Chapter 388 Starting to Cause Trouble
The other three knew it was crunch time. "Yeah, Mom, we'll all listen to you, okay?"
They'd definitely gripe to Paul later.
Richard chimed in, "From now on, just like Amy, you're the boss of the family, in charge of your sons and daughters, embracing your new authority."
Betty's face softened when she heard them give in, but Richard's last two sentences ticked her off again. "You little punk. Richard, get out of my sight. When your dad gets back, he's gonna deal with you."
'Richard is definitely the worst of the bunch. He hasn't been disciplined enough,' she thought.
Hearing this, Richard's previously sour face lit up with a grin. He even mimicked a TV show, bowing to Betty. "Thanks, Mom!" Then, before Betty could say another word, he stood up and bolted.
The other brothers looked on enviously. Just as they were about to speak, Betty, knowing her sons well, snapped, "You three, zip it. None of you are leaving until you finish your meal." She then told the butler, "Set an extra place for Brenda."
When Betty wasn't looking, Brenda shot a triumphant, smug glance at her three brothers. She realized that as long as Betty had her back, her brothers couldn't touch her.
She made herself look all disheveled and pitiful, pretending to be miserable in front of them. But she couldn't get their pity or affection anymore. She knew that playing nice and acting wouldn't work. So she decided to do whatever made her comfortable. These guys might just be masochists. The worse she treated them, the more they fawned over her. Isn't that how they treated Elizabeth? So she planned to do the same.
Then she looked at Betty with a face full of gratitude, saying, "No wonder they say there's no one like a mother. I rushed back and I'm really hungry. Mom, you're the best."
Betty hadn't heard such sweet words in a long time. She smiled warmly and said, "Then eat up. I'll have the kitchen make your favorite dishes tonight."
Brenda nodded obediently. "Okay, thanks, Mom!"
Seeing Brenda's smug look and the two of them getting along so well again, Arnold and the other two's faces darkened. Brenda was just pretending. When they ignored her, she showed her true colors. Unfortunately, Betty wasn't thinking clearly. The three of them envied Richard for getting away, while they buried their heads in their food.
Meanwhile, Richard, who had slipped out, immediately called Paul. After listening, Paul's face darkened, mixed with helplessness. Betty's recent mood swings scared not just the sons, but even him. Originally, Loren could have gone on the business trip alone, but he had to tag along. He knew that directly opposing her might provoke Betty, so he told Richard and the others to keep an eye on things at home until he got back.
Richard felt bitter. Paul and Loren's business trip involved visiting several countries and would take more than half a month. So they had to endure Betty for more than half a month. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
After hanging up, he didn't go back home. Instead, he called Eugene and Hubert, arranging to go out for drinks.
At the Baker Family, Eugene had also been tormented by Amy. When he got Richard's call, he didn't hesitate to find an excuse to slip away. Hubert, also being pestered by Angela, agreed without hesitation. The three of them gathered, first sharing their troubles.
Listening to Eugene and Richard talk about recent events, Hubert felt uneasy and said, "Lately, Angela's been acting weird too, always trying to get close to me. Could she be following someone's orders to target me?"
Richard raised an eyebrow. "Hubert, you're quite the lucky guy! Did you go for it?"
Hubert rolled his eyes. "You can have this kind of luck. I can't handle it."
He was devoted to Rebecca, so there was no way he would accept. Besides, Angela could drain Generational Blessings at any time, so he was avoiding her as much as possible.
He then said to Richard with a smirk, "Your luck isn't bad either, right? Brenda's back at your place, so your fun days are just starting."
Richard's teasing smile instantly vanished. "Don't mention Brenda, or we're not friends." Just thinking about Brenda ruined his mood.
Eugene couldn't take pleasure in their misfortune either. Although he didn't have malicious people like Brenda and Angela around him, he did have Amy tormenting him.
Recently, Amy had been pestering him to get money to help her two cousins. She also wanted him to help the King Family and give them financial support. If he refused, she would keep an eye on him all day. He was really scared of her. With Orlando and Percy not around, he was bearing too much.
He said to Hubert, "Why don't you ask Elizabeth?"
Hubert thought for a moment. "Good idea, I only trust Elizabeth with these things now."
Eugene remarked, "Trusting Elizabeth is the right move."
Richard agreed, "Yeah, you're smart." He then sighed, "Eugene and I suffered because we didn't trust Elizabeth."
Eugene pushed him. "Get lost; don't drag me into this."
He didn't distrust Elizabeth, he just made a mistake.
Hubert messaged Elizabeth in the group chat, explaining the situation and asking for advice. Elizabeth told him to keep observing and to always wear the protective gemstone. If anything strange or unusual happened, he should contact her immediately.
With Elizabeth's reassurance, Hubert felt relieved. The three of them continued drinking and venting about their troubles and annoying people.
In the following days, Brenda didn't cause any trouble, behaving very obediently and staying by Betty's side. She didn't bother or pester Richard and the others who were avoiding her.
However, the fragrance Betty was using became less effective at suppressing the poison bugs. Every day, the red spots on her face and body increased, and the pain and itching intensified. It was driving Betty to the brink of collapse.
One day, after Betty's episode of discomfort passed, Brenda said with a concerned look, "Mom, I know a divination master who might be able to help you."
Betty, weakened from her ordeal, looked at Brenda with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Really? Can he get rid of the poison bugs in my body?"
Brenda replied, "I asked, and he can't remove the poison bugs." Seeing Betty's disappointment, she quickly added, "But he said he can transfer the poison bugs to someone else. You just need to find someone related by blood and of the same zodiac sign, and the transfer can be done. As long as there's a blood relation, it doesn't have to be a close relative."
She wasn't lying to Betty. In this way, she not only could earn Betty's gratitude and deeper trust but, more importantly, although the person to transfer the venomous insect was not Elizabeth, it would still entangle Elizabeth in trouble.
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