Chapter 7

Ella let out a piercing scream, despite the fact that most of the water had splashed onto Noah. Noah shot to his feet, and when he saw who it was, his expression changed drastically. "Have you lost your mind, Bethany?" Ella's long hair was completely soaked and plastered to her scalp, making her look utterly disheveled. She, too, jumped to her feet and stared at Bethany in disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with you, Bethany? Why would you dump water on us?" Bethany snorted. "You're messing around in my room. Don't you think you deserve it? Are you that cheap, Mr. Vazquez? Can't you even afford to get a room elsewhere?" Noah's eyes flashed with anger. "What nonsense are you on about? Ella didn't see what was on the floor and tripped." There was a triumphant glint in Ella's eyes as she grasped his hand timidly. "You've got the wrong idea, Beth. How could we possibly do… that kind of thing here in broad daylight? He was just trying to help me up, and I accidentally pulled him down." Bethany wasn't interested in their explanations. "I don't have time to listen to your stories. Get out, both of you!" "Bethany Porter!" Noah gritted out. "Stop yelling. Save your energy. You'll need it to scream in bed tonight." Three burly men followed in behind her. Bethany pointed downstairs. "Do you see that piano? Get rid of everything within ten feet of it. Oh, and that couch as well." Then, her cold gaze swept across the room. "Don't forget to throw out this bed, too. It's filthy!" she sneered. Ella panicked. "Y-You can't throw away my piano! That's my first piano! You can't do that!" Bethany crossed her arms and let out a cold chuckle. "My house is not a recycling center. Throw everything out!" Ella had never suffered this kind of humiliation before. She burst into tears, clutching Noah's sleeve. "Noah, I… Beth, she…" The veins at Noah's temple throbbed. "Are you sure you want to make an enemy out of me, Bethany?" Bethany plastered a smile on her face. "Mr. Vazquez, you seem to have forgotten that I resigned yesterday. I'm not your employee anymore. Why would I be afraid of you?" A mirthless smile crept onto Noah's face. "I hope you don't come to regret this in the future." He bent down and swept Ella into his arms. "Don't expect me to be this reasonable when you come crying to me next time!" With that, he carried Ella out of Bellecourt. Looking at the mess in the garden, a flash of malice crossed Ella's eyes. "I'll remember this humiliation, Bethany!" she brooded. … Bethany calmly directed the helpers she had hired. In under an hour, all of Ella's belongings had been cleared from the villa. "Good work," she said, paying them generously before calling in a waste removal crew to clear out the garden as well. Bethany felt refreshed and lighthearted. It had only been an hour, yet her phone screen was already flashing wildly with incoming calls. "Have you lost your mind, Beth? What did you do to Ella? She nearly cried herself unconscious! "I told you Bellecourt was yours. Did you really have to move into it in such a rush?" Bethany pressed her lips together. "I am in a rush. This was mine to begin with. How could I not be in a rush to reclaim it?" Diana was stumped. Then, she threatened, "Do you not want the hotel's shares anymore?" Bethany shrugged. "That's entirely up to you. If you want me to take you to court, feel free to keep them. But Grandma is still around, Mom. How much do you really think you'll have left once everything is divided? "I didn't fight for it before, but that doesn't mean it wasn't mine. I hope you understand that." The color drained from Diana's face. She had never expected her obedient daughter to talk to her in this manner. "What has gotten into you, Bethany?" Bethany sneered, "I was weak before. That's why you played me like a fool. I just don't want to be an idiot anymore." Bethany vaguely heard Gary's voice on the other end of the line, though her expression remained stoic. As expected, his voice came through a moment later. "Beth, it's me, Gary. Your mother's a little emotional right now. Let me apologize to you on her behalf. "How about this? Since your engagement with the Brannon family is set in stone, let's meet with them this Saturday to discuss the wedding. I promise you won't lose anything that belongs to you." "Alright. Saturday it is." After hanging up, Gary shot Diana a hard look. "How could you not even handle your own child?" Diana was at a loss for words. "I-I didn't expect her to turn out like this." His expression hardened. "She's grown up. Of course she has a mind of her own. Don't fall out with her just yet. "Let's wait until the marriage is finalized. Also, keep this from Ella for now." Diana pursed her lips. "I understand." … Bethany brought a bag of supplements to the nursing home. Her grandfather, Otis Porter, had passed away three years ago, and her grandmother, Sarah Lawson, had suffered a stroke. Bethany had intended to have a full-time caregiver at home to look after her, but Sarah insisted on staying at a nursing facility to avoid being a burden. So, Bethany chose a place with excellent conditions and visited her grandmother every weekend. Above all, Sarah's greatest concern had always been her marriage. "Grandma, your precious granddaughter is here again!" Bethany beamed as she walked over. The kind elderly woman smiled warmly at Bethany. "You're here, Beth." "Does your leg still hurt these days, Grandma? Should I ask a traditional medicine practitioner to perform acupuncture for you?" Sarah waved her hand. "I'm fine. These old bones of mine don't need all that." Bethany then took out her pristine white marriage certificate. "I'm married, Grandma." Sara was taken aback for a moment before her face lit up. "Is it that tall boyfriend you mentioned before?" Bethany's gaze dimmed. She had only mentioned her relationship with Noah to Sarah in passing. She hadn't dared to reveal his face to her. She had only showed her a secretly taken photo of his side profile. Bethany didn't want Sarah to worry. "Yeah. We're married, Grandma. I don't want a grand wedding, so we'll keep things simple. Once he's done with work, I'll bring him to see you." "That's wonderful news!" Sarah led Bethany back into her room and rummaged through layers of clothing, then pulled out a small box. "Here, Beth. This is the wedding gift I saved for you. I don't have much money, but this is what your grandfather and your father left me." Bethany's eyes misted over as she looked at the credit cards Sarah handled so carefully. "I don't want these, Grandma. Save them for yourself." Sarah glared at her. "I live in this nursing home. How much money could I possibly spend? This bank card contains the money your dad sent me every New Year. Altogether, it's about a million dollars. "Here, take it! Do you want to go back to work at your dad's hotel? If you do, I'll talk to your mother." Holding her hand, Bethany responded, "That can wait, Grandma. I'll definitely return to Dad's hotel. I'll let you know when I need your help!" "Alright. We'll have it your way." … "Mr. Brennan, the Brannon family and the Reid family have scheduled their meeting for this Saturday." Silas narrowed his eyes. "Which club are they meeting at?" "They're meeting at one of our properties—Velarium." Silas curled his lips in amusement. "Clear my schedule for that day and reserve a private room for me next door."