Chapter 3
I rolled my eyes at him in exasperation.
+25 BONUS
Simon’s online image as a man who held art above everything else crumbled at that moment. He was only after money. My family knew this, yet none of them had the nerve or the standing to point out the truth..
I didn’t want to waste my breath on Simon, so I made to brush past him into the lounge.
I had only taken two steps when I ran into Yasmin. She linked arms with Simon and said in a high–pitched voice, ” Honey, would you mind showing some of your art to the family?”
Simon pinched her cheek affectionately and agreed.
I was about to open the lounge door when Yasmin stopped me. “Olive, I hope you’ve given up any foolish thoughts you have about Simon. He’s my husband now and your cousin–in–law, for that matter.
“I know you set this dinner up just to get close to us. It’s your fault that you’re living a sorry life, If you think we’ll take pity on you and help you out just because you and I are cousins, you’re wrong! Also, scheming doesn’t become you. If anything, it makes us hate you even more.”
I raised my brow and did not try speaking up for myself. Instead, I said, “Very well.”
She and Simon were indeed a match made in heaven. They shared the same sick thrill of deluding themselves and putting words in others‘ mouths. If only they knew how little everyone thought of them.
I certainly couldn’t care less about them.
When Simon and Yasmin left the lounge, the family finally turned their attention to me and my parents. My uncle, Charles Olsen, was the first one to speak. “Joan, Peter, are we celebrating something? What’s with the sudden party?”
Mom and Dad exchanged a knowing look before they reached for my hand. “We have good news to share with the family.”
I was about to speak when the lounge door was thrown open. Yasmin stormed up to me and hissed, “Did you destroy Simon’s painting? That painting was meant for an auction, and it cost at least five million dollars!”
Simon entered the lounge with his painting in hand, glaring at me. “And here I thought that you couldn’t afford a meal here and offered you money to help you out! Is this how you repay me? By going to the front desk and destroying my painting?
