Chapter 7: The 'Harmonious' Mask

Eliana scoffed inwardly, here we go again! Every time this mother-daughter duo gets caught red-handed, it's all crying, screaming, and dramatics. After all the fuss, are they any better off? Randall couldn't stand seeing Vanessa struggle to catch her breath as she cried. His heart went out to her. "Feelings are unpredictable, Lena. Don't be too hard on your sister. We're family, after all." It's always the same old tune. Eliana knew Randall was biased, but the favoritism wasn't towards her, it was towards Vanessa. His partiality practically oozed from his eyes. Would he be so forgiving if she had done something like this? But she didn't want to dwell on it. As long as they didn't cause trouble for Chase. Chase smirked, "Is this how your family operates? Wrongdoers go unpunished while the innocent get blamed?" Eliana was taken aback. She hadn't expected him to be so direct. Over the years, this family had cultivated an atmosphere where Randall adored Camille and, by extension, doted on Vanessa, while she, the eldest daughter, felt colder than a stray dog on the roadside. Their relationship was merely superficial. Despite that, they never tear the 'harmonious' mask. Today, Chase shattered the hypocrisy that had upheld the family for over twenty years. Randall erupted in anger. How dare an outsider criticize his family affairs? "Don't think just because you married Lena, you're part of this family. You're just a poor boxer, can't even afford a pair of shoes for my daughter! You're not worthy of the Griffith name." Camille hurried to soothe Randall, acting like the most considerate elder. "Chase, while our family holds a certain status, we value character over pedigree. Lena is our precious daughter, and as long as you’re good to her, your humble background didn't concern us. But, to disrespect your father-in-law on your wedding day, that's just plain rude!" It sounded like she didn't mind Chase being a boxer, but every word aimed at his lack of wealth. This woman was a master of subtle jabs. Eliana thought Chase, being the rough type, would have no way to handle such a cunning woman. Yet, to her surprise, he just smiled faintly. "So, you call it cherishing Lena when you brought people to disrupt the wedding this morning, nearly embarrassing her in front of her friends, ruining her marriage? You say you don't look down on me, yet you haven't greeted me since I arrived, haven't invited me to sit. Instead, you've been quite friendly with Mr. Zierman, who insulted Lena. Isn't that looking down on me, Lena’s husband?" Camille was rendered speechless, pulling a long face. It was the first time Eliana saw Camille silent like this. It felt so much satisfying. Vanessa, seeing her mother being targeted, immediately stepped in. "Lena, look what kind of husband you've married to. No manners, no money, and so rude." Chase didn't even spare a glance at her, "Because seeing you makes me sick." Eliana almost burst out laughing. She told him not to hold back, and he really did retaliate with every word. But if they kept arguing, Randall would probably get angry and insist on her getting a divorce. She glanced at Randall. "Dad, my husband may be a little too straightforward, but he takes good care of me, I promise you that. And Camille, I know you're a generous mother-in-law and won't hold grudges against Chase, right? Since no one is in the mood to eat today, we'll leave first." Eliana took Chase's hand to leave, but Randall stopped her. "Wait, today is your wedding day. Family dinner is a must." Hearing what Randall said, Eliana stayed for dinner. At least, he's her father. Ever since Eliana's mom passed, their relationship had been like treading on eggs. With Randall not in the best health lately, he's been leaning on Camille more, but his connections in LA run deep. Eliana still leans on him, so she's not ready to break ties just yet. While they were eating, Randall kept talking to Eliana about work stuff. She thought about mentioning what was going on at the company, but since she didn't have solid proof about Camille and Vanessa, she decided to stay quiet. Chase kept putting meat from the table into Eliana's bowl, which irritated Vanessa more. She was used to be the focus of every family meal. After the meal, as Eliana was about to leave with Chase, Camille had the servants prepare some gifts and personally escorted them to the door. No one could beat Camille's acting. In the eyes of outsiders, she was a competent stepmother. "Lena, dear. Running a company can be tough. Since it's your honeymoon, just enjoy yourselves. I'll take care of everything at the office." Camille had a look of a 'caring mother,' and anyone listening would applaud her. Of course, Eliana knew what she was implying. "Camille, you don't need to worry about me. You should worry about yourself more. If you realize your mistake and return the money you've misappropriated, maybe I'll forgive you." "I don't understand what you're saying. If you insist on it, don't regret it later. You'll waste time that could be spent with your husband." Camille's gaze turned cold, and she turned away. Eliana sneered at this. She got into her Chevrolet with Chase and headed to her own home. "Wasn't your stepmother implying something just now?" Chase's quick thinking allowed him to sense something unusual from Camille's expression. Eliana drove, letting out a grunt. "She's like a fusion of Snow White's stepmother and Cinderella's stepmother. I've gotten used to it over the years." When her dad was around, Camille put on this whole caring-mom act, but when it was just them, she showed her true colors – mean as can be. She was the black widow hiding in flowers, but unfortunately, her dad was a 'foolish king' who couldn't see through Camille's tricks. Over the years, Eliana had endured countless attacks. Ten minutes later, they arrived at Eliana's home. Chase looked at the less than 40-square-meter lofter with two floors, neatly arranged. It was obvious she had been living alone. "So, this is your home?" Eliana had moved out of Randall's mansion long ago, renting this small apartment for herself. It was just right for one person, but with two people, especially such a tall man like Chase, it felt cramped. "I'm renting. It's in the city center, convenient for transportation. If you can't stand it here, you can go back to your gym." Rent here was about $17,000 to $18,000 per square meter. She was barely making ends meet now; she didn't have money to spare. Everyone thought she was the rich lady of the Griffith. She knew she was just a broke girl. "My gym can't accommodate residents. Don't forget our contract; you're supposed to provide for my food and lodging." Chase walked in, threw his suit jacket on the sofa, and started texting on his phone. "You can sleep on the sofa; don't even think about the bed upstairs." Eliana sat down at the coffee table, taking out contracts and her laptop to review the company's situation. Her phone buzzed with a message from Jeremy: "Lena, I'm downstairs at your place. Let's talk. Things aren't what you think."