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Bella Woods looked at Jade Patel with earnest eyes and said, "I want a fully paid apartment, near Capital University."
"No problem." Jade Patel agreed without even thinking.
"Three million."
"What?"
"Money, three million."
"Bella Woods, are you extorting us?" Rose Woods couldn't stand it anymore and pointed at Bella, scolding her: "All that breakup talk, not getting engaged, you always had a motive. You just want to extort money from the family!"
"Never seen someone as shameless as you."
"You get two million a month for pocket money, not counting the money you spend on bags and your favorite celebrity performances. What's this three million to me?"
Bella didn't even mention that when she was in the countryside with only 20 bucks a week, Rose Woods was splurging thousands in Peace City for a bar's male model.
Did she ever hold a grudge over that?
"How am I different from you?"
"How am I different from you?"
"You..."
Rose Woods was left speechless by Bella's retort.
It was the first time.
In the past, no matter what Rose said, Bella would obey, even apologize with a smile after being scolded, trying to please her.
Being retorted like this, Rose immediately felt aggrieved all over.
"Mom, look at her. She's just using this to extort money; don't agree to it, don't let her succeed." Rose clutched onto Jade Patel and started sobbing again.
Jade Patel frowned: "If you're negotiating terms, then talk about it, why are you yelling at your sister?"
"I only have these two conditions. If you don't accept them and can persuade Mrs. Hughes to replace me in the engagement, that's fine with me too."
Bella deliberately ignored Jade's accusation, ready to head back to her room.
"Hold on." Jade Patel stood up.
"Rose, go close the main door." Jade ordered.
"Mom..."
"Go!"
Unhappily stomping her feet, Rose Woods glared at Bella before reluctantly going off to close the main door, shutting out the nosy neighbors.
"I agree to both your conditions, and I'll arrange them immediately," said Jade Patel, looking at Bella. "But you have to do more than just agree to the engagement."
"What do you mean?"
"You made Oliver Hughes angry today, now you need to make him agree to the engagement."
Jade added, "Don't think the engagement is settled. Oliver is different from us, when he's upset he might just ruin the engagement ceremony. Third Young Master Marshall is his uncle, who dares to say anything to him?"
"I'll satisfy your conditions, you make sure Oliver Hughes is happy, and the engagement goes smoothly and grandly."
Bella understood Jade's words.
She pondered for a while before finally agreeing: "Okay."
"But you need to transfer the three million first."
"I'll transfer the three million to you first. Once you make Oliver Hughes happy, the house will be handed over to you immediately." Jade said as she took out her phone and transferred the money to Bella.
"Understood."
Bella turned around and went back to her room.
Online bank transfers are fast, and it only took a few minutes for the three million to arrive in Bella's account.
She operated her phone and transferred the three million to Mrs. Hughes' bank account.
She also called Mrs. Hughes to arrange a meeting.
One hour later.
Bella met Mrs. Hughes at a café.
Mrs. Hughes was an elegant lady, fond of wearing vintage cheongsams, with gracefully styled hair, exuding the elegance of an upper-class family with every move.
She always greeted Bella with a gentle smile: "Bella, come, sit over here."
"I ordered you your favorite little cake and milk tea."
"I've tried them, not too sweet or greasy; just how you like them."
Bella loved milk tea and little cakes but didn't like overly sweet things.
For four years, Mrs. Hughes remembered this little preference.
"Thank you, Aunt Cyan."
Mrs. Hughes' real name was Cyan Marshall. Ever since they met, she insisted Bella call her that.
Cyan sat Bella beside her, touched her face: "Why have you lost weight recently?"
"Because Aunt Cyan hasn't been giving me little cakes lately." Bella replied with a soft smile.
"You sweet talker."
Cyan placed the cake in front of Bella and ordered some more of Bella's favorite food.
She patted Bella on the head, sighing softly: "Our Bella has been wronged lately."
The words caused Bella's eyes to redden.
The bitterness in her heart spread uncontrollably, even though she was trying hard to hold back.
"Sweetie, no need to hold back in front of Aunt Cyan. Our Bella is just an eighteen-year-old girl."
Bella clutched the spoon tightly, eating in silence to suppress the sourness in her nose and stop the tears from falling.
Cyan lovingly patted her head: "I know what Oliver Hughes did. Don't worry, Aunt Cyan will stand up for you."
"The position of Young Mistress Hughes is only for you, Bella Woods, and no one else."
Bella closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady her emotions.
"I specially invited my brother to the engagement party this time to show everyone how important you are in our Hughes family, even having Third Young Master Marshall come to congratulate you."
Cyan did not mention that her relationship with Ashton Marshall was not deep.
Ashton seemed naturally cold and distant from everyone.
She, the sister from the same mother, could only call upon Ashton because during the Marshall Family's power struggle, Cyan gave all her shares to Ashton against her family's objections, providing him strong backing.
Bella calmed her emotions, facing Cyan: "Aunt Cyan, thank you."
"I sincerely wish you to enter my family. I, Cyan Marshall, have believed in Buddha all my life, and I assure you with my faith, that in this life, I will treat you as my own daughter. As long as I live, you shall not suffer even an ounce of grievance in the Hughes family."
Bella, who had been holding back her tears, finally couldn't hold them back anymore.
Big teardrops fell down, one after another.
After discovering Oliver's infidelity, Bella couldn't accept it but was not firm about breaking up.
She was reluctant to leave Cyan Marshall, reluctant to leave behind such affection.
For eighteen years, Bella treaded cautiously, humbly seeking love.
After receiving Cyan's favor and Oliver's care, she cherished this love with utmost care, afraid she might drop it, afraid to let them down.
Cyan's love is deep and earnest.
Perhaps she was simply not meant to be loved.
"Bella, I will stand up for you in this matter."
Cyan handed Bella tissues to wipe her tears.
Then, her face darkened as she turned to the attendant beside her and said, "Bring him here for me."
As Cyan finished speaking, Oliver Hughes was brought in with his hands tied.
Bella was shocked to see Cyan.
"All these years, apart from tattling to my mom, what else can you do?" Oliver angrily accused Bella, feeling her actions today were all orchestrated by Bella, egging on Cyan to do this.
She was humiliating him!
"Oliver Hughes!" Cyan sternly warned, "I brought you here to apologize to Bella."
"And who is she, to make me apologize?" Oliver sneered, "I've been taking care of her for you for four years, isn't that enough?"
"Such a hick from the countryside, who received my care for four years and now dares to throw a tantrum, it's ridiculous."
"Oliver, I'm giving you one last chance to apologize sincerely to Bella."
Cyan issued her final warning, "Think carefully, do you still want your bar, those cars, and the privileges you enjoy at school?"
Normally, such a warning from Cyan would make Oliver compromise immediately.
But today was different.
"This time, I won't compromise, I've already contacted my uncle to back me up!"
Oliver found someone to support him; he was bold at this moment.
Just as he finished speaking, a maid came to report to Cyan: "Madam, Third Young Master has arrived."
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