In the spacious and bright living room, Colin shed tears, and cried unctuously for almost half an hour in front of Bella, who was sitting beside her.
“Bella, you also know that the financial manager of your father’s company absconded with the money, causing the company to fall into a huge crisis, and now banks are pushing for loans. If we don’t pay our debts, not only will the company go bankrupt, your father will also be sent in jail…”
“What do you need me to do?”
She asked succinctly, not wanting to waste a small part of her life listening to such hypocritical words.
Colin gave her husband a wink, and Wilson immediately showed a sorrowful expression and said, “Now there’s a way to save dad. You marry the only son of the city’s richest family, Kevin, only…”
He paused.
“It’s just that there are bad rumors about him out there, but they’re just rumors. We meet occasionally for the business, and he’s a great guy, mercurial and responsible, and most importantly, exceptionally good-looking.”
Even though she was already used to it, she felt distressed. He said that Kevin was cold-blooded and ruthless, but in front of her, he praised that Kevin became mercurial and responsible. Although she was Wilson’s daughter, she never thought that he could be worthy to be called a father.
“Did he divorce six times right?”
She looked up indifferently. After many years of sorrowfully depending on them for her living, she had been calm.
“Yes.”
Colin sniffed and grabbed her hand, “This is also why I feel guilty. It is not easy to be a stepmother. If it wasn’t for the fact that my daughter is still young, I really can’t let you endure the aggravation like this.”
Heh, Bella laughed mockingly in her heart. Gillian was just three days younger than her. Back then, Colin and her mother were pregnant at the same time. Colin had been pregnant for three months while her mother for four months. But she was born earlier. So she, who was supposed to be the second daughter, became the eldest daughter.
It was said to be the eldest daughter, but there was never a day that she enjoyed the treatment of a first daughter.
“Yes, good.”
“Do you agree?”
The Jones-Sharps looked at each other, not expecting her to agree so readily. Originally thinking that if she didn’t agree, they would take 70% of the bride price, and left the rest for her.
“Yes, you’ve raised me so well, and it’s only right that I do something for the family.”
“See, you are worthy of being a teacher. How sensible! If Gillian was as sensible as you, I’d be so happy in my dream.”
She didn’t have to wait to dream. She must be happy now.
……
Early in the morning, outside the door of the Burne-Browns’s western style building, there was a line of people standing to see her off.
Today was the last day for the the Jones-Sharps to pick a daughter-in-law, and Bella, under Colin’s careful dressing, was like a budding peony flower, beautiful but not bewitching, brilliant but not vulgar, incomparably delicate and charming.
“You haven’t forgotten all those words that were just instructed to you in the house, right?”
“No.”
“That’s good, we’re waiting for your good news.”
What Colin instructed was nothing more than that she had to pester Kevin to choose her. She would marry into the Jones-Sharps, but she had her own way.
The car slowly drove. Colin still felt that the advice was not enough, afraid that she could not finish this ‘glorious’ task. So she was chasing the car, and continued to advise, “Bella, remember three points. First, you need to use all the tricks your mother used to seduce men. Second, remember that this is related to the Burne-Browns in the great matter of prosperity and disgrace. Third, you must have the attitude to conquer or to die. Do not rest until you achieve your goal!”
She almost growled out the last sentence.
Stuart’s nails pinched into her flesh, but she was the calm on her face after enduring them so many years.