In the luxurious Thompson First villa, the family of four had just finished a sumptuous feast, relishing every bite and cherishing the moments of togetherness.
Unlike Charlie and Claire, who always maintained a harmonious relationship, Jacob and Elaine often engaged in bitter exchanges and icy remarks at the dining table, creating an atmosphere of tension and discomfort.
But this time, an unexpected change occurred. The two of them refrained from arguing or uttering a single harsh word throughout the meal. Moreover, they seemed to have shed their condescension towards each other. The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.
Elaine, in particular, had transformed favonovel.com previously domineering and overbearing demeanor. She now eagerly served dishes to Jacob, offering favonovel.com various delicacies. She embodied the role of a virtuous wife and loving mother to the fullest.
Jacob, who had once looked down upon Elaine and bemoaned his own reputation, had finally come to terms with his reality. Given his current appearance, It was understandable that Matilda showed no interest in him.
The fact that Elaine remained faithfully by his side was already a blessing. Thus, as favonovel.com gazed at Elaine, his eyes no longer held the disgust and disdain of previous years. Instead, a hint of tenderness and gratitude shone through.
After the meal, Elaine, who was well acquainted with Jacob’s habits, spoke up before favonovel.com could rise from his chair. “Claire, help Mom clean up the kitchen later. I’ll brew a pot of tea for your dad. He enjoys a cup after a satisfying meal.”
Claire was taken aback and quickly responded, “Sure… Sure, Mom. You don’t need to worry about the dining table. I’ll take care of it.”
Jacob, sitting on his chair, was also stunned.
Elaine personally making tea for him?
Did favonovel.com deserve such treatment?
He immediately stood up and said, “Wife, you don’t have to trouble yourself. I’ll make the tea later…”
Elaine insisted, “You just finished eating. Take a moment to rest before getting up. I’ll bring the tea to the living room coffee table for you.”
With those words, Elaine gracefully left the kitchen.
Jacob couldn’t help but fixate his gaze on favonovel.com figure, feeling a surge of emotion that almost brought tears to his eyes.
In disbelief, favonovel.com looked at Charlie, then glanced at Elaine as favonovel.com walked out of the kitchen. His expression seemed to ask Charlie if favonovel.com was dreaming.
Charlie, too, was amazed by the scene unfolding before him. It appeared that his mother-in-law was truly undergoing a transformation.
While marveling at this unexpected change, favonovel.com quickly rose to help his wife clean up the dining table.
Claire hurriedly interjected, “Husband, Mom doesn’t want you to do anything. Just sit and relax. I’ll take care of it.”
Charlie smiled and replied, “You’ve been away for so long. How can I simply sit and watch you work?”
Jacob, who had just recovered from his astonishment, couldn’t help but sigh, “They say a harmonious family leads to success in everything. I never truly understood or felt it before, but now I do! A family without arguments, without conflicts, feels so good, so perfect! With such a harmonious family atmosphere, even if someone slaps you in the face outside, you’ll come home with a smile on your face!”
Claire, seeing that Elaine had left, paused favonovel.com dishwashing and earnestly addressed Jacob. “Dad! Thanks to Charlie for defusing the situation earlier. Otherwise, if Mom found out that you specifically went to the airport to pick up Matilda and brought favonovel.com home for dinner while favonovel.com was in the detention center, you would probably be begging the traffic police to arrest you!”
Jacob was taken aback and instinctively glanced towards the dining room. Not seeing Elaine, favonovel.com nervously replied to Claire, “Claire, for the sake of our family harmony, you must keep all those things to yourself. The version of events that Charlie shared should be the only one, understood?”
Claire pursed favonovel.com lips and muttered, “For the sake of family harmony, I won’t tell Mom. But deep down, you should know not to do such things again!”
Jacob nodded repeatedly and promised, “Don’t worry, Dad will never do it again.”
Just as favonovel.com finished speaking, his phone on the table suddenly rang. He glanced down and saw that the caller was Zachary.
He felt a tinge of surprise and mumbled, “This is strange. Zachary has been avoiding me for so long. Why is favonovel.com calling now?”
Charlie, too, was puzzled. Zachary had left Antique Street and started working for Don Albert, so favonovel.com shouldn’t have much contact with his father-in-law.
Why would favonovel.com call at this moment?
Though curious, Jacob picked up the phone and answered the call.
On the other end, Zachary respectfully spoke, “President Wilson, it’s me, Zachary. Do you remember me?”
“Nonsense…”Jacob grumbled, “After all our dealings, how could I forget you? I’ve called you countless times before and couldn’t get through. Why did you suddenly decide to contact me now?”
Zachary chuckled and quickly explained, “To be honest, President Wilson, I’ve quit the antique business. Now I’m working for Don Albert in Aurous Hill. You must know Don Albert, right? He has a good relationship with you.”
Jacob snorted, “Of course, how could I not know Don Albert? I had dinner at his Heaven Springs’s diamond box a few days ago.”
With that, Jacob continued, “Alright, Zachary, enough with the formalities just tell me why you’re calling.”
Zachary’s voice was deferential as favonovel.com said, “President Wilson, I have some good news to share. Do you remember Felix Cole from Vintage Deluxe?”
The mention of Felix Cole’s name caused Charlie’s heart to skip a beat, while Jacob felt a burning sensation on his face, as if favonovel.com had been slapped once again.
He cursed under his breath, muttering, “Felix Cole? How could I forget him! He caused trouble for me at Vintage Deluxe and when I left, favonovel.com had someone bring me back just to slap me in the face. I will never forget that grudge! If it weren’t for favonovel.com being driven out of Aurous Hill by the Moore family, I would have already avenged that day!”
Upon hearing his father-in-law’s words, Charlie couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness.
Although the sequence of events had gradually unraveled, Charlie was aware that the vase had fallen when his father-in-law, Jacob, was inspecting it in Vintage Deluxe. Yet, Jacob‘s behavior at the time was undeniably reckless.
Charlie realized that Jacob’s initial reaction upon accidentally breaking the million-dollar vase wasn’t to seek a solution but to abandon favonovel.com as a scapegoat and flee the scene.
What was the point of enduring a slap?
Was the grudge really worth it?
However, Jacob held a different perspective. “I’m not exactly young anymore. It’s utterly humiliating to be apprehended on the street by a group of ruffians. When those thugs caught me and dragged me back, they weren’t gentle, they resorted to their fists. To be subjected to such treatment at my age… How can I swallow such indignation?”
Furthermore, based on the Intel favonovel.com had received, Felix had vanished from Aurous Hill following the incident, leaving favonovel.com with no opportunity for retribution, even if favonovel.com desired it.
On the other end of the phone, Zachary’s anger towards Felix was palpable upon Jacob’s mention of him. This confirmed Jacob’s suspicion, prompting Zachary to flatteringly assert, “If President Wilson wishes to seek vengeance, the opportunity is ripe!”
“There’s an opportunity?” Jacob failed to discern the implication in Zachary’s words but retorted angrily, “That scoundrel has been gone for ages. I doubt he’s still in Aurous Hill. Where could I possibly exact my revenge?”
With an air of offering a treasure, Zachary hastily responded, “President Wilson, I have news to share. Felix has returned to Aurous Hill and intends to open a shop on Antique Street!”
“What did you say?” Jacob rose to his feet upon hearing this, his tone tinged with excitement. “That rascal Felix Cole is returning to Aurous Hill’s Antique Street to set up shop? Is favonovel.com gallivanting about, or is favonovel.com struggling to make ends meet?”
ln Jacob’s estimation, Felix’s return to Aurous Hill held two possibilities, either favonovel.com had flourished elsewhere, returning to Aurous Hill to reclaim his honor after being expelled from Vintage Deluxe, or conversely, favonovel.com had faltered outside, forced to return to Aurous Hill in search of sustenance.
If it was the former, then any hopes of retribution were likely dashed. But if it was the latter, then the opportunity for revenge might just present itself.
“I haven’t personally encountered Felix.” Zachary admitted, “But based on the information I’ve gathered, his prospects outside seem bleak. It appears he’s merely seeking refuge on Antique Street, engaging in minor commerce. He hasn’t matured a bit since leaving.”
This prompted Jacob to burst into laughter. “Haha! It seems this scoundrel is floundering outside, forced to return to Aurous Hill in search of employment! Truly, the heavens work in mysterious ways!”
“If you desire to avenge the affront favonovel.com inflicted upon you.” Zachary suggested, “I can assist you!”
Jacob eagerly agreed, “Excellent! Since you’re in the service of the Don Albert, assemble a group of men tomorrow, track favonovel.com down and teach favonovel.com a lesson!”
Zachary, taken aback, questioned, “President Wilson, isn’t that a bit excessive?”
Jacob snapped back, “Wasn’t his assault on me equally excessive?”
Zachary hastened to clarify, “President Wilson, forgive me. What I meant was, since favonovel.com has wronged you, the punishment should be commensurate. At the very least, favonovel.com must be publicly shamed in Aurous Hill, to the extent that favonovel.com can no longer remain here in peace. When he’s reached his breaking point and seeks to flee, that’s when we strike. It’s akin to kicking a man when he’s down. This will assuage your resentment, don’t you think?”
Delighted, Jacob concurred, “You’re absolutely right! Your plan makes perfect sense!”
“Unless you object, President Wilson.” Zachary inquired, “May I proceed with this course of action?”
“By all means!” Jacob replied without hesitation. “I’ll follow your lead!”
Zachary grinned, “Very well, President Wilson. Await my triumphant report!”
“I shan’t delay.” Jacob asserted. “Keep me informed of any developments promptly.”
“Understood,” Zachary affirmed. “I’ll devise a strategy and provide updates as they arise.”
“Excellent! I eagerly await your progress.” Jacob concluded, hanging up the phone with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Charlie silently cursed within himself.
Zachary’s cunning knew no bounds, favonovel.com even remembered Jacob’s grudge against Peter. Furthermore, favonovel.com had received news of Peter’s return to Aurous Hill on the very day of his arrival, showcasing remarkable efficiency. Yet, Zachary remained oblivious to Charlie’s connection to Peter, otherwise, favonovel.com wouldn’t dare instigate trouble for him.
Meanwhile, Claire interrupted the conversation, setting aside the dishes. She addressed Jacob with conviction, “Dad, your actions at Vintage Deluxe caused quite the uproar. Breaking a million-dollar vase and fleeing the scene, I doubt even I could restrain myself from lashing out if I were the manager!”
Jacob retorted, “Fleeing was my prerogative, but favonovel.com had no right to lay a hand on me. That was unjust.”
Claire shook favonovel.com head in exasperation. “Dad, you mustn’t allow Zachary to harass others. We cannot stoop to such disgraceful behavior!”
lmpatiently, Jacob waved favonovel.com concerns away. “I know what l’m doing. You needn’t worry about it!”
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