Chapter 59
Hudson clearly didn't believe what he was hearing. Even though he was on his phone, he stood up, bowed politely, and said, “Why would I lie to you? You’re practically family, my future father-in-law.” He grinned so widely it almost hurt. All that groveling was just for that piece of land.
Dominic's voice, dripping with disdain, came through on the other end. “Busy? Isabella was at a bar the other day, dancing provocatively. Don't take me for a fool, Hudson!” If a friend hadn't spotted her, Dominic would have assumed Hudson was handling things seriously.
Hudson froze. “What? Isabella was at a bar, dancing?” His heart raced with panic. He quickly explained, “Mr. Lane, there must be some mistake. Bella is well-behaved and responsible. She’d never do something like that.” Dominic's son might have been a playboy, but he still wanted a proper daughter-in-law, a fact Hudson had always been aware of.
Dominic was about to speak, but Hudson swiftly cut him off, declaring, “Alright, I’ll arrange for her to meet you in a couple of days. She’ll definitely make a good impression.” At the very least, Hudson was sure of Isabella's beauty. But the girl was headstrong and rebellious.
Dominic's face remained serious, but his tone softened slightly. “If I don’t see her in three days, forget about that land, Mr. Stout.” Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
In a fit of fury, Hudson slammed his phone onto the table. BAM! It shattered. He stood there, hands on his hips, chest heaving with rage. He thought, That damn girl! If it weren’t for her stubbornness, I wouldn’t be treated like a child by these people. Why can’t she just agree to the date? The entire Roy family would be hers one day. What more could she want? The room was thick with tension. Ivana shrank into the corner of the couch, too frightened to move. She looked to Molly for help, silently begging her to intervene.
Molly patted Ivana's arm reassuringly and stepped forward. “Honey, calm down. Don’t get so upset.” But her words only stoked Hudson’s anger. He hit the table again, making Ivana flinch.
“You better come up with a solution,” he growled. “They’re expecting her in three days.”
Molly clung to his arm, her voice sweet and persuasive. “If Bella doesn’t want to, maybe we should just let it go…” She was deliberately escalating the situation. She was somewhat related to Dominic—a distant cousin—and had initially connected them.
Ivana immediately understood Molly's plan. She slid closer and said sweetly, “Exactly, Dad. A few days ago, Bella was dancing in a bar. Maybe she’s still not done playing around.” She had overheard Dominic's comment. And if Dominic already knew, there was no harm in mentioning it.
Before she could savor her victory, Hudson’s next words wiped the smirk off her face. “If Bella won’t go, then you better be ready to send Ivana instead!” he barked. He thought, I absolutely have to get that land!
Molly and Ivana turned pale, shocked. Ivana's eyes filled with panic; she shook her head desperately at her mother. Ivana thought, If I end up with Cameron, my life is over.
Molly forced a smile. “Honey, what are you saying? Ivana is supposed to marry Jayden.” She was reminding him that pushing Ivana into this would cost them the Logue family's alliance.
Hudson's face remained dark, but he said nothing more about sending Ivana. His mood soured, and he ended up feeling completely fed up with Molly, calling himself useless. Still, his frustration boiled over. He spat, “If we don’t get that land, don’t expect any more allowance.” Molly thought, Usually, Hudson treats us well, at least providing substantial living expenses. Losing the allowance would mean losing their financial support.
A tense silence fell over the room. After a while, Ivana stood up, her eyes gleaming. “I have a plan,” she said confidently. Molly's face brightened. Hudson, with a serious look, said coldly, “What’s your idea? Tell us.” Ivana, absorbed in her thoughts, ignored his attitude. She stepped closer and whispered her plan.
When she finished, Hudson’s expression softened, though he still had doubts. “You’re sure this will work?” He was afraid of failing again after their last attempt to secure Isabella. He worried about offending Dominic.
Molly smiled brightly. “I think Ivana’s got a good idea.”
Ivana grinned. “I’m sure of it. There’s no way it’ll fail.”
Hudson nodded. “Not bad, Ivana. Not bad at all.” He thought, As long as we get Isabella, securing that land won't be an issue.
The three exchanged a knowing look, a calculating smile spreading across their faces. Ivana’s eyes, however, were filled with cold hatred. She thought, That humiliation at the bar. I’ll make sure you pay for it, Isabella. Do you like hanging out with those men so much? Fine, I’ll make sure you get what you deserve!