Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job<b>? </b>
At the mention of freezing Ste’s credit <b>cards</b>, a glint of satisfaction shed through Lillian’s eyes.
Ste, nothing in the Reed family belongs to you. There can only be one daughter here, and that’s me.
Despite her delight, she put on <b>a </b>concerned <b>act</b>. <b>“</b><b>But </b>if you freeze Ste’s <b>cards</b>, how will she survive? She’s been living off the Reed family for the past <b>two </b>years–she doesn’t even have a job.”
Jonathan said firmly, “Lillian, stop speaking up for her. <b>This </b>time, she needs to be taught a lesson<b>.” </b>
Lillian hesitated <b>as </b>if she wanted to argue but then turned to <b>Susan</b>.
Susan nodded in agreement. “<b>Your </b>brother’s right. It’s time she learned how to behave like a properdy.”
Just thinking about Ste’s temperament gave <b>Susan </b>a headache. She refused to believe Ste had truly let go of her feelings for Ethan. In her eyes, all the trouble Ste caused two years ago <b>was </b><b>because </b>of Ethan. That nonsense about Lillian orchestrating the car ident? Just an excuse–Ste was obsessed with Ethan, and that <b>was </b>the real issue.
Lillian shifted her gaze to <b>Ethan</b>.
Ethan frowned but said nothing, clearly agreeing with Susan and Jonathan’s decision.
Susan turned her attention back to Lillian’s ankle. “How’s the injury? Is it serious?”
Lillian shook her head. “Not too bad. Ethan insisted on taking me to the hospital.”
Susan nodded approvingly. “It’s better to be careful. Your father arranged the best specialist for you. We’ll have them check <b>you </b>again.”
“<b>Thank </b>you, Mom.
“Silly girl, there’s no need to thank me.”
Hearing Lillian call her ‘Mom‘ so sweetly made Susan’s heart ache with affection.
<b>And </b><b>so</b>, while fussing over Lillian’s injury, they <b>also </b>finalized Ste’s punishment.
The consensus? Cut off her $2,700 monthly allowance to force her into submission. They believed that without financial support, Ste would eventually have no choice but to drop the whole thing about Lillian’s involvement in the car ident.
At the root of it all, they were certain of one thing: Ste loved Ethan <b>too </b>much to actually walk away.
This time, they weren’t even giving her the <b>chance </b>to throw a <b>tantrum</b>,
Ste spent the <b>entire </b>afternoon in meetings at the studio.
A massive project–a record–<b>breaking </b>deal in the design industry<b>. </b>Of course, she had to give it her all.
A golden–ticket client like this? No way she was letting go.
By the time she left the studio, it was already six o’clock.
“Ste<b>?</b>”
Hearing her <b>name</b>, she turned to see Tessa standing a few steps away, looking utterly shocked.
Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
Finished
Before Ste could answer, Tessa jumped to her <b>own </b>conclusions. “I told you to take my money, but you refused. Now you’re out here scrambling for a job?”
Ste sighed. “Let’s grab dinner first. I’ll exin while we eat.”
Her studio was something Tessa had no idea about, and it wasn’t something that could be <b>exined </b>in just a few words.
This time, they picked a restaurant known for its soups.
Half an hourter, after hearing the full story. Tessa was stunned. “You’ve been hiding this from me? I had no ideal”
If even she didn’t know, then the Reed family and Ethan definitely had no clue.
Ste shrugged. “It’s not like it ever came up.”
Tessa thought about it. That <b>was </b><b>true</b>.
She <b>and </b>Ste had met abroad, and their conversations were always about casual things.
Even when they did talk about work, it was usually just in passing
“You’ve been running it for a year?” Tessa asked.
Ste <b>nodded</b>. “Yeah<b>, </b>a year
now.”
“Are you making good money<b>?</b>”
That was the key question.
As long as Ste had financial independence, she could say no to the Reed family and Ethan whenever she wanted.
Ste casually replied. “A couple hundred thousand, give or take”
Tessa’s mouth dropped open.
Her definition of a little money and mine are we even talking about the same numbers?
<b>-Wait</b>–you’re telling me a tourism design studio makes this much? In just its first year?”
Most small studios struggled just to break even in their first year, and yet here Ste was, <b>making </b><b>serious </b>profit.
Ste smirked. “If you’re good at what you do, of course, you’ll <b>make </b>money. <b>Just </b>keep it to yourself.”
“Got it.” Tessa nodded, fully understanding <b>what </b>Ste <b>meant</b>,
That wretched Lillian would want to steal <b>anything </b>Ste <b>had</b>.
And Tessa distinctly remembered–Lillian had majored in this field <b>too</b><b>. </b>
Then there was Ethan. <b>That </b>guy had already proven he had no bottom line. Now that things were turning ugly between them. he’d probably resort to underhanded tricks.
Tessa scoffed. “Then you don’t need to pay any attention to them. Right <b>now</b>, they’re <b>just </b>trying to use money to force <b>you </b>into submission.”
Freezing her <b>card</b>? The message was obvious to anyone.
<b>They </b>wanted Ste to personally say she <b>was </b>letting go of the car ident issue.
All that effort just to protect <b>an </b>adopted daughter. That <b>family </b>really bent over <b>hackward </b>for Lillian
6:20 PM
Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
Rianne King–Ste and Tessa’s mutual best friend and a renowned genius <b>in </b>gynecology.
Naturally, she was also the busiest among the three of them.
Tessa nodded. “Makes sense. I haven’t seen her in a month either.”