Chapter 42 Moving Day
Evelyn said, "Mia, keep your voice down! The Browns haven't even left the neighborhood yet."
But Mia angrily stood up and deliberately walked toward the door. "So what if they hear me? When has Dad ever let me suffer such humiliation? It's just a 5.6 million dollar handbag! I've never seen people so stingy!"
She turned back to face Evelyn. "Mom, look at how Jayden's mother treats me! I'm not even married to Jayden yet, and she's already bullying me like this! What's she going to do to me after I marry him?"
Evelyn was about to respond when her eyes suddenly widened, staring at something behind Mia.
Mia frowned and turned around, only to see Susan standing behind her with a dark expression.
Susan had rushed back because she'd forgotten her purse, only to overhear Mia insulting both her and Jayden!
"This is outrageous!" Susan could no longer contain her anger. She faced Mia directly. "I'm going to have to reconsider everything—you and the entire Foster family! The engagement is off! And that handbag you're clutching—I want it returned immediately!"
With that, she strode over to grab her own purse, then reached for the bag Mia was desperately clutching.
Mia shrieked, "What are you doing? This is a gift from Jayden!"
"The Browns paid for it! Let go!"
Susan forcefully snatched the bag away and stormed out.
Mia had never been subjected to such humiliation. She threw herself into David's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Dad! The Browns are bullying me!"
David watched the Browns' car disappear into the distance, gently patting Mia's back, his face clouded with worry. For a moment, he was at a loss for how to comfort her.
What should have been a wonderful birthday celebration had turned into a disaster over a handbag.
This confrontation had also led to the cancellation of Mia and Jayden's engagement.
Mia couldn't believe it. Over a single handbag, the Browns were willing to burn bridges. That evening, she called Jayden repeatedly, but no one answered.
She was devastated.
As Evelyn had put it, marrying Jayden would have secured Mia a life of wealth and privilege.
After all, the Browns were a step above the Fosters in social status.
Now the engagement was off. The Browns sent people to retrieve all their gifts, and the condo at Radiant Pinnacle was also returned.
Though nothing had been officially announced, the Browns' actions made it clear—the engagement was definitively canceled.
Mia locked herself in her room, crying through the night, then tearfully tried calling Jayden again.
When he finally answered, his tone was cold, "Mia, did your whole family conspire to scam money from me?"
Jayden had always spoken to her gently before. His sudden hostility made Mia fear that even Jayden was determined to break off their engagement.
The engagement had already been publicly announced—calling it off now would be utterly humiliating.
Mia wanted to lash out but forced herself to speak sweetly, "Jayden, what do you mean by that?"
Jayden replied curtly, "My mother had someone investigate! The person who consigned that Himalayan bag wasn't some stranger—it was your sister Grace!"
Mia was shocked speechless. "That's impossible!"
Jayden continued with conviction, "How is it impossible? My mother pulled the client records! You saw the original receipt—she bought that bag for less than seven hundred thousand, and you pressured me to bid 5.6 million! You got the bag, and all that money went straight into your family's pockets! This is fraud—expect to receive a court summons!"
Mia protested, "She cut ties with the Foster family long ago! And how could she possibly afford a Himalayan bag?"
Jayden shot back, "The facts speak for themselves! Mia, I treated you with complete sincerity, never imagining you were this kind of person! My mother was right—you only care about my family's status and money!"
With that, Jayden hung up in disappointment.
When Mia tried calling back, no one answered.
Had he blocked her?
Mia quickly opened Facebook, where Jayden had sent her an image—client records pulled from the auction website's backend, showing all the documentation and signatures for that Himalayan bag belonged to Grace!
The bag really was Grace's?
Mia remembered how Grace had barely suppressed her laughter when she'd shown off the Himalayan bag, and that look in her eyes—as if she were watching a clown perform.
How was this possible?
Mia suddenly recalled how the domineering Amelia had been so respectful toward Alexander. What exactly was Grace's husband's background?
"Mom! Mom!"
Mia rushed out of her room to the living room and told Evelyn everything Jayden had said.
Evelyn couldn't believe it either. "You're saying that Himalayan bag belonged to Grace?"
"Grace was the owner. She listed it online and it sold for 5.6 million! Jayden already confirmed everything." Mia continued, "She's the one who outbid Amelia! She made me look like a fool, made me completely humiliate myself! That bitch! How dare she..."
Evelyn said, "I've been suspicious for a while now! That man beside her seems to have serious connections!"
Mia demanded, "Mom, do you still have Grace's rental address? Tomorrow, I'm going to confront her directly!"
Evelyn cautioned, "Calm down! Let me investigate that man's background first."
But Mia was beyond patience. "Why not just ask her directly?"
...
The next day.
Peaceful Community.
Two large moving trucks were parked downstairs.
The landlord stood at the entrance, settling the utility bills with Grace. "You're moving out today?"
"Yes."
Jeremy was inside the apartment, supervising the movers as they packed and cleaned.
The landlord glanced at the handsome Jeremy and smiled knowingly. "Is he your new boyfriend? He's quite good-looking."
Grace laughed. "Don't jump to conclusions—he's just a... friend."
Max ran out, calling to Grace, "Mommy, my room is all packed!"
"Good, go wait in the car for Mommy."
"Okay!"
Today, Jeremy was helping Grace move according to Alexander's instructions.
The new residence was fully prepared—furniture and appliances all installed, ready for immediate occupancy.
The new home came with a live-in housekeeper available twenty-four hours and three staff members responsible for laundry and cleaning.
Grace and Max would move into Radiant Pinnacle first, and later Alexander would bring Liam to join them.
Mary was reluctant to let Liam move away, but Alexander promised her that every Saturday and Sunday, he would bring Liam home for two days. Only then did Mary agree.