novelxo Chapter 5: You have no manners!
After hanging up the phone, Tina pushed open the window, gazing at the azure sky with an icy expression. "Mom! Who did you even offend?"
When she left the Reed family all those years ago, she was only nine years old. The memories that lingered in her mind were of her mother being bullied by Elizabeth while her mother always bore it in silence.
Back then, she didn't understand. Her mother was a wise and capable person, so why didn't she fight back when she was bullied?
It was only after they left the Reed family and faced assassination attempts from various parties that she understood her mother's profound cultivation and miraculous medical skills. She realized that her mother was not incapable of resistance; she was avoiding her pursuers.
One day, her mother received a phone call, and she noticed something was off about her mother's complexion. But she was young and had gone through many escapes; she assumed that someone was after them again. But that night, her mother committed suicide.
Death by a poison her mother had concocted herself!
Before dying, her mother instructed her to find Master Tam, study cultivation under him for ten years, and keep a low profile.
Her mother specifically ordered that after her death, her body should be cremated without any memorial service.
Ten years later, she was to go back and find her father, Hugo, to fulfill the marriage arrangement with Jared.
She did everything else as told, except marrying Jared. She couldn't let a marriage stop her from seeking vengeance for her mother.
But now... Jared was also involved in the past events.
The marriage had been called off, and now she had to find another way to investigate the past.
A frantic knocking at the door brought Tina back to her thoughts.
She opened the door and was met by Elizabeth and a crowd from the Reed family rushing in.
Elizabeth's other two sons, along with their families, and one Amber, filled the cramped living room.
Their faces were filled with anger, especially when they saw Tina, as if they wanted to tear her apart.
"Tina! You worthless thing! Who gave you the permission to call off the engagement with the Farrell family? You ingrate! Do you not see me at all?" Elizabeth's eyes almost spat fire upon seeing Tina.
She couldn't fathom that Tina would cancel the marriage on her own initiative.
If it weren't for Logan Farrell's call, she would still be in the dark.
Fortunately, Logan valued the marriage alliance and didn't make things difficult for her. He mentioned that despite Jared's disability, he would give half of his wealth to Jared, and if Amber married into the family, she wouldn't suffer and could support the Reed family's business.
Since Tina had just returned, the Reed family had not yet made her identity public, so they were unaware that it was Tina, not Amber, who was supposed to marry Jared.
But Elizabeth didn't care about that. As long as Tina married into the family, the Reeds would get what they were due.
But this cursed child, Tina, had actually called off the engagement!
Tina's eyes narrowed with a hint of coldness as she stared at Elizabeth without saying a word.
"It was I who asked Tina to cancel the engagement," Hugo stepped forward, protecting Tina behind him, and spoke with a serious face, "If you have an issue, take it up with me."
"Slap!" Elizabeth's hand flew across the air, her fury sky-high, "You ungrateful wretch, do you realize what this marriage means to the Reed family?"
She hadn't really wanted to cancel Amber's marriage to Jared but had been looking for a way to secure the Farrell family's investment without sacrificing Amber.
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But Tina's actions could anger the Farrell family, and they wouldn't receive a dime.
"What does it mean?" Hugo scoffed mockingly, "Is it not just for your vanity? You look down on Tina, so you're willing to sacrifice her?"
"Hugo!" Hugo's older brother, Pinewood Reed, frowned and spoke out, "How can you talk to Mom like that? She's doing this for the good of the Reed family. Besides, the Farrell family said that Tina wouldn't be mistreated if she married into their family."
"Yes, Hugo, Jared may be disabled, but he's wealthy. Look at Tina; she was raised in the countryside without an education. She probably didn't even finish high school, did she? She's already nineteen and can't go to college, so she can only work..."
Talon Reed added, "With her background, she can only find a job as a waitress. Who would she marry in the future, an ordinary person? What's wrong with marrying Jared? At least she won't have to worry about food and clothing." "Enough!" Hugo roared, "Tina is my daughter, and I have the right to decide whom she marries or doesn't marry. No matter how good Jared is, Tina willnot marry him."
"You!" Pinewood's face turned beet red with anger, "You are being unreasonable!"
Elizabeth glared at Hugo, "This household doesn't run by your say. Since Tina is a Reed family granddaughter, she ought to contribute to the Reed family. We don't support freeloaders!"
Tina chuckled derisively, her gaze filled with disdain.
Elizabeth turned sharply to her, eyes venomous, "What are you laughing at?"
Tina looked up, her captivating eyes fixed on Elizabeth, "I'm laughing at how quick the mighty forget! If I recall correctly, since birth, I haven't spent a cent of your money. You've never raised me, so where's this talk of contribution coming from?"
Even though she was young at the time, she remembered this grandmother who had never even bought her a dollar's worth of candy.
"You!" Elizabeth was so enraged that she felt a tightness in her chest, her gaze at Tina tainted with bitterness.
This sharp-tongued wretch!
"Tina!" Pinewood shouted angrily, "How dare you speak to your grandmother like that? Is this how your mother taught you?"
With a slight curl of her red lips and her hands casually in her pockets, Tina replied nonchalantly, "Sorry, my mother's dead. Maybe you'd like to ask her yourself how she taught me?"
Pinewood's face flushed with rage, "You have no manners!"
Tina's defiant stance infuriated the rest of the Reed family. But with Elizabeth present, they all held their tongues. However, the looks they gave Tina were filled with loathing.
Tina's chin lifted slightly, utterly unaffected by their glares.
After a long stare, Elizabeth took several deep breaths to suppress her anger, her tone softening slightly, "This marriage was arranged by your mother. She wouldn't harm you, would she? Mr. Farrell said he still hopes you'll fulfill the engagement with Jared."
Tina looked at her with a half-smile, not responding.
Elizabeth's brow furrowed, her voice colder, "Tina! Let me remind you! The place you're living in is provided by me. If you don't marry Jared, I'll take back this apartment. Besides, I'll have your father thrown out of the company. As long as I'm here, he won't find a job in Ensford. Without money, he won't be able to provide for your family!"
Before Tina could speak, Hugo stepped forward, earnestly, "Take the apartment if you want. I'm capable of providing for my family. I won't push Tina into a living hell."
Elizabeth, so angry she could have slapped him, held back and glared at Hugo, "Fine! You have guts. I want to see how long you can last."
Elizabeth spoke coldly, "You have one hour to move out!"