Chapter 133 Something To Do With Maria


    Judy tried her best to please her two step-children after marrying into the Xi family. She even gave


    up the opportunity to give birth to her own baby.


    Augustine was responsible for educating his grandkids. Now both James and Cooper treated Judy


    with filial respect. They always sent her greetings and gifts during holidays and other important


    asions.


    "That''s cool. When are youing back?" Alina asked.


    "We bought the tickets already. We''ll be there on your engagement day."


    Alina was overjoyed. "That''s great, Aunt Judy. James I will be there to pick you up."


    "Sounds good. So how are things, Alina?" Judy asked out of concern.


    Alina was waiting for her to ask. In fact, it was why she called. She pretended to mull over her


    words. Then she answered, "I''m really happy with James, but... Aunt Judy, you know what? Maria''s


    back."


    The mere mention of the name soured Judy''s mood. "I know. Lorenzo told me."


    "Maria''s more dangerous than she ever was. She has the evidence that we drugged her, threatens


    me whenever she can, and keeps hitting on James. But that''s neither here nor there. We''ll talk


    about it after you get back."


    When she heard that, Judy''s heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about? What evidence?"


    "Remember? We drugged her and she lost her voice. She found the evidence we were behind it.


    But don''t worry, Aunt Judy. James got it back for us." "Do you mean James has the proverbial


    smoking gun?" Judy realized that probably wasn''t ideal.


    "Oh yeah. We were at a charity auction, and I took a fancy to a bracelet made of tanzanite. I was


    going to buy it for you, but Maria outbid me with James'' money. Somehow, she convinced James to


    pay for all sorts of expensive things. So I went to James andined, and he made her give it


    back. I even told her it was for you, and she still tried to get it for herself."


    Judy wasn''t interested in such trifles at first, but what Alina said got her attention. "Is she that bold


    to do things like that?" ''Maria even had the guts to take things away from Alina?''


    When Lorenzo mentioned that Maria hade back to the city, Judy didn''t take it seriously at all.


    Now she knew she had been careless and underestimated Maria.


    "And that''s not all. Did you know Qin Group is bankrupt?"


    "Yes." At present, Sebastian was still on the board of directors of HL Group. He always paid


    particr attention to the news, especially in the financial sector. He had told Judy about Qin


    Group''s bankruptcy, but she didn''t care too much.


    But now that Alina brought it up, she wondered if it had something to do with Maria.


    "Maria got James to back her up, and then took down Qin Group."


    Judy realized that her guess was right.


    That was when Judy realized Maria had not only returned, she was more scheming than ever.


    After a moment of silence, Judy said, "Okay, I gotta run. Call me if you need anything."


    Alina could sense the hidden meaning behind her words. "Okay, Aunt Judy. I''ll let you go. Happy


    MidAutumn Festival!"


    "Thank you, Alina. Good night."


    "Good night."


    After hanging up the phone, Judy went back to her bedroom, deep in thought. Sebastian nced at


    her and asked, "Who called?"


    "Alina."


    "Anything interesting?"


    After hesitating for a while, Judy told him, "Maria Song is back."


    ''Maria Song?'' Sebastian hadn''t heard that name in years. It sounded a little unfamiliar to him. But


    when he thought of histe grandson, Sebastian got angry. He threw the newspaper in his hand on


    the table and snapped, "Don''t say her name again!"


    Judy studied his expression and said, "Alina says Maria''s behind Qin Group''s bankruptcy."


    "Didn''t I tell you not to mention her?" If it weren''t for Maria, Arthur would have been in third grade.


    "It''s not like that, Sebastian." Cradling his arm, Judy exined in a gentle tone, "I don''t want to talk


    about her, but it''s about James, too."


    "How?"


    "Maria used James to destroy Qin Group."


    Sebastian kept silent for a moment. "I can''t believe James never told me." James was the CEO of


    HL Group and even established a solid rep in the city as well. Sebastian was proud of his son, but


    at the same time, he was bitter, because Augustine skipped him and gave the CEO position to


    James.


    James didn’t really care about Qin Group, as long as their rise or fall wouldn''t impact HL Group in


    any way. That was why he didn''t tell his father.


    Judy knew what he was thinking. Men and women saw things differently. So she reminded him,


    "Sebastian, the point is that Maria used James."


    What she meant was that it was a ballsy move to try and manipte James into doing something.


    Who would do something like that? Almost no one.


    Now that Maria used him sessfully, what did it mean? It meant that Maria was extremely


    resourceful and dangerous.


    Understanding what Judy was getting at, Sebastian was furious. "Did he forget how Arthur died?


    Why does he have anything to do Maria?"


    A strange expression shed in Judy''s eyes. When she raised her head again, her expression had


    returned to normal. "Sebastian, it''s time for us to go back to H City."


    "Yes." Sebastian heaved a sigh. It was time to return. Augustine never approved of Alina and


    dered he wouldn''t attend his grandson''s engagement ceremony. Sebastian felt it was time for


    him to support the couple as James'' father.


    Judy didn''t say anything else. If Arthur were still alive, then Sebastian would be okay with Maria as


    his daughter-inw.


    Although he didn''t treat Maria nicely, he didn''t mistreat her. Sometimes, he even stopped Judy from


    going too far.


    It was a cool morning in H City. James was in the gym, and finished hisst few biceps curls before


    deciding his workout was over. It was half-past six.


    When he was about to take a shower, he received a call from Lawrence, saying he was headed to


    his office.


    When Lawrence arrived, James was still in the shower. He set the box he was carrying down on a


    small table. Then he sat on the sofa and pulled out his phone.


    Fifteen minutester, James walked out of the lounge, buttoning his shirt. But he didn''t spare


    Lawrence a friendly look. "What''s up?" he asked coldly.


    Lawrence ignored his attitude. He grabbed the box he brought in and said, "Breakfast for you."


    "You came this early to bring me breakfast?" James sneered. He took a cold nce at the box.


    There was no logo on it. Most likely cooked by Lawrence''s personal chef.


    "Yeah. Eat it while it''s warm." Lawrence stood up from the sofa. "I have to make a phone call first."


    Then he walked away.


    James didn''t think too much about it. He just told Lorenzo that he wouldn''t need breakfast, and then


    dug into what Lawrence had brought him.


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    His friend hadn''t skimped on the meal. The box contained a loaf of walnut bread, a fish roll with


    golden spear, a vegetable sandwich, fried eggs in a heartshape, German sausage with ck


    pepper, fruit sd, and warm walnut milk.


    James was ravenous, and wolfed them all down. By the time Lawrence finished his phone call and


    walked over, nothing was left.


    Looking at the empty box, Lawrence smiled mysteriously and asked, "How did you like it?"