Chapter 37 Moving Back to the Abbott Family
After much deliberation, she stepped outside with her phone and called Tyler. "Hey, Tyler, I'm just wondering when I'll get the final payment."
"Hold on, Mrs. Abbott. Let me check with Mr. Abbott," Tyler replied.
Tyler went to Aaron with the phone. Aaron, sitting in his large chair, barely glanced up. "Why is she asking you? Are you the one paying her?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe she couldn't reach you?" Tyler answered.
Aaron checked his phone. Full signal, no missed calls. Susanna was deliberately avoiding him.
"Tell her to come to the Abbott Group to get it herself," he said coldly.
Tyler was speechless.
When Susanna got Tyler's call, she cursed Aaron under her breath. She didn't want to go back to the office, especially with Allison waiting to mock her. But she needed the money.
Gathering her things, she took a cab to the Abbott Group. She looked up at the towering building. During their three-year marriage, she'd never been here as Mrs. Abbott.
Pushing aside her jumbled thoughts, she told the receptionist her name and took the elevator to the top floor. Susanna stormed into the office, only to find someone else there.
Erica was sitting on the couch. Her smile froze when she saw Susanna. "What are you doing here? Where's security?"
Susanna hadn't expected to see Erica. She noticed a thermos on the table, probably filled with some nutritious soup for Aaron.
Erica's face darkened. "Get out. You don't belong here."
Susanna walked in confidently. "If you can be here, why can't I? Why should I leave?"
She plopped down on the opposite couch. Erica was fuming. Her head still hurt from their last encounter. If she didn't want to appear magnanimous in front of Aaron, she would've had her brothers deal with Susanna long ago.
Susanna glanced at the thermos, catching a whiff of its contents. "Chicken soup, huh?"
Erica smirked. "Not just any chicken soup. You poor folks wouldn't know the difference."
Susanna chuckled. "Too bad Aaron doesn't like this stuff."
Erica's face twisted in anger. She stepped closer and hissed, "Susanna, you've signed the divorce papers. You don’t have the right to show up here."
Susanna scoffed. "I signed the papers, but we haven't finalized anything. Until we go to court, I'm still Mrs. Abbott. You're just the other woman. And it's not me showing up in front of Aaron; it's him who keeps coming to me. Maybe you should tell him to stop bothering me. I'm quite busy."
"You're lying!" Erica didn't believe her.
"Believe what you want."
Erica grabbed her wrist, her face cold. "Susanna, you can't win. I'm the heir to the Jones family in Novaria!"
Susanna raised an eyebrow. "Good luck with that!"
"Susanna," Erica snapped, raising her hand to strike.
Just then, Aaron appeared at the door, his voice booming. "What are you two doing? Fighting in my office now?"
"Aaron." Erica's demeanor instantly softened, her voice sweet and gentle.
Susanna couldn't help but admire her acting skills. She thought, 'Wow, she's really good at acting.'
Aaron had actually been back for a while, eavesdropping to see what they were talking about. When he heard Susanna assertively claim she was still Mrs. Abbott, his expression softened slightly. But seeing Erica raise her hand again, he stepped in, his face returning to its usual calm.
Erica quickly smiled and approached him. "Aaron, I made you some chicken soup."
"Leave us," Aaron said.
Erica looked stunned, glancing at Susanna. 'Does he mean for Susanna to leave?' she thought.
Aaron's eyes met Erica's, a hint of irritation in them. "Why are you still here?"
Erica's eyes flashed with resentment, but she forced a gracious smile. "Fine, you two talk. I'll wait outside."
Susanna watched Erica reluctantly leave the office. Now, it was just the two of them.
Sitting upright on the couch, Susanna stole a glance at Aaron. He tossed the pen in his hand onto the desk with a sharp clink. "Speak."
She hesitated. "The final payment. Are you still planning to give it?"
Aaron tugged at his tie, glaring at her. "Susanna, is money all you care about?"
Susanna dusted off her clothes and stood up. "If you don't want to pay, forget it."
Aaron, not wanting to argue, called Tyler on the intercom and instructed him to handle Susanna's payment. Hearing Tyler's confirmation, Susanna smiled. "Since the payment's settled, I won't keep you, Mr. Abbott. Bye!"
"Wait!" Aaron frowned, calling her back.
"What now? Anything else?" Susanna's patience was clearly wearing thin.
"Grandma's not doing well. She might have heard something and plans to visit the Abbott Villa soon. You should move back in."
Susanna paused. "Grandma seemed fine before. Isn't she scheduled for surgery?"
"The surgery date isn't set yet, but before it happens, I need you to keep up appearances. Don't let her suspect anything," Aaron said.
Susanna's expression returned to normal. "I'll cooperate, but I hope you arrange her surgery soon."
"You don't need to tell me what to do," Aaron replied.
Susanna turned and left the office.
In the hallway, she met Erica's venomous gaze. She patted Erica's shoulder and walked confidently to the elevator.
Erica stood there, staring daggers at the elevator, her eyes cold and filled with malice. She swallowed her anger, adjusted her expression, and walked back into the office with a smile. "Aaron, here's the chicken soup."
"Take it away. Don't bring this stuff here again," Aaron said without looking up from his papers.
Erica stood there, silently fuming, her mind cursing Susanna's name. She picked up the thermos. "By the way, Aaron, Austin will be in Novaria for a business trip soon."
