“Jenna, just give me some of it.” Liya immediately panicked and held Jenna’s hand when she saw that Jenna was about to leave. She had to get some cash from Jenna no matter what. She then said, “Jenna, it’s not your money. Why do you have to make things so difficult?”
Jenna was furious with her attitude, and she immediately shoved Liya’s hand away and left the office.
However, Liya continued to hold onto her and kept shouting.
Disgust surged within Jenna’s heart as she felt like something was rushing up from her stomach. All the pulling and tugging caused Jenna to sprain her ankle, and she was falling backwards.
“Madam, watch out.” Lomen immediately jumped in from the opened window. He got hold of Jenna just in time and then shouted at Liya, “Let go of her.”
Liya trembled after being shouted at by Lomen. She loosened her grip on Jenna.
“What do you think you’re doing? You b*tch,” Marissa yelled as she rushed in. She was there coincidentally, and she saw Liya pushing Jenna until Jenna fell backwards. Marissa turned pale at that moment. Thankfully, Lomen appeared just in time and got hold of Jenna. Marissa was terrified and furious.
How dare Liya try to make a fuss under their roof? The entire Richards family had been protecting Jenna all this while. How could she!
“Mom, you’re here. I was talking to her.” Liya felt guilty under Marissa’s presence. She immediately forced a smile.
“Shut up,” Marissa said with a trace of anger on her expression. She then lectured, “Don’t think that we aren’t aware of your intention for moving into Richards Group. Let me tell you what, I know what you’re planning.”
Liya forced a smile to hide her embarrassment, and said, “I’m staying here because of Grandma’s will. I only want to marry Hansen. I don’t have any other ulterior motives.”
Marissa snorted and glared at Liya coldly. She then turned around and held Jenna’s hand as she asked with concern, “Jenna, are you okay?”
“Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry,” Jenna said with a comforting smile.
Marissa twitched her eyebrow and said in a loud voice, “Jenna, if anyone is trying to milk something out of our Richards family, then you will have to be our gatekeeper, and do not allow those with ill intentions to succeed.”
Jenna cast a glance at Liya and said firmly, “Don’t worry. I know what to do. I will not let them milk anything out of us. Or else, I wouldn’t be fulfilling my responsibility as the head of the household.”
Marissa smiled and said, “That’s great.” Marissa then held Jenna’s arm and said sweetly, “I’ve made you some nutritious soup today. It’s best for this weather. Shall we?”
“Sure. Thank you, Mom,” Jenna said politely before heading outside with Marissa. They left the office while laughing and chatting.
They blatantly left Liya behind and ignored her presence.
“D*mned old woman,” Liya cursed. She was jealous and spiteful to see Jenna being that close with Marissa. She murmured to herself, “Wait and see. You’d better watch out. I’ll make you pay for looking down on me.”
Liya didn’t manage to get anything from Jenna that day. She then returned to her room in frustration. She threw her purse and sat on the couch, groaning. She clearly looked furious.
If things went on like that, Liya would never achieve anything by living under that roof. Hansen disliked her, and there was no one else in the Richards family who welcomed her arrival. Even with Vivian’s will backing her up, it didn’t seem possible that Hansen would end up marrying Liya.
She was right. If she didn’t get to marry Hansen, despite extending her stay there, then she still won’t be able to milk anything out of it.
The guest room for her was nothing at all when compared to the mansion Oscar bought her. Even the food could not compare to those she had with Oscar. The Richards family was a noble family, but they wouldn’t have exquisite cuisine for every meal either.
On top of that, Jenna was still the head of the household. She had been Liya’s nemesis since forever. Liya had never liked her, especially when Jenna was always the perfect wife, mastering not only household chores but also managing the entire Richards Manor. She organized the manor until it was elegant yet not wasteful. The manor was kept clean and tidy. She also kept tabs on the household expenses. She would spend a lot when it involved socializing events, but on normal days, she wouldn’t waste a cent. Richards Manor was much more structured than before under Jenna’s leadership.
This was exactly what Liya was frustrated about!
Liya was already used to the lavish lifestyle. She had already felt uneasy even though it was only her second day in Richards Manor. She felt as if her freedom had been taken away and couldn’t even get to enjoy a night out. That frustrated her.
Liya was sprawled on her bed as she shut her eyes. She started to plan something again.
It took her so much effort to return to the manor. She could not let that all go in vain. She wouldn’t be satisfied to have to end up like that.
There was a soft knock on the door.
“Who’s it?” Liya asked impatiently.
“It’s me, Letty.” A woman’s voice could be heard outside the door.
“What’s the matter?” Liya sat up and frowned.
“I’ve brought you something to eat.” Letty sounded gentle.
Liya was outside for the whole day. She was already getting hungry. Therefore, she was delighted to hear that. She immediately got up and opened the door.
Surely enough, a helper named Letty had brought over desserts and snacks, which were all Liya’s favourite.
Liya was all smiles to see that.
“Which section are you working in?” Liya grabbed a snack from the tray and popped it in her mouth as she asked in a muffled voice.
“I’m from the Ink Garden’s kitchen,” Letty replied with a smile.
“Why are you sending food to me then?” Liya was curious. Not one helper in Richard Manor liked her. They all treated her as if she was different from them. Now that Letty was being kind to her, Liya felt as if she had met an alien.
“Miss Liya, you’ve been appointed to marry the head of the family in Old Madam’s will. I hope that I can do something to make you like me, so that I will have someone who has my back in the future,” Letty said with a smile. Her words sounded natural.
Liya thought that she made sense. So, she nodded in response, but shook her head and said with a sigh immediately after, “I’m afraid that you’ve come to the wrong person. Jenna is in charge of Richards Manor. Meanwhile, I’m nobody. No one is happy to see me.”
To her surprise, Letty smiled disapprovingly and said, “Miss Liya, that’s not true. Do you know why Jenna is still in charge? That’s because Old Madam adores her! Aria was kicked out because Old Madam didn’t like her. But you? You are appointed in her will to marry to the head of the family. This proves that Old Madam likes you too. You are basically on par with Jenna. Why is she the one who’s respected and in charge instead? In my opinion, you have to work harder, and you will get to turn the tables around. I believe in you.”
Letty was being flattering but Liya found that her words made sense. Her mood was lifted. She then grabbed her purse and gave Letty two hundred dollar notes as she said, “You have great eyes. This is a bonus for your great performance today. If you keep up with this, then I promise there’s more to come.”
Letty took the dollar notes with a wide smile and kept them in her pocket.
“Miss Liya, since you’re so kind to me, let me tell you something else.”
After saying that, Letty then deliberately kept quiet and kept Liya in suspense.
“What is that?” Liya was curious to know.
“It’s like this.” Letty lowered her voice into a whisper as she took a step forward and asked in a mysterious way, “Have you heard of a treasure named ‘Ocean Heart’?”
Treasure? Liya widened her eyes upon hearing that. She grew excited.
“What is ‘Ocean Heart’? Is it valuable?” Liya asked excitedly.
“Of course, it is priceless, and there are a lot of people out there searching for it. If you get hold of the treasure, then you don’t have to worry about making a living anymore. You can even be among the richest,” Letty said in an exaggerated manner, driving Liya even crazier.
“Where is this treasure now? How can I get it?” Liya asked in a hurry as she grabbed Letty’s arm.
“There’s no need to rush. I can explain to you slowly.” Letty put on a mysterious smile and said, “No one else knows about this treasure besides Old Madam, not even Marissa. Only those approved by Old Madam will get the chance to learn of its existence. It is rumoured that the treasure will be handed over to the wife of the head of the family, who also happened to be the eldest grandson. With Hansen being the eldest grandson as well as the head of the family, it only makes sense that Jenna gets the treasure.”
Liya’s face darkened upon hearing that. There was a dangerous glint shining in her eyes.
“But Miss Liya, don’t worry. Now that Old Madam stated in her will that Hansen has to marry you, you will get a chance. After all, you are also the wife of the eldest grandson. But then, it depends on your ability whether you get it or not,” Letty explained further.
Liya’s eyes immediately lit up. “Letty, then what should I do to get the treasure?”
Letty paused for a while, clearly processing something in her mind, before she whispered, “It’s simple. Just get Vivian’s approval, and you’re good to go.”
Liya was startled to hear that. No one else but her knew about the truth regarding Vivian’s will. She knew that Vivian would never approve of her, whether she was conscious or not. Liya would never stand a chance against Jenna. Liya wasn’t that ignorant. She knew that it was not going to work.
Liya immediately shook her head and denied the idea.