I did not know what Mark told Mom. Although she was upset that I met with Christopher in the garden on the day of the banquet, she did not vent her anger on me.
That night, something came up, so Mark left the house, but there was an extra person at the dinner table. The person’s name was Crystal Yates. Honestly, I was really surprised by the fact that Crystal stayed behind as a guest. Moreover, I was traumatized by her appearance.
“Crystal, eat up. There’s no need to be too courteous. Make yourself at home.” Isabelle smiled softly and said to Crystal.
“Thank you, Aunt Isabelle. You should eat more too. Try this carrot. It’s not just a vegetable. Eating more carrots can help keep your skin healthy and vibrant. You’ll always stay as beautiful as you’re now. If we go out together, others might think that you’re my elder sister.”
“Oh, come on. You’re flattering me so much that I almost think that I’m only eighteen years old.”
In fact, Crystal was really good at sweet-talking. She was a master in making the elders happy back then. Mom was no exception as well. For the whole night, she had kept a smile on her face and even ate an extra serving of food.
“How is it? After taking over the Tanner family, are there any problems that you can’t handle? Just tell me if you encounter any problems. I’ll definitely help you solve them and prevent others from taking advantage of it,” Isabelle inquired while grinning.
“Well, there’s a little problem.” Looking at Isabelle, Crystal was hesitant to speak.
“You can be honest with us. We’re not outsiders.”
Having said that, Isabelle nudged my arm lightly. In response, I nodded in agreement. I did not even know what the food tasted like. Looking at Isabelle and Crystal, who were chatting happily, I felt that they were mother and daughter, and I was an outsider.
Crystal was definitely the most amazing person I had ever seen. She seemed to be born with a kind of talent that could make people treat her kindly. Even Mom was no exception.
Sighing in my heart, I completely lost my appetite.
“It’s about the business of the Tanner family. Because of the misrepresentation in the newspaper before this, our business has been affected. After I take over, the situation has gotten worse. Aunt Isabelle, you know well that I’m not talented in doing business. If it hadn’t been for Uncle Nathan, the company would have been in a mess right now.”
Immediately, Crystal told Isabelle about the situation of the Tanner family. In actuality, Isabelle was well aware of the situation, but she still listened very seriously just because Crystal was the one who was talking.
“This is certainly a problem.”
After putting down her spoon, Isabelle had a grim expression. At that moment, I realized that she was actually thinking about the issue seriously.
She pondered for a moment and said to Crystal, “I’m attending a business gathering tomorrow, and everyone else is either the person in charge of prominent families or investment companies. Why don’t you go with me? Actually, I’m looking for investors for a project. The Tanner family should participate in the project too. It’s just that you won’t profit much from it. What do you think?”
In an instant, Crystal’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, “I’m very much willing to participate in the project. Thank you, Aunt Isabelle. You’re my life savior!”
“Life savior? You’re exaggerating.” Amused by Crystal’s words, Isabelle burst into hearty laughter.
I had never seen Mom laugh like that in front of me. Suddenly, I was stunned, and a thought crossed my mind. Mom is laughing happily because of Crystal. On the contrary, the relationship between Mom and me has been tense because of Christopher.
“Yvonne, why aren’t you eating? All these dishes are prepared by Aunt Isabelle. They’re her hard work. Even if you’re used to eating the food from the Lane family, you shouldn’t let her effort go to waste.”
After Crystal finished speaking, I clearly noticed Mom’s expression had darkened, and she seemed to be very unhappy. My face immediately fell as Crystal was obviously sowing discord between Mom and me. Not to mention that she purposely mentioned the things that Mom hated.
Hearing that, I snorted and responded dissatisfiedly, “Watch your tongue. This is the Goldstein residence. Do you mean I don’t even have the right to eat as much as I like?”
