Chapter 393
Marla hadn’t contacted Lucia because her two sons were at each other’s throats over who would get the house in Westmoor Heights.
Rowan’s wife used their child’s educat
as
leverage, arguing that Westmoor Heights was
szoned for prestigious schools.
Jude said his fiancée put her foot down–no house in Westmoor Heights, no wedding.
When Marla received Lucia’s call, she thought the other property deal was finally secured. After days of tension, she instantly felt relieved.
From what Lucia said, someone else wanted the house she had her eye on, and Marla’s heart instantly sank.
Marla said, “We absolutely must have that house. Don’t let anyone else get i
Lucia said, “I’d love to hold it for you, but you know, first come, first served. The other party has connections top, and it’s getting awkward for me to keep turning them down. They’re offering to pay the full amount upfront.”
“Full payment?” Marla muttered. She couldn’t possibly pay the full amount upfront.
Her family did earn some money recently, but it’s not like they struck gold. Houses in Ashbourne started in millions. With two sons to provide for, she could manage a mortgage, but paying the full amount upfront? That would be way beyond their means.
“How about I pay you a deposit first? Could you check on that other property for me? I’ll hurry up and raise the rest of the money,” Marla pleaded.
Feigning reluctance, Lucia finally insisted that the other party pay a 300–thousand–dollar deposit up front.
She didn’t dare let Marla transfer the money to her own account. Her cards were frozen. Any money going in would be trapped there.
Marla couldn’t scrape together 300 thousand dollars in cash either. After some back–and–forth, Marla finally agreed to transfer half to Kyle, with the remaining going to Lucia’s newly opened bank account.
Kyle took the money and went straight to Clayton. With Betty mediating, the two buried the hatchet.
Wyatt had been staying at Clayton’s place all along, witnessing their entire conversation. He couldn’t help but admire Clayton’s shameless ability to lie through his teeth.
After Kyle and Betty left, Wyatt spread his hands in a clear gesture of expectation, saying, “Give me half.”
Clayton shot him down. “This money’s for investment. I’m not giving you any.”
Without even turning his head, Wyatt strode out, tossing over his shoulder. “Fine, I’ll go tell Kyle the truth–you never invested a dime, you were just scamming him.”
“Wyatt.” Clayton grabbed and yanked Wyatt back, slammed the door shut, and shot Wyatt a menacing glare.
Wyatt shrugged nonchalantly and said, “Clayton, my family fell apart because of you. You owe me.”
Clayton sighed helplessly and closed his eyes. “Bro, this money is really for investment. I’ll give you my share of the profits–just go home and take care
of Mom.”
Wyatt pulled out his phone and turned on PayApp.
Clayton sent him 10 thousand dollars. Wyatt scoffed, “Not enough. I want double.”
Wyatt scoffed inwardly, “Go home and take care of Mom? No
way.”
He went out and splurged on new clothes and a watch for himself, then came back that same evening.
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Chapter 393
“Weren’t you supposed to be home taking care of Mom? What are you doing back here?” Clayton groaned in frustration.
“Riley’s not in school anyway–just let her handle it,” Wyatt said, then plopped down on the bed and instantly fell asleep.
The next day, Wyatt shadowed Clayton everywhere–even to the bathroom.
There was no way Clayton could shake him off. Unable to contact Lucia, he had no choice but to go infections.
to
the hospital and schedule a course of anti–cancer
With 150 thousand dollars in hand, Lucia immediately checked into a hotel again. Her every movement was documented by Logan’s men and promptly reported back to him.
Before they knew it, the 27th arrived–Yann’s birthday.
Early that morning, Amelia came over and insisted on baking Yann’s birthday cake herself. After burning two batches in a row and nearly wrecking the kitchen, she finally had to hand the task over to Daisy.
With most of the work at Darkshell International wrapped up, Yann finished his video conference and headed home early for the celebrations.
“Way too many candles,” Yann remarked, eyeing the cake. “Just a couple for the show is enough–no need for all thirty–one.”
Amelia insisted on putting one candle for each year of his age.
As they bickered over the candles, Audrey stood by watching with a smile, until her laughter gradually caught in her throat, her eyes growing moist.
She suddenly remembered her fifteenth birthday. Her dad had insisted on putting exactly fifteen candles on her cake. He even asked the shop assistant for two whole packs, just to make sure there were enough.
She also suggested just lighting two candles, but George insisted, “Let’s do it according to your age.”
Noticing that Audrey seemed a little off, Yann gently took her hand and said, “Come on, blow out the candles with me.”
“Okay,” Audrey replied softly.
The couple blew out the candles together. Amelia started clapping and cheered, “Happy birthday.”
“Happy birthday, Mr. Winifred,” Sylvie said.
“Happy birthday,” Hugo said.
“Happy birthday, Sir,” the household staff chimed in.
Yann handed out tips to everyone.
He cut the first slice of cake and presented it to Audrey, while glancing toward Amelia.
Amelia rolled her eyes.
“Give the first piece to Amelia,” Audrey said hurriedly, waving her hands to refuse.
“She doesn’t eat sweets. Just take it,” Yann sajd, placing the cake in front of Audrey. Then he cut a tiny piece for Amelia. “Give it a try.”
Just as Amelia took the cake, Audrey suddenly gasped in surprise.
“What’s wrong? Is the chocolate too strong, making it bitter?” Sylvie immediately stepped forward.
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Chapter 393
Audrey glanced down at herself, then looked up at Amelia. “I think… my water just broke…”
Yann was cutting the cake when his hand jerked in surprise, smearing frosting all over his fingers.
Yann, usually the epitome of composure, instantly panicked. His hands hovered helplessly in mid–air, wanting to steady Audrey but too afraid to touch her. “Don’t be nervous,” he stammered.
“You should calm down.” Amelia pushed him aside and bent down to feel Audrey’s belly–it was already starting to tighten. “Stay seated. I’ll call the ambulance.”
Amelia was also panicking inside. Audrey was going into premature labor. As the elder, she had to maintain her composure.
Although Sylvie had prepared all sorts of contingency plans, she couldn’t help but feel nervous when the moment actually came.
28)
After all, Audrey was carrying triplets, and she was Yann’s most precious treasure. Should anything happen to Audrey, it would be a catastrophe. Luckily, Amelia was there. She methodically organized everyone, arranged transportation, and notified the hospital. Her steady presence was the anchor everyone needed in the chaos.
By the time the ambulance arrived, Audrey had already been hooked up to fetal heart monitoring at home, and all readings were normal.
After Audrey was taken into the delivery room, people in the Davis family arrived first, followed by Quentin and Keith. “Hardy’s away at a competition. I’ve already texted him.”
Moments later, Logan arrived with Lucia in tow. Muttering under her breath, Lucia went straight to the operating room door and snooped around.
As Lucia walked past Amelia, Amelia caught her muttering under her breath.
Lucia muttered, “She’s only eight months along. Honestly, I don’t think things will go well. I told her to stop meddling and just rest during her pregnancy, but she didn’t listen. She had to poke her nose into everything. Well, look what’s happened now.”
Amelia grabbed Lucia by the collar and yanked her roughly to the side. Only when they were well away from the operating room did Amelia finally release her grip.
Amelia slapped Lucia hard across the face and threatened. “If I hear one more foul word from you, I’ll rip your tongue out.”
Lucia’s head snapped to the side, her face twisted in disbelief. “How dare you hit me!”
Amelia fixed her with a steely glare. “A slap is nothing. If Yann hears you cursing his wife, you won’t live to see tomorrow.”
Lucia’s face went deathly pale, her eyes darting to the space behind Amelia.
Yann, dressed in sterile surgical scrubs and about to enter the delivery room to accompany the birth, fixed Lucia with a piercing glare. His glare, sharp as an icicle, froze her blood solid.
She hurriedly protested, “You misheard me. I wasn’t cursing her. I was worried. Audrey is carrying triplets, which is already risky enough. No amount of kind words from me is going to make her pain go away.
AD
