Chapter 95 Laying Her Cards On The Table


    Sure enough, their guess was not wrong. After Lily put down the phone, Freya asked her in a ttering


    manner, "Is it your mother-inw?"


    Lily nodded and the smile on her face died down. She could not afford to lose the bid for the uing


    sports meeting. If that happened, Margaret would give her a hard time. Therefore, she had to find a


    way to ensure her father Steven would not side with Irene.


    Although Irene was eating her food quietly, her heart was beating fast. She knew very clearly what


    Margaret and Lily''s intentions were. If it weren''t for her, Edric would definitely have won the auction


    previously without any difficulties. This time, Steven would certainly be bound to be biased to Edric.


    She, on the other hand, would never allow Edric and Margaret to get what they wanted.


    Eden was seriously ill and suffering in pain at such a young age. Therefore, how could she allow Edric


    and Margaret to have everything as per their ns. She had to fight for the auction of the uing


    sports meeting.


    When Irene returned to the Cook family in the evening, everyone was waiting for her to have dinner.


    After she washed her hands, she sat down at the table. With a smile, Deborah picked up a spoonful of


    mashed potatoes for her. However, instead of epting it with appreciation, she blocked it.


    Nevertheless, Deborah was not infuriated. She continued to wear a smile on her face and continued to


    serve Irene. Inwardly, she was snickering. After all, Irene was such a youngdy in Deborah''s


    eyes. Irene would never know that her actions would only increase Steven''s sympathy for Deborah. It


    showed him how hard it was for Deborah to be a stepmother. As long as she had Steven''s sympathy,


    the guilt he harbored for Irene would decrease correspondingly. When that happened, Irene would


    regret her rudeness.


    Sure enough, after Irene blocked Deborah for the third time, Steven couldn''t help but cry out, "Irene!"


    "What''s wrong?" Irene looked at Steven innocently.


    "Deborah is picking up food for you. Why are you..."


    "I don''t like the food she picked. What''s more, why bothers others when I can do it by myself?" Irene


    asked in return.


    After saying that, she turned to face Debora. Despite her grin, Irene''s gaze was callous.


    "So, Mrs. Cook, please don''t do anything unnecessary. Such an act can only deceive the simple-


    minded. Even a dumb would know that a mistress will not treat the daughter of the master''s wife well


    sincerely," Irene criticized.


    She was tantly using Deborah of putting up a show. Steven frowned slightly and his sympathy for


    Deborah disappeared at once. It was true that Deborah knew that Irene was unhappy but she still


    picked up food for thetter several times. That was a little fake.


    "Irene, don''t go too far!" Lily barked. She couldn''t bear to see Irene humiliate Deborah like that.


    "Did I?" Irene sneered. "Isn''t Deborah a mistress? Aren''t you an illegitimate daughter? Hmm, what do


    you think will happen if I tell an outsider about the rtionship between you and our father? How will


    they judge you?"


    Lily fell silent instantly. Although Deborah insisted that she and Steven had been madly in love and that


    they ended up being pregnant with Lily back then, Deborah could only deceive herself. Even a fool


    knew that a woman who slept with another woman''s husband was a mistress. Lily, the so-called


    politician''s daughter, was indeed born out of wedlock.


    Deborah''s face turned ashen. Her hand, which was holding the fork and spoon, trembled. It was


    unbearable for her to be humiliated in front of her own daughter. But in the end, she just kept her head


    down mutely.


    Steven''s face flushed in anger. It was not his intention to have an affair with Deborah. But, he knew he


    wouldn''t be able to exin himself anyway. Nevertheless, Irene had misunderstood him for a long time.


    Hence, her barbed words were not the worst he had heard.


    However, Steven must admit that he was rather content with Deborah''s tolerance towards Irene. Since


    Irene was seething with rage at the moment, she certainly needed an outlet. As long as Deborah could


    swallow her pride, no matter how unruly Irene was, Irene would eventually be moved by their kindness


    and ept them as her new family.


    Because of Deborah''s toleration, the tense atmosphere in the dining hall finally calmed down a tad bit.


    After such a fiasco, Irene was not in the mood to have any more food. She put down her cutlery and


    went to the living room.


    Steven, Deborah, and Lily were not in the mood to eat either, hence they ended the meal hastily.


    However, Irene''s agenda for the evening did not only include provoking Deborah and Lily. She didn''t go


    upstairs. Instead, she sat in the living room as she wanted to have a talk with Steven. When Steven


    came out of the dining hall, she spoke, "I need to talk to you!"


    "What is it? Let''s go to the study to discuss it," Steven suggested. His implication was that Irene should


    not have an open discussion with him in the face of Lily and Deborah.


    Nevertheless, Irene wasn''t going to do as per his request. "No, here is a good spot."


    At that moment, Deborah and Lily hade over. Originally, they were about to head to their rooms


    after suffering such great humiliation. However, when they heard Irene''s words, they both reversed


    their direction and sat down on the sofa in the living room.


    Steven nced at Deborah and Lily, who were sitting opposite Irene, and asked, "What''s the matter?"


    Irene answered, "It''s regarding the sports tournament. I hope you can continue to be fair and square in


    the auction. Don''t be partial to any party!"


    Lily couldn''t help but blurt, "Dad, you''ve promised me. I''ve already told Edric and Aunt Margaret."


    Steven hesitantly admitted, "Irene, I have promised Edric the project a long time ago."


    "Mr. Cook, you are a funny person," jeered Irene. "Does San Fetillo belong to your family? Can you


    give a project worth tens of billions of dors to anyone you want? Is what a politician ought to do?"


    "I''m not being partial to any party. It''s just that the Myers Group is indeed capable..." Steven exined.


    "Are you suggesting that otherpanies apart from the Myers Group are incapable of handling this


    project?" Irene interrupted him. "After the auction of the urban construction projectst time, can you


    still be confident that the Myers Group is the one and only powerfulpany in San Fetillo?"


    "I..." Steven was in a dilemma. Indeed, the strength of the Golden Age Group was not inferior to that of


    Myers Group. It was true that the Golden Age Group had clinched the urban construction project


    previously because the city was interested in attracting foreign investment. Besides, their bidding


    documents were indeed on par with those of the Myers Group.


    "Irene, you can''t be so greedy. Dad has already sided with you about the urban construction projectst


    time. You can''t do the same again this time," Lily interrupted.


    "Miss Cook, you are mistaken. The previous auction was carried out fairly. The Golden Age Group won


    the project themselves. Of course, Mr. Cook, if you''d chosen to help Edricst time, the urban


    construction project would not fall into the hands of the Golden Age Group," Irene rified.


    "That''s all because of you," Lily sulked.


    Ignoring Lily, Irene looked at Steven, warning, "I hope that the sports tournament this time can be


    carried out fairly. Mr. Cook, if I find out what other tricks you have done in this auction, I will surely


    report you!"


    Her words brought a drastic change to Deborah and Lily''s countenance. Irene was not afraid at all as


    she had nothing to lose. After all, she was used to living a poor life and had never thought of living


    under Steven''s care.


    However, Deborah and Lily were different. If Steven was investigated for that matter, it meant that their


    good days woulde to an end. They knew what would await them if the halo of Steven''s position as


    a politician stopped shining on them.


    "Irene, what do you mean by this?" Lily questioned as she couldn''t bear Irene''s undisguised threat to


    Steven. Fury was scribbled all over her face. "You are doing this on p-p-purpose, aren''t you?" she


    stammered, enraged.


    "Miss Cook, why would I do such a thing on purpose?" Irene looked at Lily mockingly.


    "You are jealous because Edric is engaged to me. You refuse to see us live a happy life!" Lily yelled.


    She was so pissed off. After all, Lily had promised Margaret at noon that Steven would lend them a


    helping hand. She had even told Margaret thetter could rest assured. However, now that Irene had


    made such a statement, Steven would very likely not help Edric. What was Irene up to exactly?


    "You''re right. I don''t want to see you guys live a happy life!" Irene sneered. "Do you really think that I


    will bless both of you? You two are but a pair of adulterous couples! I can''t wait to see you guys go to


    hell!" Irene cursed.


    Lily''s face paled. She looked at Steven for help. "Dad!"


    Nevertheless, Steven was solemn and silent. Watching Irene at the moment, he was reminded of her


    pathetic state when she had divorced Edric. Irene was his daughter, so how could he not feel


    distressed when she was being mistreated? The Myers family was indeed ruthless; it wasmon


    knowledge to all. Therefore, Irene''s hatred was only reasonable.


    "Dad, you can''t let Irene have it. If she''s doing this to us for the rest of her life, then are you going to


    stop dealing with Edric?" Lily asked.


    "Lily!" Deborah, who had been silent all this while, stopped Lily. Then, she cast her gaze on Irene,


    saying, "Irene, your father will help the Reed family in this sports tournament. I will exin to the Myers


    "Mrs. Cook!" Irene interjected. "I don''t know what''s wrong with yourprehensive skills. Did I ask


    him to help the Golden Age Group? I didn''t, right?"


    Deborah''s face flushed red. Indeed, Irene did not say anything about needing Steven''s help at all.


    Irene simpered. "Let me make myself clear. I''m not a person who conducts shabby deals. Mr. Cook, I


    just want to remind you to be impartial in your dealings. Let the participantspete in the way they


    should in this bid. If there is any favoritism, I won''t hesitate to report it!" Irene rified.


    With that, she got up and went upstairs. The living room fell silent. Steven stood up and said, "Irene is


    right. San Fetillo is not mine. I don''t have the right to decide who to help. Everyone has topete for


    it fairly."


    Lily''splexion turned ash-white. "But I have promised Aunt Margaret. Dad, please help me. Just this


    one time will do," she pleaded.


    "No way!" Steven refused decisively. "Just as I said before. If the reason Edric gets engaged to you is


    just because of me, there''s no need for you to get married! I, Steven, won''t ept such a shameless


    person to be my son-inw!"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Lily wanted to beg Steven again, but Deborah grabbed her arm and pinched her. Lily shut up sensibly.


    Steven went to the study while Deborah and Lily headed to Lily''s bedroom.


    "Mom, this little b*tch, Irene, is so hateful!" Lily closed the door furiously before she let her mouth run


    loose.


    "Well, can you hold it in if someone else takes away Edric from you?" Deborah retorted.


    Lily replied, "Of course, I can''t. I''ll definitely make that woman''s life a living hell."


    "That''s right! There''s nothing wrong with Irene''s actions. In fact, the more she does this, the further she


    would drive Edric away. Think about it, what kind of impact will it have if we ry Irene''s words to him?"


    Deborah asked.


    "Huh? You''ve got a point. If we let Edric and Margaret know that Irene is ying such a trick on us,


    they will hate her to her bone. And, I won''t have to worry that Edric will fall in love with her anymore,"


    Lily chirruped excitedly. "I will tell Aunt Margaret what happened tonight!"