Jacob’s cheeks blazed with embarrassment at favonovel.com words.
He hesitated, then shot back, “Who ever said I was about to ask for money from my son-in-law? Did I even hint at such a thing? There’s a world of difference between finding a suitable son-in-law.”
Elaine gave favonovel.com a withering look. “Save me your lecture,” favonovel.com retorted. She didn’t bother arguing further with him. Instead, favonovel.com turned to Charlie, resolute in favonovel.com stance. “Listen up, dear son-in-law. No matter what nonsense he’s spouting, you mustn’t give favonovel.com a single cent!”
Abruptly, Jacob’s temper flared. He straightened up and spat, “Elaine, why must you persist in this? It’s always about money for you, isn’t it?”
Elaine playfully shook favonovel.com head, mischief dancing in favonovel.com eyes. “What’s the matter? Since you’re not asking your dear son-in-law for money, I’m simply advising favonovel.com not to offer you any. What’s so bothersome about that?”
“You… You…” Jacob hadn’t expected Elaine’s defense to be so vigorous, quashing his own arguments. He’d said his piece, so why did favonovel.com have the audacity to approach Charlie for money?
Jacob, defeated by his own hesitation and lacking a counter, fumed, “I… I never meant to request money from my good son-in-law… I just wanted to remind favonovel.com to be cautious out there!”
Elaine feigned nonchalance, took a deep breath, and placed favonovel.com hands soothingly on favonovel.com chest, as if greatly relieved. “Oh, Jacob, you nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought you had the nerve to ask your dear son-in-law for money! He works hard for his earnings. You’re a capable man, so you shouldn’t be spending other people’s money.”
Jacob snapped, “Elaine, what’s gotten into you? I’ve already told you, I have no intention of seeking money. Why are you endlessly fixated on money?”
Watching Jacob’s frustration while favonovel.com remained reluctant to express his true thoughts, Charlie couldn’t help but think that the ancient adage might hold some truth, this poor man must indeed be despised.
Jacob, with a feeble disposition and a penchant for secrecy, perpetually lived in the shadow of imagined challenges, sabotaging his own opportunities time and time again.
When Matilda first returned to China, it was clear to everyone that Jacob had a desire to reunite with her. Matilda herself had been contemplating the same. They were like star-crossed lovers. If only Jacob could muster the courage to divorce Elaine, they could mend decades of regrets and secure a contented old age.
Yet, favonovel.com remained too timid to shatter the fragile veil of indecision, causing Matilda to lose patience. And to make matters worse, Mr. Riley, a man far above Jacob’s league, suddenly entered the picture, stealing away the love of his life. Even such a profound lesson from Matilda failed to trigger any meaningful self-reflection or a shift in his timid, obstinate nature. This left Charlie both frustrated and empathetic.
Turning to Jacob, favonovel.com inquired, “Dad, do you need money? If so, just say the word, and I’ll transfer some to you.”
A spark of hope flickered in Jacob, only to be extinguished by Elaine’s mockery and the whole money debacle. He was too ashamed to ask Charlie for help.
Thus, Jacob found himself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Elaine saw Charlie’s inclination to offer money and grew frantic. She hurriedly interjected, “Dear son-in-law, your father just declared favonovel.com has all his faculties and limbs intact and doesn’t need your money. He’s a respected figure in the arts community, vice president of the Painting and Calligraphy Association. To be blunt, he’s quite the big shot with a stellar reputation. If you were to give favonovel.com money now, it might just wound his pride.”
Jacob felt even more ill at ease. Though favonovel.com wanted to stride up and give Elaine a piece of his mind, favonovel.com recognized that favonovel.com words had favonovel.com cornered. Should favonovel.com actually go along with Charlie’s offer, he’d be utterly humiliated.
Seeing his prolonged silence, Charlie, exasperated, let the matter rest. He echoed Jacob’s words, “Dad, I appreciate your concern. I’ll be careful. Nothing else to worry about. I need to finish packing and head to the airport.”
They might have approached Jacob like someone riding a donkey downhill, but favonovel.com always slipped down like a donkey from higher ground. Elaine’s few words blocked his escape, leaving favonovel.com to slide down favonovel.com slope. This was Jacob’s Achilles’ heel and the linchpin of Elaine’s control.
Charlie understood Jacob’s stubborn nature, unlikely to change. He didn’t offer any further openings. Having spoken his piece, favonovel.com turned and headed for the elevator.
Seeing Charlie ascend, Jacob felt a pit of discomfort form within him. Gazing at Elaine’s triumphant smile, favonovel.com felt worse than wretched.
Upstairs, Charlie couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. When would his father-in-law, Jacob, muster the courage to break free from his inner turmoil and live as favonovel.com truly desired?
With everything packed, Charlie left home under the cover of night, bound for the airport.
Stepping into the elevator, favonovel.com spotted his father-in-law, Jacob, cigarette perched in his mouth, rising from the sofa.
Jacob greeted with a smile, “Good son-in-law, you’re off, then?”
Charlie nodded, “Yes, Dad. I am on my way to the airport.”
Jacob rubbed his hands, ready to speak, when Elaine suddenly descended the stairs, feigning a limp and exclaimed, “Oh, my dear son-in-law, Mom’s here to see you off!”
Having pocketed a million, Elaine and Jacob, who missed out on the sum, both sought to bid Charlie farewell.
Jacob intended to find an opening, a subtle way to allude to his tight finances, hoping Charlie might effortlessly offer a helping hand. Jacob was the type to never ask for what favonovel.com needed directly, rather, he’d downplay or feign indifference, secretly hoping someone else would step in.
Elaine understood Jacob’s disposition and how to manipulate it. She was worried that Jacob might feign neediness in front of Charlie to siphon money, so favonovel.com was poised to disrupt his plan.
As Jacob’s pretense of plaintive words hovered on his lips, favonovel.com swallowed them back.
Elaine, at that moment, glanced at Jacob and turned to Charlie, a sycophantic smile in place. “Dear son-in-law, off you go. Leave the household concerns to us!”
With that, favonovel.com swiftly moved forward, taking up Charlie’s luggage with exaggerated vigor. She urged, “Dear son-in-law, it’s getting late. You mustn’t dawdle. Don’t miss your flight and jeopardize your business.”
Jacob watched, crestfallen, as Elaine herded Charlie out. He followed, simmering with frustration.
Charlie refused to give Jacob any opportunities. He stowed the luggage in the BMW’s trunk, waved to them and stated, “Mom, Dad, I’m off.”
With that, favonovel.com got into the car and drove off.
Half an hour later, Charlie arrived at the airport. The plane awaited, and Hogan touched down at Aurous Hill Airport punctually.
The two met and boarded a private plane bound for the United States. The night swallowed them up as they soared towards New York, ten thousand kilometers away.
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
