Chapter 416 You Have to Listen to Me
After Susanna finished talking, she noticed Aaron was cool as a cucumber. He just looked at her and said, "Before you showed up, I already hit up a journalist. I only spilled the first half of the tea; the second half's still under wraps. If you keep me here, I bet he'll drop the story by tomorrow."
Susanna blew a gasket. "How can you be such a scumbag?"
"I got one demand: let me stay and be with Lillian during her treatment."
Susanna started pacing, fuming. Finally, she yanked a chair over and plopped down, staring at Aaron lying in the hospital bed.
"But you know how my brothers feel about you now. If they find out you're still in Novaria, or worse, hanging around me, you're toast."
"This is my call. I'll deal with whatever comes."
Susanna rubbed her temples, frustrated that Aaron had outplayed her.
That movie was something she had busted her butt on for ages.
It was a big deal for her right now, her big break into showbiz, and she couldn't afford any screw-ups.
She didn't think Aaron would figure out her weak spot just from a news snippet. She really couldn't underestimate him.
But still, she wasn't ready to cave in so easily.
After mulling it over, Susanna said, "You can stay, but you'll have to be my servant."
"Deal."
Aaron agreed without batting an eye.
Susanna was taken aback. She thought a guy like Aaron, who'd always had it easy, wouldn't put up with that. She was definitely trying to make it tough for him.
But to her surprise, he agreed just like that.
Looked like she had underestimated Aaron; he was pretty good at swallowing his pride.
Susanna nodded. "Alright, since you agreed, sign this labor contract."
Soon, an assistant brought over a document, and Aaron signed it without even glancing at it.
Susanna's lips curled into a smirk. "From today on, you're my servant. You gotta follow all my orders."
She wore a smug look, thinking Aaron would blow a fuse at her words.
If he got mad, he might just bail and head back to Lindwell!
But Aaron didn't get mad.
Holding the contract with his slender fingers, Aaron grinned and said, "Even if it means sleeping with you, I'm down."
"In your dreams!"
Susanna snatched the contract and stormed out of the hospital.
She glanced at the document in her hand, her eyes landing on Aaron's bold signature.
The secretary cautiously said, "Ms. Jones, isn't this a bit risky? What if Mr. Edward Jones finds out?"
"Then make sure Edward doesn't find out. Charles's treatment won't take long, and Aaron will be outta here by then."
Susanna touched her chin. "Once Aaron starts working, make his life hell. Don't go easy on him just 'cause of his status; he's just a newbie servant now."
The secretary nodded respectfully. "Got it."
The next day, Susanna headed to the hospital with the Jones family, having heard that Charles had woken up.
Charles lay solo in the hospital bed, looking a bit pale. He glanced at the adults crowding around and said with a stern face, "Back off, I'm not dead yet."
Aviana jumped in, "What kind of nonsense is that? We're just worried about you."
Edward looked at Charles and said softly, "Just rest up. Once you're better, I'll take you out for some fun. Whatever you want, it's yours. Heck, if you want the stars, I'll get 'em for you."
"Uncle Edward, don't BS me. The stars are stuck up there; you can't get them."
Austin chuckled. "Edward, you know Charles isn't your average kid; he's not that easy to fool."
Even though Charles had a face kinda like Aaron's, his smarts were way above other kids his age.
Arthur chimed in with a proud look, "Charles can take over my hacking skills someday; he'll definitely outdo me."
Austin frowned. "Arthur, we agreed Charles would become a doctor with me."
Brian cut in, "Didn't we say he'd be a pianist? The kid's got a knack for it; I've seen it. Don't try to steal him from me."
Daniel adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said, "Enough. Charles already agreed to become a lawyer with me."
Justin took off his mask and said, "Charles is so good-looking; he should join me in the entertainment biz. Don't waste those looks."
Edward shot Justin a look. "Are you nuts? With that face, he can't go into showbiz."
Justin realized he messed up. They all knew Charles looked a lot like Aaron. If he became a star, the Abbott family could easily figure out who he was.
Justin sighed and looked at Lillian. "How about this, let Lillian join me in the entertainment industry and become the next big actress."
Edward frowned. "No way. The entertainment world is too messy. I don't want Lillian to go through that."
Aviana nodded. "Exactly, I agree. Lillian can stay with me, no work, just chilling every day. Work is such a drag, right Lillian?"
Lillian nodded seriously. "Aunt Aviana's right. I don't want to work; I want to wake up on my own every day."
Susanna sighed. "Then how are you gonna make money if you don't work?"
Lillian confidently replied, "I'll make money by being cute. Today, I'll be cute for Uncle Edward, tomorrow for Uncle Arthur, the day after for Uncle Austin, and then for Uncle Brian, Uncle Daniel, and Uncle Justin. That should cover it."
Susanna couldn't help but sigh. Lillian was really spoiled by the family.
As the family chatted in the ward, Charles, lying in bed, said with a gloomy face, "If you wanna talk, do it outside. Don't mess with my rest."
Susanna stepped forward, touched Charles's forehead, and said gently, "We'll head out now and let you rest. See you tomorrow."
Everyone knew Charles liked his space and didn't care for noise, so no one argued.
They all left the ward, leaving only Lillian to keep Charles company.
Edward looked at Susanna and said, "Once Charles is better, I'll get a psychologist to help out. We can't let his personality turn into something antisocial."
