Chapter 172 No Such Thing as a Peaceful Life

18 bPearls /b

She had always assumed that since Grayson was the second son and wouldn’t inherit the farmily fortune, bhe /bwouldn’t be subject to the same kind of social pressure. So for all these years of marriage, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to being a full–time housewife. She thought life would continue at thisfortable, unhurried pace. She wasn’t as prominent as her older sister–inw, so she simply kept her distance. bShe /bwasn’t as stylish as her youngest sister–inw, so she bought only a few pieces of haute couture.

Years went by. All in all, she managed just fine. And her daughter, Quincy, was the only girl among the younger generation–naturally, she was quite spoiled. Her life had seemed calm and untroubled.

But there’s a reason people say life will trick you. Just when she thought everything would stay calm and smooth, letting her drift easily through her days in a wealthy family, life gave her a p in the face–and handed her a problem she didn’t know how to solve.

God knew how frightened she was when she saw Franklin at the banquet earlier. She’d kept her head turned away the whole time, praying he hadn’t noticed her. But Franklin was a sharp man. Not only did he notice her, he deliberately bumped into her while arguing with Scarlett and said they needed to talk.

iUgh/ii… /i

Just thinking about it again made her head ache with anxiety.

“Mom? Mom? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Quincy had been rambling on and on, mostly about how Scarlett was about to go to Jalindale University topete in some event. Coincidentally, Aurora would be participating as well. This wasn’t an ordinary contest. The students‘ work would be judged not only by experts, but also demonstrated in front of everyone in a public outdoor test. Even the slightest mistake would get someoneughed out of the room.

Scarlett was from Trenwyn University, and word was she hadn’t performed well in school. Now showing up at Jalindale–she was basically asking to be humiliated. Aurora and her friends nned to publicize the whole thing, to make sure Scarlett was too embarrassed to keep living with the Lane family.

And it wasn’t just Aurora’s circle that knew about it. Even that kid Axel was involved. He had just started high. school and often went to Aurora for help with his sses. When Eugene and his wife tried to discipline him, Aurora would step in to protect him. He was practically Aurora’s little shadow.

But even after saying all that, her mom still acted like she hadn’t heard a wordpletely lost in thought. Quincy was running out of patience.

“Oh, I was just thinking about the banquet expenses. I spaced out. Say that again?”

Quincy’s temper red. “Hmph! I can’t believe you ignored everything I just said! I’m not talking to you. anymore!” She stomped her foot and turned to leave.

Normally, if this happened, Chloe would chase after her to make it up to her. But this time, Chloe headed straight toward Scarlett.

iCrap/i. Was her mom about to tell Scarlett everything she’d just said? If she did, Aurora would be pissedb–/band she’d definitely cut Quincy off. They were supposed to be helping each other. Quincy was an undergrad at Jalindale, and Aurora was a grad/student. Aurora’swork could reallye in handy, too.

She turned around quickly, hoping to drag her mom away in time.

Scarlett was surprised. They’d just had an unpleasant exchange not long bago/b, and now Chloe bwas /bbwalking /bbup /b

b13:44 /bbTue/bb, /bb12 /bbAug /bJ

Chapter 172 No Such Thing as a Peaceful Life

to her voluntarily? There had to be something going on.

“If you’ve got something to say, Chloe, just say it.”

After listening to her beat around the bush for too long, Scarlett was already losing her patience.

“Everyone’s time is valuable, Chloc. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Chloe gave a forced smile. “Y–Yes, of course.”

She stood there awkwardly for a moment before finally getting to the point.

+8 Pearls

“I heard that before you came to Jalindale, you got your foster sister–the one the Joyner family says is their real daughter–thrown in jail?”

Scarlett blinked, then looked at her. Chloe might like her drama, but it wasn’t like she had any influence over Denton’s affairs. Besides, Reba was a member of the Joyner family. Whatever happened to her had nothing to do with a Lane family wife like Chloe.

“Oh, don’t take it the wrong way. I just figured–for you to be that mad, she must’ve done something really awful, right?”

Chloe needed to know what Reba had done. If it wasn’t too serious, maybe she could smooth it over with Grayson. But if it was-

“Murder, arson, academic fraud,” Scarlett said quietly. “You tell me–are those serious enough to keep her locked up for life?”

Chloe’s heart nearly stopped. What the hell? Murder and arson?

She didn’t believe it.

“If the police arrested her, they must’ve had a reason. Wouldn’t you agree, Chloe?”

Chloe gave another awkward smile. “I was just asking out of curiosity. I wouldn’t know about any of ithat/i.”

Scarlett could tell she wasn’t asking just for the hell of it. She was probably fishing for some kind of leverage. -something she could hold onto in case things ever went south.

Scarlett thought for a second, then added deliberately-