Seeing the anger on Gordon’s face, Joyce tried to pacify, “Dad, don’t be angry. Maybe something came up on the way for Jessica. I’ll call her later to check on the situation.”
In contrast to Alex’s family, Joyce didn’t seize the opportunity to attack Jessica. Despite disliking Jessica’s behavior, Joyce had a genuine fondness for her niece, Sophia.
Suppressing his anger, Gordon said, “Joyce, I heard your sister say that she came with Sophia and that freeloader, Leo. It would have been wonderful if my granddaughter had found a young talent like Donald Vogt, but instead, she married a waste of space. Oh…”
After Gordon finished speaking, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
Hearing Gordon mention Leo, a look of disdain and disgust appeared on Joyce’s face. Although she was close to Sophia, it didn’t mean she held Leo in high regard.
To Joyce, Sophia marrying Leo was like putting a flower in manure.
“Dad, why bother mentioning Leo, that waste? Once I marry Donald Vogt, I will take good care of you and ensure you live a happier life in your later years. A useless man like Leo, who freeloads off the Henley family, will never amount to anything. Don’t expect anything from him,” Joyce consoled.
She looked at Donald Vogt and, in a sweet voice, asked, “Donald, did you handle the reservation for the family banquet?”
Donald Vogt nodded and smiled, “Rest assured, it’s all settled.”
Joyce gave Donald Vogt a thumbs up in front of the Gunter family members and playfully tapped his face.
For the Gunter family, Joyce and Donald Vogt’s public display of affection was commonplace and even welcomed. It hinted at a strong relationship and an impending marriage.
As long as Joyce and Donald Vogt got married, the Gunter family would have a powerful ally.
Leveraging the Vogt family’s influence, the Gunter family’s status in Green Spring would undoubtedly rise significantly.
In the minds of many Gunter family members, the average-looking Joyce marrying Donald Vogt was like a chicken transforming into a phoenix.
Gordon also looked at Donald Vogt and said, “Donald Vogt, since you’ve arranged a restaurant, let’s have the family banquet there when Jessica and the others arrive.”
“Sure, Uncle Gunter,” Donald Vogt replied with a nod.
Just as they were discussing the family banquet, Ethan walked in from outside. He walked straight to Joyce and whispered, “Aunt, can you come out for a moment? I need to talk to you about something.”
“Ethan, what’s the matter? Can’t it be discussed here?” Joyce asked curiously.
“It’s something important, not suitable to discuss here. Just come out for a moment,” Ethan insisted.
Joyce had to stand up from the sofa. She whispered a few words to Donald Vogt, and both followed Ethan out of the living room, stepping into the corridor outside.
Paige and Alex exchanged a glance, suspecting that something had happened. They discreetly left the living room.
Gordon’s expression darkened at Ethan’s behavior, but due to Ethan being his grandson, he couldn’t be bothered with Ethan’s affairs. He chose to turn a blind eye.
In the corridor, Joyce couldn’t help but ask, “Ethan, what’s going on?” Ethan’s face, cold as ice, carried a trace of solemn emotion. “That damn freeloader, even if I have to go all-in, I’ll make sure to get rid of him!”
Joyce was taken aback by his words. “Ethan, don’t do anything foolish!”
“Mom, don’t worry. It’s not me taking action; it’s Mignon,” Ethan revealed the plan he and Mignon had discussed at the tavern.
As for the matter of writing a promissory note for thirty thousand dollars, Ethan presented it differently, stating that Mignon had decided to have his cousin deal with Leo, but it came at a cost of forty thousand dollars.
Ethan framed it this way for a couple of reasons. First, it would allow him to use his parents and his aunt to settle the thirty thousand dollars owed to Mignon. Second, he could earn an extra ten thousand dollars.
Ethan was quite satisfied with his cleverness. As for who would be the financier, Ethan had it all planned out. Since his aunt, Joyce, found a wealthy man, there was no reason not to take advantage of it. Besides, for someone like Donald Vogt, offering forty thousand dollars was no different from an average person offering four hundred dollars.
Joyce, who had grown increasingly displeased with Leo, especially after hearing about the promissory note incident, naturally had no objections to Ethan’s plan. However, Joyce, knowing that people in such circles were not usually trustworthy, couldn’t help but offer a word of caution. “Ethan, this Mignon person, I’ve heard about him. His reputation is terrible. Paying him for help might not be reliable.”
“Don’t worry, Aunt. It’ll be fine this time! I met with Mignon, and he assured me that his cousin, Black Dragon, a martial arts expert, would handle it!” Ethan’s eyes flashed with a touch of coldness.
“Black Dragon?” Joyce and the others heard this name for the first time, wearing puzzled expressions. “Who is he?”
Ethan was somewhat surprised. “You guys don’t know about Black Dragon? He’s a big shot on the streets.”
Paige wore an expression of disbelief. “Ethan, are you sure about this? A big shot like that helping us deal with a son-in-law?”
“He won’t help us directly. As I said, Black Dragon is Mignon’s cousin. Once we offer forty thousand dollars to Mignon, he’ll convince his cousin to take action. Leo, that waste, will undoubtedly be crushed,” Ethan asserted confidently.
After Ethan finished, he looked at Joyce with a pitiful expression. “Aunt, last time when I went to Langstel Aunt Jessica’s house and got beaten up by Leo, you knew about it. This time, I have to teach that damn freeloader a lesson. But I don’t have that much money right now. Can you lend me forty thousand dollars?”
“Ethan, don’t be so polite with your aunt. I’ve long been fed up with that freeloader. I’ll cover the forty thousand dollars! It would be best to cripple Leo and then make him divorce Sophia!” Joyce, out of what she believed to be genuine concern for Sophia, had always wanted Leo and Sophia to divorce. She thought that a man like Leo, who relied on women for a living, would ruin Sophia’s happiness.
Ethan hadn’t expected Joyce to agree so readily. While he was delighted, he also regretted not quoting five hundred thousand dollars earlier.
Ethan was well aware of Joyce’s financial capacity, and he assumed that the forty thousand dollars would likely come from Donald Vogt.