Chapter 115
He didn't continue, but the cold killing intent in his eyes said it all.
Charles, Sophie, and Vivian fled the store like they were running for their lives, stumbling and bumping into things. Passersby turned to stare at them like they were watching a comedy show.
The store became quiet again, but the atmosphere remained tense because of Jacob's presence.
Jacob looked down at Elizabeth in his arms. His tone returned to its usual indifference, but the arm around her didn't let go. "Nice choice of outfit. Let's go with this one."
Elizabeth murmured her agreement softly.
Jacob instructed the stunned manager, "The dresses she tried on earlier, plus this suit—have them all altered to her measurements and delivered to Smith Manor within three days."
"Yes! Mr. Smith!" The manager bowed repeatedly.
Without another word, Jacob left the store with his arm around Elizabeth.
Inside the luxurious, spacious car, the atmosphere was completely different from the chaos in the store—now it was oppressive and strange.
The driver in the front seat kept his eyes straight ahead, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Vivian's heavy makeup was ruined by tears, making her look terrible. She sobbed while complaining shrilly, "Why?! Why does that bitch get to hook up with someone like Jacob? Did you see the way Jacob looked at her just now? And that diamond necklace—Dad! I want one too! I wish my future husband could be as powerful as Jacob and protect me like that!"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and the more insanely jealous she became.
That little bitch Elizabeth—why did she get to have all this!
Those dazzling jewels, that powerful and handsome man, those envious looks—they should all belong to her, Vivian!
Sophie hugged Vivian sympathetically, wiping her tears with tissues while consoling her gently, "Vivian, don't cry. That Elizabeth just got lucky. How could a man like Jacob really be into her? He's probably just playing around. Once the novelty wears off, he'll dump her. You're so beautiful—you'll definitely find someone better than Jacob!"
That's what she said out loud, but her heart was bleeding too. The way Jacob protected Elizabeth just now, and that undisguised possessiveness—even a blind person could see it wasn't just playing around.
Jacob was actually treating that bitch so well! How could she accept this?
"Someone better? Where is there anyone better!" Vivian cried even harder. "Jacob is the best! Mom, I don't want to marry anyone else, I want Jacob! Have Dad think of something!"
Charles, who had been silent all along, now had a face so dark it could drip water.
Jacob's attitude toward Elizabeth was completely beyond his expectations. He had thought it was just a marriage of convenience, that Jacob would treat her as a decoration or a plaything at most.
But the situation just now clearly showed he was seriously protecting her.
This made it much harder for him to take back the Windsor Group shares from Elizabeth.
With the Smith Family backing her up, Elizabeth could completely ignore him.
He had to find a way to sabotage this marriage, or extract greater benefits from it.
His gaze fell on the sobbing Vivian, and a calculating gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Vivian," Charles suddenly spoke, his voice low, "do you really want to marry Jacob?"
Vivian's crying stopped. She lifted her tear-filled face, looking at her father in confusion. "Dad? What are you saying? Of course I do! I dream about it! But how is that possible? That bitch Elizabeth..."
"Elizabeth..." Charles repeated the name, a cold smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Whether she can successfully marry Jacob is still uncertain."
Sophie and Vivian both froze, looking at him in confusion.
"Jacob just said the engagement party is in three days," Charles said slowly. "According to custom, whether it's an engagement or wedding, the bride has to leave from her family home. Elizabeth's family is the Windsor Family. When the time comes, she'll have to come back to prepare for the wedding."
Sophie's eyes lit up, seeming to understand something. "Charles, you mean..."
"What I mean is," Charles's eyes were sinister, "what if the person who walks out of the Windsor Family's front door and gets into the wedding car isn't Elizabeth, but Vivian?"
Vivian's eyes widened instantly, her breathing quickening. "Dad! You mean have me replace Elizabeth and marry Jacob?!" The huge surprise and disbelief overwhelmed her.
"Will that work?" Sophie was also excited, but still doubtful. "Jacob knows Elizabeth! And there will be so many guests."
"The guests only care about the bride's family background," Charles sneered.
"As long as we keep Elizabeth under control and prevent her from appearing at the engagement party. Then we'll have Vivian put on the wedding dress, wear a veil, and be sent out by us Windsor Family people. For the sake of face, even if the Smith Family realizes something's wrong, could they really cancel the wedding on the spot in that situation? Once it's a done deal, Jacob will have to accept Vivian as his wife for the sake of appearances. After Vivian becomes Mrs. Smith, she can slowly win Jacob's heart."
The more he talked, the more feasible he thought this plan was. There were risks, but the rewards were huge!
Once Vivian became Mrs. Smith, he, Charles, would be Jacob's father-in-law!
At that time, let alone the shares of the Windsor Group, the entire resources of the Smith Family might be at his disposal!
As for Elizabeth, his eyes flashed with malice—she dared to openly turn against him now. If she really became the Smith Family's daughter-in-law, wouldn't she be walking all over him?
Vivian was overjoyed, as if she could already see herself in a gorgeous wedding dress, marrying in style, becoming the envied Mrs. Smith!
She said eagerly, "Yes! Dad! Let's do it! I'll definitely cooperate!"
But then she thought of a problem and frowned. "But that bitch Elizabeth—how could she just obediently go along with it? She definitely won't want to give Jacob to me!"
"She doesn't want to?" A cold light flashed in Charles's eyes. "That's not up to her! If it comes to it, we'll use some special methods to make her too sick to get out of bed on the engagement day, or just make her disappear."
He paused, his calculating look deepening. "Besides, don't forget—Elizabeth's heart has always been set on Henry."
"Henry?" Sophie and Vivian were both startled.
Hadn't Jacob broken Henry's fingers, and hadn't the Aiden Family already abandoned him?