Chapter 291: Driven Crazy
Edward agreed to Hannah's proposal, and Hannah relayed the plan to Manuel. He hesitated before finally agreeing; it was, after all, the only way to compel Susan to work.
That day, all of Susan's credit card accounts were frozen. She attempted to pay with several cards but failed.
Deeply embarrassed at the beauty salon—a place she’d sought for pampering and rejuvenation after a rough night—Susan found herself stranded. The effects of the previous night's drinking lingered. She'd intended to avoid Manuel's influence, but never anticipated this. Unable to pay for her services, she frantically called her father.
"Were you bankrupt?" she demanded.
Edward was nearly apoplectic at the question.
"Why else would my cards be invalid?" Susan pressed.
"I froze the accounts," Edward replied calmly.
"What do you mean?" Susan exploded. "Why freeze my accounts? Are you planning to give all the assets to Justine?"
"It's my business who I give them to," he retorted.
Their argument escalated quickly. "You haven't contributed anything to this family! Everything is mine, and I control it as I please!" he bellowed.
Susan trembled with rage. Though their relationship had always been strained, Edward had never spoken to her this way before. She was accustomed to being the one to lose her temper.
Susan prepared to hang up; she couldn't bring herself to humbly ask her father for money.
"You're twenty-two, a university graduate," Edward said frankly. "My obligation is fulfilled. I won't give you money unconditionally. If you want money, get a job—preferably at our bank."
Refusing to be dictated to, Susan hung up. She immediately called Hannah. "Hannah, send me some money."
"Why?" Hannah asked, though she knew the reason. Edward's swift action had still taken her by surprise.
"My father froze all my cards."
"Really?" Hannah chuckled.
"Are you gloating?" Susan snapped.
"No, I'm sorry," Hannah replied.
Susan was unconvinced. "Send me money. I'm at the beauty salon, and my cards are useless."
"How much?" Hannah asked.
Susan checked with the staff. "Twenty-eight thousand."
"And when will I be repaid?" Hannah pressed.
"How should I know? My father froze my cards! Besides, it's only twenty thousand. Given our friendship, do you really expect repayment?"
"Short accounts make long friends," Hannah stated firmly.
"Hannah! Are you trying to annoy me?" Susan exclaimed.
"Your father froze your cards; you'll be asking for money for everything from now on. I can't support you indefinitely. I work hard for my money, too."
Susan was speechless, furious with both her father and her best friend. Suddenly, a suspicion dawned on her. "Hannah, you colluded with my father, didn't you? You told me to go to work this morning, and when I didn't, you and my father concocted this scheme! How awful!"
Hannah laughed. "You're not stupid."
"It's true! Are we even friends? You've hurt me terribly!" Susan cried, remembering her father's usual fawning behavior. He'd never dared treat her this way before.
"If you don't want to work for your father, there's another option," Hannah offered unexpectedly.
"What?" Susan asked, despite her skepticism.
"Flatter Manuel into giving you money," Hannah suggested.
"Are you kidding? Manuel gets his money from my father! You think too highly of him."
"Susan, do you have a misconception about Manuel?" Hannah asked, exasperated. "He's Northfield's top hacker. He commands fees that would support an ordinary person for a lifetime."
"Misconception or not, I won't compromise with Manuel!" Susan declared.
"Then you'll have to work for your father."
"I won't!"
"Do you have a choice?" Hannah challenged.
Susan felt betrayed and schemed against.
"Negotiate with your father for a higher monthly allowance," Hannah advised. "Otherwise, he'll pay you a meager employee's salary, and you'll spend it all in a day."
Susan was on the verge of tears.
"Believe me, Edward, Manuel, and I are the only people who truly care about you," Hannah said before hanging up, fearing further conversation would overwhelm Susan.
Susan felt cursed since marrying Manuel. The salon staff, witnessing her distress, remained silent.
After a while, a knock came. "Ms. Phillips, someone paid your bill."
Susan was stunned. "Someone paid?" the staff repeated.
"Who?"
"They didn't leave a name."
Susan assumed it was Hannah, realizing her friend's harsh words masked a softer heart.
Leaving the salon, Susan drove aimlessly, frustrated and penniless. She'd planned a shopping spree, but now couldn't even afford water. Her car, almost out of gas, was abandoned on the street. Overwhelmed, utterly alone, she felt pushed to the brink.