In Mrs. White’s car, Diego’s mother lowered her head, not daring to look the old lady in the eyes.
“I’ve talked to Linford,” Mrs. White said coolly, “Pamela should be leaving the jail in days. This is the last time I can help you. Don’t bring any trouble to me ever again. Linford Bradley is not someone you can mess with.”
Mrs. Barnett hurried to say, “Of course… I’ll keep an eye on her. I promise she will behave from now on. Thank you for what you did for us today, Mrs. White.”
“You don’t need to thank me. You need to thank your luck,” Mrs. White turned to look at Diego, “The Barnett came a long way to get its accomplishment as big as today. You’d better be really careful and not ruin it. Now, you can leave my car.”
Diego and his mother got out of the car. Mrs. White asked her driver to drive away.
“We finally managed to keep Pamela safe. After she leaves the jail, let’s go back to our hometown. We can’t stay in this city anymore,” Mrs. Barnett shook her head as she thought back to what Mrs. White had just said. She had a bad feeling.
Diego, however, was not sharing the same thought, “We can just send Pamela back to the old house. I’m not leaving.”
“Why? Didn’t you hear what Mrs. White just said? It was a warning! She knew something bad was about to happen to our house. We accumulated our wealth with so much effort. You can’t be stupid anymore, Diego!” Mrs. Barnett was anxious as she noticed that her son wouldn’t listen to her words at all.
Diego shook his head, “We can’t leave this city just because Pamela made a couple of mistakes. Our business is getting bigger. Why should we abandon the city at a vital moment like this?”
“Getting bigger?! We’re losing money, Diego! If we go bankrupt, we can’t even go back to our hometown!” Mrs. Barnett clenched her teeth, “Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking, Diego? You and Cristelle will never be together! Stop daydreaming about her. That woman is a jinx! She will bring bad luck to all the men around her. I bet she will make the Bradley family go broke one day as well.”
Diego still didn’t want to admit defeat. He admitted that he insisted on staying because of Cristelle, but he still couldn’t pull out that easily.
One day, he would exceed the Bradley family and become the wealthiest man in this city. He would step on Linford’s head and show Cristelle who was the man she could rely on.
“Mom, you’re being paranoid. You don’t know anything about business, and I’ve got my plan,” Diego pulled a face, “It’s not the time to go back.”
Mrs. Barnett was so pissed off. Diego acted like he was out of his mind whenever it came to that woman.
What did she do to beset him? That witch!
****
Linford came downstairs to have dinner with Pop, especially tonight. Pop was still happy about the possibility that he would get new great-grandchildren soon. He was so joyful that he couldn’t stop smiling at Linford, “Where’s Candace? Did the girl and her mom eat anything?”
Linford was a bit creeped out by that big smile on the old man’s face, “Cristelle’s having dinner with Candace upstairs. You don’t need to mind them.”
Pop shook his head, “Did you let them stay upstairs on purpose? What do you want to talk to me about? You definitely don’t want Cristelle to hear our conversation.”
Linford hesitated for a second, “Pop, I really want to know why Mrs. White showed up for the Barnett today. Why did she help them?”
Pop shrugged, “How can I know that? I didn’t even know she came to beg mercy for Pamela. Did you agree to let Pamela go, though?”
Linford smiled, “That woman almost killed your great-granddaughter. Why should I let her get away with what she did?”
Pop nodded, “I guessed.”
“But Mrs. White told me the truth of Clyde’s death was more complicated than I thought. I can feel the Barnett family played a huge part in it,” Linford added.
The smile on Pop’s face disappeared. Those grayish-blue eyes suddenly became piercing, “She said that?”
Linford nodded, “Yes. She also warned me to leave the Barnett family alone. Or I would ruin the Bradley family as well.” Linford didn’t have any expression on his face, but he noted every faint change on his grandpa’s face.
“Do you believe what she told you, boy?” The old man asked darkly.
“Of course, I don’t believe her. I just suddenly recalled six years ago. I lost my memories after returning from the Barnett House party. Why did I go to the Barnett House back then, Pop?”
Pop’s face became even scarier, “Why did she mention this to you?”
Linford shook his head, “I don’t know. That’s why I came to ask you. Mrs. White seldom gets into other people’s business. But she came here today to protect the Barnett. Did those people get any secrets of hers to blackmail her?”
Pop denied it instantly, “Impossible. Mrs. White is not that stupid.”
“Then why? Why did she even come here at all?” Linford asked as he stared into his grandpa’s eyes.
Pop dropped his gaze and took a sip from his tea. He had no plan to explain anything.
“Guess I can only try to figure it out myself,” Linford smiled, knowing the old man was determined to keep him away from the truth.
“Linford, listen,” the old man sighed, “You really stop investigating the whole thing. I’m your grandpa, and you know I love you. So, please. For the sake of your parents, please just let it slide.”
Linford had expected this kind of reaction from his grandpa. He shook his head, “My daughter suffered so much this time. You know I can’t let it go.”
“Of course, you can’t let it go! But you still can bid your time! We will have plenty of opportunities in the future to get back against the Barnett.”
The muscle on Linford’s jaw ticked. It was a hard decision to make. But Pop had always been a tough man, and he seldom begged any people.