Chapter 203
That night, Valeria stayed in the room with Margaret, watching TV.
When sounds came from outside, Margaret listened and said, “It looks like your uncle and
aunt are back.”
Valeria frowned. She had told Margaret not to mention that she was there, since she couldn’t get along peacefully with Thomas and Jennifer.
She could never forget. If it hadn’t been for Jennifer shoving her, nothing would have happened to Selena.
In the past seven years, she had barely seen Thomas and Jennifer at all. To her, her only family was Margaret and Selena.
Valeria hid in the room, closing the door and listening to the sounds outside.
Thomas came in alone, bringing two boxes of milk and some fruit. He placed them in the main hall. “Mom, Ivy’s pregnant. Jennifer stayed home to take care of her, so she didn’t come.”
Margaret smiled. “Ivy’s pregnant? That’s wonderful news.
Thomas looked at the food on the table and noted that there was clearly more than what one person could eat. “Mom, do you have a guest over?”
Margaret replied, “It’s just someone from the village.”
Thomas asked, “Mom, did Jane come back this year?”
“She did.” Margaret instinctively glanced toward the room, then said, “Thomas, things aren’t easy for Riri alone. You’re her uncle, and since you’re both in Slate City, remember to look out for her. We’re family. There’s nothing that can’t be talked through. You should let go of any misunderstandings from before.”
Thomas said, “Mom, I understand all of that.”
He avoided her gaze and coughed, “I heard our house is the only one that hasn’t signed yet. With this old place, we can get two apartments as a settlement. Mom, I was thinking that we could sell one and keep the other, so Jennifer and I will have somewhere to live when we come back. We’ll be able to take care of you, too.”
Margaret looked at Thomas. “Thomas, did you and Jennifer both agree to this?”
Thomas continued, “Mom, you’re getting old. Someone has to be around to take care of you. I looked into this. The Davidson Group and Grant Group arranged for a prime resettlement location. It’s right in a school district. If we sell one apartment, the money can be used for
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your retirement, too.”
Margaret sighed internally. She had just one son, but this son was weak, incompetent, and completely controlled by his wife. And now, he was trying to take advantage of her.
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Margaret said, “I don’t want either of the two resettlement apartments. One will go to you, and the other will go to Riri.”
“Mom…” Thomas looked troubled. “To tell you the truth, I lost a lot of money doing business before this. With this demolition, we’ll be able to cover some of the losses if we sell one of the
apartments.”
Margaret clutched her chest. “How much did you lose?”
Thomas answered, “About 700 thousand dollars…”
Margaret said, “Even so, the other apartment belongs to Riri.”
Thomas continued, “Mom, Riri’s already married. Giving her an apartment is a waste. It’d be better to use it to help me out of this crisis. The demolition’s happening soon, and Jennifer’s threatening me with divorce right now.”
Margaret didn’t give in. But since he was her only son, she had no choice. With a sigh, she went back to her room and brought out her bankbook.
“This is all I have. Make sure you and Jennifer live well together.”
Seeing that Margaret wouldn’t budge, Thomas lingered a bit in the hall and then left.
A car was parked outside. Inside sat Jennifer. When she heard that one of the apartments was going to Jane, she clenched her teeth.
“That old woman is crazy. What’s the point of giving it to that useless woman? Ivy is her granddaughter too, so why isn’t she giving Ivy one?”
Thomas said, “My mother hasn’t been well lately, I was thinking of taking her to the hospital for a checkup.”
Jennifer retorted, “A checkup? For what? Do you think doctors are free? She only remembers you whenever she needs to spend money. And now she’s only giving you one apartment. She just dotes on Jane. Who even knows how she’s doing right now?”
As he drove the car, Thomas said, “Just think of that apartment as my sister’s, left for Valeria.”
Jennifer rambled, “Why are you being so stupid at a time like this? Who knows how long that sister of yours has been gone or if she’s even still alive? I don’t care. If she insists on giving Jane an apartment, then she can forget about us ever taking care of her again.
“Ivy is so successful now, working in a core department of the Grant Group. Jane can’t
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compare to Ivy at all, but all that old woman does is favor her.”
Thomas muttered, “Alright. That’s enough…”
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Valeria stayed hidden in the room, only coming out after Thomas had left. She began clearing away the cold food on the table.
Chapter 204
