abcnovels
Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Susan stood by the door and did not respond. She had scrimped and saved to raise this son, but he had long forgotten about that.
Mary glared at her from behind Horace and grumbled, “Mom, the company is really doing badly now and we’ll have to compensate at least twenty million. Horace can’t eat or sleep well and is worried about the company. If Ashlyn doesn’t help us and get the Haddock family to let us off, we’ll all be sleeping on the streets. What’s up with you today? As long as you ask, Ashlyn will surely agree.”
“Ashlyn said that she’s got it,” Susan retorted. Ashlyn is but a little girl. Do you people really think she’s a god? If even my son can’t solve this mess, why do you expect my granddaughter to do it? You two are just trying to sabotage Ashlyn!
“She acknowledged it, but she didn’t make any promises. What’s the point? I won’t be fooled so easily. These tricks will only work on people like you. Your granddaughter thinks she’s so great now and even left her father to die!” Horace spat.
“What’s that in your pocket?” Mary spotted a bulge in Susan’s pocket and grabbed it.
“Nothing!” Susan tried to hide it, but Mary was younger and easily outwrestled her. She removed a black plastic bag and took a look. Then she screamed, “Oh my gosh, so you were the one who stole the twenty thousand I couldn’t find a few days ago!”
“No! Ashlyn gave this to me,” Susan explained. “You can’t frame me like that!”
“Honey, you know I lost some money a few days ago.” Mary lashed out as she slapped Susan with the wads of bills. “We provide for you and let you stay here for free! How dare you steal from us!”
Mary was infuriated and continued hitting Susan even though Susan’s hand was already swollen. She yelled, “Since when have I ill-treated you? Have I deprived you of food or shelter? I’ve been looking all
over the place for this money only to find out that you stole it!”
“Alright, Mom might be getting forgetful because she’s old. Don’t pick a fight with an old lady.” Horace held Mary back impatiently.
“Horace, Mary, this really was given to me by Ashlyn,” Susan insisted between tears. She was indignant and protested, “Even if I were about to starve, I won’t steal a single cent. I’ve never seen your money before. I don’t even go to your room!”
Susan shared her room with the housekeeper.
There were guest rooms available in the house, but Mary felt that she was old and dirty and refused to let her stay there.
Susan knew that her daughter-in-law loathed her and avoided her as much as possible. She would almost never go anywhere besides the servant’s room, the dining room, and the living room, much less head over to Mary’s room to steal.
“Will you just shut up for once? Do you really want this family to fall apart?” Horace shouted and shoved Susan. She was caught off guard and slammed heavily against the reinforced door behind her.
She had knocked against the back of her head.
Susan felt the world spinning around her and slid onto the floor.
“Quit faking it! I just pushed you a little. Don’t tell me you can’t get up from that! I’ll make sure you apologize to Mary today,” Horace bellowed as he kicked Susan. “You live off me and now you’re even stealing from me! You’re nothing but a disgrace!”
Susan’s eyes blurred and her head hurt. She was getting old, so she felt giddy after such a large impact.
Struggling, she tried to get up, but to no avail.
When Horace kicked her, she slumped onto the ground and groaned in pain.
Soon, she was drenched in cold sweat.
Ouch… my head hurts…
Mary picked her up by the collar and pinched her on her arm. Susan shrieked in pain and grimaced. “I really didn’t steal money from you. I don’t ever steal.”
“When Ashlyn came, she was empty-handed and wearing pajamas! She didn’t even have any pockets. How could she give you anything? Think before you lie!” Mary scowled.