Reborn to Dodge the Bad Marriage novel Chapter 297

Chapter 297 The Lady of the House

Finished

Constance lowered her voice and said to Julian, “If it comes down to it, you step in. You could close this deal for sure.”

Julian gave a slight shake of his head. “Something’s off about this. Put it together with everything that’s happened the last couple of days, and it’s obvious. Cordelia called in a favor to get Joss to turn down the Weston Group.”

Constance’s face darkened. “I was thinking the same thing. Otherwise, why would Joss still turn us down when I went to negotiate myself? I just didn’t want to believe it of her back then. We’ve been friends for decades.

“Is Cordelia really going to burn every bridge with us?”

Nora saw how grave Constance looked, how disappointed and hurt. “She’s not the one burning bridges,” she told her. “You got in the way of what she wants, and now she can’t keep up the act anymore.

“Grandma, maybe she had an agenda from the very beginning, both with being your friend and with treating Julian. It’s just been a long time coming. And if she’s been at it this long, whatever she’s after is probably something we’d never guess.”

She wasn’t going to tell Constance not to be upset. Anyone would be hurt after being lied to and stabbed in the back by a friend they’d trusted for decades.

Constance looked even more somber. “Then what does she want? Money? The Blithes don’t need money. Power and status? They have plenty of that too.”

As a medical dynasty, the Blithes had no less money than the Westons. Their research and drug development just cost a lot more, so they had a little less to show for it on paper.

As for power and status, the Blithes had no shortage of that either. Everyone got sick sooner or later, and anyone might need Cordelia someday, so everyone showed them respect.

With all the money, status, and reputation she could want, there had to be some other reason Cordelia was doing this.

Nora thought it over, but she couldn’t figure it out either. For a while, the three of them sat lost in thought. Then, Nora looked up at Julian and raised an eyebrow. “Maybe Cordelia just loves her granddaughter so much that she wants to help Olivia become Mrs. Weston. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t hold back anymore.”

It was hard to tell if she was teasing.

Either way, Julian sensed trouble and quickly turned to Nora. “I’ve never had any feelings for Olivia. I’ve always thought of her as a little sister, just like Sienna.”

Constance looked at the two of them and laughed. “Looks like Nora’s jealous. Don’t worry, dear. Julian’s never had feelings for Olivia, and our families never arranged for them to marry or anything like that.”

That little bit of teasing lightened the heavy mood.

10:52 am

Chapter 297 The Lady of the House

Finished

Constance didn’t seem so worried anymore either. “All right, none of this is the end of the world. Whatever happens, I’m still here to handle it. You two go get some rest.”

Nora and Julian went upstairs and were soon out of sight.

Bess looked at Constance anxiously. “Maam, Mrs. Weston didn’t close the deal. Why would she say something like that to Mr. Harlan? What are we going to do now?”

Constance was worried too, but she didn’t want to dwell on it just yet. “We’ll see tomorrow. There’s still time.”

Bess hesitated, then couldn’t hold it in. “If you ask me, Mrs. Weston is in over her head and too sure of herself to see it. She’s about to drag you and Julian down with her.”

Constance turned to Bess with a frown.

Bess took her silence as permission and got bolder. “She’s a little selfish, too. Before she started making big promises, she never stopped to think about you or Julian. And when she went after Dr. Blithe and Olivia, she didn’t think about his health either.”

Constance frowned even harder and gave Bess a displeased look. “You’ve got quite a problem with Nora, don’t you?”

She said it lightly, but Bess still flinched and lowered her head. “I’m just worried about you and Julian.”

Constance’s expression softened a little, though she still looked grave. “Nora isn’t the reason the Joss deal fell through, Bess. Cordelia is.

“Cordelia’s been treating Julian for years, but what has she done these last couple of days that actually put him first? The surgery was over, and she still insisted she was in the middle of it and needed another eight hours.”

Talking about it made Constance angry all over again, and she let out a cold huff. “Cordelia didn’t think about his health either.”

Bess was speechless for a moment, but she still couldn’t help saying, “But that has nothing to do with Olivia.”

As things stood, that was true. But affection had a way of spilling over onto everyone close to a person, and so did resentment. Now that Constance had soured on Cordelia, she was starting to dislike Olivia too.

She turned to Bess. “Olivia’s over here all the time, and you watched her grow up, so I understand why you have a soft spot for her. But get one thing straight. Nora is Julian’s wife, and she’s the young Mrs. Weston in this family. Nobody else!

“I’ve let whatever you said and did slide until now. But from here on out, you treat Nora the way you treat me. Understood?”

It was clear that Constance had fully accepted Nora as the next lady of the house.

Bess was stunned. She didn’t dare say another word, and she lowered her head. “Yes, ma’am.”

10:52 am T

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Chapter 297 The Lady of the House

Finished

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