Chapter 131 Leave My Son!
Arabella set down her bag while laughing. "I wouldn't dare ask for your forgiveness. How about I apologize instead?"
She winked at Vera. "Sorry?"
Vera internally wailed. What was wrong with this woman? Why was she randomly flirting with her? She was almost fifty—was she really that easy to charm?
But looking at the sunflowers beside her, Vera reluctantly admitted that yes, she really was!
Honestly speaking, this Arabella woman was pretty good-looking, sweet-talking, and knew how to charm people. Aside from her poor background and scheming nature, there really wasn't much to criticize.
What? You think she's not scheming? If she wasn't scheming, how could she have her ice-cold son completely smitten, even playing along with this commoner charade?
Vera really didn't have any good feelings toward Arabella. Well, even if she had a tiny bit of good feeling, it was only because she'd given her those two sunflowers!
She absolutely loved sunflowers!
For the sake of the sunflowers, Vera pointed to the chair across from her. "Sit. I called you here because I have something to tell you."
Arabella thought this mother-in-law really couldn't hide anything—all her thoughts were written on her face. Now she couldn't even wait for the food to arrive before getting straight to the point for their "talk."
She suppressed a laugh and asked, "What is it? Just say it directly."
She figured at worst, Vera would point at her nose, call her shameless, and demand she divorce Alex.
Unexpectedly, Vera pulled out her purse, took out a checkbook, quickly scribbled something, and pushed it over with a serious expression. "Here's a million. Leave my son."
Arabella stared at the check in front of her, stunned.
It wasn't like she'd never seen a check before. Three years ago when she was dating Anthony, Jennifer had "humiliated" her the same way.
Back then it was probably... thirty million dollars?
Except at the time she'd been blinded by love, her brain turned to mush, treating money like dirt. She thought Jennifer was insulting her love and gave the check back.
She'd regretted it so many times afterward. If she'd taken the check and left Anthony then, it would have been cutting her losses early. She wouldn't have wasted three years.
From another perspective, Jennifer had actually been trying to save her, but she hadn't seized the opportunity.
So seeing this check now, she felt a bit conflicted. She felt like she should grab this rare opportunity... but wasn't a million a bit too little? Besides, she and Alex didn't have that kind of relationship.
Taking this money would be morally wrong. Arabella reluctantly pushed it back.
"Looking down on me?" Vera glared at her. If Chloe hadn't repeatedly warned her not to blow Alex's cover, she would have thrown a billion at her. She didn't believe even a billion wouldn't tempt her!
She knew that years ago, she herself had been dazzled by that much money and almost took a check to leave her man. If her husband hadn't suddenly appeared out of nowhere, forcibly pried that check from her hands, and solemnly shown her his entire fortune, telling her that as long as she stayed with him she'd have endless billions, she really would have taken the money and left.
But now she couldn't throw more money around. A million didn't have enough impact—clearly Arabella wasn't tempted.
Vera was stumped. Looking at Arabella, she said, "How about you think about it—tell me how much you want and I'll give it to you!"
Arabella felt a bit sorry for her. Was Vera really willing to go into debt just to get her to leave Alexander?
If she actually asked for more, would Vera really take out loans?
Just thinking about this cute mother-in-law being chased by debt collectors until she looked haggard made Arabella's heart ache. She couldn't help but say, "Actually, you don't need to do this. What's between Alex and me isn't what you think. I'm... I'm his best choice."
After all, he was gay and needed a wife for a marriage of convenience. What normal woman would be willing to marry that kind of man?
But Vera thought she was challenging her. What a joke—what was Alex's status compared to Arabella's? How could she be Alex's best choice? Even being shameless had limits.
Since money wasn't going to work, Vera pulled out her second plan. She used a tissue to dab fake tears and sighed sadly, "You don't understand. I actually don't want to hold you back. You're still young and don't understand that when a couple is poor, everything becomes a struggle. We have several sons in our family, and I can't help you at all financially. We'll just be a burden to you in the future. Why would you want such a hard life?"
Vera had described what she thought was the most difficult life possible, not realizing this was just ordinary life for most people. Arabella had been a regular person her whole life and didn't think this kind of life was hard.
She looked at Vera seriously. "I'm not afraid of hardship. My family burdens are pretty heavy too. So Alex and I are actually perfect for each other. As long as we can understand and support each other, we can definitely overcome all difficulties and succeed."
Vera was at a loss again. The two ideas she'd thought of for so long, and Arabella wasn't biting on either. She didn't know what else to do. It wasn't like she didn't have other methods—she'd been in high society for years and had seen plenty of tactics. Some wealthy wives would stop at nothing to break up their sons and those women. Some ruined them, others had them killed outright.
But she couldn't do those things. Too vicious.
She'd have to go back and think harder.
Vera irritably threw her knife and fork on the table. Since she hadn't achieved her goal, she didn't even want to eat.
Just then the food started arriving. Arabella took a bite of beef and exclaimed, "Wow, this beef is so tender!"
Hearing this, Vera immediately perked up. "Really? Really?"
She also picked up her knife and fork to try a piece.
Her eyes immediately lit up. It really was delicious!
When she looked up and met Arabella's gaze, she immediately put on a stern face again and snorted.
Arabella tried the chicken next, her eyes widening. "Wow, this chicken is so fresh!"
Vera got interested again. "Really? Really?"
She reached out with her fork to try a piece, put it in her mouth, and couldn't help nodding. "It really is good."
Arabella suppressed her laughter and used the same trick again, serving her a bowl of soup.
In the end, under Arabella's influence, Vera ate until her belly was completely full.
She sighed contentedly, "Life's happiness is nothing more than this! I definitely have to come eat at this place more often!"
Arabella smiled. "Then I'll come with you."
Vera snapped back to reality, rolled her eyes at her, and said irritably, "In your dreams. Don't think that just because I ate a meal with you means anything. I still don't like you!"
She picked up her bag and left, but not before carefully taking the bouquet Arabella had given her.
Arabella politely stood up to see her off and paid the bill. Just as they walked out of the restaurant, Vera was about to tell Arabella to stay away from her when a voice interrupted: "Oh my, young lady, we meet again! Do you remember me? I'm Rachel—I helped you when you twisted your ankle last time!"
Rachel wore a tender yellow dress and walked over with affected enthusiasm.
She'd been racking her brains every day recently to gather information about Vera. She'd finally discovered that Vera liked formal wear, and after some effort, learned that Vera was coming to this restaurant. She'd specially chosen this carefully selected dress to try her luck.
Sure enough, she'd actually run into her! From the looks of it, Vera was just about to leave. Rachel felt a surge of joy—good thing she'd come just in time, or she would have missed her chance.
However, before she could get Vera's response, she saw Arabella also walking toward them. She immediately glared at her warily. "Arabella, what are you trying to do?"
From Arabella's behavior, she was obviously targeting Vera. Could she have also set her sights on James and was trying to approach him through Vera? Trying to marry James?
Look at what she was! How laughable!
Despite her disdain, Rachel was on full alert. James was her only chance—she absolutely couldn't let anything go wrong.
Seeing Rachel, Arabella also stopped. Looking between her and Vera, she wasn't sure what was happening and didn't speak rashly.
Seeing her silence, Rachel thought she was feeling guilty. She snorted and pulled Vera along with fake intimacy. "Young lady, you don't know—that's my former sister-in-law. She's so scheming. When she was with my brother, she cheated on him. Right after their divorce, she had a flash marriage with some pretty boy. The crazy things she's done, one after another—don't even get me started. You really need to be careful around her!"
Vera wasn't paying attention and let herself be pulled along for a few steps before realizing what was happening. She unhappily shook off Rachel's hand and said irritably, "Stay away from me!"
Although she didn't like her daughter-in-law Arabella, when she'd first learned of Alex's marriage, she'd had people investigate Arabella's background. She knew about the second marriage, knew the reason for the divorce, and knew her character.
She only looked down on Arabella for one reason—her background. Other than that, there was nothing else to criticize about her. What's more, she'd just given her sunflowers.
But this affected woman dared to badmouth her daughter-in-law right in front of her. Even if she was reluctant to admit it, when it came to standing united against outsiders, Arabella was her daughter-in-law and someone she had to protect.
Vera put her hands on her hips and pointed at Rachel's nose. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to, you pathetic clown! Look at yourself—so ugly, and you've made your face look even worse with all that makeup! And stop calling me 'young lady'—looking at you makes me sick!"
She hadn't been that disgusted before, but knowing this woman was her daughter-in-law's former sister-in-law made that little flame in Vera's heart flare up. She knew all about what Arabella's ex-husband's family had done.
Rachel was stunned by the scolding. Vera had disliked her before, but at least she'd been polite about it. Now she was pointing at her nose and cursing her mercilessly. What had she done to offend her?
"I..." Rachel opened her mouth, forcing out a fake smile uglier than crying as she tried to explain. "Do you have some misunderstanding about me? Did Arabella say something bad about me? She's just like that—can't stand seeing others do well, always stirring up trouble. Don't listen to her..."
Vera looked at her with a stern face. "I hate you, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. I don't need anyone to badmouth you in front of me. Just looking at your face disgusts me to my core. Get lost!"
Rachel looked at her with a wounded expression. Vera was about to turn and leave, but then thought better of it. She turned back, grabbed Arabella's arm, and dragged her along.
Rachel watched their retreating figures in shock, her mind full of disbelief. What was going on? Why would Arabella catch that old witch's eye?
Meanwhile, Arabella, being pulled along, was equally shocked, especially since Vera had been completely ignoring her before but was now dragging her along.
Honestly, her hand was so soft, and up close she smelled so nice...
Just as she was marveling, Vera suddenly let go of her hand and said coldly, "Don't think me bringing you along means anything. I just couldn't stand looking at that woman!"
After a pause, she huffed angrily, "And you too—you have everything she has. Look how scheming she is when she talks and acts. Look at you—she was badmouthing you like that and you didn't even slap her. Are you even human?"
Arabella felt warm inside and couldn't help smiling. "Isn't it enough that you believe in me?"
She spoke honestly, "Besides, I'm someone with no one to rely on. I should try to avoid trouble. The Watson family is beyond what I can handle."
Vera's eyes widened. "Who says you have no one to rely on? Am I not your backing? Isn't Alex?"
Arabella was speechless.
What kind of backing was this? What chance did ordinary people have against capital? Even Philip didn't dare go against Anthony. Although Alexander dared to, his network wasn't built easily. His work required him to maintain good relationships—he couldn't afford to burn through them.
Vera also realized that with her son pretending to be a commoner, no wonder this woman didn't even dare talk back.
But having a clear head and not acting impulsively while being practical—that wasn't bad.
Vera looked at her with disdain. "I really don't know what to say about you."
Arabella continued smiling brightly. "I think this is pretty good."
In front of Vera, she just couldn't help teasing her, just like when she was with Daisy. She felt no pressure from facing a mother-in-law.
Vera snorted, ignored her, and turned to leave.
Arabella turned to walk back—the bus she needed to take was in the other direction.
Walking back to the restaurant entrance where they'd met, she saw Rachel still standing there, not having moved.
Arabella's steps paused, but she continued walking straight ahead.
Rachel stared at her figure and suddenly called out, "Arabella, stop right there!"