Chapter 53: The Wig That Caught Them Red-headed.

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Wig That Caught Them Red-headed.

Gabrielle noticed that Laura was becoming increasingly aggressive towards Flora. From the look in her aunt’s eyes, it was obvious that she was preparing for another confrontation. Gabrielle quickly rushed towards her before things could get out of hand.

"Aunt Laura, why are you trying to create a scene? Since when do you suddenly care about me?" Gabrielle asked angrily. "Are you not tired of frustrating my life? Please, go away! I don’t want to go anywhere with you."

Laura stared at her in disbelief. "Gabrielle, watch your mouth! I am still your aunt."

"And so what?" Gabrielle fired back. "Does that give you the right to keep manipulating me? You have been using my brother’s surgery to control me, yet you haven’t made any serious effort to help him. All you do is make promises and put pressure on me. I am tired!"

Flora watched the exchange quietly. She could see the frustration written all over Gabrielle’s face. The young woman looked like someone who had been pushed to her limit.

"Gabrielle, calm down," Flora said gently.

Gabrielle turned towards her. "Ma, you don’t understand. She has been using my brother’s surgery as a weapon against me. Every time I refuse to do what she wants, she reminds me that my brother is dying. Yet, she won’t even make an effort to help him. How much longer am I supposed to endure this?" . She said almost in tears.

Flora slowly turned her attention to Laura.

"Your aunt is broke, Gabrielle. She cannot help you with your brother’s surgery. Darwin left her with nothing, and instead of accepting her situation, she has chosen to make your life miserable. You don’t have to keep listening to someone who has nothing meaningful to offer you."

Laura’s face tightened.

"Gabrielle, go inside," Flora instructed calmly.

Gabrielle hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, Ma."

She gave Laura one last disappointed look before turning around and walking towards the house.

Laura watched her leave, her entire body trembling with anger.

"Gabrielle! I will get you! You will come crawling back to me and begging for forgiveness. Don’t think this is over!" she shouted.

Flora chuckled softly.

"There’s nothing to beg about, Laura. Besides, a basket was never meant to hold water. She cannot expect someone who has nothing to offer to keep making promises."

Laura’s eyes widened.

"Flora, you are nothing but a thief!" she screamed. "Everything you have belongs to Darwin. You stole everything from him. You only married that man because of his money!"

Flora’s expression remained surprisingly calm. She looked Laura directly in the eyes, as though the insult had barely touched her.

"Really?" she asked with a faint smile. "Since your love wasn’t about money, why did you suddenly become a monkey climbing other people’s studies?"

Laura’s mouth fell open.

Flora tilted her head slightly.

"You were practically climbing walls to get what you wanted. So tell me, Laura, if you weren’t interested in his money, what exactly were you looking for?"

Laura suddenly grabbed the flower vase and smashed it against the floor. The loud crash echoed through the compound as pieces scattered across the tiles.

She glared at Flora, her chest rising and falling with anger.

"Do you think I’m afraid of you, Flora?" she shouted. "I’m done being intimidated by you. It’s either you kill me or I kill you!"

She raised her hand to slap Flora.

But Simon moved faster.

Simon stepped in front of Flora, like a wall. He used his body to cover her.

"Laura, if you dare touch her, you will have to pass through me first," Simon said.

Laura tried to push him.

"Get out of my way, you stupid boy! Who are you to stand in my way?"

Simon did not move. His jaw was tight.

"Madam, go inside," Simon whispered to Flora without looking back. "I will handle her."

"Young man, get out of my way!" Laura shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Simon. "Are you cursed? I heard she is your boss and your lover. Why would you waste your youth protecting a woman like her? You have your whole life ahead of you!"

Simon stared at her without moving. He had heard enough insults from Laura, and he was beginning to lose his patience.

"Madam, I suggest you watch your mouth," he replied calmly. "You are standing on someone else’s property, yet you behave as though you own the place."

Laura laughed bitterly.

"Look at you! Have you forgotten that you are just a driver? What exactly has she promised you? Money? A comfortable life? Don’t you understand that she is only using you?"

Flora watched Laura carefully. She noticed the jealousy burning in her eyes. It was not ordinary anger. There was something deeper behind her insults, something personal.

Flora wondered whether Andrew had a stronger connection with Laura than she had initially suspected. The woman’s bitterness seemed to go beyond their present disagreement. Then Flora understood. Could Laura be Andrew’s former lover? Maybe Andrew had promised to marry her, then he left her and chose Flora. That was why her bitterness was so deep.

Instead of responding immediately, Flora walked towards Simon.

She stopped beside him and looked up at his face. Her expression softened, and she gently adjusted the hair curled up around his eyebrows.

Simon looked down at her. His eyes carried an affection that he made no effort to hide.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

Flora smiled. "I should be asking you the same question."

"I’m fine, Dear."

"Good. I wouldn’t want you getting into trouble because of someone who clearly needs help."

Simon chuckled.

He leaned slightly towards her and whispered, "Be careful. Street dogs have rabies."

Flora raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, I know. That’s why I will gladly help pay for their treatment at the veterinary hospital."

For a moment, they looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

Laura watched them with disbelief. Her fingers curled tightly, and her face turned red with anger.

"Are you both laughing at me?"she screamed. "It’s obvious you have locked him with charms! Tell me, Flora, why would a good-looking young man want an old pot like you?"

Flora slowly turned her head towards her.

"An old pot?" she repeated, touching her chest as though she needed clarification.

"Yes! You heard me!" Laura snapped.

Flora smiled.

"Well, Laura, an old pot makes the best soup. It has experience, strength and value. Unfortunately, yours seems to have rotten because of loneliness and abandonment. Andrew tasted your soup and left it to rot. That is why you are here begging for attention."

Simon pressed his lips together, struggling to control his laughter.

Flora looked at Simon and noticed that he was struggling to hold back his laughter.

"Why are you holding back your laughter? Please, go ahead and laugh at her chopped grey hair!" Flora said with a playful smile.

Simon could no longer control himself. He burst into laughter.

Laura touched her hair and suddenly remembered that the hair at the front had been chopped halfway. Her eyes widened in horror. Without saying a word, she quickly turned around and went back to pick up her wig, hoping to cover the embarrassing damage.

Flora burst into laughter. "Where are you going? Oh, you want to look appealing to us now?" she teased, laughing even harder.

Laura’s eyes widened, and she turned to Flora.

"How dare you!"

"Hold it right there! Where did you borrow your audacity from?" Flora asked, looking at her with disbelief.

"Your audition time has expired. I have projects on my desk and bills to pay. I don’t run free advertisements for people. If you’re jobless, perhaps you can drop your CV with the security team when you get to my estate gate. I’ll reach out if there’s a suitable position for you."

Laura opened her mouth, but Flora raised one hand.

"Don’t bother. I have listened to enough nonsense for one afternoon."

Flora turned towards the security guards, her expression calm but firm.

"Don’t forget to inform the estate security team that she broke my vase. She must pay for the damages before she is allowed to leave through the gate.

Is that clear?"

"Yes, Madam," the security guards responded immediately.

Two security officers approached Laura.

"Madam, please, you need to leave now," one of them said firmly. "Otherwise, we will have no choice but to call the police."

Laura looked at the officers, then shifted her gaze towards Flora.

"Do you think this is over?"

Flora gave her a cold smile.

"That depends on how quickly you learn to respect other people’s boundaries."

Flora turned away from Laura and looked at Simon.

"Come with me. I have wasted enough of my afternoon entertaining an unwanted visitor."

Simon immediately followed her.

Behind them, Laura stood trembling with anger. She had come expecting to intimidate Flora, but instead, she had become the centre of everyone’s ridicule.

In her mind, Laura was already crying.

"What hurt me the most was the way Gabrielle had disgraced me in front of Flora. As if that wasn’t enough, Flora and her driver had reduced her dignity to nothing"

She clenched her fists, fighting back her anger.

"How am I supposed to challenge Flora when things are already this hot, even in the middle of winter? What will happen when summer comes?" she muttered bitterly.

She took a deep breath and glanced towards the mansion.

"If I miss my target today, I will hunt again tomorrow. This isn’t over, Flora. I promise you that."

The security men watched her closely until she got into her car. Laura hissed angrily at them before slamming the car door shut.

Laura pulled out her phone with shaking hands. She wiped her tears and dialled a number.

"Andrew, hello. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can. How did it go?" Andrew asked.

"I managed to record a video of her in a romantic position with her driver," Laura replied.

"Perfect! That’s wonderful news," Andrew said with satisfaction. "How were you able to do it?"

"I hid the camera inside my wig," Laura explained.

"That’s clever. Well done. Come and meet me at our usual spot," Andrew instructed.

"Okay. I’ll be there soon," Laura replied before ending the call.