Nicole frowned and stopped arguing with Zachary. They exchanged a glance and had a sense of foreboding.Zachary was irritated. "What's he here for?"Nicole glowered. She was miffed, too. "How would I know? Did you stir up trouble again?""No, I didn't!"Reporters were hovering outside his house. He had attracted a lot of attention because of Colette. How would he have the courage to loiter about outside?Zachary felt upset and wronged at being blamed.As they were speaking, Benjamin and Yves walked in with Benjamin in the lead. Yves followed him like a puppy and was carrying a laptop.Nicole's expression switched to one full of smiles once she saw them. She greeted them warmly, "Why hadn't you called before visiting?"Benjamin didn't even spare her a glance. He walked past her and sat on the sofa. Couldn't be bothered with pleasantries, he went straight to the point. "The annulment fee."Nicole was stunned. She did her best to maintain smiling. "I don't think I'm following."
Nicole stopped Benjamin from leaving. "Do you have a say in that? Is it necessary to hold a meeting over something so trivial?"Benjamin let out a soft hum. "I do have a say in this, and it's necessary if I say it is." He sounded calm, as though he was just stating a fact.But what he said pissed her off. "Ben, you're singling us out of spite!""So what if I am?"Nicole's eyes widened, and her face contorted with anger. She was at a loss for words.Things were tense between them. Joseph looked from one to another and tried to make peace. "Zachary is still young. He doesn't know what he's doing. Please don't bother yourself over him, Ben."Indeed, he's not a good fit for Ms. Victoria. We'll annul the engagement and pay the compensation. But we can't pay the lump sum. It's too much for us."Benjamin glanced at him. "You can mortgage your immovable assets and stock bonds if you don't have enough cash. I believe it's not a problem for you. I want it by today."Nicole blew a fuse. "
In the spacious living room, Zachary tried his best to lower his presence. He even stifled his breath as he tried to slip away.After toppling over the table, Nicole was still seething. She turned to glare at her son just in time to see him edging outward carefully.She immediately lost her temper. "Zachary Harper, look at what you've done! Get back here!" she bellowed as veins bulged on her temple.Startled, Zachary tried to flee. But he chickened out when he sensed Nicole glaring at him dangerously.Nicole hissed, "Why do I have such a good-for-nothing like you as a son? You're not only incompetent, but you're also a mischief-maker. I spend most of my days cleaning up after you."What use is there in me racking my brains for your future when you behave in such a way? I can grovel and beg all I want, but you'll still fail me!" Her anger flared as she spoke. She stomped toward Zachary and prodded him on the arm. "Where were your hands when you needed them? Did I give birth to an
Yves watched as Joseph entered the house. He clicked his tongue. "Joseph adapts well to the situation and knows what to do. He's much smarter than Nicole."He was studying us just now when we were inside. Ben, do you think he has discovered something? I have the feeling that he has.""Nicole wouldn't have married a guy who's all brawn and no brain." Benjamin opened the car door as he continued, "It doesn't matter if he has found us out. What can he do about it?"Then, he got into the car and dismissed Joseph altogether."Well, that's true. He's married into the Harper family. You can deal with him if he's up to no good." Yves agreed. He opened the door to the driver's seat and hopped in.Benjamin said coldly, "Head back to Zion Estate.""Sure," said Yves. "Nicole won't cause much of a fuss on her own. But if she cooperates with your admirer's family, I'm afraid Mrs. B will be at a disadvantage."It had been peaceful these few years because you didn't have a girlfriend … However,
Victoria looked suspiciously at Benjamin. Then, she peered at the paper he placed on the table.Her eyes instantly lit up when she saw the words "Certificate of Title"."Benjamin …" she exclaimed. Her hands moved before she could think, and she picked it up.Grantee: Victoria JamesonOwnership Status: Sole ownershipLocation: 888 Dawn Street, Rivendell Apartment #1, Hammington, Youngville.Victoria skimmed through the details and noticed the gross building area. It was 4176.4 square feet.She was stunned by the sudden bliss and couldn't resist the smile forming on her lips. "Is this the house Zachary is giving me as compensation?"According to the market price, a house of that size was worth more than 100 million.As expected of the Harper family, they would dish out birthday gifts worth hundreds of millions.For the sake of this house, she would've given Nicole and Zachary leeway for the annulment fee. However, what they did was simply too despicable.She continued reading
Meanwhile, Yves did as instructed. He was still outside Zion Estate when he contacted the media and forwarded all the videos and photos to them. Using his connections, he made it a trending topic.In the morning, these videos went viral on the internet. Netizens were all over it and threw shade at the Jamesons.Just then, Julia, who claimed on "My Child" that she had looked after Victoria for many years, wept bitterly as she publicly expressed her remorse, "I don't know Victoria Jameson, less so take care of her."I'm not related to her at all. Mr. Jameson offered me money to lie on the TV show and go along with their act. I don't know why they did that. I just did what he paid me to do."I swear I'm telling the truth this time, or else I'll get hit by a car."Someone interviewed Daisy's neighbors living in the same village, and the video went viral, too. Unlike those who spoke up for Roman, everyone held their IDs this time."I'm from Ark Village, and this is my ID. I take respo
Benjamin read the information on the Jameson family. "I've only promised you that I wouldn't hold a meeting with the Harper family.""You misled me on purpose!" Nicole's expression was ferocious. "Benjamin, what kind of bullshit do you preach at church? Have all the women in the world died?"You're so infatuated with that vixen, you would even go so far as to set your sights on your nephew's fiance and steal her from him? Do you have any integrity? Do you have any sense of shame?"You don't even like her, it's—"Joseph realized what she was about to say. Startled, he put his hand over her mouth.Benjamin heard her muffled voice over the phone. Pen in hand, he put it on the table with a tap. "A vixen? What's her relationship with Zachary?"His voice was mild, but Nicole could sense the warning and dissatisfaction in his tone. He subsequently hung up the phone.Nicole listened to the beeping end tone on her phone. She trembled with fear.Regret started to well up within her. But
Colette returned to her room angry and afraid, trembling all over.She proceeded to call Jane's phone. She wanted to discuss countermeasures with her, but the line was still busy.She angrily kicked her legs and tossed her phone on the bed. She then quickly picked it up again. She sat by the headboard and in a fit of masochism, logged onto Twitter to scroll through the comments.All of a sudden, her hand touched something. She turned her head to take a look.It was a dead disemboweled rat. There was rat blood on her hand.Colette shrieked in fear. She was so disgusted, she almost threw up.She threw her phone aside and ran out of her room. Coincidentally, Ginny ran out of her room. She was shrieking as well. Colette asked in a trembling voice, "Mom, what happened?"Ginny looked frightened. Her expression was worse than Colette's. "Snake … There's a snake in my room."Colette swallowed hard. She hugged Ginny and comforted her. "It's okay Mom, don't be afraid."Before she coul