Chapter 473 Are You Qualified to Be My Elder?
Susanna heard a voice she knew all too well and spun around to see Maud strutting in.
Maud's face was one she'd never forget.
Susanna didn't see it coming that Amelia would invite Maud to the charity dinner tonight. No wonder Amelia was acting all weird earlier, trying to feel out her thoughts on the Abbott family.
Turns out she had Maud on the guest list.
Especially since her thing with Aaron just got out in the open.
Everyone was whispering about how she, an orphan, managed to snag a spot in the Abbott family, only to secretly divorce Aaron and take the kid with her.
The kicker? Aaron didn't even put up a fight for custody.
Maud, flaunting a designer handbag, waltzed into the banquet hall like she owned the place.
Seeing Susanna made her blood boil instantly. Back in Lindwell, Susanna had actually sent people to kidnap and scare her.
She'd never felt so humiliated.
The worst part? Aaron had Susanna's back, didn't even address the kidnapping, and threw Vivian in jail.
Susanna watched Maud approach, her face calm as ever. Her red lips curled into a slight smile, "Did I say something wrong just now? I really have no ties with the Abbott family anymore."
"Susanna, just because you went from an orphan to the heir of the Jones Group, don't think you can act all high and mighty with me. Even if you're divorced from Aaron, I'm still Lillian's grandma. Is this how you talk to me? Aren't you worried about setting a bad example for Lillian?"
Hearing Maud bring up Lillian, Susanna's expression turned icy.
She stepped forward, making Maud backpedal in a panic, "What are you gonna do? Don't forget, there are tons of people watching. You wanna throw hands?"
Maud had a mental scar from the kidnapping. She thought Susanna was a nutjob with no morals.
They were close now, and Susanna lowered her voice, "What right do you have to mention Lillian? You almost killed her teaming up with Vivian. Forgot that already? You have no right to call yourself her grandma."
Maud felt a pang of guilt and stammered, "Can you blame me? I didn't know Lillian was an Abbott. If I had known, I wouldn't have done it."
"So, other people's daughters don't matter? What right do you have to mess with someone else's life-saving stuff? Isn’t that basically murder?"
Feeling super guilty, Maud said, "Susanna, don't bring that up. You hid Lillian's identity, causing all this mess. I actually need to talk to you. Since we're here, might as well. I want to bring Lillian back to the Abbott family."
Susanna's eyes narrowed, "You trying to fight me for Lillian's custody?"
"What do you mean fight? Lillian is Aaron's kid. After the divorce, she should stay with the Abbotts, not live with you and change her last name to Jones. That's not happening."
"Didn't you always want a son over a daughter? Isn't having Ramond in the Abbott family enough for you?"
Mentioning Ramond made Maud's face twist in all sorts of ways.
She'd always thought Ramond was Aaron's kid, so she treated him like her own grandson. But then Aaron dropped the bomb that Ramond wasn't his.
Maud had been fuming ever since, feeling like a fool for being played by Vivian into thinking Ramond was an Abbott.
But hey, at least she knew Susanna had a daughter, who was actually Abbott blood.
Since Aaron wasn't planning on getting hitched and having more kids, Maud figured the only bloodline should stay with the Abbotts. That's why she was here to talk to Susanna.
Maud cut to the chase, "Susanna, name your price. Our Abbott family can't have the kid out there."
Susanna sneered. She couldn't believe Maud had the nerve to think she could fight for Lillian's custody, something even Aaron wouldn't dare to say.
Susanna gave Maud a half-smile, "Lillian's adored by my brothers. They raised her. If you want to fight for her custody, you'll have to get past them first."
Maud's face fell.
She knew Susanna wasn't the same orphan who could be pushed around by the Abbotts anymore.
Now, Susanna was the daughter of the wealthy Jones family in Philly, and her status was almost on par with the Abbotts. Taking Lillian's custody wouldn't be a walk in the park.
Maud, gritting her teeth, said, "I heard you have a deal with Owen, but it looks like a competitor's about to snatch that project. If you agree to give Lillian's custody to the Abbotts, I can help you get that project back."
Maud spoke like she was doing Susanna a huge favor.
Susanna looked at her with disdain, "Do you think that project means anything to me?"
Maud was puzzled, "Isn't the project you've been working on for so long important?"
Stella, standing nearby, couldn't help but mock, "Because Susanna's family is filthy rich, she doesn't need the money. Losing the project wouldn't hurt her at all."
Maud snorted, "As a child from a wealthy family, you should know how to handle business independently, not just laze around at home."
Susanna smiled, "Sorry, but our family is so loaded couldn’t blow through the cash even if I tried.."
Maud raised her head, "The Abbott family has enough money for Aaron to spend his whole life, but he still works hard. That's a good example."
Stella added fuel to the fire, "No matter how great the Abbott family is, someone still doesn't have a Super VIP card."
The issue of the Divine Dynasty Super VIP card had always been a sore spot for Maud.
Maud's face turned red with anger, "Susanna, even though you're now the heir of the Jones family, you still can't shake off your poor background. You're showing off over a VIP card."
Susanna fiddled with her nails, "Then why are you so mad?"
"I'm not mad!"
"The charity auction is about to start. I hope you won't be stingy and embarrass the Abbott family."
With that, Susanna walked towards the auction site.
