Chapter 888: Chapter 887
From a distance, Louisa could see Steward hopping up and down with excitement, waving frantically at her and shouting with an ecstatic voice, "Madam, we’re back, please help us open the door!"
Surely if it was Madam who opened the door, Ms. Rose wouldn’t have any grounds for complaint, right?
Louisa was puzzled. Why was Steward acting more thrilled to see her than if he had found a lifeline?
"Why aren’t you guys going in? Didn’t you say that the youngest just had surgery?" As Louisa approached, she noticed that the front gate was bolted shut, and the security guard in the booth seemed to be engrossed in his smartphone.
No doubt the youngest had forgotten his keys, called for the guard who didn’t hear, so they couldn’t get in.
"Why didn’t you call me?" Louisa asked, then went over to knock on the security booth’s door, "Did Sean come home and not even think to unlock the door? It’s freezing out here."
"Madam." the guard opened up, saluted with a bow, and said with a helpless expression, "It’s not that I didn’t open the door for Sean, it’s Ms. Rose. She wouldn’t allow it."
"Why not?" Louisa was taken aback and looked towards Sean and Steward, who both wore expressions of guilty silence. Had these two somehow upset Rose?
But they had just returned; when could they have possibly angered Rose? Had they run into her on the way, or had they done something elsewhere to provoke her?
"What on earth happened?" Louisa pressed the guard for an answer.
"Well, earlier, Ms. Rose was at the gate talking to Sean. Then she got angry." The guard didn’t dare to say what Sean did to upset Ms. Rose, merely adding, "Ms. Rose ordered me to keep the gate shut,saying if either of them dared to enter, I was to ’take them down’."
Louisa was shocked by the severity of the situation.
"Madam, it’s all a misunderstanding."
Before Steward could finish explaining, he saw Madam reaching for a stun baton inside the booth,which made him quickly hide behind Sean, whispering, "Sean, is it too late to ask for leave? I need to be home for the family dinner on New Year’s."
Louisa’s wrath was something to be feared, something even her husband couldn’t contain.
"You two, not coming home for half a year is one thing, but you made Rose this upset." Louisa then turned to the guard, "Aren’t you going to open the gate? I’ll teach them a lesson."
They hadn’t even made it inside and had already managed to infuriate their sister.
Knowing Rose’s gentle nature, Louisa knew it must have been something egregious they did to enrage her like this.
The guard, not wishing to displease Louisa, quickly pressed the button to open the gate, which slowly began to swing open.
In this household, Ms. Rose was the top priority, which surely placed Louisa a close second.
He wouldn’t dare cross Madam’s wishes.
Steward’s eyes widened in disbelief at how unreliable the guard was, not only failing to shield them from Madam but actually fueling the fire by opening the gate for her.
As soon as the gate opened, Louisa charged at Sean with the baton.
Even though she hadn’t turned on the electricity, the blow from the stick would definitely hurt.
"Madam, please calm down, Sean’s got injuries, you can’t hit him."
Steward’s plea was cut short as he took the hit meant for Sean. In his haste to shield Sean, he hadn’t anticipated Louisa’s strength.
He yelped in pain, lamenting that Louisa’s recent hearty meals had significantly boosted her arm strength.
Seeing she had struck the wrong person, Louisa stopped, looking at Sean with a mix of irritation and concern, "If Rose wanted you to stand out here, then you’ll stay until she cools off. Close the gate!"
"Hey, Madam, listen." Steward began, wanting to say he didn’t mind, but he thought they should at least let Sean in. After all, Sean had been standing out there for quite a while.
But the moment he caught the razor-sharp glare from Louisa, his bravado melted into a sheepish stammer, "Take care now. Cool off. No need to stoop to our level."
Louisa stormed out, leaving an aching Steward to rub his sore arm and turn to Sean, "What do we do now, Sean?"
Even Louisa wouldn’t bail them out.
Sean was at a loss, so he whipped out his cell and texted David, the usual go-to guy for clever schemes.
[Got any tricks up your sleeve to cheer up Rose?]
Barely a second passed before his phone buzzed with a barrage of shocked, popcorn-munching, and roaring laughter emojis from David.
Sean shot back, none too pleased, [Are you asking for a smackdown?]
David called him immediately, "Sean, I mean, come on, you had the nerve to tick off Rose in your own house? You’ve got some guts, buddy. I won’t even start on the fact that she could send you flying with a
roundhouse kick."
Sean’s frown deepened, "So everyone knew sis is a martial arts whiz but me?"
"Guess you should visit more often. I’ve always said that listing Rose’s talents could fill nights on end."
"Got any bright ideas, then?"
"Sean, why do I hear a chill in your voice? You cold? She didn’t lock you out, did she?" David could almost picture Sean’s scowl when silence answered him, "No way, Sean, don’t tell me I’m right? Are
you literally out in the cold?"
"Keep laughing, will you?"
David struggled to contain his mirth, "No, no, no, I’m not laughing at you. I’m the master at making sis happy, you came to the right guy. But hey, there’s this cool sports car about to hit the market, and I’m
torn about the color. Let me decide, and I’ll get back to you."
Sean caught the hint, "Pick one, I’ll buy it for you."
David was floored by Sean’s unexpected generosity, thinking he might as well fleece Sean while he’s at it.
"Sean, just so you know, it’s five million bucks."
"I said it’s on me."
"So you’ll transfer the money now?" David was keen on sealing the deal, "I need to make a down payment."
Sean hung up and wired the five million dollars to David’s account. A notification chimed on David’s phone confirming the transaction.
"Spill it now?" Sean was getting impatient, not so much about the cold but worried his sister might take the argument to heart.
"Sean, to be honest, if you had the nerve to upset sis, you deserve some time to stand and reflect. I was about to take her side and give you a piece of my mind, but consider this five million dollars your ticket to peace." David hung up before Sean could respond.
Questions swirled in Sean’s head as he realized his gullible little brother had just conned him.
Steward, sensing the drop in Sean’s mood, ventured cautiously, "Sean, did David give you any good advice?"
"Zip it," Sean thought grimly. Alright, this was war. In a few days, he’d settle the score with David.
David, having cashed in, dialed up Hunter, "Hunter, there’s something big, about Rose, and it’s kinda risky. I’m not sure I should spill it."
"Out with it," Hunter’s voice was as commanding as ever, "Whatever it is, I’ve got your back."
"Alright, Hunter, but you’ve gotta protect me, don’t let me get hurt. By the way, lately my wallet’s been thinner than me."