Chapter 158 Flora's Threat
A glamorously dressed woman stood in the private room, looking at Jennifer tied to a chair. She crossed her arms and asked leisurely, "What, still can't remember?"
Jennifer's cheeks were severely swollen. When she'd left the other room earlier, that Devin had brought her here. She'd expected to be treated courteously, but the moment she walked in, two large men had tied her up!
After that, she was repeatedly questioned about something from three years ago. Every time she said she didn't know, the woman would slap her. So far, she'd received over a dozen slaps and had even lost a back tooth.
Now, looking at the woman before her, she couldn't stop trembling. Those dozen slaps had left her deeply traumatized—she was terrified that the woman's hand might come down again at any moment.
This woman's background was unknown, but she hit hard and viciously. Each strike left half her ear ringing.
But that incident from three years ago was too serious. Even if they beat her to death, she couldn't reveal it.
Jennifer clenched her jaw and looked at the woman. "I don't understand what you're talking about. Who exactly are you? This is false imprisonment—it's illegal!"
The glamorous woman acted as if she'd heard a hilarious joke, dismissively flicking her nails and blowing on them before casually glancing at Jennifer. "Are you okay? I've already kidnapped you—do you think I'm afraid of breaking the law?"
She grabbed Jennifer's chin and raised her hand, delivering two vicious slaps!
Jennifer screamed, "Ah!"
The glamorous woman sneered coldly. "I suggest you confess quickly, or that face of yours won't be salvageable."
Jennifer looked at her in terror. "Who... who exactly are you people? You're not even afraid of the Watson family?"
"The Watson family is nothing."
The glamorous woman scoffed.
Now Jennifer was truly frightened. If they weren't afraid of the Watson family and dared to openly detain and assault her, that meant... their status was higher than the Watson family's.
But with such high status, why would they care about that incident?
Her heart filled with uncertainty and dread. Unknown fears were always the greatest—she was so scared she nearly wet herself.
The glamorous woman leaned down face-to-face with her, lips curving slightly, cold and arrogant. "Think again—what exactly happened that night three years ago?"
Jennifer numbly shook her head.
The glamorous woman laughed coldly, lowering her voice with dangerous eyes like cold venomous insects crawling across skin. "Do you want to die?"
Jennifer trembled with fright, suddenly rolled her eyes back, and fainted.
The glamorous woman vigorously patted her face. Seeing she'd really passed out, she shrugged with disinterest and sashayed out, swaying her hips.
Behind the screen, Alexander still stood by the window, his tall figure casting shadows in the lamplight. Morris handed him freshly brewed tea. He took it, sipped once, then set it aside.
Turning around, he looked at the glamorous woman and asked, "Still won't confess?"
The glamorous woman gently played with her slightly curled long hair, walking over to him with infinite grace. Her boneless arm draped over his shoulder as her red lips curved upward. Her low-cut camisole barely contained her soft curves—a picture designed to make men's blood boil.
"It's been so long—won't you ask how I've been doing?"
Alexander's expression was cold as he moved her arm away and stepped back, his eyes containing a hint of warning. "Flora, you know I don't like physical contact."
"Tsk, so heartless." Flora's eyes lifted, just catching him brushing off the spot she'd touched. Her heart immediately ached as she pouted unhappily. "When your little wife touches you, do you react this strongly too?"
"Flora," Alexander's brow furrowed slightly, warning flashing in his eyes. "She's my wife. Show her some respect."
"I heard you two are playing some kind of Platonic romance—is that really true?" Flora scoffed, turning to sit on the sofa with a sour tone. "A married woman—I can't believe you'd settle for that. Is it really worth it..."
Before she could finish, there was a crash. The man had snatched the cup from her hand and thrown it to the floor. Alexander's eyes flickered with restrained fury. "Don't think our past gives you the right to interfere in my affairs. My wife is not for you to criticize."
Flora's expression changed slightly. Her heavily lined seductive eyes flashed with sadness, long lashes falling to hide all emotion. She laughed coquettishly, "Alright, it was just a joke. Why are you getting upset? I know you like her, okay?"
Alexander released her, his gaze still cold. "Don't touch anything related to her. That's my bottom line."
Despite her best efforts to hide it, Flora's face showed a crack in her facade, but she quickly recovered perfectly. She smiled, "Got it, got it."
Then she changed the subject. "That old witch won't talk. What's next?"
Alexander shook his head. "Nothing we can do. Let her go."
Flora was puzzled. "We've already grabbed her—why bother releasing her? Why not just hand her over to me? I don't believe I can't crack her."
Alexander glanced at her. "This is a lawful society—restrain yourself. All our theories lack evidence. Until we have proof, we just need to keep watching them. No violence."
Flora boredly spread her hands. "Fine, you're always like this—rigid as hell."
"After all, I didn't come from a place steeped in sin like you did." Alexander said casually, turning to leave. "I should go home."
Flora knew she should keep quiet, but couldn't resist asking, "She sets your curfew too? That strict?"
Alexander stopped and looked back at her, his expression flat. "I told you, this has nothing to do with you."
As he pushed the door and left, Flora's charming bright smile also crumbled.
She grabbed a nearby cushion to hug, curling up in the large tea chair, her entire being sinking into deep melancholy.
She'd waited all these years—was there still no chance at all?
How utterly unwilling she felt.
Just then, a subordinate came in asking how to handle the woman inside. Flora waved dismissively. "Find somewhere without cameras and dump her in the middle of a main road. Whether she gets hit by a car depends on her luck."
"Yes."
After the subordinate dragged the person out, Flora felt like she'd forgotten something. Suddenly her expression stiffened—damn, she'd been so focused on beating her up that she'd forgotten to give the warning.
She quickly got up, chasing out in her high heels, having her subordinate dump Jennifer on the ground. "Bring a basin of ice water."
Ice water was quickly brought.
"Wake her up."
Bone-chilling ice water splashed onto Jennifer's face. Jennifer shuddered and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Flora, she shrank back in fear. "What... what do you want!"
Flora looked at her with some regret. "I should have killed you, but someone said this is a lawful society and I can't do that. So this is all I can do."
She pulled a dagger from behind her waist, its tip prodding at Jennifer's face. Jennifer was too scared to move, afraid the blade might accidentally slice her throat.
Flora's eyes instantly turned cold as she warned, "Arabella is under my protection. If you dare touch her again, I guarantee you won't live to regret it. Understand?"
Jennifer paused, looking at her suspiciously. "What's your relationship to her?"
Flora sneered coldly. "She's my sister."
The blade pressed against Jennifer's major artery. "I caught you once, I can catch you a second time. I'll say it again—stay away from my sister in the future. Got it?"
Jennifer quickly nodded. "Got it, got it!"
Flora gestured to her two subordinates. "Alright, send her off."
Jennifer panicked. "Where are you sending me?"
The subordinates didn't give her a chance to continue talking and quickly dragged her away.
Flora returned to the tea room, hugging her cushion again as she sat on the sofa, her entire being radiating deep emo vibes.
---
Jennifer was dumped, hands and feet bound, on the road in front of Watson Villa. This was Flora's warning to them—blatant and unconcealed.
When Anthony and Rachel got word and rushed back, Jennifer had already been brought home. Her body was covered in bruises, her face so swollen it was unrecognizable. She'd changed into silk loungewear while a servant held ice, trying to help with cold compresses. She hissed in pain and irritably swatted the servant's hand away.
"Useless thing! Be gentle!"
The servant tremblingly slowed her movements, but with Jennifer's severe injuries, how could it not hurt?
She had no choice but to steel herself and continue the cold compress under Jennifer's murderous glare.
Those who served as servants in the Watson family were long used to this.
Anthony strode in, seeing Jennifer's condition, his face darkening. "Mom, who did this?"
Jennifer was grimacing in pain, irritably dismissing the servant before saying coldly, "Arabella did it."
"What?" Anthony's face showed an incredulous expression. Arabella? How was that possible? She was such a gentle person—forget about violence, she wouldn't even argue with people.
It had always been his mother bullying her more often. She dared to attack his mother?
Jennifer grimly recounted being kidnapped and threatened.
Anthony's frown deepened. "A woman? Said Arabella was her sister? She's an only child—where would she get a sister?"
"Don't know what that woman's background is, but judging by her fearless attitude, she probably has serious backing." Jennifer spat, saying coldly, "Didn't expect that little slut to be so good at sucking up—first that Mr. White, now this woman."
But Anthony wasn't as angry as Jennifer. He looked at her calmly and asked, "Mom, what were you doing looking for Arabella?"
"I..." Thinking of what her son had said before, Jennifer felt guilty. "How was I supposed to know she'd be there? I was just attending a crew wrap party!"
"Watson family has invested in many projects, but I've never seen you attend any of their events. That crew had Arabella's close friend—you went after Daisy, didn't you?"
Unlike Jennifer, Anthony had genuinely cared about Arabella once and had accompanied her to several friend gatherings. He had some understanding of her friends.
Jennifer didn't answer that question, only looking at Anthony with displeasure. "Anthony, are you going to break with your mother over her?"
Anthony's eyes flashed with retreat as he shook his head. "I'm not."
Jennifer held the ice pack to her face, the pain making her irritable. "Discussing this now is pointless. In the future, let's all stay away from that woman. We can't afford to provoke her. Rachel, did you hear? Don't mess with Arabella from now on."
Rachel on the side was already stunned speechless.
That woman Arabella? When had she become so well-connected?
Though shocked, she had more important things to discuss, so she didn't dwell on Arabella.
"Mom, Anthony, since you're both here." Rachel bit her lip and gathered courage. "I don't want to get engaged to Ethan."
Jennifer's mouth twisted as she sat up abruptly. "What did you say? At a time like this you dare bring this up? You're getting engaged in two days—backing out now, do we still want to live?"
Anthony sat down nearby, holding the coffee a servant brought him, saying nothing.
Rachel was quite afraid of him, especially when he sat there silently like this. It made her feel like she was touching something very dangerous, sending instant chills down her spine.
"He doesn't respect me at all. His eyes are on top of his head. Even if I marry him, it'll be meaningless!" Rachel replied unhappily.
Jennifer was nearly driven to death by this daughter. When Anthony had first proposed this marriage, she'd been unwilling, explaining to her daughter countless times in detail, but she just wouldn't listen!
Now at the last minute she wanted to back out—would the Green family just take this loss? Wasn't this putting the Watson family on the chopping block?
She wanted to scold her daughter for being stupid, but she was still her own flesh and blood—she couldn't bear to. So she looked hopefully at Anthony, expecting him to provide a solution.
Anthony sat there, putting a cigarette between his lips. The lighter sparked as he lit it. He took a drag, exhaled thin smoke, and said unquestionably, "Last month the Green family already started project collaborations with the Watson family. Withdrawing now would severely damage Watson family. So, no backing out."
He stood up to leave, saying as he walked, "Prepare well. Get engaged to Ethan in two days."
Rachel's face went pale as paper.
Anthony walked out of the villa, having smoked most of his cigarette. He removed it from his mouth, holding it between his fingers, and looked down at it.
He suddenly remembered that Arabella didn't really like the smell of smoke. During their best times, she'd mentioned twice hoping he would quit.
Back then he'd treated her as an accessory—how could he listen to an accessory's suggestions? He hadn't even taken it to heart, continuing to smoke and even deliberately blowing smoke in her face to provoke her.
At the time, he'd just wanted her to know who was in charge in this house.
Now he suddenly felt that these cigarettes he'd smoked for over ten years were actually quite tasteless.
He casually threw the half-finished cigarette into the bushes.