“Are you trying to drive me to an early grave?” Maggie clutched her forehead, her vision going dark for a moment.
Kayla shot her a look and played it even more. “Ugh, I’m so dizzy… My head…” She collapsed onto the table with a flourish.
Maggie just stared in silence.
The servants couldn’t help but twitch at the spectacle.
They thought, ‘Mrs. Kingsley is a force to be reckoned with!
‘If she dares to school Maggie, her mother–in–law, what chance do we have? Better keep our heads down. Jobs are tough to find these days. No way we’re getting on her bad side.‘
“Maggie,” Joyce called out sweetly.
Kayla, who had been faking a faint, arched her brow and sat up. “Ms. Lambert, being out of a job is working out for you. Now you’ve got all the time in the world to visit family.”
“Exactly! Now I can come and keep Maggie company all the time,” Joyce replied with a forced smile, shooting Kayla a look.
‘It’s all because of the wretched woman that I’ve lost my reputation in the medical field!‘ Joyce fumed inwardly.
“Great. At least Maggie won’t be bored,” Kayla said, closing her book and heading back to her room.
Maggie was left speechless in front of Joyce, which only made her angrier.
“An ungrateful kid!”
“Don’t be upset, Maggie. I came here today for a reason,” Joyce said.
“So, did you find a surrogate?” Maggie asked.
Maggie’s face immediately lit up with delight.
Since Kayla refused to use her eggs for surrogacy, Maggie simply arranged for someone else’s eggs to be used.
Maggie thought, ‘Bottom line, the Prescott family must have an heir.
‘When the time comes, Kayla will have no choice but to accept it, whether she wants to or not!‘
“Maggie, Amelia’s birthday is coming up in two days. Word is, the Zuckerberg family is throwing a huge bash, and Tuff is on the guest list…” Joyce hinted.
“So, you’re planning to get him wasted?” Maggie caught on instantly. “But… Won’t that mess up the, you know, sample?”
“Maggie, trust me. I’m a pro at this,” Joyce said with a confident wink.
Maggie squeezed Joyce’s hand, her eyes full of hope. “I’m counting on you.”
“Relax! I’ve got this,” Joyce replied with a sweet, knowing smile.
Maggie sighed. “If only you were my daughter–in–law…”
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Chapter 356
“Oh, Maggie, don’t start with that. Tuff is already hitched”
“He went and married a woman who can’t even give me grandchildren. It’s so frustrating that I could scream! At least I’ve got you to help me out,” Maggie grumbled.
“I get it, Maggie. You’re worried about having a grandchild,” Joyce said, nodding sympathetically.
“It’s not just that.” Maggie’s temper flared. “Kayla doesn’t give me the slightest bit of respect! She acts like I don’t even exist
“With an in–law as big as you, how could anyone possibly fit you in their eyes? Who’s got eyes that big anyway?” Landon’s icy voice rang out.
Maggie froze, her face turning red with embarrassment. She shot a glare at the butler. “Why didn’t you let me know we had guests?”
“Mrs. Prescott, they came in with Mr. Prescott…” the butler stammered, clearly flustered.
“Mom, watch what you say from now on,” Tuff said, his face dark with anger.
Landon had been worried sick that Kayla might get bullied by the Prescott family, and Tuff had sworn he’d protect her no matter what.
And now, his mom was talking smack about Kayla, right where people could hear.
“I… I was just saying whatever came to mind,” Maggie said with a forced laugh. “So, little Landon, did you just get into Lunova today?”
‘Did she just call me “Little Landon“? Wow, that nickname is something,‘ Landon thought, his lips twitching.
Landon had never been called “Little Landon” in his entire life.
Even Tuff cringed at the nickname.
“Mom, call him by his name,” Tuff said.
Landon waved it off. “No worries. I’m a junior here. ‘Little Landon‘ is fine by me.”
“Hello, Mrs. Prescott,” Amelia said with a warm smile, stepping forward with Kimsey in her arms.
Kimsey was nine months old, chubby, and adorable.
Maggie, who had been longing for a grandson, couldn’t take her eyes off him. “Oh my, what a cute little guy!”
She reached out to hold Kimsey, but Kimsey promptly spat a mouthful of drool right in her face.
“Maggie!” Joyce quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe Maggie’s face.
Amelia looked apologetic. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Prescott. He’s teething, so he’s been spitting a lot.”
“It’s fine,” Maggie said, forcing a smile.
Maggie couldn’t exactly get mad at a baby, could she? She just had to swallow her frustration.
Joyce, not about to let it go, piped up, “Mrs. Kingsley, you can’t let him do whatever he wants, you know?”
2/4
08:01 Mon, 25 Aug MC
Chapter 156
“So what do you want me to do? Tape his mouth shut, or smack him?” Amelia retorted.
“At least discipline him a bit!” Joyce huffed.
Amelia plopped Kimsey into Joyce’s arms. “Go ahead and teach him.”
“Hehe…” Kimsey was fiddling with his mouth, smiling with pure innocence.
With a baby this adorable, anyone who tried to scold him would look like the wicked witch in a fairy tale.
Joyce knew she couldn’t lay a hand on the baby. If she dared, Landon would probably kill her on the spot.
With an awkward smile, she handed Kimsey back to Amelia. “Better not.”
It finally clicked for Maggie. That was why Kayla had been faking a faint earlier.
Maggie thought, ‘So that’s the Kingsley family style!
‘That’s how the Kingsleys do things!
‘If there’s a problem, they face it head–on. And if someone’s going to play the victim, they make sure to beat everyone to it.’
“Yeah. Ms. Lambert, you are not even married yet. How would you know anything about raising a kid?” Amelia said, turning to Tuff. “Tuff, aren’t you Ms. Lambert’s god–brother? Maybe you should keep her in line a bit.”
Tuff thought, ‘Keep her in line? How? Matchmaking? Her parents can handle that. Keep her from acting out? Yeah, that’s probably what Amelia meant.‘
Tuff stepped up, hands clasped behind his back, and lectured, “Joyce, you should be job hunting if you’re unemployed. And quit dropping by other people’s places for no reason.”
“I’m taking some time off. No rush to find a job,” Joyce replied awkwardly. Underneath her businesslike suit, she was still a princess at heart.
‘Tuff’s changed. How could he call me out before everyone? Doesn’t he care about my reputation at all?‘ Joyce fumed inwardly.
“If you’re on break, stay home and chill,” Tuff added.
Maggie couldn’t take it anymore. “I asked Joyce to come and keep me company.”
Tuff looked around, searching for Kayla. “Mom, where’s Kayla?”
Kayla had told him she’d be on the terrace, reading and waiting for him. So where was she?
Tuff’d even told the butler not to announce them, planning to surprise Kayla by bringing Landon’s family in.
‘Where could she have gone?‘ Tuff wondered.
“She was here a minute ago. Maybe she got tired and went back to her room,” Maggie said, her gaze flickering as she met Landon’s scrutinizing eyes. She quickly added, “She’s a bit frail these days, so she needs plenty of rest.”
“Mrs. Prescott, Kayla’s not in the best shape. Please look after her carefully from now on,” Landon said, his voice polite but with a clear edge. “If the Prescott family can’t take good care of her, don’t blame me if I have to intervene.”
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He was being courteous on the surface, but the threat was obvious. It was a clear warning, not respectful to Maggie as the elder
Maggie awkwardly replied, “She’s doing fine here! Why don’t you go and see her in her room? Joyce and I have things to discuss.”
Then, she hurried off with Joyce in tow.
Joyce complained sullenly, “Maggie, the Kingsley family has zero respect for you. They don’t care about the elders at all.”
“It’s all because Tuff won’t stand up for me. Whatever. The bigger plans come first, so let’s let them have their way for now,” Maggie sighed.
She knew there was no way she could get Tuff to leave Kayla, so she had to put up with it for now.
Once she had a grandson, Kayla could do whatever she wanted, for all Maggie cared.
She’d heard the Kingsley family had showered Kayla with all sorts of engagement gifts–cash, real estate, even company shares… One day, even Landon’s earnings would end up in her grandson’s hands.
“Maggie, you don’t deserve this!” Joyce said, her voice full of sympathy.
“Forget it,” Maggie said, waving her hand dismissively.
If putting up with a little humiliation meant her grandson could be raised as Kayla’s own, so be it.
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