Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
It’s either Darren, Bard, Eunice, and that little girl who go down, or it’s curtains for us. We’ve got to take the plunge.”
“No, I’m not ready to die.” Teresa dreamed of a lavish life, throwing money around like it was nothing, living the high life.
Bess wasn’t keen on dying either. She had her whole future planned out.
“We’ve reached the point of no return, Arlen said, looking to Calvin for confirmation.
Calvin and Arlen nodded in agreement. “He’s right, now’s our best shot. Calvin, we’re one step away from victory!”
Calvin mulled over another strategy in his mind. “There’s one more way, a safer bet, that could preserve everything we’ve got.”
“What way?” The siblings and their spouses were all ears, eager for a plan that promised such ease and security.
“The key lies with Eunice. With Darren suddenly taken ill, and Eunice and Bard rushing him to the hospital, they won’t have a moment to gossip about our doings tonight. As long as Eunice keeps mum, Bard and Darren will be none the wiser.”
That would give them the time they needed to devise an even more foolproof plan.
“But Eunice’s no pushover. How could she not spill the beans? She won’t miss a chance to rat us out!”
Bess suddenly felt her husband’s idea was half-baked, as good as useless.Yet Arlen couldn’t help but ask, “Calvin, you sure about this? Eunice’s a tough nut to crack. We just tried to corner her and take out her husband. Would she really play ball?”
“We’ll have to cut a deal with her.” Calvin pondered before suggesting, “She’s always had a soft spot for you.
Pretend to ask her for the hospital’s address, if she’s alone, try to negotiate.”
Arlen doubted Eunice would agree, but Calvin made a valid point—if she kept silent, Darren and Bard would remain oblivious to their scheme, allowing them to plot more meticulously and ensure a fail-safe outcome next time.
“I’ll give it a shot; was all Arlen could say.
Meanwhile, in the car.
Mirabella spoke calmly, “No one’s following us. Grandpa, you can wake up now.”
Darren hadn’t expected his granddaughter to be so astute and opened his eyes, looking back to make sure, then asked, “How did you know I was faking?”
“Bella is a renowned doctor. She was the lead surgeon on your operation. How could she not see through such a simple ruse?” Eunice chuckled, turning to Mirabella. “Did you figure it out while checking his pulse?”
“Even before that; Mirabella said with a slight smile. “Grandpa, your acting is terrible.”
“Was I that unconvincing? Then Calvin must have caught on, Darren suddenly regretted not having put on a more realistic performance.”Don’t worry, they were too scared seeing you to notice whether you were acting,’ Eunice reassured him with a laugh. “But yes, your acting skills could definitely be improved.”
Laughter filled the car.
Bard looked at Eunice, “I did as we agreed. I boarded the plane and when it flew over the mountains, I parachuted out. My men picked me up and we returned to the lodge, rounding up all of Calvin’s guys.”
Eunice’s smile widened, “I also stuck to the plan. When I saw the video of the plane exploding, I acted shocked and furious. Then, when they let their guard down, I recorded everything.”
“You guys are quite a crafty couple.” Darren began, catching a glimpse of their gazes and quickly backpedaling, “I mean, the most intelligent, the most in-sync couple.”
“It’s mainly because Bella played along so well.” Eunice said, pulling Mirabella’s hand into hers in praise, “She even managed to coax out Teresa’s words. The root of their jealousy is that back in the day, Grandpa favoured Dad in his will, leaving him the entire corporation and only a few dividends to them.”
Eunice’s earrings were actually miniature spy cameras, and she had recorded everything that had just happened, sending the footage to Darren’s phone.
“I sent it to you on WhatsApp, you can take a look.”
Hearing Eunice’s words, Darren, despite knowing the gist of it, still couldn’t bring himself to watch the video.
After all, these were his siblings who he had loved wholeheartedly for most of his life.
And to think that after he fell ill, these same siblings wanted to murder his entire family, including himself, his eldest son, his daughter-in-law, and the granddaughter they had just found.
They wouldn’t spare a single one!
“Let’s not dwell on these sad matters for now. Bella, I thought I was a goner, ready to join your grandma on the other side, but you, my girl, have such great skills that you could even cure my complex illness!”
Darren looked at his granddaughter with immense admiration, “So young, yet so exceptional, what a blessing for the Collins and the Griffith families to have you back home with us.”Since they were sitting in an RV at the moment, the family was gathered on the couches. Mirabella smiled at Darren before her, “Grandpa, I’m glad to have been of some help with your illness.”
At least, her return to the family wasn’t without purpose.
“That’s not just ‘some help’. You saved one life. This is a great kindness.”
Darren was beaming, “Your medical skills could give me many more years of happiness. From now on, I want to make up for all the time I’ve missed out on with you!”
Mirabella’s smile deepened, “Seeing you full of vitality in front of me is all I could wish for. I only hope that both you and Grandma stay healthy and live long, joyful lives together.”
“You are such a darling. No wonder Bard speaks so highly of you. I’ve taken quite a shine to you myself from the moment we met!”
Unfortunately, he had rushed out without preparing a proper welcome gift.
He would have to make it up to his granddaughter when they got back!
Just then, Eunice’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, it was Arlen. Her lips curled into a smile as she answered on speakerphone.
“Eunice, how’s Darren feeling? Any better?” Arlen’s voice came through with feigned concern.
Darren’s face darkened at the sound, and he huffed, turning his head away.
Eunice replied with a scoff, “Thanks to you, Dad’s still in surgery fighting for his life.”
“And what about Bard?” Arlen inquired, seizing the opportunity to gather more information.”He’s discussing the medical details with Mr. Chapman. Bella’s already in the OR assisting. If you’ve got something to say, Arlen, just spit it out”
Arlen chuckled, not expecting Eunice to be so sharp.
“Eunice, you’re a sharp cookie, and I’m not one for beating around the bush. We’re all family here, and you don’t want to see our clan fall apart, do you? Darren’s sick as a dog, and he just can’t handle any more bad news.”
“So, what’s your big plan, Arlen?” Eunice asked coolly.
“Like I said, you’re smart. You know what I’m getting at, and what I want you to do. You know me, Eunice, I’ve got no beef with you.”
Arlen was probably scared to death Eunice was recording the call, because he didn’t say anything too incriminating.
Eunice chuckled, “Are you asking me to keep mum? But you know I never enter a losing deal.”
The moment Arlen heard that, he sensed there was room to negotiate and quickly said, “Name your price, anything within my power, I’ll give it to you.”
“Anything you can offer, Dad and Bard can give me too. Your usual trinkets hold no allure for me.”
Arlen’s face soured, “Then what do you want?”
“There is one thing Dad and Bard can’t give me.’ Eunice’s smile grew even brighter, “It’s about time for Calvin to hang up his boots, so let’s cut to the chase. I want all of your shares, and Calvin, Bess, and Teresa’s shares, and I want you all to announce your retirement from the company. From here on out, you won’t get a single cent of the dividends.”
Arlen was flabbergasted at her audacity to make such demands!”Think it over with them, Arlen. Don’t say I didn’t give you a fair chance. You’ve got one hour.” With that, Eunice hung up the phone.
“Hello? Hello?” Arlen couldn’t believe what he had just heard. It took him a second to snap back to reality, shaking with rage. That cunning fox was totally exploiting the situation!
After Eunice put away her phone, she turned to Mirabella with a smile, “Bella, what do you reckon? Will they bite?”
“Aunt Eunice, isn’t it obvious you know they won’t agree?”
Eunice smirked, “Explain.”
“They’ve been drooling over Grandpa and Uncle Bard’s shares from the get-go, which means they’re hungry for more. What they have now just doesn’t cut it. But the moment you open your mouth, you’re basically leaving them high and dry. How could they possibly agree?”
Mirabella paused, then added, “You intentionally told them Grandpa’s in surgery and Uncle Bard’s busy discussing his condition with Mr. Chapman. They definitely know who Mr. Chapman is, so they can guess which hospital Grandpa’s in. They’ll assume everyone’s too busy to rally the troops, making it their perfect opportunity to strike.”
Not just Eunice, but Bard and Darren too, looked at Mirabella with admiration and agreement, waiting for her to continue.
“By demanding the moon and giving them just an hour to think, aren’t you forcing their hand to make a move within that hour?”
“Dad, smart granddaughter, huh?” Eunice said with a laugh, glancing at Darren, “Sharp as a tack, right?”“Sharp, very sharp.” Darren nodded with a beaming smile, “A clever kid”
From the start, Eunice had no intention of playing ball with Arlen and his crew. She was just fanning the flames of their ‘rebellion’.
And sure enough, after hearing Arlen’s message, Calvin, who had been on the fence, lost his cool completely, slamming his fist down on the table in fury!
That little upstart had ambitions too big for her boots. It was time to cut her down to size.
“Get the men ready. We move on my command tonight!” A glint of ruthless determination flashed in Calvin’s eyes.
On the way to the hospital.
Calvin tried calling another group of his guys, but nobody was picking up.
His face set in a grim line, he mulled over, “The fellas I sent to surround the estate, not a single one’s answering.
Odds are, Bard’s got them all cooped up there.”
“Calvin, look at it this way, it might actually be a good thing” he reasoned. “I sent at least a couple of hundred guys. Bard’s gotta spare a fair number of his own to keep an eye on them. This means he’s short on manpower.
Tonight’s our best shot!”
A flash of hatred crossed Calvin’s eyes. “No matter what, we can’t afford to screw this up!”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.