Chapter 2
Adrian's face darkened, and he gave a sharp gesture.
"Go on, hit them!" he barked.
"Don't hold back. Hit them as hard as you can!"
A chaotic fight was about to erupt.
My crew could handle themselves, but the Carter Mansion had way more people, and this was their home turf.
We started losing ground fast.
The Carter Mansion's guards forcefully seized the chests packed with gold, silver, and jewels, then slammed them down onto the floor.
The lids popped open, and luxurious silks, pearls, and agates scattered everywhere.
Adrian was transfixed, his eyes glued to the treasure strewn across the ground.
Ignoring the chaos around him, he dashed forward, scooped up a handful of pearls, and hugged them tightly to himself.
"Mine! All mine!
"Hahaha! With all this cash, nothing can stop me from making my big comeback!" Adrian crowed, his laughter echoing greedily.
Amelia dropped the damsel act and lunged for the expensive jewelry, grabbing whatever she could get her hands on.
"This hairpin's mine! And this bracelet too, mine!" Amelia yelled.
Watching all this go down, I felt sick to my stomach.
I couldn't believe this was the guy I was blind enough to like.
If they wanted all this loot so badly, I'd like to see if they could keep it when their lives were on the line.
Just then, a shrill voice from an old woman pierced the air from the backyard.
"Stop! All of you, stop this instant!"
Adrian's mother, leaning heavily on a maid for support, wobbled out, trembling with every step.
The moment she saw Adrian, her eyes suddenly sparkled with life. She let go of her cane and hurried toward him, forgetting all about her frailty.
"My son! My boy! You're really alive?" she cried, her voice shaking.
Mother and son clung to each other, both breaking down in tears.
What a dramatic mother-son reunion.
Once she'd finished bawling, she turned to me, and all that motherly warmth vanished in a flash, replaced by pure venom.
"Serena! You jinx!
"My son just got back, and you're already stirring up trouble in this house?
"You wish my son had died out there, so you could take the money and blow it on some other man, huh?" she barked.
She suddenly sounded full of life, nothing like her usual sickly, half-gone self.
For three years, out of duty to Adrian, I spent every day and night tending to his bedridden mother.
I handled everything, even the dirtiest jobs, feeding her medicine, bathing her, never once uttering a word of complaint.
I even sold off most of my dowry to pay for her treatment, calling in every renowned doctor in Goldenmere.
But now that Adrian was back, she was suddenly cured without any medicine. The moment he showed up, her illness just disappeared.
She was moving around with surprising energy.
Her words were so sharp and clear, she could probably spit three feet with every insult.
"Careful with your words, Mother-in-law," I said coldly.
I stared at her, cold and unflinching.
I snapped, "For three years, who took care of you day and night? Who kept this family afloat? You know damn well who it was."
"Pfft!"
The old woman spat at me, her wrinkled face etched with pure malice.
She barked, "Looking after me is your job as a daughter-in-law!
"If you weren't cursed, my son wouldn't have suffered and been lost for three years!
"All of this is your doing. You bring nothing but bad luck!"
She jabbed her finger right at my nose, nearly poking me in the face.
She added, "Now my son survives against all odds and even drags home his so-called benefactor, and instead of showing any gratitude, you're trying to take the money and run?
"The Carter family must've been cursed to end up with a bad luck charm like you!"
Adrian played the dutiful son, supporting his mother like he was the picture of filial devotion.
He milked it for all it was worth, acting like the most loyal son ever and making sure everyone saw it.
Adrian said, "Mother, please don't get upset. If you hurt yourself, it'll break my heart.
"Serena's just lost her way for a moment. Some guy from outside got her head turned.
"If she just owns up and hands over the money, I'll still let her stick around and have something to eat."
This whole family was like a well-oiled theater troupe. Every move, every word, perfectly coordinated, as if they'd been practicing their act for years.
Amelia came over, looping her arm around the old lady's other arm, and called out in a coy, flirtatious tone.
"Mrs. Carter."
Her tone was so drawn-out and melodious, Adrian's mother practically melted, her bones turning to jelly.
She looked Amelia up and down, and when she spotted the little baby bump, her eyes practically disappeared into slits from smiling so hard.
She gushed, "Oh my, what a lovely girl you are! Just looking at you, I can tell you're destined for good fortune.
"And that belly of yours... how many months along are you, huh?"
Amelia blushed, lowering her head and gently rubbing her belly.
She said softly, "Mrs. Carter, I'm three months along.
"It's a boy. Doctor checked and everything."
"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"
Adrian's mother was so thrilled she kept exclaiming, clutching Amelia's hand so tightly it looked like she'd never let go.
"The Carter family has an heir at last! Our ancestors are truly watching over us!" she cried, her voice shaking with excitement.
Then she whipped her head around and shot me a venomous glare.
"Unlike some people who've been part of this family for three years and still haven't produced a single heir, just hogging the spot and doing absolutely nothing!" she sneered.