The taxi stopped outside the Quinn family’s villa. Natalie hurried out and rang the doorbell.
Now that she had married Sebastian as promised, she decided to ask her adoptive parents for money. After all, she did all this only to pay Hannah’s medical expenses.
Lauren was sitting on the sofa, sipping a cup of coffee. She looked up at Natalie and smiled faintly. “How are you getting along with Sebastian? You just got married yesterday. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at your house? Did something happen? Tell me now.”
She didn’t utter a word about the money as if they had never made a deal.
Natalie looked at her sternly. “I’m here to get the money. You promised me that you would give me the money as soon as I married Sebastian.”
Lauren placed the coffee cup on the table and smiled gently. She didn’t plan on giving Natalie the money. It was just a tactic to persuade Natalie. It had only been an oral agreement. And Natalie and Sebastian were married now. Natalie wouldn’t be able to do anything even if they went back on their word.
“Don’t be anxious, Natalie. I’ll give you the money. I’m sure you are aware of our family situation. Your dad has invested in a new business recently. But it turned out to be a shell company. The owner of the company ran away with the money and his mistress, leaving all the problems and burden on your dad’s shoulders. Doing business isn’t easy. Look, your dad’s hair is already grey. Our family has been going through a hard time. We are having trouble with the cash flow and can’t afford such a large sum of money for the time being. Natalie, please try to understand.” Lauren held Natalie’s hand, trying to look pitiful.
Natalie’s body trembled with rage.
Lauren was pure evil. Even a small piece of jewelry she possessed was worth more than Hannah’s medical expenses. She was lying about not being able to afford the promised money.
George frowned. Lauren had gone too far this time, and he felt sorry for Natalie. “Actually, it’s no big deal. We can still afford…”
“What did you say, George? Don’t we have to make ends meet? Cassie is going to study abroad soon. Don’t we need money? The money we have now is my savings over the years after cutting down my expenses. Have you forgotten what I’ve done for our family? But you don’t care about us, do you?” Wiping her fake tears, Lauren glared at her husband.
George was rendered speechless. He didn’t dare to utter another word.
“You promised me that you would give me the money as soon as possible.” Natalie was unhappy, but she couldn’t do anything. After all, it had only been a verbal agreement. She couldn’t demand the money if they really refused to pay.
Wiping her eyes, Lauren smiled. “All right. All right. Dad and Mom will give you the money as soon as we get it. I still have a few thousand dollars. I’ll give that to you first.”
She tried stalling Natalie. After all, once the old maid died, Natalie would have no reason to ask them for money.
‘How could a few thousand dollars be enough?’
Biting her lower lip, Natalie was about to say something. However, Cassie interrupted her. She descended the stairs and shot a disgusted look at Natalie.
“Why are you back? And why isn’t your husband with you? Does he loathe you?” Cassie’s lip curled up into a smirk as she walked toward Natalie.
“I married him on your behalf. You have such a bad reputation. If he loathes his wife, it means he loathes you,” Natalie snapped coldly.
Cassie always thought highly of herself. Hearing the humiliation, she grew furious. Cassie picked up the glass of water and poured it on Natalie, who was sitting calmly on the sofa.
Natalie skillfully dodged the attack. She had expected Cassie to do something like that. When they were children, Cassie liked beating people up when she was mad at them.
“Get out! This is my home!” Cassie barked, pointing at the door. Natalie’s calmness infuriated her.
“I wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t owe me money,” Natalie sneered.
Seeing that her own daughter was bullied, Lauren lost her cool. “How could you talk to your family like this? I don’t have a daughter like you. Get out!”
Natalie’s heart sank with disappointment. Arguing with them was pointless, so she dejectedly stood up to leave.
The moment she opened the door, she saw Sebastian standing outside in a jacket. Behind him stood a man, gasping for breath, holding several bags in his hand.
