Chapter 161 Men Are Terrifying, Kicking Someone When They're Down
Tiffany walked back to the dining room, sweating and worried.
Nicole was someone she mentored, but now Nicole had got her cornered! Those old issues had no proof, so she wasn't scared. But things were different now. Patrick was not as fond of her as before. If something went wrong, her spot in the Wellington family was at risk!
Tiffany needed to help Nicole with the debts but didn't want to use her own money, so she had to act pitiful in front of Patrick.
"Patrick, Nicole messed up, but you watched her grow up. She used to be so good and sensible. Now, with Karen in prison, Bray in a coma, and the Adams family broke, Nicole's scared, harassed by debt collectors, and can't even go home. I raised her, and I can't stand seeing this." Tiffany put her hand on Patrick's tense one, tears in her eyes. "Patrick, you've always been kind and generous. Just think of it as charity and help Nicole out. It would be the kindest thing to do."
Patrick's frown eased a bit, seemingly moved.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise.
Patrick and Tiffany were startled, and Debra almost choked in fright.
Edward, who had been silent, pulled out a voice recorder and tossed it in front of them. "If you want to help Nicole, listen to this first."
Tiffany's heart raced, unsure of Edward's intentions.
Patrick picked up the recorder, puzzled, and pressed play.
The recording revealed a conversation between Virgil and Nicole.
"Don't touch Evelyn yet, wait for my signal. Things are looking up. I've regained Edward's trust, and he's been with me these past few days. And Patrick has agreed to our marriage. We should be getting engaged soon."
"So, you and Edward are getting engaged. What about the five million dollars?"
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Nicole's tone was impatient. "Is that little money worth rushing me? I'll send you five hundred thousand dollars first. Take that for now. After Edward and I finish the engagement ceremony, I'll send you the rest."
The recording ended, leaving the room in dead silence.
Tiffany's face turned ugly, deeply regretting her plea for Nicole.
"Aunt Tiffany, is this the obedient girl you raised?" Edward's eyes were dark and cold as he laughed. "You should be grateful Evelyn was smart enough to stop Nicole's scheme. If anything had happened to Evelyn, Nicole wouldn't be in her current situation. I have ways to make her suffer, ways to make her wish she were dead."
Tiffany gasped, staring in disbelief at the ruthless look in Edward's eyes. She thought Edward was like Patrick, indecisive and emotional. After all, he and Nicole had been entangled for years. Even if Nicole betrayed him, how could he easily pull away from over a decade of emotional bonding once and for all? But she didn't expect Edward to be so cold and ruthless! Those feelings were long gone!
"Nicole only sees me and the Wellington family as her ATM. Who can guarantee she'll use the money to save the Adams family and Bray, instead of squandering it?" Edward wiped his lips with a napkin, then stood up slowly and elegantly, glaring coldly at them. "If Patrick wants to do charity, aren't there hundreds of welfare homes and nursing homes in Mugden, and thousands of charitable organizations nationwide? Why wasting money on Nicole?"
With that, Edward's handsome face turned icy, and he left the dining room with a stern look.
Tiffany watched Edward's tall, cold figure, her heart trembling.
Patrick pulled his hand out of hers, standing with a stern look. "Edward is right. The Adams family brought this on themselves! The Wellington family has already helped them enough. Now that they've caused such a mess, helping them further would be aiding the wicked! From now on, don't get involved in the Adams family's affairs. Such relatives should be cut off completely!"
With that, Patrick also left in anger.
"Yeah, Tiffany, why do you care about her? Nicole should fend for herself," Debra said, chewing on a steak.
"All you know is eating! What do you know!" Tiffany's eyes blazed with anger, and she no longer cared about her manners, picking up a piece of bread to throw at Debra.
Tiffany thought, 'I underestimated Edward. His heart is a thousand times harder and more ruthless than Patrick's! It seems the Adams family's debt will have to come from my own savings.'
Edward finished dinner and went to the garage to drive to Half Moon Bay.
Even after dealing with Nicole, he didn't feel the satisfaction he had imagined. From the day he became the heir of the Wellington family, he had always hoped to do everything perfectly, to cover all bases. But it seemed he had messed everything up, whether about marriage or family.
Edward thought about Tyler's words. "Ms. Taylor has some amazing skills! I was terrified, but she calmly took out a needle and accurately inserted it into several acupuncture points on Mr. Byron Wellington's head. The situation quickly improved! For the first time in three years, I realized Ms. Taylor also knows medicine. Her skills are on par with the Wellington family's private doctors!"
Edward took a deep breath and pressed the gas pedal harder.
'I should have realized long ago that she knew medicine. Not only did she save Byron this time, but she also saved a waiter having an epileptic seizure at a hotel. And even before we divorced, she relieved my severe headaches with her massages. She did so much for me, always silently fulfilling her duties as a wife and taking care of the family. But why did I find her annoying and hypocritical back then? She had so many shining qualities, but I was blind to them.'
Edward gripped the steering wheel tightly with his right hand and pressed his left hand against his trembling chest.
Looking back, he felt that Nicole was the biggest mistake of his life. In Evelyn's heart, he probably played a role similar to Nicole's.
Byron, hearing Edward was coming, was overjoyed and waiting for him in the living room.
He had always been fond of Edward, even if he didn't say it out loud. Otherwise, he wouldn't have supported him in becoming the CEO against everyone's opinion.
"Byron, how are you feeling these past few days? If you feel any discomfort, you must tell me immediately." Edward knelt on one knee beside Byron's wheelchair, looking up to meet Byron's gaze with the clear eyes of his youth. "Why don't you come back to Riverside Villa with me? May and I can take good care of you."
"Why would I go back there to see Patrick and Tiffany's sour faces? I could live to be a hundred, but seeing them would cut it down to ninety!" Byron's head ached just thinking about Tiffany, and he let out a breath. "I swore that as long as Patrick doesn't get divorced, I won't go back to live there. I'm fine living here. The secret to longevity is not seeing unpleasant things!"
Edward could only smile bitterly, feeling helpless with Byron.
"This villa was once the love nest of Mr. and Mrs. Wellington. Mr. Wellington wants to stay here because it holds the memories of Mrs. Wellington, so he can't bear to leave," Tyler said understandingly.
"Tyler, I might really be getting senile. Sometimes my mind isn't very clear." Byron turned, his eyes misty as he looked towards the back garden. "Once, I even saw Lisa singing opera and tending to the flowers in the garden. When I got closer, she smiled at me."
"Mr. Wellington, you're not senile. Mrs. Wellington must have felt your deep affection and knew you've been missing her all these years. That's why she can't bear to leave you and has always stayed by your side," Tyler comforted softly.
Edward's throat tightened, and he lowered his head in guilt.
He knew well that Byron and Lisa had a great relationship. Having witnessed such a happy love, he had always hoped his own love would be just as steadfast and beautiful. That's why he was so obsessed with being with Nicole, unable to break free from himself. Throughout this journey, he had noticed problems with Nicole. Their personalities didn't match, and they had little to talk about. More often than not, he was accommodating her.
But he craved love too much, feared that all his efforts would be in vain, and dreaded the feeling of losing everything. In the end, he lost miserably and even hurt Evelyn, who shone like a diamond. He was really foolish.
"Grandpa, I'm sorry." Edward's long lashes fluttered, his voice trembling.
Byron looked at the usually proud Edward, who couldn't even lift his head now, and sighed, patting his shoulder. "Edward, you're just like me when I was young, a stubborn person who gets stuck in a rut. The only difference is, I was lucky to love the right person. You were a bit less fortunate. But at least you turned back in time and didn't make a mistake forever. That's something to be happy about."
"Byron, I..." Edward started.
"Actually, I was wrong too. I shouldn't have forced you to be with Lily. From now on, you should both pursue your own happiness. Forcing Lily to be with someone who doesn't love her is too unfair to her." Byron then instructed seriously, "Tyler, make a list for me of the eligible bachelors in Mugden who are a good match for Lily. Now that I'm free, I can take Lily to meet them. Even though Lily is divorced, I can't stop her from finding happiness."
"Uh, yes, Mr. Wellington," Tyler replied, helpless.
Hearing this, Edward's mind flashed to the scene of Gilbert giving Evelyn roses at sunset.
He clenched his fist, his heart aching with jealousy.
After chatting with Byron for a while, Edward drove away from the villa.
"Mr. Wellington, you clearly wish for Edward and Ms. Taylor to be together. Why are you now arranging for Ms. Taylor to meet other people?" Tyler asked, puzzled.
"I know Edward best. If I push him to reconcile with Lily, he won't listen." Byron squinted his cunning eyes and smiled meaningfully. "Men are born with a sense of possessiveness and a desire to conquer. Only by making him feel a sense of crisis will he face his feelings and understand what he truly wants."
