Chapter 33
Miriam clenched her hands into fists so hard that her nails dug into her flesh. Her face was ghastly pale; she had never felt so humiliated before and couldn’t help but resent Camilla a bit, feeling Camilla’s words brought Audrey’s insult.
Gritting her teeth, she found Shannon’s smile glaring. She thought, ‘Why? Why did Randall choose her, a bumpkin from the village, over me? Why did Audrey accept such a lowly woman as her daughter–in–law?
Perhaps Mom’s right. Audrey cares about appearances, so now, she’s just pretending to like Shannon. That must be it‘
Thinking, she stepped forward and smiled at Audrey, saying, “The necklaces are expensive. Mrs. Rowe, seems you dote on Shannon so much. But she grew up in a remote village without any money. What if she sells them behind your back in exchange for money?”
Audrey snorted, “So what? Those are all cheap stuff. Now that I’ve given them to Shannon, they’re hers, and she can deal with them however she wants.”
Then Audrey rolled her eyes at Miriam contemptuously. “Besides, do you think everyone’s like you? We offered Shannon 30 billion dollars as her wedding gift. These necklaces are nothing to her. Why would she sell them?”
Audrey’s words hurt Miriam deeply. Of course, she knew about those 30 billion dollars; it was a lot. Though she was the Lanes‘ daughter, she had never seen so much. It killed her to think the money that should have been hers was now Shannon’s.
Camilla aside couldn’t help but clutch her chest, thinking, ‘Shannon doesn’t deserve that much money at all. She’s just a rebellious girl from the village. If it weren’t for her dirty tricks, she wouldn’t have got to be Randall’s wife at all.‘
Thinking, she looked at Audrey coldly and mocked, “30 billion dollars? You said that, but who could prove it? Shannon cut ties with us, and she’s now part of your family. Of course, you can say whatever you want.”
Shannon sneered at Camilla’s words and said flatly, “Mrs. Lane, not everyone is as two–faced as you and your family.”
Hearing her words, Camilla took a step backward, looking shocked. “How could you say this about your family? I’m looking out for you, lest you’re tricked by the Rowes.”
Shannon’s eyes were devoid of any emotion as she looked at Camilla coldly and indifferently as if the latter were a clown. She said, “They trick me? Why would they trick me? Mrs. Lane, you’re ridiculous.
“The Rowe family is the top in Lorston. What would they want from me? Money? Or my body? Or do you think they gave me 30 billion dollars just so that I could be pregnant with Randall’s baby?”
Sneering, she continued, “If that was really the case, go ask every socialite in Lorston whether they will do it or not. Better yet, just ask that sweet daughter of yours standing next to you. She’ll throw herself at him for free.”
Camilla was both shocked and furious to hear Shannon speak ill of Miriam in front of so many people. She raised Miriam, who was her proudest work; of course, she wouldn’t sit around while letting Shannon ruin Miriam’s reputation.
Her expression changed drastically as she pointed at Shannon, scolding angrily, her finger trembling, “Shannon, stop talking nonsense. How could you smear Miriam like this? You… Are you trying to say this to piss me off so that I fall sick again?”
Shannon smiled, her eyes sparkling, “I smear her? How laughable. Which part of my words isn’t true? When Randall came to our door to propose a marriage, she was over the moon,
“When she knew that Randall was marrying me instead of her, she lost control; she publicly discredited me regardless of the persona she so painstakingly built up. You were there that day. Have you forgotten?”
“You… You’re so mean and vicious. I’m so unlucky to have you, an ingrate, as my daughter.” Camilla’s eyes turned red, and her voice trembled utterly.
1/2
9/2
15:16 Mon, Dec 30
Chapter 33
64%
Shannon continued with a sunile, “I’m like this all thanks to you and Mr. Lane. You left me alone in the village and adopted another girl. This is what you deserve.
“You’ve always looked down upon me, yet I married Randall, your ideal husband for Miriam. It must be killing you to see me doing so well, right?”
Camilla’s breath became heavy. Her lips trembled, and she couldn’t utter a word. Curling up her lips, Shannon glanced at her with contempt.
Audrey couldn’t stand it anymore. She stepped forward domineeringly, stood in front of Shannon, and snorted, “Camilla, you and your family are too stupid to see how precious Shannon is. Thanks for the chance; now we can dote on her.”
“Audrey, you did this on purpose, right? You and your family have been trying to sow discord between us and Shannon. What are you up to? Dote on her? Over my dead body will I believe you adore her, a rebellious, uneducated bumpkin,” Camilla retorted.
“Why wouldn’t I adore her? She’s perfect. I want her as my daughter–in–law, and I want her to give birth to Randall’s babies.” Raising her chin high, Audrey looked down at Camilla.
Then Audrey continued, “Tell that adopted daughter of yours to stay out of our way. If she pesters Randall or Shannon again, I’ll do something. Your family hasn’t been doing great, right? If you offend me, are you sure Lincoln’s company can withstand our revenge?”
“You’re throwing your weight around, Audrey.” Camilla widened her eyes as she gawked at Audrey.
Audrey pulled a long face. Her face resembled Randall’s, and when she was sullen, she was as overwhelming as him.
Wrapping her arms around her chest, she snorted, “Yeah, so? You chose to cross me. Camilla, I’m warning you. Shannon is my daughter–in–law. I can’t change the fact that she wasn’t loved before. But now, she’s with us. I’ll go after anyone who upsets her.”
