Bain couldn’t help but frown when he heard Julia sobbing away. “What are you on about, Julia? What’s all this crass talk about b*tches? Did you forget that Wendy’s your sister?” he scolded.
“Look at him, one bad word towards Wendy and he’s rushing to defend her already. She’s a vixen, I tell you. Not only did she steal my man, she also managed to steal my brother too. I hate that stupid vixen to the core, so never say that she’s my sister ever again. I, Julia Nicholson, don’t have a little sister of the likes of her. She’s just a b*tch, a sl*t,” she screamed.
“Quit it already,” he snapped.
He was already up to his neck with work,
and he’d originally planned to invite Wendy out for coffee to catch up with her after he finished reporting his trip to his father
as he’d missed her a lot after so long,
but his mom just HAD to bring her over in the middle of everything.
Julia had gone overboard and didn’t look like she would heed his advice at all at this point. If he were to be frank with himself, even he couldn’t stand overbearing young missuses like her, much less Henson.
“What makes you think that Henson would look upon you with favour at your current state now, Julia?” he sneered.
“Why wouldn’t he? The Nicholson’s are a well-known wealthy family in San Diego, so what could possibly turn him off from me?” she argued.
“You don’t represent the Nicholson’s, by the way. Also, have you forgotten the feud between our two families?” he countered.
“What does that have to do with me? Why should I bear the brunt of our family’s generational grudges? Plus, I’m the young missus of the Nicholson’s, so I’m not a separate entity like what you’re saying. It’s not like you can alter this fact,” she snorted.
“What makes you think that THE Henson Charles would give a sh*t about the standing of the Nicholson’s at all? If he actually cared about stuff like that, would he still have ruined our family? Since you’re the esteemed ‘young missus of the Nicholson’s’, let me explain this in layman terms you’ll understand. In terms of profit, the Nicholson’s have been in the red for almost two months now. Might you know why that is?”
he fumed, his eyes full of rage. “Just forget it already. Of course you wouldn’t know a thing about our finances, because the only thing you’re good at is spending money recklessly without a second thought. I’ll have you know all of this is Henson’s doing. If he keeps this up, it might only take him a few waves of his hands to make the entire Nicholson Group fall apart, most probably in next two year’s time too. So, do you still think that he’ll be attracted to the title of ‘Young Missus of the Nicholson’s’ at that point?”
he snorted and continued, “Your attitude is horrible and you can’t do anything to save your life. Forget about Henson, even I find you an eyesore. So, what makes you think that you’re even worthy of being Wendy’s love rival?”
“How could you even say that to your own sister?” Julia hollered, furious. “Why am I to blame for the company’s downfall? If anything, you and dad are to blame for all of this,”
“Sure, say that it’s our problem all you want now, but let’s see who’ll get the last laugh when the ‘esteemed young missus’ is left to her own devices on the streets one day,” he taunted sarcastically.
Standing to the side was a worried May. “Is the company really in such bad shape these days?” she asked Ken.
“It’s not looking too good at the moment,” Ken answered with a sigh.
When she heard her father say that, Julia fell silent for a while. She started walking over to his desk a few moments later. “Daddy, didn’t Master Henson promise General Burke that he’d go through with the engagement? Why’s he ruining our family instead?
“Won’t he stop this feud between our families if the two of us get married? Plus, aren’t daughter’s supposed to be employed in situations like this? So, can’t you marry me off to the Charles family already? I don’t mind using my body for business purposes, so long as this marriage can help save the company,” she suggested wishfully.
Bain scoffed upon hearing her ludicrous thoughts.
Did Julia honestly think that she was some kind of angel?
“Where on earth did she learn to overestimate herself,” he thought to himself.
His scoff made his father shake his head and purse his lips in return.
This started to make her feel restless. “What’s with that expression, daddy? And you, what are you laughing about? Do you two honestly think that I stand no chance with Mr. Charles? Can’t you just be happy for me instead of constantly putting me down?” she scoffed.
Bain didn’t waste time mincing words anymore. “I don’t think it’s a matter whether you’re worthy of him or not, but that Henson doesn’t even think much of you right now,” he sneered.
“Nonsense! Why would he agree to General Burke’s request otherwise?” she retorted.
“Just to be clear, General Burke said himself that he did unload his father’s wishes onto Henson, but who told you he agreed to your engagement with Henson? Why’d you think that his not objecting to the thought means he agrees to it? What kind of logic is that, Julia?” he argued.
“Well, as long as he didn’t object to it, doesn’t that mean that he’s still open to the possibility?” she huffed.
“You know how close Henson and Peter are. The reason Henson didn’t object to it was because he wanted to give him face. Don’t tell me you assumed that he liked you just by going off on that? Even if he has feelings for you, why would he waste his time fooling around with your half-sister?
“Plus, with his impulsive and headstrong personality, if he really wanted to marry you, he would’ve already done so by now. Not only did he leave you out to dry, he’s ignored you completely and has even increased sanctions towards us Nicholson’s. Can’t you see that he’s signaling you to bugger off already? How can you be so naïve?” he scoffed.
This made Julia stomped her feet. “Shut up right this instant! Moooom,” she whined as she turned around to look at May.
May eventually turned to face Bain to chide him, “This is your sister you’re talking to, Bain. You didn’t have to go so far,”
“She’s the type who definitely won’t get it if I don’t spell it out clearly for her,” he scoffed.
May then turned to face Ken with a frustrated look on her face. “It’s all your fault. Didn’t you tell us that General Burke would help us out? Who knew that he didn’t even want to entertain us when we went to visit just now. So much for owing us a favour. That old fart’s certainly one mean dog who’ll bite its owner’s hands,” she complained.
“Ugh, enough already. You know that the rift between the Nicholson’s and the Charles’ can’t be fixed in just a few days, right? We have no choice but to take things slow for now,” Ken answered with a frown.
“But we can’t possibly go slow now, dad. Did you know that Master Henson publicly revealed his relationship to Wendy on campus yesterday? Things aren’t looking up for me at all at this rate,” Julia whined.
Bain frowned as his gaze turned somewhat hazy.
“This is a company, not a place to discuss private issues. Please see yourselves out,” he nudged his mother and sister out of the room impatiently.
Julia looked like she still had something to say, but her mother grabbed her arm to stop her then whisked her out of the room.
“Mom, why won’t you let me speak?” Julia whined.
“Seeing as the company’s in such a mess and your father and brother have too many thoughts about your situation with Wendy, I feel that this should be resolved between us women. Let’s settle this ourselves once and for all,” May said.
“But how? General Burke doesn’t even want to help us,” Julia whined.
“Then I suppose we’ll have to do this on our own. Since he hasn’t set anything in stone yet, we can still work around it,” May schemed.
“Do you already have a plan in mind?” Julia probed.
May smirked and started, “I met an editor for the Morning Star at my beauty saloon a few days back, and I got to know that her most favourite thing to do in the world was probing into the affairs of wealthy families. What good timing then. So, what you have to do is just tag along with me to the beauty saloon in a few day’s time, so that we can ‘accidentally’ leak some juicy info to her…”
Julia gave her mother a thumbs up after hearing that. “You’re amazing, mom!” she gushed.
“Rest assured, daughter. I don’t mind losing when it comes to other matters, but surely I can’t let my own daughter lose out on her man just because that sl*t’s daughter is involved with him,” May smirked.
“You bet I won’t,” Julia smirked too.