Chapter 118: Hide and Seek
"John Smith and Julian Smith had been creating trouble for us. If I start the orphanage at this point, they would use it to get back at me." Margaret Whitmore looked gloomy. "Victor Smith had just passed away. The hearing of his will be announced soon. He always used to favor Lucian Smith as the eldest child. It was not until cancer took him down that John Smith and his mistress found the opportunity to oppress us. Now they fear the will would be in Lucian Smith’s favor. They don’t want him to be present on the hearing day so he does not lay any claim."
"Isn’t Lucian Smith his own child? Why would he not want his own son to inherit? I have heard he treats Lucian Smith well." Jazmine Harrison was reminded of her father. She shook her head. That man was not her actual father. Thinking about that made her feel better. Relatively, though John Smith abandoned his wife, rumors had it he still kept the communication with his son.
"I suspect they must have thought that since they had mistreated us, Lucian Smith would get revenge at them. Besides, until now, John Smith had been nice to Lucian Smith only because Victor Smith was alive. With Victor Smith’s demise, he doesn’t need to deceive anyone. Jazmine, now that you have provoked Julian Smith, she wouldn’t sit quietly." Margaret Whitmore looked worried about Jazmine Harrison.
"I know. I’ll be ready. They can’t get at me so easily. Let me arrange the dishes." Jazmine gaily walked out of the kitchen, set the table with the dishes not paying Julian Smith any mind who was still kneeling. Like she wasn’t even there.
Julian Smith couldn’t believe it. While they sat and dined, amidst the chatting Margaret Whitmore put down her fork. "Jazmine, we should let her leave, don’t you think? It’s been enough punishment."
"Why auntie? You are being so kind. It’s far less than what she deserves for bullying you all those years." Jazmine fished the dumplings from the soup. She caught the look in Margaret Whitmore’s eyes. "But you are right. Having another person in our precious time together is such a nuisance."
Margaret Whitmore let her leave. Before leaving, Julian Smith bowed to Jazmine and thanked her, surprising both of them. Once she left, Jazmine commented, "She is smart. She knows I have the upper hand with the video." Jazmine laughed. "But I saw past through all the vengeance brewing in her heart through her eyes the moment before she left." She shook her head then looked into Margaret Whitmore’s eyes. "Tell me, auntie, what did you want to tell me that you had to shorten her punishment?"
"You have done a lot for us and I’m ashamed of asking for more."
"Auntie, you are my elder. Don’t say that." You have done so much for me in the last life that I can never return your favors. Jazmine didn’t say that, but it was true.