Chapter 491 Greed Can Amplify Evil
Betty ordered some fancy dishes for Aleah.
Betty meant well, but not everyone saw it that way.
"You ordered all this expensive food. You might think it's no big deal, but to me, it feels like you're showing off, trying to provoke me, putting pressure on me."
Aleah confessed her feelings frankly.
"Do you know why I keep saying you and Richard aren't from the same world, but we are? Because people who've been poor and those who've never been hungry live in two different worlds."
Aleah tried to make Betty understand. "Don't show kindness to someone poorer than you because we're all greedy."
Betty leaned back on the sofa, looking at Aleah. "What are you trying to say?"
"If you're nice to me once, I'll want it again. If you're nice to me twice, I'll want everything you have. I'll get jealous. I'll feel unbalanced. Why not me? Why you?" Aleah's words seemed heartfelt. "Human nature is greedy, no exceptions."
"So, should I listen to you, divorce Richard, and give him to you?" Betty laughed, thinking Aleah was trying a new tactic.
"I'm just sharing my past. I know you can't empathize, and that's fine." Aleah lowered her head and ate pastries.
"Then let me tell you about my life." Betty sipped her coffee. "You think being born rich is great. Maybe I'm ungrateful, but I don't feel that way."
She continued, "My parents care more about the family's interests than about me. A daughter must be raised in wealth, be noble, well-educated, capable, and a good wife."
"They raised me to be an excellent wife, then married me off to a wealthy heir they chose. I had to bring glory to the family and maximize their interests."
"They don't care if I have feelings or if I love the person." Betty sneered.
"You think poverty and darkness bring out the worst in people. But do you know that great wealth hides a stench a hundred times worse?" Betty looked at Aleah, amused.
"Greed for money and power unleashes the worst in humanity, amplifying its darkest tendencies."
"There will always be someone richer, and endless human desire breeds many evils."
"No one can truly be at the top of the financial and power hierarchy, but everyone tries, even if it means getting dirty. This is the survival rule of the world, no exceptions. Every circle, every class, is the same."
"Not long after I married into the Hughes family, I was kidnapped due to family strife and sent to Southeast Asia. I was imprisoned in a dark place where no one could save me."
Betty lightly tapped the table with her fingers. "But I survived. Do you know what I thought in my darkest moments?"
Betty's eyes were deep, and she had a smile on her lips.
Aleah's throat tightened. Looking at Betty, she suddenly felt scared.
"I thought, if I could survive and return, I'd get revenge a hundred times worse on those who hurt me."
Betty crushed the egg tart in her hand and smiled. "A devil lives in me, and I'm trying hard to restrain it. Don't be the one to release it."
Betty was warning Aleah that if things ended here, she'd let it go. For Richard's sake, she wouldn't mess with the woman he once loved. But Aleah needed to stop playing games.
"You asked me out today, and Brade probably coached you. He thinks he knows me well," Betty laughed sarcastically.
"Inviting me out, sending away my bodyguards, so his people could easily take me again, imprison me," Betty said calmly, as if she wasn't angry at all.
Aleah's face turned pale with fear. The calmer Betty was, the more scared she became.
"Sorry, but his people won't be coming today." Betty stood up and straightened her jacket. "Tell Brade I won't give him anything from the Hughes family. Richard and everything belonging to the Hughes family must be mine."
Betty took a small cake from the table, ate it, and left with a smile.
Aleah watched Betty leave, her breath tight. It took her a while to snap out of it and call Brade. "She knows."
"She's always been smart," Brade said indifferently.
"What should I do? She's scary. If I keep messing with her, I'm afraid..." Aleah knew she had no backup, and if she continued, Betty wouldn't let her go.
"A woman came to see you today. Guess who?" Brade said with a smile.
"Who?" Aleah asked nervously.
"Sophia, Richard's biological mother," Brade said casually.
"Isn't Richard's biological mother May?" Aleah asked, confused.
"Seems like you don't know Richard well enough," Brade laughed.
Aleah clenched her hands.
"But I'm curious, who do you think Richard's father is?" Brade mused. "Can you help me solve this mystery, Aleah?"
Aleah felt a chill down her spine. Brade was even scarier than Betty. "I can, I'll go see Sophia."
Jasmine had a rare afternoon off, so she bought some treats and went to find Ethan at his office.
Ethan was in his office when Deborah knocked and walked in. She was a professional, elegant woman, gracefully pouring Ethan a cup of coffee.
Deborah was always refined and noble, like she couldn't let her crown fall no matter where she went.
"Look at this, the project we're betting on with the Everhart family. In terms of new energy, the Douglas Group clearly has more advantages," Deborah sighed. "What were you thinking? You shouldn't have made such a mistake."
"Mistake?" Ethan said calmly. "I wouldn't risk something I'm not confident about. Since I signed it, it means I can win."
"Have some coffee. You've been too tired lately, haven't rested well or eaten properly?" Deborah looked concerned. "Actually, if you just softened up to Howard first..."
"You don't understand me," Ethan reminded Deborah. "In the company, don't talk about anything other than work."
"Okay, we can talk after work, right?" Deborah said with a smile, trying to coax Ethan.
Ethan frowned, feeling a bit repulsed. Men can tell if a woman has boundaries, but some pretend to be oblivious.
"Let me massage your shoulders. Your headache hasn't gotten better," Deborah offered.
Ethan stood up and refused. "I'm fine. You can go back to work."
"I..." Deborah started, but the door opened, and Jasmine poked her head in.
Ethan saw Jasmine's sneaky look, and the gloom on his face instantly disappeared. He smiled helplessly. "What are you doing? Come here."
Jasmine came in, shaking the little dessert in her hand. "I bought you a small cake."
"Ethan can't eat that," Deborah instinctively corrected.
"Come here, let me try it," Ethan interrupted Deborah, opening his arms to Jasmine. His embrace seemed to always be open only for Jasmine.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
