Jiang Tao leaped up to his feet before Jiang Meiying could move an inch. He didn't know what she was about to do, he didn't even know her next move, but he was confident that if he didn't do anything, there'd be war tonight, and he didn't want that.
He actually had a favor to ask of Jiang Meiying, and he didn't want to make her angry than she already was. That was why he was bent on fulfilling all her wishes tonight even she demanded for his hand. It was worth it!
"Ming Ming, apologize to sister Jiang Meiying, now!" He quickly ordered, and the table went silent as everyone stared at him like he was sprouting a third eye on his jaw.
Jiang Chu stood up this time and unblinkingly stared at her husband like he said an outrageous thing. An abominable sentence more likely!
"F- Father?" Jiang Ming whispered, not sure she heard him well.
He had always given her everything she want and spoilt her rotten. Because of that, she wasn't used the harsh voice he used on people like the maids or Jiang Meiying. She couldn't help the tears that gathered at the edge of her eyes as she blinked for some seconds.
"Dear, I didn't see any wrong in what she did. She was simply defending her husband!"
"And yet she calls MY husband, useless." Jiang Meiying pointed out in a small voice, and Jiang Ming reddened in anger, fighting the urge to throw the glass of wine at her.
"Jiang Ming!" Jiang Tao suddenly yelled out loudly, causing Zhang Hien to tremble at the intensity of his voice.
Jiang Ming lowered her eyes to the table and forced the angry tears back in as she apologized.
"Sorry... Sister Jiang Meiying."
She sat back down along with her mother and they exchanged cold glances with Jiang Meiying as she sat down some moments later.
Zhang Hien suddenly held her wrist, and she looked at him, the spine-chilling coldness melting away in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" He looked a bit flustered as he asked because everyone was looking at him now.
Jiang Meiying smiled a bit and everyone was taken aback.
Could she really smile this genuinely?
"I'm fine."
Zhang Wei just cleared his throat rudely and grabbed a glass of water, pretending to drink it while glancing at the couple.
When did these two start to get along?
"Ahem!" Mr. Jiang coughed a bit and contently placed his hand on the table as everyone turned their attention to him. "So... the reason I wanted us all to be present was because... " Before everyone's eyes, he pulled up his briefcase and unzipping it, pulled out an old looking file which looked important.
Everyone was just as kept-in-the-dark as Jiang Chu, but they decided to see what would happen next.
"Son-in-law, you do know we're about to buy the Xiao Vikings Island in a few weeks time."
Zhang Wei cleared his throat a bit when everyone glanced at him. Where was this old man going with this?
"Ah yes! But... we haven't found the owner yet." He replied honestly.
Jiang Tao beamed .
"Well, I just found out great news today! I actually know the owner, and I'm sure we can get the island for free infact!"
"Really?!"
"Really Honey?!"
"Really Father?!"
Jiang Ming, Jiang Chu and Zhang Wei exclaimed in unison while Jiang Tao nodded.
"Well, who is it? Anyone I know." Jiang Chu, a socialist, hurriedly asked, suspense eating her up.
Jiang Meiying almost scoffed out loud.
Did he really call her down here to gloat in her face?
Well, this twenty dollars couldn't go to waste. She might as well sit in and see where this was going.
She however, lost her composure and almost fell backwards to the ground when he shamelessly said.
"My honorable Late wife, Jiang Mei!"
The room went stand-still silent for a moment as of course, no one knew what to say.
"I talked with her lawyer who happened to be her new executor, and he gave me a copy of her last will before she died. I didn't know she made another will because I was the executor of her previous will."
"I wonder what made her change her mind about her thoughtful and caring husband." Jiang Meiying said sarcastically, and Zhang Hien pursed his lips together, holding back his laughter. Zhang Wei held his fist to his mouth, trying not to laugh as well. He pretended to let out a small cough.
"Here Jiang Ming." The man handed the paper to Jiang Ming. "Read th... " The paper was suddenly snatched from his hands and everyone turned to look at Jiang Meiying in bewilderment.
"I can't let a stranger touch my late mother's Will. It's crime, and she can be punished for it by hanging."
"What?!" Jiang Ming held her neck.
"Stranger? She's your sister!" Jiang Chu coldly yelled.
"She was just going to read the Will, not eat it." Zhang Wei explained to her like she was an annoying three-year-old, but she only snorted coldly and announced.
"I would be reading the Will."
"Ying Ying, dear, you can give it to Zhang Hien to read then." Jiang Tai stammered with a crooked smile. No one wanted her to read because her spelling and pronunciation wasn't good. She could take minutes just trying to pronounce one word, and it really caused veins to pop at the side of their heads just listening to her.
Jiang Meiying just ignored them and began reading with a bored look on her face, her expression growing interestingly infatuated as she read.
Jiang Tao lost some patience when some time had passed and she hadn't read out a single word and just stared at the paper.
"I'm not surprised she's still stuck on the first word of the document." Jiang Ming mumbled, but everyone heard it.
"Jiang Meiying." Jiang Tao began, but the girl suddenly stared right at him with those cold eyes of hers, stunning him.
"Did you read this?" She asked him, a sneer on her face with each confused look she earned.
Jiang Tao blinked for a while before saying.
"N-No. B-But... "
"But do you know who she willed all her properties to?"
Everyone turned their gazes to Jiang Tao who had a confused look on his face, and slowly the pieces started coming in together.