"Let's forget about it this time. But Chris, I've always wanted to say this: We don't have to act rich if we're not. Look at these cigarettes and whiskies. You're not rich and they are not cheap."
Janice thought that she had to remind Christopher of this.
Christopher was speechless. He shouldn't have lied to her.
Look what happened now because of money.
"Okay, you're right. I'll do as you say."
They carried the things and headed to the house.
As soon as she entered the house, May was waiting for them.
"Janice, you're home."
May had been working in her house for a long time since her mother was around.
Janice was happy to see her.
"May, where's my dad?"
"Mr. Gladwell is in the study room. Come in."
May let them in. When she saw Christopher behind Janice, she was blown away by his demeanor.
Janice and Christopher immediately saw Vanessa and Gladys sitting on the sofa in the living room. They didn't even bother to welcome either guest when they saw them.
Janice wasn't bothered. Besides, she didn't come to see them, so she told Christopher, "Let's go to the study room."
Christopher nodded and was about to follow Janice before Gladys interrupted them. "Oh, Janice. Ever since you got married, you don't care about me anymore, do you?"
At first, Gladys didn't want to care about Janice, but then she saw the gifts Christopher held in his hands.
She could tell at a glance that they were expensive. But it was strange. After all, everyone knew that Janice had married a poor man. Where did he get the money to buy such expensive gifts? Could they be fake?
Gladys began to laugh at the thought of that.
Janice didn't know what Gladys was thinking. She heard Gladys and stopped in her tracks. Then she looked over and said, "Auntie, I'm not blind. How could I not see you? It's just that you don't seem to welcome us."
Gladys was stunned for a moment and said, "Nonsense! You're a guest. Vanessa, help your brother-in-law with the gifts."
Vanessa stood up and was about to pick up the gift from Christopher when Janice stopped her.
"Vanessa, these are for Dad. You're a girl. You'd better not touch these cigarettes and whiskies."
With that, she walked away with Christopher still carrying their goods.
Vanessa stood there awkwardly.
"Mom! What's so good about those cigarettes and whiskies?"
Gladys said, "Those cigarettes and whiskies are top quality; worth more than ten grand. Think about it. Janice's husband is poor. How can he afford them? I think they are fake!"
"Then why do you still want them?"
"You silly girl, of course, I did that to shame her. Think about it, our company crisis was solved by Janice. Your dad was deceived and he even asked her to bring her broke husband here for dinner. One day, he might even pass on the company to him. By then, everything will be too late."
Vanessa listened to her mother and asked curiously, "Mom, are you saying that you want to expose them?"
"Of course, your father hates these superficial people." "Just wait and see. I will expose them." Gladys thought bitterly.
However, Vanessa felt bad and couldn't bring herself to do so. After all, Christopher was too handsome.
Even though he was poor, he was good-looking.
"With that face and that figure, I would do anything for him."
Vanessa quickly gave up the thought once she recalled that he was Janice's husband.
...
Janice and Christopher arrived at the entrance of her father's study.
Janice knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Malcolm's voice could be heard.
Janice pushed the door open and went in.
Malcolm was reading with several books piled on the table in front of him.
"Dad, we're here."
As Janice spoke, she pushed Christopher in front of her. "This is Chris. Christopher Bateman. Chris, this is my father."
Christopher saw Malcolm and greeted him respectfully, "Hello, Sir."
Malcolm closed the book he was reading and glanced at Christopher, with a surprised look on his face.
According to Janice, he was quite down on his luck. Malcolm thought that Christopher would be a timid young man. Surprisingly, he looked like a successful entrepreneur with an energetic spirit.
However, Malcolm knew that one should not judge a book by its cover. Just because he looked good from the outside, it did not mean that he was a good man.
Malcolm looked at Janice and said, "Janice, can you make us some coffee?"
"Okay."
Janice then turned around and left. Before she left, she glanced at Christopher.
After she left, Malcolm asked Christopher, "Are you from Tomaville?"
Christopher nodded. "Yes."
Malcolm remained silent after that. He got up from the table and sat down on the sofa. He ordered, "Take a seat."
Christopher placed the gifts on the table and sat on the sofa.
Malcolm paused and said, "Has Janice ever mentioned the reason why she married you?"
Christopher nodded. "Yes."
"Since that's the case, then I'll get straight to the point. Janice did not tell me that she was marrying you. But even though she hid that news from me, I'm still a reasonable person. I won't object to your marriage for no reason."
"Thank you," Christopher replied.
Malcolm continued to ask, "I heard that you come from a poor economic background?"
Christopher didn't know how to answer his question. He was hesitating whether to tell the truth when Janice came in with a coffee tray. He was surprised and changed his mind. "I do come from modest beginnings, it's true."
As soon as he finished, Janice glanced at him.
Malcolm did not continue his questions. He explained," It's okay. It doesn't matter. We're not from old wealth either. As long as you treat Janice well, that's all that matters to me."
"Don't worry, I treat her well."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Janice. Their gazes met.
Janice turned around shyly and grumbled, "Dad, what are you talking about?"
Malcolm smiled and said, "Are you embarrassed?"
Janice's face turned even redder.
"Janice, take a seat."
Malcolm suddenly ordered in a serious tone.
Janice took a seat beside Christopher.
Malcolm looked at them and said, "Although you got married in a rush, there are certain things that you ought to do. What are you going to do about the wedding?"
Once she heard her father, Janice rushed to speak before Christopher, "There's no rush for the wedding. Besides, I've been busy for the past few months."
As she was talking, she winked at Christopher to give him a hint.
Christopher knew what Janice was thinking. She was probably trying to save money for him. He continued, "I'll discuss the wedding with Janice at home. Everything will be arranged according to her liking."
...
"Dad, don't worry about that. Christopher has his own plans."
As soon as Malcolm finished his sentence, Janice hurriedly stopped him without waiting for Christopher to speak. She didn't want Christopher to work for her father. If he worked there, Vanessa and Gladys would be livid. She was afraid that Christopher would say yes so she looked at him to confirm," Right?"
Christopher had the same thought as Janice. He looked at Malcolm and said, "Dad, thanks for the invitation. But I have my own plans."
Malcolm didn't push the issue.
At dinner.
Janice and Christopher sat on one side of the table.
Malcolm, Gladys, and Vanessa were sitting on the other side of the table.
Since Janice and Christopher came home today, May purposely made Janice's favorite dishes.
It was a shame that she rarely came home, so she was moved when she saw the table full of her favorite dishes.
"Thank you, May."
Auntie May smiled and said, "Your dad arranged all these."
Upon hearing May's words, Janice couldn't help but look at Malcolm gratefully. "Thank you, Dad."
Malcolm just said, "Eat up! Enjoy May's efforts."
Janice was moved by what he said.
Janice served Malcolm some food.
Then, she glanced at Christopher, who was sitting beside her, and served him some food too.
They were serving each other and the atmosphere at the dining table was filled with joy.
Vanessa and Gladys were upset once they saw that.
Especially Vanessa. When Janice was not around, Malcolm always asked May to cook her favorite dishes. Everything changed once Janice came back.
Suddenly, Vanessa lost her appetite and threw her napkin aside.
Seeing how Vanessa acted, Gladys reached out to nudge her arm and whispered, "Bear with it."
Only then, Vanessa picked up her napkin and continue to eat resentfully.
Gladys glanced at them who were enjoying the food and felt that it was time. She smiled and told May, "Bring us the whisky."
May returned with one of the bottles that Christopher had brought.
Gladys took the whisky and said to Malcolm, "Malcolm, it's the first time that Christopher is here. Let's have a toast. Look, Janice brought this whisky. It looks very expensive."
She poured a cup of whisky for Malcolm and handed it to him.
Malcolm held the cup of whisky and sniffed it. "Smells good. It's indeed good whisky."
Gladys took the opportunity to add to it. "But I heard that there are a lot of fake whiskies on the market recently. Janice, you're young and easy to be fooled. You should be careful when you buy alcohol. Don't buy fake ones."
As soon as Gladys finished her words, Vanessa said, "Is this fake?"
Janice's face darkened after she heard Vanessa. "Vanessa, what do you mean? How can it be fake?"
Vanessa saw that Janice had fallen into her trap, so she continued, "Well, many fake alcohols are packaged exactly the same as the real ones, but they are still fake."
"You..." Janice was about to retort but was interrupted by Gladys. "Stop fighting. We can verify the authenticity of it."
"Yes, Mom, verify it now. If it's fake, it would be dangerous for Dad to drink it." Vanessa added in purpose.
Janice finally understood what happened after listening to Vanessa and Gladys. It seemed like it was a trap.
She snorted. "As you wish."