Chapter 170: The Car Is Yours
"Close your eyes first. I'll count to three, then you can open them."
Natasha urged Ivan to close his eyes as she spoke.
"Okay, okay." Ivan closed his eyes.
"Three, two, one. Look what this is."
Natasha held up a sports car key in front of Ivan's eyes.
"I got you a sports car. Tell me if you like it."
"Really?"
Ivan took the car key, his face full of surprise.
"This must have cost a lot, Natasha. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. We're siblings. Not like some people who only talk big, or others who try to fool people with some cheap watch."
Her words were a direct jab at both Serenity and me.
I didn't really care, since I never planned to spend a penny on them anyway.
But seeing the gift she had carefully prepared being dismissed like this, Serenity finally couldn't take it anymore.
She explained quietly, "Ivan, I have limited allowance. This is all I could afford. If you don't like it, I can get you something else another day."
"Stop playing the victim. Don't think I don't know Dad gives you millions of dollars in allowance each time. Where did you spend it all? Who are you pretending to be poor for now? Making it look like our family mistreats you or something."
Seeing Natasha wouldn't let it go, Serenity's face turned bright red, looking like she was about to cry.
"I... I..."
Serenity's lips moved but she couldn't form a complete sentence. Finally, her helpless gaze fell on John.
Seeing this, John looked at Natasha with disapproval. "Serenity hasn't been with the family long. It's right that I give her more. But she's never willing to spend it. She always asks me before buying anything expensive. I told her to spend the allowance, to buy more clothes and bags that girls like. Natasha, how can you say such things about her?"
"See? Dad admits he gave you money, and quite a lot too. You spent it all and now you're playing innocent for who?"
Natasha snorted coldly. "Dad, look at how fake she is. No amount of money will help. You should spend more on Ivan and me instead. After all, we're the only ones you can count on in this family."
Seeing Natasha getting more and more out of line, John shouted angrily, "Enough! You're ruining the whole mood."
After scolding Natasha, John looked at Serenity. "Don't listen to her. Starting this month, I'll add another two hundred thousand dollars to your allowance. Spend it however you want. It's fine."
Serenity looked up in shock, unable to believe it. "No need, Dad. What I have is enough."
"Dad, how can you be so unfair? You said all the kids get the same allowance. Why does she get an extra two hundred thousand dollars a month?"
"Because she's my first child! What's wrong with giving her more allowance? I want to!"
John pointed at Natasha furiously. "With all the stupid things you've done these past few days, I've been tolerant enough not to cut off your allowance. Keep making trouble and believe me, I'll stop it right now!"
"You! Mom!"
Natasha buried herself in Willow's arms, crying uncontrollably.
"Mom, look at Dad. Ever since he got another daughter, he's been finding fault with me every day. I can't stay in this house anymore!"
"If you can't stay, then get out!"
It looked like John was really angry now.
Hearing this, Natasha cried even harder.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
Ivan looked at John with disapproval. "What did Natasha do wrong? Why are you treating her like this?"
"Ask her what she did! She's made our family lose all face. She even offended Helena, who's probably still angry at Natasha right now."
John glanced at me. I immediately understood—he was using Ivan's return as an opportunity to vent his frustration.
Too bad for him, he was dealing with me. I wasn't going to show him any respect.
"Ivan, you've been abroad all these years. You probably don't know what's been happening here."
I looked at Natasha with a half-smile. "My ex-boyfriend Knox is now Natasha's fiancé. Why did we break up? Because at my wedding with Knox, someone played footage of Natasha and Knox having an affair at a hotel. The scenes were quite graphic."
"After Knox and I broke up, Natasha quickly got engaged to him. That would have been fine, but they spread rumors behind my back that I was the other woman. Later at a press conference, Natasha admitted the rumors were false, but then turned around and slandered me again."
"All these years, Natasha hasn't learned much else, but she's gotten pretty good at lying and slandering people around her. Now that you're back, you better be careful. Don't let her use you without realizing it."
"Helena, you bitch! What are you talking about!"
Natasha screamed and rushed at me like a madwoman.
"Helena, I'll teach you to slander me!"
She reached her hand toward my face. I grabbed her hand and shoved her backward hard.
I casually brushed off some non-existent dust from my clothes. "Whether I'm lying or not, there's evidence. Do you want me to show the proof?"
"Alright, alright. Today is Ivan's homecoming, a happy occasion. What are you all doing?"
Seeing Natasha at a disadvantage, John quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Natasha, how could you treat Helena like this? I'm so disappointed in you!"
Ivan handed me the car key. "Helena, I'm giving you this car. Consider it an apology gift from Natasha and me."
"Ivan, are you crazy? Why are you giving her the gift I got you!"
Natasha yelled loudly from the side, making a move to snatch the key back.
"Natasha, Helena is family too. If you act like this, how can we get along in the future? Listen to me on this. Give Helena this car as an apology, and we'll still be one family."
After Ivan finished speaking, he looked at me. "Helena, please take the car and forgive Natasha, okay?"
Looking at Ivan's expectant eyes, I couldn't refuse.
But I really wasn't sure if this was Ivan's deliberate act or a sincere apology.
After what happened in my past life, I found it hard to trust anyone in John's family anymore.
However, if this was deliberate, then Ivan's scheming ran pretty deep.
With this thought, I said with a half-smile, "You're really giving it to me? This car is worth a fortune. Are you sure?"