long-held interest in the jewelry, said to Arabella, “Grandma, you have several grandchildren. It’s unfair to favor just one. Don’t you want to avoid family disputes?”
He had expected Arabella to falter, hoping she would prioritize family harmony above all. However, Arabella was defiant this time. She pouted and retorted sharply, “You want a share as well? Well, you’re not getting any!”
Neil was at a loss for words
Lorna said with grievance, “Arabella, isn’t it unfair? Even if you don’t have a fondness for me, surely you care for your great-grandsons? Today we’re celebrating Derek’s engagement!”
She then pushed Melinda forward, adding, “Arabella, meet your future great-granddaughter-in-law. Once she marries Derek, she’ll be the mother to your great-great-grandchildren. Surely she deserves something?”
Unable to persuade Arabella to give her the jewelry, Lorna attempted to use Melinda’s upcoming role in the family to get something
Melinda looked at Arabella with hopeful eyes. But Arabella merely looked her over with disdain and said, “I don’t like her at all. She’s mean!”
Melinda blushed with embarrassment. Lorna protested, “Arabella, how can you say such a thing?”
Arabella let out a weary sigh and explained, “When Tiffany realized she and Melinda were wearing identical dresses, to avoid overshadowing the bride-to-be, she put on a plain shirt to cover the dress. What did Melinda do? She tried to embarrass Tiffany intentionally! She’s shown herself to be quite vicious. I won’t reward such behavior.”
It became clear to everyone why Arabella, who had always been protective of Tiffany, had remained quiet today. She had known the truth all along
“Melinda has really shot herself in the foot!”
“She shouldn’t have tried to harm others. Now, she’s facing the consequences.”
The crowd’s murmurs caused Melinda further humiliation
At that moment, Arabella sternly said to Trenton, “Go home and properly discipline your granddaughter.”
Despite being younger than Arabella, Trenton was over seventy years old. Being publicly reprimanded embarrassed him deeply. Overwhelmed, he fainted, sending the gathering into disarray
Trenton suddenly collapsed, his mouth frothing alarmingly. Melinda was terrified and screamed, “Grandpa! Grandpa, are you okay? What should we do? My grandfather had a heart attack. What should we do?”
“Call the doctor! Call the doctor!” Neil urged, panic evident in his voice
Shortly after, a doctor arrived to assess Trenton. He observed gravely, “Mr. Warren has battled heart disease for many years. His condition is so complex that no doctor dares to operate. Now, the disease has flared up again, and his situation is perilous.”
“Then we must get him to the hospital immediately!” Neil demanded
The doctor shook his head. “Mr. Warren cannot be moved at this moment. Any mishandling during transport could be fatal.”
“What… What should we do?” Neil was bewildered. He had let his son marry a woman from the Warren family primarily to form an alliance with Aelfric against Connor. If Trenton were to die here, Aelfric would surely direct his fury toward Neil, potentially destroying their alliance
Since this incident occurred during a banquet hosted by the Daniels family, Connor, knowing his family would inevitably bear some responsibility, looked at Marissa for help. Marissa leaned in and whispered to him, “I can save him with a minor surgery, but we must have the family’s approval before proceeding.”
Connor immediately instructed Domenic, “Bring Aelfric here.”
“Yes, sir,” Domenic responded and quickly departed
Aelfric arrived soon after. Despite wearing a mask that hid the bruises on his face, his hobble betrayed his usual commanding presence; he was visibly in misery
“Oh, my God! Is that Aelfric? What has happened to him?”
“That explains his absence at Melinda’s engagement party. He must have been assaulted.”
In the past, Melinda would have reveled in Aelfric’s support. However, she now stood, feeling mortified amidst the crowd’s gossip
Ignoring the onlookers and their murmurs, Aelfric approached to assess Trenton’s condition. After listening to the doctor’s grim prognosis, Aelfric inquired calmly, “So, are you telling me my grandfather can only lie here and await death?”
The doctor nodded. “If we can get Dr. Riss here, there might be a chance to save him.”
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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