?Chapter 634:


    She intentionally stressed “deputy mayor’s son,” ensuring Jolie understood just how remarkable her boyfriend was.


    Jolie raised an eyebrow. “Is that the reason you came today, to tell me this?”


    For a split second, Elyse’s smile faltered. That wasn’t the reaction she had expected. Jolie should have been stunned, maybe even regretful, upon learning that her boyfriend was the deputy mayor’s son. Why did Jolie look so indifferent?


    Elyse paused for a moment and then quickly masked her difort with another bright smile. “Keith and I are getting engaged soon. As my family, you and Alexander will need to prepare proper wedding gifts. Keith’s family is very well-off, and if the gifts are too in, it will reflect badly on the Harper family.”


    With no uncertainty in her voice, Elyse said, “I don’t need much. Just ten billion suffices. You and Alexander can retain the shares given to Elena. They are of no use to me.”


    After a pause, she continued, “I’ve been living at Hillside Manor for over a decade and have be deeply attached to living here. I simply can’t settle elsewhere, so it’s best if you all move out and leave the vi to me.”


    Elyse voiced her demands with an air of entitlement.


    As Jolie absorbed these words, her expression grew stern. Was Elyse out of her mind? It was outrageous enough that she demanded arge amount, but to suggest they lose the vi too? This vi was a wedding gift from Alexander when they got married. And yet Elyse had the nerve to demand it. What gave her the right to even mention it?


    Jolie’s expression chilled further, and she replied with a firm tone, “Your demands are unreasonable, Elyse. We don’t owe you anything. We will give you a wedding gift solely for the sake of living together for the past two decades. However, as for the substantial amount of money and Hillside Manor, that’s out of the question.”


    Jolie turning her down didn’te as a surprise to Elyse. She remainedpletely unfazed, showing no sign of concern. “Don’t be so quick to refuse, Jolie. It’s not just me you’re rejecting, but also my future husband, the Deputy Mayor’s only son. Even with all the influence the Harper family holds, at the end of the day, you’re still just merchants. If Keith gets the wrong idea and puts your business at risk, the fallout will be far more than ten billion. I’d advise you to give it some serious thought.”


    The threat in Elyse’s words was unmistakable.


    Jolie then understood Elyse’s real motive. Elyse had shown up with the sole purpose of issuing a threat, dragging the Deputy Mayor into it as leverage to force her into handing over arge sum of money along with Hillside Manor.


    Jolie was devastated to realize that Elyse, whom she had raised for over two decades, was acting with such ungratefulness and malice. Not only was Elyse ungrateful, but she seemed determined to strike back.


    Fury surged through Jolie, her breathsing fast as her chest rose and fell. “Are you threatening me?”


    With a slight lift of her eyebrow and a calm demeanor, Elyse responded, “If you perceive it that way, Jolie, I’m powerless to change your mind.”


    At that, Jolie gasped for air and began to cough violently, ovee by the tension of the confrontation.


    Elyse mocked, “Quit the act. It’s not convincing. You really should start nning to move out.”


    “Elyse, this is too much!” Jolie’s eyes reddened as she struggled with her cough, staring furiously at Elyse.


    Rxed in her demeanor, Elyse watched with a detached air as Jolie’s cough worsened. She muttered to herself, “What a hypocritical old woman. She’s only reaping what she sowed. If she were to copse right now, she would have no one to hold responsible except herself.”


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