Naya sighed and returned to the cash register. After thinking for a moment, she was still worried so she called out to the kitchen. “Ari, come out and have a look.”
Arianne took off her apron and walked out. “What’s up?”
Naya pointed at Tiffany and Summer. “That seems like Jackson’s mother. They don’t look like they’re getting along. Tiffany asked us not to intervene.”
Arianne was silent for a beat and said, “Then let’s not intervene. She’ll be able to handle it herself. Tiffie will only be more abashed if we get in between them. If she can’t handle it, she’ll call for me.”
Both Tiffany and Summer refused to relent. After a while, Summer fished out another check. This time, the sum was not filled in. “You can fill it in yourself, is that fine now? I’m not going to try talking sense into you. You’re stubborn!”
Tiffany could barely keep herself composed. “Will you be able to pay me if I fill in billions and trillions of dollars? Humiliating people with money as you wish, you’re not the richest in the world. You can’t do this with the little money you have! Come to me after you’ve made enough! Who knows, maybe by then, I’ll have a load of children with Jackson already. What’ll you do then?”
Summer protested in equal fervor with her arms on her hips, “Sure, get married in my face if you can. I’d love to see what you have in store to make him a changed man and marry himself to you. I’ve wished this for years but he won’t get married. You’re not super pretty or special. What makes you think he’d fall for you? Don’t kid with me. I’m being courteous because you’re Arianne’s friend. How dare you shout at me, you rude girl!”
Tiffany exploded. “Okay, let’s see then. The more you don’t like me, the more I want to become your daughter-in-law and torment you slowly in the future!”
Summer laughed out of anger. “Hah, alright, remember what you said. I’ll be waiting!”
She then left the dessert shop with the stride of a posh wealthy wife.
Tiffany gulped down a big glass of lemonade from her rage. “What a lemon!”
Arianne went to her with a grin. “What are we having for lunch?”
Tiffany was close to tears. “I was humiliated so badly by Jackson’s mom and you’re thinking about what’s for lunch? Are you a pig? I’m dying from fury. If she weren’t an elder, I’d have hit her just now. Oh, I’m so pissed!”
Arianne had a different view. “Why do I get the feeling that she’s using reverse psychology on you?”
“What do you mean?” Tiffany was caught off guard.
Jackson was appalled. “Mom, you can’t be serious?”
Summer rolled her eyes. “I am. I’m exhausted. I’ll take care of you after a nap.” She yawned and went back to her room, pretending that she didn’t hear Jackson leave the hotel. She had told him so that he could go to Tiffany. Arianne guessed right. She went to agitate Tiffany in order to probe and prod her. It was more or less reverse psychology. It was not that she actually did not agree to the both of them being together.
When Jackson arrived at the dessert shop, Tiffany was having lunch with everyone else. She ignored him, mashing the food in her plate as if it was Jackson.
“Tiffie… I didn’t know that my mom came to you…” Guilty, Jackson was also panicking and at a loss.
“You know now? Ah, I’m regretting it a little. She offered me so much money and I didn’t want it. How are you worth so much…” Tiffany said with a cold expression.
“Don’t speak like that… I’m worth so much more than what she offered. I’ll talk to her nicely. I guarantee that she won’t come to you for trouble anymore, okay?” Jackson dared not go near her, afraid that he would get beaten up.
“Come over, sit down and eat.” Tiffany took one of the takeout boxes from Tanya and put it on the empty seat beside her.
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