Chapter 37
+25 BONUS
Heh, a rape allegation. Divine retribution really was a bitch Harry had finally gotten his comeuppance.
My accidental laugh made Edward even angrier. “How could you?! Since when did you become so cruel?!”
“I learned from the best–you!”
He suffered in silence, seething with anger.
“When you think about it objectively, can’t you see I did nothing wrong? He was committing real crimes,” I reasoned. “Even if you two are on the same side, I’d advise against being on the wrong side of the law, Ed. It won’t end well for you either.”
He stayed quiet for a long time.
I guessed he might have calmed down, realizing he didn’t have much ground to stand on.
Eventually, he changed the subject. “I heard you’ve been desperate for money. Why?”
“None of your business.”
“How much do you need? I’ll give you the amount.”
“I want 13,000,000 dollars,” I replied. “Got that much?”
“What do you need 13,000,000 dollars for?!” he exclaimed. Is the company in financial trouble?”
“Nope.”
I suddenly changed my mind. Even if he were willing to lend me the money, I didn’t want it.
It felt wrong to use a traitor’s money to buy the precious iten my mother lost because she had been backstabbed by her own husband. My mother’s ghost would probably haunt me for it.
“Never mind. This has nothing to do with you,” I added. “I need to work. Bye.”
I thought that was the end of it with Edward
Unexpectedly, my aunt called me around 10:00 p.m. that night.
“Tay–Tay, Edward talked to your grandmother. He asked if you’d been in trouble and needed money,” my aunt said
Panic crept in.
“You told her you had the money ready, right? She believed you. However, Edward’s call clued her in on the truth, and she got so worried she wanted to withdraw all the money she could for you. I only stopped her by fibbing that you’d already collected enough.”
I pressed a hand against my forehead, weariness settling over me like a heavy blanket. I was furious at Edward,
“Is Grandma okay?” Lasked worriedly.
“Don’t worry. I calmed her down enough to make her go to sleep,” my aunt reassured me.
Then, hesitantly, she added, “But he knows about the bracelet now, Tay–Tay. This can’t be good, right?”
1/2
Of course, it wasn’t good!
I was livid, though I didn’t blame my grandmother. She was just an old woman. Edward was the one who had tricked her into spilling the beans!
“I’ll handle this, Aunt Sarah ”
I couldn’t work anymore. Instead, I called Edward.
“Are you out of your mind?! You know my grandmother is old and sick, right?! How could you harass and shock her like that?!” I shouted.
I wished he were here so I could stab him with my tailor’s scissors.
“Your grandmother is my grandmother. What’s wrong with calling her from time to time?” he said, maddeningly calm.
“My grandmother isn’t related to you! I’m not related to you!”
“We’re civil partners.”
I gritted my teeth. “Only because you shamelessly, selfishly dragged out the process.”
I remembered our next appointment was in a week. “There’s one week left before it’s time again, Edward. Be a man and show up.
“We’ll see,” he said noncommittally.
I knew it. I’d expected this so thoroughly that I didn’t even feel angry anymore. “Miss this appointment again, and I’ll see you in court.”
He suddenly fell silent as though my words had hurt him.
I didn’t care. I was about to end the call when he said, “I want to help you, Tay. I know the bracelet means a lot to you. But I can’t give you 13,000,000 dollars.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter
Chapter 38
