Chapter 278
Chapter 278
Rachael was stupefied, staring at Brian in a trance. Deep down, she had no idea how the sequence of events would spiral out of control. After all, she and Brian had been a lovely married couple over the years, as they hardly argued with each other. Thus, she found it hardly acceptable that Brian was going to divorce her. At that moment, her mind was filled with confusion and bewilderment, as she couldn't think of what to say in response until someone in the crowd said something. "Look. Mr. Vasquez is here."
As soon as the crowd of bystanders stepped aside to make way, Rachael's parents, Derrick and Laine, walked up to their daughter and berated her and Brian. "What are you two doing here? This is a research institute for proper business, not a place for you to bicker. So, settle your disputes at home."
Soon, Laine approached Belle and politely said, "Mrs. Carter, this is not the place for them to settle their disputes. Let them go home and discuss their conflicts instead. Please."
While the reason Belle made a scene in the research institute was that she couldn't stand Brian and Rachael's unacceptable actions, she wouldn't have gone so far as to make herself look like a clown in the process. Nevertheless, when Rachael's parents were involved, the older lady eventually gave in and nodded. "Fine, we'll talk when we get home."
In fact, Rachael's parents showed up because Mack called them for help earlier. While Mack was once Derrick's junior, he had no choice but to alert the latter, whom he was hoping to help defuse the situation, after noticing how the confrontation among the few of them was getting intense. Fortunately, Belle eventually agreed to leave the place out of respect for Derrick, much to Mack's relief.
As soon as Belle left, the crowd immediately dispersed. However, the topic didn't end with it as the people, who witnessed the conflict, discussed it on their social media and chat groups among their
friends. After all, the research institute was a big department with over a few hundred employees. Although there were only a dozen bystanders during the conflict, there were many others who were not aware of the matter. Therefore, the topic revolving around the Carter Family's conflict began to go viral on various discussion forums and platforms.
In the meantime, Rachael stood in Madeline and Leigh's way upon arrival at the Carter Residence, keeping them from entering the door. "You two are not welcome here. So, you are not allowed to go in!"
"They are the doctors I hired." Belle glared at the lady. "Are you keeping them outside the house because you want me to die sooner so that no one can stand up for Alex?"
"You…" Rachael's face flushed in anger as she breathed deeply to calm herself down.
"Alright, that's enough." Laine pulled Rachael's sleeve and forced a smile in front of Belle. "Anyone who visits the place is welcome. Please step inside." She then extended her arm, courteously showing Madeline and Leigh the way into the house.
As soon as everyone took a seat in the house, Derrick, who was Brian's mentor, began to lecture his mentee. "What do you think you were doing? Messing around in your workplace?! Have you no shame, or do you want to throw your future away?!" © NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
While Derrick kept his head down in silence, Belle chuckled coldly and answered, "Mr. Vasquez, are you referring to me instead? Speaking of shame, I figured that was something you should have thought of earlier if you didn't want to get embarrassed in the first place. My son makes thousands and millions in a year, but your daughter only gives me and Alex two thousand every month. Are you aware of that?"
If Madeline and Leigh didn't tell her how well Brian's job was paying him, she would have still mistakenly thought that her son was struggling so much to make ends meet in Dusktown that he could not handle one more mouth to feed. However, when Belle realized Brian was making thousands and millions a year but was only getting a niggardly sum of money from her son every month, she was furious and frustrated.
In fact, she wasn't concerned about herself, knowing her days were numbered. However, she needed the money for Alex and insisted that they must give it to the child, which was why she snapped and had a fierce argument with her son and daughter-in-law to achieve her purpose, thinking they wouldn't give Alex some money.
"What?" Derrick didn't understand what was going on just when Brian handed him a crumpled medical report to him. When Derrick skimmed through the content, he was speechless despite his persuasiveness and eloquence, his cheeks twitching uncontrollably.
"When Alex and I were living in our hometown, your daughter only gave us two thousand every month and expected us to sustain our living with that kind of money." Belle added, "Then, when I sent Alex away to Dusktown, your daughter abused my boy by starving him so much that he eventually suffered from malnutrition."
Soon, Brian gave Alex's detailed medical health report to Derrick, who was tongue-tied upon flipping through the pages. At the same time, the man's face darkened, as he had never felt so embarrassed in his life.
Not long after that, Belle's voice was heard again. "No man would like to make a fool out of himself like I just did, but if your daughter hadn't done something so unforgivable to us, I wouldn't have made a
scene at Brian's workplace. Furthermore, I had to do that for the justice I wanted for myself and my grandson after what your wicked daughter did to us." In fact, Belle's anger was still not appeased, even though she might have come out on top during the heated confrontation between her and Rachael. After all, she wanted to punish Rachael by exposing her abusiveness and wickedness to everyone after all the pain the latter inflicted on Alex.
I have no reason to hold back. I want the whole world to see through Rachael for who she is and what she did. Her evil side should be disclosed and exposed!
Meanwhile, Derrick was rendered speechless by Belle's question. Unlike Rachael, he had a sense of righteousness that prevented him from denying his mistakes and talking as if he wasn't in the wrong at all. Furthermore, he knew Rachael would surely be a subject to be ridiculed and teased if words about what she said got out, although they might have sounded like a reasonable argument. After today, everything Rachael says will become an embarrassment that people laugh at. People are going to mock her for her shamelessness!
While Derrick was steaming speechlessly, Laine quickly interfered to defuse the situation. "We're a family, Mrs. Carter. Rachael still has a lot to learn. After all, she used to be spoiled by me and Derrick a lot, so while you could lecture or punish Rachael all you want, you must take it easy before your anger takes a toll on your health."
"I'm not angry." Belle went on to say, "I didn't come all the way here to debate who is right or wrong with her. Instead, I'm here to ask for money!"
"You're here to ask for money?" Laine was surprised to hear that.
"Exactly," Belle replied. "I know Brian used to give his second son and little daughter a lot of money, so
he has to compensate Alex the same amount of money he ever gave them in the past and reconcile the differences. Moreover, I want Brian to pay me a sum of alimony, but I don't demand him to pay me a fixed amount of money. Instead, he can pay me however much he sees fit. As for Brian's savings in the recent few years, he must include Alex in his division. If you can satisfy my conditions, I'll stop messing around; but if you can't, I'll see you in court. Mind you, I mean what I just said because I already have a lawyer appointed. So, it's up to all of you whether we're going to do this the easy or the hard way."
"Mom…" Brian could no longer fight back his tears as he sank to his knees in front of Belle. "I'll obey your every wish and make it up to you and Alex, Mom! I will file a divorce with Rachael! After that, I will live with you and raise Alex together with you. I promise I'll never let you and Alex down ever again!"
When Laine heard that, her face changed. "What are you talking about, Brian?! Why are you going to file for a divorce?! The kids are innocent. They did nothing wrong to deserve this harsh ending that followed your divorce. Plus, Larry and Lucy are too young to see their parents apart, so how can you do that?!"
"I must file for a divorce!" Brian shook his head tearfully. "Rachael is a lady without a heart, and I can't stand having a wife who is so wicked and unkind, so I must divorce her! If you guys want to keep Larry and Lucy, I'll let you have them; but if you don't, they will stay by my side. One way or the other, Rachael and I are moving in our separate ways!" The man was determined to divorce Rachael, or he could no longer live down the mistake he made to Yuri and Belle, as well as Alex.