The moment those words came out, everyone fell silent.
...Granddaughter? Grandmother?
For real?
A lot of people who’d wanted to step in earlier now quietly backed off.
That old lady looks a little off her rocker — who wants to get involved? And if Selina really is her granddaughter, well, then they’re family — and maybe not the kind you want to be tangled up with.
Ava wiped her tears. "Sister Selina, Grandma’s old and she’s your elder. Just give her the seat, okay? In Country M, filial piety is the highest virtue. You’re doing this... come on, tell me I’m right, won’t you?"
Ava’s very active in City N — she’s got ten million followers on Twitter and is a well-known "painter" who often holds exhibitions. Lots of celebrities and influencers try to cozy up to her because being associated with Ava means being associated with the Hill Family.
The influencers didn’t know the messy backstory of the Hill Family; they assumed Ava was the true Hill heiress. Now that she’d pointed Selina out, they wouldn’t miss the chance to butter her up.
"Miss Hill’s right. Family matters are private, but as a younger person, you should show some respect to your grandmother."
"Come on, giving up a seat isn’t a big deal. You’ve finished your cake anyway — can you really stand there and watch your grandmother?"
"If you were strangers, then sure, this old woman forcing someone to give up a seat would be wrong. But you’re her granddaughter!"
"They say filial piety is best of all virtues — I don’t even know what to say!"
The streamer who’d wanted Selina’s autograph was stunned. She glanced at the chat and whispered to it, "Hill Family — you mean that Hill Family..."
"Who else? Hill of Hill Group. I never thought that would be the Hill matriarch — she doesn’t look the part at all..."
"Rich families are complicated. Elders can crush you. Piper’s so famous and still has to take this heat. And this is ’family business’; we outsiders can’t interfere. What can we do?"
"But still, how could the Hill matriarch and the Hill heiress act like this..."
Ava widened her smile, feeling triumphant. "Sister Selina..."
If Selina gives up the seat, it proves she’s still beneath me, she thought. She wanted to outdo Selina in every way — if Selina stands and she sits... hahahaha!
The more Ava thought about it, the more excited she got. Her voice sharpened. "Hurry up and give the seat! Don’t you have any conscience —"
"Grandmother?"
Selina said it calmly, and Ava’s scream choked off.
Selina’s eyes grew cold as she enunciated, "Are you sure you’re my grandmother?"
The whole café went utterly quiet.
Jodi’s face darkened. "Or what, you unfilial little— I’ll beat you to death today—"
"Do we share any blood at all?" Selina mocked. "You can make stuff up to get a seat, sure — keep acting."
"If that old woman claims she’s my grandmother, then tell everyone what my mother’s name is. How old am I now? How old was my mother when she had me? Where did I grow up? Where am I from? Who is my father?"
Jodi’s expression changed. "You—"
Selina waved her phone. "Or—shall I just call my real grandmother right now and have her come over to see who’s shamelessly pretending to be her?"
Then she actually began dialing a number.
Jodi and Ava screeched in unison, "Don’t!!"
Damn it! That wretched Selina actually wanted to call Helen? For something this small, she really planned to blow it up?
Jodi gnashed her teeth. She was Selina’s real grandmother—Charles and Helen should’ve died ages ago! Jeff and Victoria had always been losers, and she was the true mistress of the Hill Family!
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
Read it all in one go. Was amazing...