Chapter 212 Restricted Purchase
They snagged a car last month, dropped a wad to get Marcus into the Mystic Alliance, got their daughter into school, and now they're even buying a house today.
Man, they were so short on money.
Eleanor's tuition and living costs were supposed to be Michelle's problem, but she only had $10,000.
How could that not piss them off?
"How dare you blow Eleanor's tuition money to get James a job?" Robert was fuming, pointing at Michelle. "If Eleanor can't pay her tuition and gets kicked out, can you handle that?"
"No matter how tight things get, you can't mess with education. You even swiped Eleanor's tuition. Do you have any conscience left?"
"Is this fair to Eleanor, to us, or to the missing Virgil?"
Robert was boiling. "You've really let me down."
Michelle hung her head. "Robert, that's all I can afford."
Robert slammed the table. "I don't care. You better come up with Eleanor's tuition money, even if you have to sell everything."
He snorted, "James is a college grad. There are jobs everywhere—security, waiter, whatever. Why does he need money?"
Eleanor just glared at Michelle and James, like they were the most untrustworthy people on earth.
Michelle was shaking with anger. This family really had no shame.
"Mom, don't get upset." James saw his mom's face go pale with anger and quickly went over to support her. "Uncle Robert, don't push it."
"Am I pushing it? Or is your mom?" Robert snapped. "Even skimping on Eleanor's tuition, and you think you're in the right? Do you know how much trouble your mom's actions have caused our family?"
"And you, James. You're a grown man. Can't you find a job yourself? Do you need your mom's money to support you?"
"I can't stand people like you. If you have the ability, get a job yourself, even if it's as a security guard. Taking your sister's tuition money, what kind of man are you? Your grandpa and your dad said to take good care of us. Is this how you do that?"
Robert turned his wrath on James, tearing into him. "How dare you ignore us like that?"
James hit back. "Grandpa also said the inheritance should be split equally."
Robert's face turned red with rage. "Your dad was adopted. The Williams family raising him was already a huge favor, and now you're thinking about the inheritance? How shameless are you?"
James shot back, "Legally earned, how is that shameless?"
Plus, most of the money Virgil earned over the years went to support the whole Williams family; otherwise, the three of them wouldn't be so broke.
Eleanor looked at James with disdain, thinking this cousin was really useless, taking his sister's tuition money and still thinking he was justified.
"James is just joking. Robert, don't take it seriously." Michelle tried to smooth things over. "Alright, James, we're family. Stop arguing. It's embarrassing in front of outsiders."
At this point, a bunch of guests and sales clerks were watching, curious about what this family was fighting over.
With his mom's persuasion, James had to swallow his anger.
"Robert, stop arguing. There's no point in fighting with people who have no sense of humanity. People who don't know might think we're bullying them."
Seeing someone filming with a phone, Jasmine worried about her husband's civil service image, so she pulled him and snorted, "Let's buy the house first. We still have to have dinner with Marcus and the in-laws later."
As she spoke, she flashed her ID and bank card in front of James.
Robert cooled down at the mention of buying a house.
"That's right. We all have our own houses. What's the point of arguing with someone who sells tea and lives in a rental? Different class altogether."
His mood lifted, and he sneered at Michelle, "Michelle, I'm telling you, you've worked hard all your life and can't even afford your son's down payment. You're a real failure as a mother."
Jasmine sneered, "No education, no vision. What do you expect from her?"
Michelle's face went dark, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her for James.
'Yeah, I've busted my butt my whole life, and I can't even buy my son a house or a car. I'm such a failure as a mom.'
"My mom's not a failure at all," James shot back, his face hardening as he saw his mom's distress. "She doesn't greedily take what's not hers, and she raised a son who doesn't rely on the support of the parents."
Robert was triggered. "You little punk, how dare you talk like that?"
"Robert, cut it out. People are watching. Let's just buy the house," Jasmine tugged at her furious husband. "They've got nothing, let them talk. Do you think a few words from them can magically produce a house?"
"Not relying on the support of parents? The problem is, can your parents even afford to support you?"
"Ms. Moore, over here," Jasmine called to a saleswoman with bangs. "As for the 780-square-foot apartment we checked out earlier, the one with two bedrooms and a living room, we'll take it with full payment."
She casually tossed out her bank card and ID.
Full payment?
The saleswoman's eyes lit up. "Alright, Mrs. Williams, we'll get it processed right away."
Soon, a bunch of salespeople were fawning over Robert's family, showering them with compliments while throwing disdainful looks at Michelle and James.
Same family, such a big difference. Incompetent parents really dragged their kids down. No way would they marry into such a family.
Robert and his crew were strutting around, full of pride.
Michelle could feel the contemptuous looks from everyone. Even though she was used to it, it still stung.
"James, let's go home."
Maybe she felt guilty toward James.
"Mom, don't feel bad. You don't owe me anything. Raising me to this age, I'm already super grateful."
James held his mom's hand. "Besides, I'm an adult now, a college grad. It's my turn to repay you."
Michelle felt a warmth.
"Talk is cheap, but you still can't buy a house," Eleanor couldn't stand it anymore, thinking James was ridiculous. "If you're so capable, buy a house for your mom."
Several salespeople covered their mouths, laughing. 'A tea seller buying a house? What a joke.'
"You, come here. I want that villa," James didn't waste words, pointing at a salesperson. "The fifty-million-dollar one, full payment."
At the same time, he took out his bank card and ID and handed them over.
'Full payment and a villa?'
The room fell silent, everyone looking at James in disbelief.
Then, one by one, they dismissed it, thinking James was just putting on a show.
Robert's family sneered even more. They knew James's situation well. He couldn't even come up with ten thousand dollars, let alone fifty million dollars for a house.
Jasmine sarcastically said, "Ms. Moore, see? Rosewood City has many capable people. Even a tea seller can buy a villa."
Eleanor and several female salespeople laughed heartily.
No one took James's items, thinking it wouldn't lead to anything and not wanting to waste their time.
Only one male salesperson hesitated and stepped forward, asking, "Sir, are you really buying a villa?"
Michelle pulled James's arm with a bitter smile. "James, let's go."
James looked at the male salesperson and replied, "Go, swipe the card and process the paperwork."
The male salesperson hesitated for a moment but eventually took James's ID and bank card to process it.
But within a minute, he came running back, returning the ID to James.
"Mr. Williams, I'm sorry, you can't buy it."
"I genuinely can't process it with your ID."
Hearing this, Jasmine, Eleanor, and the female salespeople burst into laughter.
"I knew it, no money on the card, and still trying to buy a villa."
"Exposed, how embarrassing."
"Humiliating themselves! Still saying not relying on his parents and buying a house for his mom—go buy a drink instead."
A bunch of people laughed at James and Michelle.
How hilarious!
"No, no, no," the panting male salesperson shouted, "Mr. Williams isn't out of money; he already owns Peach Blossom No. 1. He's restricted from buying more."
Jasmine and the others' smiles froze instantly.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
