Eunice took a long breath inwardly. Leah only misunderstood why she was in a trance, staring at Jullian upon meeting him for the first time.
Leah always feared that every man would like Eunice more than hers. Thus, she secretly told others to spread nasty comments, and others would make fun of Eunice behind her back.
Eunice has always tolerated Leah's slander, but her cousin is mistaken if she thinks life will always go her way.
"What's wrong if I stare at my soon-to-be cousin-in-law? He is gorgeous and so fine." Eunice knew it would infuriate Leah.
"You!" Leah was irked at how shameless Eunice was. 'What happened to her? Why is she good at talking back now?'
Miranda, on the other hand, almost had a heart attack at how Eunice spoke to her beloved daughter. Leah will soon become the country's princess after she marries a prince from the wealthiest clan.
"You really are shameless! You were not disciplined properly!" she criticized her niece.
Eunice curled her lips, tilting her head as she stared at her aunt, amused. She slapped the fingers pointing at her.
"Don't you know, Aunt Miranda? You are pointing your index finger at me, but three are pointing back at you."
Miranda scowled. She glared at her niece. But she was met with a steely gaze. A chill ran down her spine. She stepped back and thought that her niece undeniably liked a different person. She was even emitting a powerful aura that inched through her bones.
"How dare you speak to your elders in that manner?"
Bernard could no longer hold his tongue while watching the drama on the sidelines.
He had kept quiet to avoid exposing the family feud in the presence of Jullian Lopez. In his judgment, Miranda and Leah didn't have the upper hand. His niece seemed to come back just to provoke and embarrass them.
Eunice turned around and looked at her useless uncle, who had done nothing in his life but wasted his parents' fortune.
"Uncle Bernard, you don't have the right to scold me when you never spoke nicely to your mother. You were actually hostile towards her!"
"You!" Bernard felt his blood pressure reach the ceiling. The once timid girl seemed possessed and has now learned to talk back. "Get out! You are not welcome in this family!"
Eunice lifted her left brow and scoffed, "When do you have the power to chase me out?"
Bernard reached for his chest after his breathing became rigid. He patted his chest violently as he roared at Eunice.
"You... you just came back to kill us all! You intend to instigate us and have a heart attack! You no longer listen to your elders! Hah! Why are you so proud when you were only a mere employee back in Switzerland, paying off your student loan?"
Bernard could no longer care if Jullian witnessed this family's mess. His pride completely devoured him; thus, his mouth was full of insults.
However, Eunice came off unaffected by their constant scorn. She smiled as if they were a family of clowns trying hard to entertain her.
"Uncle Bernard, as far as I remember, you never listen to Granny. All that comes to mind is whining about Granny for not giving you more money to fund your gambling. I don't remember you treating her nicely. So, who am I to treat you with respect in return? You must be kidding!"
How sad it was that her grandmother only gave in every time her aunt and uncle needed something so they wouldn't make her life difficult.
Otherwise, she would be the venting object of their anger. Her grandmother gives in to all of her children's demands to keep them from hurting her.
"What you taught me in the past is to disrespect an elder," she added.
"Shut up! You are such a liar! Can't you see we have a very important guest today? How dare you incite us and create a bad impression on our son-in-law's mind?! Hah! I know you are jealous of Leah! Whatever you do, you can never seduce an outstanding man like Jullian! What you deserve is only a family driver or a cleaning staff in our company."
Miranda chased her breath after she made such an insulting statement.
To her dismay, Eunice is unconcerned about it. She simply folds her arms above her ample chest and utters,
"Tsk. What is so good about relying on a man's fortune instead of earning some on your own?"
"What are you murmuring about? Are you cursing your elders?" Miranda heard Eunice mumbling but couldn't make out what exact words she was saying.
Eunice snorted. "That's what you and Uncle Bernard have been doing, right? You often cursed Granny to die so that you could inherit her fortune as soon as possible."
"What an ungrateful child! We care for you after your mother dies and your father abandons you! But you didn't think of us as your family!" Bernard's resentment.
He was about to raise his palm, but someone stopped him before things escalated in front of Jullian Lopez.
Eunice sneered in her heart. She had already expected this since her uncle always relied on violence to prove his superiority.
"Granny and Aunt Lhyn are the people in this family who sincerely care and genuinely love me. All you do is bully me because I grew up without both of my parents."
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Miranda bellowed, shaking from anger.
Like before, the siblings were exasperated when their niece refused to bow down. They glanced at Julian, who was only silent the entire time, watching their drama. His face was void of emotion; thus, they could not fathom his impression of them.
Miranda was cautious about her behavior around Jullian and the Lopez family; however, nothing Eunice did today angered them.
"Eunice, why are you like that?" Standing to the side, Leah wiped the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She could no longer stand to see Eunice treat her mother and uncle with disrespect. "What are you trying to achieve by slandering us before my fiancé?"
Eunice snorted.
Drama Queen as always.'
Leah is such a two-faced b*tch. Nothing has changed about her, but she's even become a great hypocrite.
"I don't care about you and your fiancé at all. The only people I am concerned about are Granny and Aunt Lhyn." Eunice turned around and looked at Lhyn. She told her, "I'll visit Granny some other day."
Lhyn offered, "I will drive you to the hotel."
"It's okay, Aunt Lhyn. I'll book a Grab."
"But, Eunice…"
"Please, take care of Granny for me."
Lhyn failed to stop her from staying in the mansion.
Eunice left without looking back. She didn't put up a big fight because she was just getting started on her revenge to make them pay what they owed her.
Hence, she'll return, even though they keep chasing her out.
The car Eunice had booked finally arrived. Her once expressionless face frowned, and she asked the driver.
"When did you become an Uber driver? And you choose a Ferrari for all the cars you can use as a disguise?"
The handsome man behind the wheel beamed.
"I was supposed to drive your McLaren, but I am afraid you'll unalive me if I make your family bury their jaws."
"Tsk. Even the red Ferrari is suspicious enough to be an Uber ride. Don't you think so?" Eunice rolled her eyes. "Go to Shangri-La Claire."
"Eh, you would not stay in Monterraz, Lady Eunice? President Meier had already prepared the house for your return."
Eunice tilted her head and glanced at the rearview mirror to make eye contact with President Meier's PA, Paul Hernandez.
She replied, "Are you trying to attract the media after news reaches them that someone has already taken residence in Monterraz Estate even before its official opening?"
His lady boss's statement made him gulp upon meeting such icy stares.
"I'll just keep my mouth shut, milady."
"Good. Now, to the Shangri-La Claire Hotel."
"Right away, my lady!"
Paul steps on the gas, and the red sports car speeds away, leaving nothing but dust.
~
SHANGRI-LA CLAIRE HOTEL
"Mr. Meier, the boss, refused to stay in Monterraz. According to the bodyguards tailing her, she was heading to Shangri-La."
"All right. Arrange a room for the lady and notify the general manager to clear the entire presidential floor."
"Note, sir. Anything else?"
"Hm. Postpone the dinner meeting with Director Jullian Lopez."
"Sir?"
"You heard me."
"But your meeting with Mr. Lopez is important."
Christian Meier looked up from typing on his laptop. Despite his stunning facial features, they took on a darker appearance as he sternly scolded the unfortunate secretary.
"Is there anything more important than welcoming the lady boss?"