Chapter 158
The moment their eyes met, Thomas smirked at Gianna and then calmly looked away.
Gianna lowered her gaze, feeling even more certain about her previous thoughts.
After stepping down from the stage, Natalie was also tired and asked the butler to escort her back to her room to rest.
Ximena, upon learning that Natalie had publicly given Harmony Garden to Thomas, immediately went to find her with a displeased expression.
"Mom, how could you just give Harmony Garden to Thomas like that? And now that Thomas is also entering the Clinton Group under your arrangement, are you planning to hand over everything of The Clinton family to him?"
Natalie, showing impatience in her eyes, replied coldly, "Thomas has nothing. Harmony Garden is my own house. I can give it to whoever I want. You have no right to interfere with my decisions."
If Ximena had shown the slightest interest in Thomas's marriage, Natalie wouldn't have made such a decision.
Thinking about how Thomas had lost both his parents at a young age and how, upon returning to The Clinton family, his uncle and aunt were wary of him, fearing he might snatch the Clinton Group from Felix, Natalie felt a pang of heartache.
"I'm not trying to meddle in your decisions, but aren't you being too biased? Felix has dedicated so much to the Clinton Group over the years. He worked hard to become the President of the Clinton Group. It wasn't a gift from you! As soon as Thomas returns, you give Harmony Garden to him. How do you think Felix feels?"
However, no matter what Ximena said, Natalie did not change her mind.
"You can think of me as biased. Both you and Connor are biased toward Felix. If no one is biased toward Thomas, how difficult do you think his life will be?"
Ximena frowned, wanting to persuade Natalie further, but Natalie did not give her any chance.
"No matter how long you talk here, I won't change my mind. If you really consider Thomas to be your nephew, then help him choose a socialite to marry. If you really don't want to do this, I'll handle it myself!"
Seeing Natalie's cold demeanor, clearly unwilling to change her mind, Ximena realized arguing was futile and left.
Ximena didn't expect that as soon as she opened the door, she would see Thomas standing at the doorway with a cup of coffee, his expression deep and unreadable. She didn't know how long he had been listening.
Ximena's expression changed, and she couldn't help but ask, "Thomas, when did you arrive?"
Thomas smiled faintly. "Just arrived, Aunt Ximena. Are you not going to keep Grandma Natalie company?"
"No, there's still something in the banquet hall. I'll leave first."
After Ximena left, Thomas entered Natalie's bedroom.
"Grandma Natalie, I made you a cup of coffee. Have some rest."
Natalie, still visibly upset, saw Thomas and forced a smile. She tiredly said, "Well, I can't compare to you youngsters. Go out and have fun. Don't worry about me."
"Okay."
After setting down the coffee, Thomas left.
However, instead of returning to the banquet hall, Thomas went straight to the backyard.
A cold smile crept onto Thomas's lips as he sat down in the pavilion, his once gentle smile now turning sinister.
Acquiring Harmony Garden was just the first step in Thomas's plan to slowly take over the Clinton Group from Felix.
The more Ximena refused to give him anything, the more determined Thomas was to make Ximena watch as everything in The Clinton family gradually became his.
"Mom, Dad, I will soon avenge you!"
A gust of night wind blew, almost making Thomas's voice inaudible.
At that moment, everyone in the banquet hall was discussing Natalie's decision to give Harmony Garden to Thomas.
"Harmony Garden is now worth billions. If any socialite marries Thomas, wouldn't she directly inherit billions?"
"I heard that Natalie's original purpose for hosting this banquet was to select a wife for Thomas, and now that he has inherited billions, won't the socialites of Dawnridge be at his mercy?"
"I advise you all to wait and see. After all, Natalie is still alive. Even if she wants to pass on Harmony Garden, it will have to wait until after her passing. Until then, it's all just window shopping for Thomas."
Listening to the discussions around her, Bella couldn't help but smile.
Natalie's actions tonight perfectly confirmed what the fortune teller had said before. Whoever got involved with Gianna would be unlucky!
Just now, Bella saw Ximena's displeased expression.
.
Bella searched around the banquet hall and happened to see Ximena walking in from outside. She quickly approached with a smile.
"Aunt White, I see you've been busy all night. You probably haven't eaten anything. I brought you some food."
Ximena was still angry about Natalie giving Harmony Garden to Thomas, but seeing Bella's concerned eyes, she couldn't help but sigh and took the cake from Bella's hand.
"You're always so considerate, Belle."
Bella shyly smiled and softly said, "There's no one on the sofa over there, Aunt White. Why don't you go over and rest for a while?"
"Okay."
The two sat down on the sofa, and after Ximena had a small bite of the cake, Bella couldn't help but sigh.
"Aunt White, I don't think Natalie should have given Harmony Garden to Thomas."
Ximena paused while eating and frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Although Ximena also thought the same, she didn't want to show her true emotions in front of others. Even though Bella was the daughter-in-law she favored, they weren't officially family yet.
"Aunt White, don't you think it's unreasonable for Natalie to give Harmony Garden to Thomas in the first place?"
Seeing Ximena's silence and the pause in her eating, Bella continued, "I used not to believe what the fortune teller said about Gianna causing the downfall of the Redstone family, but look at how the Redstone Group has been declining in recent years since Gianna returned."
Ximena frowned and surprisingly made an objective statement.
"This had nothing to do with Gianna. It's the mismanagement of the Redstone family itself."
Bella shook her head and said, "Aunt White, you don't know. In recent years, every time my dad invested, he failed. Even if he was unlucky, there should have been one or two times when he made money, but he hasn't made a profit even once."
After a moment of silence, Ximena looked at Bella and said, "Are you suggesting that Natalie is giving Harmony Garden to Thomas because Gianna is with Felix?"
Bella pursed her lips. "I can't be sure, but regardless of whether Felix will be with me in the future, I hope he will do better and better."
"Belle, don't mention this to anyone. I need to think about it," said Ximena.
Bella held Ximena's hand and looked into her eyes seriously. "Aunt White, if you need my help, you can tell me anytime."
"Okay."
Ximena put down the cake and left, looking somewhat lost in thought.
A cold glint passed through Bella's eyes. Perhaps Ximena wouldn't believe it once or twice, but after numerous instances, Bella was determined to change her mind!
On the other side, Gianna finally found Felix in a secluded corner.
Seeing him sitting alone, head bowed in thought, Gianna walked over and sat beside him.
"Mr. Clinton, what are you thinking about?"
