"If your mother didn't love money," Janelle stated bluntly, "why would she have abandoned him when he was penniless, only to shamelessly come back and seduce him after he became rich by using my mother?"
Janelle's words slapped Amber viciously across the face. Amber flushed crimson with shame and fury.
The words also struck a nerve deep within Westin. When it came down to it, Amber had broken up with him back then because he was poor. So, wasn't she also in love with his money? If he hadn't had money, would Amber have come looking for him?
"Janelle, I know you don't like me, but you can't just slander me like this!" Amber tried to play the innocent victim.
"Amber, spare me the act. Don't pretend to be some noble soul in front of me. What you did, how you seduced him… have you really forgotten?"
"Westin! Are you just going to let your daughter slander me like this?!" Amber cried out.
"He doesn't care about this daughter," Janelle retorted coolly. "And as for your daughter? I doubt he'll care much about her soon either. And why is that? Oh, right, you probably don't know yet! The little secretary is pregnant. With a son, oh!"
Westin was completely stunned that Janelle knew everything.
"How do you know? You investigated me too?" he demanded.
"Just accidentally saw the ultrasound report," Janelle said blandly, shifting the blame effortlessly. "Mrs. Evans certainly has her ways, managing to uncover even the ultrasound results."
Amber was speechless; after all, she had hired a private investigator to look into Westin.
Westin looked at Amber with suspicion. "Amber, what are you planning?" He knew her methods. This woman would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. But no matter what, he wouldn't let anyone harm his son. Absolutely not.
Being looked at like that by him twisted Amber's heart. "Westin, we've struggled so hard to get to this point. Are you really going to destroy it all?" Amber felt heartbroken. She'd been by this man's side for so long, and this was her reward? His betrayal.
Watching it all unfold, Janelle felt deeply satisfied. If there was no karmic retribution in this world, she would personally deliver theirs.
Lillie felt miserable. How could Westin treat her mother like this over some cheap woman? "Dad, why are you doing this?" Weren't they supposed to be the perfect, happy family of three?
Westin remained unmoved. "Amber, you've gotten everything you wanted. The position of Mrs. Su is yours. But I will have that child."
"What if I refuse to accept it?" Amber clutched her chest.
"If you really can't accept it… then we can get a divorce." Westin's mind was made up. "Think it over carefully." He had no desire to stay in the house any longer. He turned and walked out. He needed to hire bodyguards for the secretary immediately. He trusted neither Janelle nor Amber when it came to the son she carried. He valued that child above all else.
Having watched an excellent show first thing in the morning, Janelle felt thoroughly refreshed. With the spectacle over, she stood up to leave.
The living room was left to Amber and Lillie.
"Mom, are you okay?" Lillie asked worriedly.
Amber let out a bitter laugh. She'd never imagined she would have a day like this. Everything she'd fought so hard to obtain was a joke. Hadn't he said he loved her most? And yet, this was how he hurt her.
Seeing Amber laugh like that only worried Lillie more. She'd never seen her mother like this. "Mom, please don't be like this. Dad was just confused for a moment. Maybe in a few days he'll come to his senses?"
Lillie truly didn't understand. She'd tried so hard. Why couldn't she just have a happy family?
"Lillie, you must get into the Research Institute." Amber's voice held cold calculation. Maybe only that would make Westin reconsider. "As for that little bastard… I have plenty of ways to ensure he never sees the light of day." It was just a lump of flesh. Couldn't she deal with it?
"Okay, Mom. Don't worry. I'll work hard, I promise." If getting into the Research Institute was the only way to change things, then she would definitely get in.
Since it was the weekend, Janelle had no pressing business. Sara had been lacking inspiration lately, so Janelle decided to visit her studio.
Sara, suffering from last night's hangover, was completely out of sorts. She scribbled on her sketchpad, only to crumple up the paper and throw it away each time. She was on the verge of exploding when Janelle arrived, bringing her favorite garlic butter crayfish and drinks.
"Still stuck?" Janelle asked.
"Yeah," Sara groaned. "Janelle, I feel like my creative well has run dry. My career hasn't even started properly, is it already ending? That's terrifying!"
Sara was deeply anxious.
"Come eat some crayfish." Sara washed her hands and sat on the rug by the coffee table, starting to peel the crayfish. She peeled one for Janelle first. Janelle disliked peeling crayfish; Sara always did it for her.
"Don't worry about me. You eat." Janelle wasn't actually that fond of crayfish. She disliked things with shells; they were too troublesome to eat. Janelle opened a drink for herself and one for Sara. Sara still peeled a few more for Janelle as she ate. Sara was too busy eating happily to talk. Soon, a medium-sized portion of crayfish was gone.
Janelle glanced at the discarded sketches on the floor.
"Please help me see what's wrong? I'm going crazy over these designs lately!" Sara pleaded. Her studio was just starting out, and she was losing money every month! Would she go mad before her career even took off?
"Dissatisfied with the menswear?" Janelle asked. The graduation collection included both womenswear and menswear. Sara had no issues with the womenswear, but the menswear part felt consistently wrong. It was a terrible feeling.
"Yeah, I don't know how to explain it, but I'm just not happy with anything I draw."
"Want me to find you a few models to spark some inspiration?" Janelle looked at the sketches. They weren't bad, certainly passable. But as a fashion designer, Sara wanted more than just passing.
"Could you ask Erik? I think he really stimulates my creativity!" Sara looked at Janelle pleadingly.
"..."
"Janelle, Erik has that top model physique! Please ask him to help me! And Jiang Chao too! Get Jiang Chao to come as well!" Sara begged. "Janelle, please..."
Faced with Sara's wheedling, Janelle was utterly defenseless. How could she refuse Sara?
"Alright, I'll call them. But I can't promise they'll come."
"If you call, he'll definitely come."
Sure enough, Janelle made the call. Erik immediately asked for the address, and Jiang Chao agreed without hesitation.