Chapter 28
"Alice, I know you're shacking up with David now. I need you to pack your stuff and bounce, like, yesterday. You can ask for whatever you need—money, a new place, whatever. David's gonna be Celeste's future hubby, so don't pull a move like your mom and mess with a married dude," Celeste snapped.
"Future hubby?" Alice shot a look at Celeste, then at Juniper. "When did Celeste and David get engaged? Why am I out of the loop?"
"You don't need to know," Juniper sneered, her eyes full of disdain. "Do you think it's cool to live with your future brother-in-law? Anyway, what do you want? How about a hundred grand?" She whipped out a check from her bag and slapped it on the table. "A hundred grand should cover a one-bedroom rent until you finish college."
Alice watched as Juniper scribbled out a check for a hundred grand, which Celeste handed over to her.
Drumming her fingers on the table, Alice looked up at Celeste and Juniper, a smirk playing on her lips. Leaning back in her chair, she drawled, "So, David's only worth a hundred grand to you? If I took Celeste's spot as his wife, I'd be rolling in way more than that."
"Alice, have you no shame?" Celeste slammed the table and jumped up. "How could you talk like that at such a young age? Just like your mom, you're a piece of work! Let me set you straight, David and I might not be engaged yet, but I'm going after him. With my looks, education, and background, I'm perfect for the Tudor Family and can boost his career."
Alice was used to Celeste's tantrums. She cleaned her ear and shifted in her seat. "So what? You're still trying to buy me off with a hundred grand."
"Then how much do you want?" Juniper's sharp voice cut in, glaring coldly at Alice. "Alice, I thought you were different from your mom, but I guess blood runs deep. I shouldn't have expected better from you."
Alice raised a finger. "Mrs. Davis, my dad's blood runs through me too. If he heard what you just said, he'd feel disrespected. Not too much, just a million bucks."
"A million bucks!" Juniper's eyes widened. "Alice, you're so greedy. If I wanted, I could find a million ways to kick you out of David's place without giving you a dime!"
"Do you think I won't tell grandpa about this?" Alice shot back.
As expected, Juniper's face went pale, and she clenched her fists.
When the waiter came in to serve the food, he sensed the tension and quickly left after setting the dishes down.
"Fine, a million bucks," Juniper agreed.
Celeste looked at Juniper in shock. "Mom!"
Celeste thought, 'Even a hundred grand is a lot for Alice! Let alone a million.'
"Shut up," Juniper snapped at Celeste. If it weren't for Celeste's happiness, she wouldn't give Alice a million bucks! A million to get rid of future problems was worth it.
Juniper wrote a check for a million bucks and tossed it to Alice.
Alice didn't mind. She bent down to pick up the check and stood up. "I won't stick around for dinner. Don't want to ruin your appetite. Just wait for good news from me."
Leaving the restaurant, Alice took a few deep breaths and felt more at ease.
Looking at the check in her hand, a mocking smile spread across her lips.
A million bucks to get her out of David's place was a sweet deal.
She had to give Juniper props for her patience for Celeste's sake.
As for how to use this million-dollar check, she'd have to think about it. After all, she couldn't let Juniper and Celeste down.
After Alice left, Celeste was frantic. "Mom, how could you agree to give Alice a million bucks! What if she takes the money and still doesn't move out of David's place?"
Juniper smiled and took a few bites of food, pulling Celeste down. "Celeste, you're too hot-headed when it comes to emotions. If you marry into the Tudor Family, this won't win you any points with your in-laws. If Alice takes the million and doesn't follow through, I've got ways to handle her. Don't worry."
"What ways?" Celeste needed to know to feel at ease.
Juniper glanced at the clueless Celeste and sighed. "This million is my leverage. If she does anything shady and doesn't want Lucas to find out, or fears Marcus will cut ties with her, she'll have to come to me, her stepmom, for money."
Celeste's eyes lit up. "Mom!"
Juniper patted Celeste's hand. "Alright, let's eat."
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