SWNOVELS Chapter 529
One sentence was all it took to lay her bare for everyone to see.
Folks had their hunches, but now, nobody seemed to care who was behind the mysterious aroma wafting through the room. Ruby's rash was getting worse by the minute, and Neil turned to Adrian, saying, "Call Dr. Bailey over, quick." Dr. Bailey was the Shaw family's go-to doctor, having returned home with them from abroad. Suddenly, Winston recalled, "Oh, right, Dr. Bailey's out today, visiting his family. But I think the Gilbert's family doc is around. I'll go get him." The Cassies had their own family doctor too, especially after Cassie's nanny, Mrs. Wang, had a sudden heart scare. Winston knew this doctor had been making evening house calls lately, usually staying till around ten. He should still be nearby. "Alright, hurry up and fetch the Gilbert family's doctor," Neil urged, his mind solely focused on getting Ruby some help. He couldn't even recall where the Gilberts lived, let alone any details about them.
Winston jumped up, ready to head out, with Wayne tagging along. "I'll come with you," Wayne offered.
Back in the room, Neil was fuming, his expression darkening by the second. Lisa realized she had messed up big time and was desperate to pin the blame on Chloe.
"Dad, I swear, I had no clue there was anything wrong with the incense. Chloe made it, it's her fault!" Lisa insisted, trying to plead her case in front of Ruby. "Mr. Neil, Ms. Ruby, I honestly didn't know about the incense. I didn't do it on purpose..." But Neil wasn't having any of it. "Ms. Chloe just claimed you made it yourself. Now you're acting clueless? Whether you're dodging responsibility or you've been lying from the get-go, Ms. Chloe's integrity is seriously questionable."
Lisa stood there, stunned, not knowing how to dig herself out of this mess.
Neil addressed Jacob directly. "Mr. Jacob, I thought there was some connection between our families, enough that I gave you the heirloom meant for my daughter. But it appears the Shaw family and your daughter aren't meant to
Therefore, I'm asking for our
emerald pendant back."
"I understand a gift is not typically taken back, but this jade is a family heirloom. It's not about its market value but its significance to us. I'm willing to offer five hundred million in exchange, and I hope you can understand." Jacob, who'd been feeling hopeless, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope with Neil's proposition. It was like manna from heaven, just when his company was on the brink, with shares nosediving and finances on the edge.
Banks were being tight-fisted, and
loans were slow to come. Without a financial tifeline, the Meadows family faced bankruptcy. This five hundred million was a godsend, especially in cash with potential to multiply its worth in the right hands.
And honestly, if the jade didn't tie them to the Shaw family, it might as well be a rock. Jacob was inwardly thrilled, though he kept a mask of regret and sadness.
"Mr. Neil, you honor us with your words. It's my daughter's mistakes that have let you down. The emerald pendant is yours, and we should rightly return it."
Turning to Lisa, he added, "Lisa, hand the pendant back to Mr. Neil."
Jacob, while polite and not explicitly
mentioning the five hundred million, had his reasons. The Meadows family had a reputation in Riverbrook, and Jacob wanted to hold onto some dignity. Plus, he knew that for an old-money clan like the Shaws, five hundred million was pocket change.