Chapter 24 Brought to Justice
I continued, “But I can let bygones be bygones.”
Grandma’s face lit up with excitement, while Evie barely managed to hold back a smile, though her twisted expression was almost comical.
“Are you serious, Jillian?” Grandma asked.
“Of course. You can go back to living the way you used to. But I have one condition.”
Her eyes gleamed with hope. “What is it?”
After suffering for so long, she was desperate for a lifeline.
I turned to Evie. “You just need to transfer back the house Archie signed over to you.”
Evie had Archie wrapped around her finger. He was willing to do anything for her. She had schemed against me countless times–it was only fair that I return the favor.
Evie’s smile disappeared. “Marlene, my baby and I are supposed to live there.”
“That place is tiny. I’ll get you something bigger. You, Grandma, and Archie can all live together, just like before,” I offered
Grandma squeezed Evie’s hand. “Be reasonable, Evie. Didn’t you just complain about how cramped it was? Let’s have Jillian get us something better.”
Evie forced a stiff smile. “Marlene, I think it’s fine. Maybe we should just go home.”
“Go home?” Grandma snapped, hands on her hips. “You’re signing that house over today!”
Watching the two of them turn on each other was amusing.
Evie bit her lip. When she met my amused gaze, she lost all dignity and lashed out. “She’s lying to you! And you believe everything she says?”
But Grandma had been so shaken by her recent hardships that she clung to my words like a lifeline.
“If she’s lying, I’ll deal with her myself. But first, hand over that house!”
“I’m not doing this with you!” Evie realized things weren’t going her way and turned to leave.
Grandma grabbed her, and without warning, they both tumbled to the floor.
Evie scrambled to her feet, moving far too easily.
Something felt off. “Grandma, your dear granddaughter–in–law doesn’t look very pregnant to me.”
Grandma finally caught on. After struggling to her feet, she yanked Evie by the hair and landed several furious slaps across her face. Despite her age, her fury gave her strength.
“You bitch! How dare you deceive me?”
Evie was dazed from the slaps. Completely disheveled, she couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act anymore. “You old hag! If you weren’t sitting on a pile of cash, do you think I’d put up with you? I got unlucky ending up with your damn family!”
Evie had come today hoping to milk me for money with Grandma’s help, but things had spiraled out of control. She shoved Grandma aside and stormed off without another word.
With the show over, I smoothed my expression. “Well, if she refuses, there’s nothing I can do. But I already called the police. If you have anything to say, you can tell them.”
“How dare you!” Grandma, still shaken from Evie’s betrayal, was now faced with the threat of prison. She collapsed onto the floor, pointing a trembling finger at me. “Jillian Houghton, I am your grandmother! Turning me in makes you an ungrateful wretch!”
I calmly sipped my coffee. “Grandma, your grandson is the best, isn’t he? Where is he now?”
Not long after, the police arrived.
As they took Grandma away, she cursed me for being heartless and shouted about how I had mistreated an old woman like her for my employees to hear.
One of the younger officers frowned.
“You’re under suspicion for attempted murder and drugging your granddaughter for sex deals. After doing all that, how do you still have the nerve to say this?” My employees finally understood what was going on. Their eyes filled with pity as they looked at me.
