In the Lap of Luxury

Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Fined and Jailed

“Benjamin, why are you negotiating with that unlucky jinx?”

Susan grabbed Benjamin’s arm. She had never seen him speak so humbly or so open to discussing things with Grace.

Besides, Grace had always the one to follow their orders. Why had things changed?

She marched over to Grace with an arrogant expression and tone. “So what if we’re slandering you? What reputation do you even have?

“You didn’t say anything back when our family was yelling at you!” Susan screeched.

But when she noticed Benjamin’s expression fall, she realized her mistake.

She had just exposed her attitude toward Grace for the past three

years.

Aaron couldn’t take it anymore and glanced at Grace from the side.

“This is the mother–in–law and sister–in–law you’ve taken care of for the past three years? What kind of people have you been serving?” he asked.

Then he remembered his sister’s embarrassment and composed himself. “It’s your choice, but if you end up embarrassing the family, I’ll hold you respon

“Don’t worry, Aaron,” Grace reassured him.

She had an icy look in her eyes as she scoffed at Susan. “If I’m not wrong, you’re going to tell me your daughter just needs to compensate me, right?”

Susan couldn’t care less now that Grace had guessed her argument.

“Am I wrong? How much can your shop be worth anyway? It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

“So you can afford to pay me 300 million dollars?” Grace asked slowly. But the amount still made Susan almost trip over herself.

“What? How can your tiny store be worth that much? Who are you trying to scam?” she asked

in shock.

Grace looked Susan up and down with a sharp gaze. “If you don’t believe me, I have the financial documents to prove it. I’m sure you’ll believe me soon enough.”

“You jinx! I’ll tear you apart! We’ll see if you can keep causing trouble!” Susan’s tone got more shrill, and she lunged forward.

However, Benjamin stopped her.

His brows were furrowed, and his face was so grim, it was like someone had died.

“Stop talking!” he barked at Susan.

Their argument had already attracted the attention of half the attendees there, who understood what was going on after hearing the conversation.

Grace was a woman who seemed like she had married a rich family. But it turned out that she had actually been horribly mistreated at home.

So they turned their ire on Susan, giving her a slow death with their glares.

“The Hawkins seem like a rich family, but the mother and sister talk like uncivilized peasants.”

“Beating and yelling at her the moment they’re displeased? Being an in–law to them must be really pitiful.”

“Yeah! And that sister–in–law is so bad.”

“Look how Mr. Hawkins is still defending them at a time like this. You can imagine what married life was like before the divorce.”

“If I were Ms. Lewis and had such a suffocating family and husband, I would have cheated on

him too.”

Everyone started talking more and more, and Benjamin heard every word. Maybe he really

hadn’t been paying enough attention to his marriage.

Everyone could see what was wrong right away, but he hadn’t even noticed for three years.

After listening to Celia’s wailing and Yvonne’s theatrical begging, he had no choice but to back down again.

“Grace, I’ll pay you the 300 million dollars. Can we just forget about this?”

“They’ll have to pay me and go to jail too,” Grace said casually, but she was still firm and overbearing.

Benjamin’s eyes widened slightly at her proud attitude.

“I know you’re angry at my family, but isn’t sending them to jail a little too much?”

One of them was a Hawkins, and the other was the second daughter of the Quine family. Both

families would be humiliated if they were arrested so publicly.

“I get to decide whether it’s too much. The fact that she got involved with a store worth 300 million dollars is enough to put her in jail for a few years.

“That should teach her to behave. If your family failed to raise her right, then the prison wardens will have to educate her for you.

“And you!” Grace said suddenly to Yvonne.

She kept her eyes on Yvonne, as if she were trying to pierce through her with her sharp gaze.

“You know what you did,” Grace said.

“I’ll have my evidence ready once the police take you in.”

(x)