Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 34

Chapter 34 

ASO 

RAJB 

Orville said. “Thirty grand? You’d need 300 million dollars to barely cover the damages.” 

“300 million dollars?” Abby was totally shocked. “You mean this crappy ruby is worth over 300 million? You old crook, did Edwina put you up to setting us up, too?” 

Edwina crossed her arms and glanced up. “Just a minute ago, Desmond was all chummy with Orville. 

“What did he say? He said he’s Orville’s student. Now you’re acting like you don’t know him and calling him an old crook?” 

Orville’s status in Grindel City couldn’t be measured by money. He was the undisputed authority in the world of antiques. 

Even Carlos and Estelle wouldn’t risk offending him. If Orville said the ruby was worth 300 million dolars, then that was its price. 

Desmond tugged at Abby, signaling her to shut up. ‘This idiot, she’s going to get my family into serious trouble,‘ he thought. 

“Pay up!” Tristian called out. 

“Pay up, now.” Orville looked heartbroken over the shattered blood ruby. Even though it wasn’t his, it was such a shame to see something so valuable destroyed. 

Even Peter, standing outside the door, was shouting, “Pay up!” Desmond and Abby were in a dilemma. There was no way they could scrape together that kind of cash. 

But they didn’t dare to fall out with Orville. Especially with Kelvin, the big shot, blocking the exit. 

Because Abby and Desmond had been gone for too long after stepping out to use the restroom, Beatrice hurried out to look for them, afraid that Abby’s fake pregnancy scheme would be exposed. 

When Beatrice got there, she saw Abby and Desmond cornered by Edwina in the next room. And Edwina was demanding they pay up. 

Abby burst in like a brash hen. “Edwina, you ungrateful wretch. You’re airing our dirty laundry for everyone 

to see. 

“You’ve been mooching off the Lennox family all these years. Are you seriously saying all that care is worth less than some cheap ruby?” 

Edwina shot back without missing a beat, not even sparing Beatrice a glance. “300 million dollars? Not even close.” 

Beatrice was so stunned she stammered, “Th–Three hundred million dollars? Edwina, you shameless bitch, are you trying to scam us?” 

Edwina didn’t even blink. “Every receipt for the blood ruby and the lattice weed I used to maintain it is right here. 300 million dollars is a discounted price. 

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“Since the heads of the Lennox and Cole families are both here, why don’t you figure out how you want to pay? Cash or check?” 

Right behind Beatrice, Desmond’s parents looked absolutely miserable. They tried to win over Orville and, Kelvin with awkward grins, but both men ignored them like they weren’t even there. 

Abby protested, her voice all soft and helpless, trying to play the victim. “You grabbed my phone first. 

I wouldn’t have broken that ruby if you hadn’t done that. It’s not all on me. Why am I the only one getting blamed?” 

Kelvin’s tone was cold as ice. “Fine. If you don’t pay up, get ready to face us in court.” 

He snapped his fingers, and Peter swung the door open. “What’s up, Mr. Gibson?” Peter asked. 

“Spread the word: Gibson Group’s legal team is to drop everything and back Miss Lennox up in court,” Kelvin ordered. Desmond’s parents and Benedict looked even worse. 

The Gibson Group’s legal team had been undefeated since the company was founded, winning thousands of cases without a single loss. 

In Grindel City, or anywhere in the country, no one could even dream of going up against Gibson Group’s legal team. 

They thought, ‘Kelvin is actually mobilizing the entire legal department to help Edwina? That’s insane.’ 

‘What is going on between those two?‘ Abby thought, so jealous her knuckles turned white. She clutched her stomach and wailed, “Ah, my stomach is upset.” 

Beatrice quickly backed her up, saying, “Abby got so worked up. It’s affecting her baby.” 

Edwina and Tristian thought, ‘Seriously? Baby?‘ They exchanged a quick glance before both looking at Abby’s stomach. 

‘There’s no baby in there. Abby doesn’t look the slightest bit pregnant. If anything, maybe she has a belly full of shit, Edwina and Tristian thought. 

But they exchanged a silent understanding not to call her out. After all, this kind of melodrama only got more entertaining as it unfolded. 

The Coles were freaking out. When compared to 300 million dollars, the family’s baby in Abby’s womb was obviously far more important. 

Estelle was mentally roasting Abby. She thought, ‘Of all the people to piss off, she had to go head–to–head with Orville and Kelvin, the absolute worst combo.‘ 

“We’ll pay,” Carlos said. “That’s a massive amount. Let us pull the cash together. Just drop your account number, and we’ll wire it over before the weekend.” 

“The day after tomorrow,” Edwina said, her voice cold as ice, laying down the deadline. 

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Desmond clenched his jaw. “Edwina, that’s 300 million dollars. You’re being ridiculous.” 

“Tomorrow.” Edwina shot him a glare. “If 300 million dollars isn’t in my account by six am, get ready for a court summons.” 

tears streamed down Abby’s face. Desmond supported her, and together with the Cole and Lennox families, they stormed out of the private room. 

Abby clutched her stomach, her heart seething with hatred. ‘Edwina, just wait. The humiliation you gave me today. I’ll pay you back a hundredfold over, she thought. 

Tristian grabbed a barbecue rib and gnawed on it. “All done. No more juicy drama left. Edwina, I’m heading out.” 

“Wait a sec,” Orville said, tilting his head and fixing Tristian with a piercing stare. “Hey man, have we met somewhere before?” 

“Nope, absolutely not,” Tristian blurted out. No way was he going to blow his cover in front of all these people. 

Kelvin said, “Sir, are you heading back to the apothecary shop? It’s tough to catch a cab around here. I’ll have Peter drive you back.” 

“Sure,” Tristian replied, eager to make his escape. He didn’t pick up on the subtle undertone in Kelvin’s words. 

Tristian had met Orville a few times before and even attended the same global event. Now, Orville was a big shot, and he was a nobody. Tristian figured that it was best not to get too chatty. 

Edwina’s brows furrowed slightly. Her tone was unruffled but with a questioning edge. “How do you know Tristian is at the apothecary shop? Are you checking up on him or on me?” 

“Why so tense?” Kelvin took a step closer, speaking softly. “Do you really think I’d hurt you?” 

Kelvin smiled faintly and explained, hoping to ease Edwina’s doubts. “Tristian treated my grandma back in the day, so yeah, I know him.” 

Edwina lowered her gaze, thinking, ‘Sounds reasonable. I’ll double–check with Tristian later to be sure. 

Kelvin’s eyes flashed. “Edwina, why are you so distant with me? You seem to get along just fine with the folks at Maberly Fashion.” 

Edwina didn’t respond, just gave him a sideways glance that screamed, ‘This has nothing to do with you.’ 

She bent down, intending to pick up the broken pieces of the blood ruby. But Kelvin stepped in first. “Let me get that,” he said. 

Kelvin carefully gathered each shard, placing them into the container. He was so patient that he barely resembled the decisive and uncompromising man he was rumored to be. 

“Thanks,” Edwina said, her voice flat as she took the fragments from him. With the blood ruby gone, she’d have to figure something else out. 

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“Wait,” Kelvin called out to her again. 

Edwina turned around, her expression unreadable, her voice flat and a little impatient. “What now?” 

The next second, Kelvin pulled out a glass box from his coat pocket. “Here, take this.” Edwina’s icy stare flickered with surprise when she saw the box. 

When Kelvin opened it, inside was a blood ruby bracelet. It was flawless, as if nature itself had shaped it. But what really caught her eye was that its color was a soft blush of pink. 

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