Chapter 27 A Domineering Family for More Than Three Generations
Jane said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I thought the wicked were going to join in bitter fight against the outside world, but I didn't expect them to fight internally."
Jennifer said: "You have no idea of the intense hatred between Edward and Ken."
Jane joked, "What kind of hatred? Robbed him of his wife?"
Jennifer snorted with a seeming smile, "When they two were at their worst, Ken was dating Edward's two cousins at the same time within a month. And then, he abandoned them. These two women regarded each other as the mistress, and became enemies. Edward went even farther. Ken's father Dean Garcia, yes, the top ten richest people in our country, once had a girlfriend who was a lawyer. It was said that they were about to get married. However, Edward took her to the hotel for one night. The news began to circulate the next day. It's more than the hatred of robbing one's wife. It's more like the hatred of killing your blood."
Jane was still in a calm state, and asked rationally, "The matter of the younger generation affected the elder. Wasn't Edward afraid of offending Dean?"
Jennifer said, "The Garcia family is rich, but the Smith family is powerful. Do you know the status of the Smith family's descendants?"
Jane was in her home alone, so she blurted, "You've said about it, underworld."
Jennifer got a shock and almost drowned in the bathtub after one slip. She hurriedly lowered her voice and said, "Gosh! Don't say that. Or else it will get you killed!"
Jane asked, "Isn't it?"
Jennifer said, "It's a long story. Edward's great-grandfather used to be Chris Wilson's lieutenant. He died for the country during the war, leaving only one son. Some said that he was died for Chris Wilson instead of the country. Later, the Wilson family was in power. They appointed Edward's grandfather as the governor of S City as compensations. S City was just backcountry, just nowhere, after the founding of the country. It lagged behind the North. In a word, it was extremely chaotic. Edward's grandfather came here alone and stopped at nothing to develop it. He even took many drastic measures. The higher authority turned a blind eye to what he did since he was supported by the Wilson family."
"The wealth and bad reputation of the Smith family were all from Edward's grandfather. Later on, an order came down from on high that S City became a key development city. Edward's grandfather was very smart. He knew well that though he has a deep friendship with the Wilson family, he had to see the situation. He immediately handed over everything to Edward's father. After Robert Smith took over, he devoted himself to developing the economy as if he had known things would go as that. The Smith family was so lucky that they have never done a loss-making business these years. The only thing they did was making money, or making more money. Let me put it this way, at least one of every three landmark buildings you see in S City is the property of the Smith family. Do you know what the people here in S City think about the Smith family? It is not the Smith family in S City, but the S City of the Smith family."
The background of the Smith family was an open secret that every person in S City knew. Jennifer told every detail to Jane. Jane was a little surprised, but actually it met her expectations. No wonder Edward and Ken could get away with it after the crazy race on the road. She found it strange that no police came. Now, she knew the reason the police couldn't do anything with them.
Jennifer loosened her tongue and said endlessly, "I just mentioned to you before. Now I officially remind you that among the three evils in S City, Vincent Perez is barely nicer than the other two. Never do anything to provoke Edward and Ken. They are both devils. Edward is nicknamed Satan and Ken is nicknamed Lucifer. Since you are now the tutor of the Smith family, you are a member of it. Don't provoke Ken. He will take you as Edward's person! You'll be extremely dangerous!"
Jane said, "I'm just a tutor, not whose lover. I have nothing to do with the hatred between them."
Jennifer said, "If the Smith family's pet strays into the turf of the Garcia family, Ken'll braise it and return it to Edward. Can you believe it?"
Jane remembered Ken's wry and provocative look on her in the restaurant, as if he was looking at pets. It seemed that he didn't take her seriously, but he looked purposeful at the same time
She didn't speak for a few seconds, and Jennifer asked on the other end of the phone, "Can you hear me?"
Jane then asked, "Are you having a bath or bacon? Can you finish bathing?"
Jennifer said lazily, "I'm tired. Take a shower and go to sleep. You have to go to the Smith's tomorrow."
Jane said, "Okay, bye, see you on Sunday."
Jennifer said in a sweet voice like a cute child, "Okay, love you!"
Jane replied in a manlike voice, "You have my permission to go."
"Hey, bit--"
Before Jennifer finished, Jane hung up.
Sitting alone on the sofa, she accidentally caught a glimpse of the fruit knife on the coffee table. A few hours ago, Edward was holding it and trying to stab someone. A person's character and temper were not formed in a day or two. With Jennifer's words, she understood why he was so domineering and fearless.
But at that moment, it was fortunate that he was there, otherwise she would be the one who "died".
"Alas..." Jane sighed softly unconsciously. From her point of view, there was a good reason for Edward's violence every time. She couldn't be objective to evaluate his personality. In short, she thought that he was not as extreme as others said. They were about to say that he was always bullying people and forcing the good woman to be his mistresses.
After clearing up, Jane went back to her room to sleep. Perhaps because of the intense struggle, she slept unsteadily and had nightmares. She woke up in a cold sweat at six in the morning.
She didn't want to stay at home alone, so she went to the company early. The official working time was 8:30, but many teachers who have classes in the morning came to prepare in advance. Jane met Mary Johnson in the coffee room.
Mary greeted Jane with a smile, "Miss Cooper, you are here so early!"
Jane smiled and said, "Well, I woke up early and had nothing to do, so come here."
Mary stood in front of the coffee machine and asked: "Want some coffee?"
Jane said, "Thank you. I'll do myself."
Mary took her cup, "Don't regard me as an outsider."
She handed the coffee to Jane and said in a neutral voice, "Are you tired to be the tutor of the Smith family? I'd swear you didn't get much sleep."
Jane smiled lightly, "It's alright. Maybe I'll have my period, so I didn't sleep well."
Mary said, "Then don't drink coffee. I'll pour you a glass of milk."
"No..."
"Don't be so polite to me. It's not working time. Think of me as your friend instead of your colleague. "
Mary turned her back to Jane, poured another glass of milk quickly.
As Jane thanked her, Mary whispered, "Jane, you've been going to the Smith's for more than a week. To be honest, what do you think of them?"
Jane said: "It's indeed a bit difficult to get along with the child, but he's not as ridiculous as people describe. It's.... alright."
Then Mary asked in a lower voice, "Have you ever seen the child's mother?"
Jane shook her head and said nothing.
Mary continues, "Everyone knows that Edward has a son, but no one has ever known about the child's mother. They have guessed for many years."
Jane said, "I haven't seen her before, and I don't dare to ask."
Mary smiled and said, "I don't think of you as an outsider, so I ask you these. From the first time I saw you, I knew you are a good person. You never had any clients before. So, many people talked bad about you behind your back, especially Evelyn. I'm annoyed when I hear their nasty words. You're right to scold her in public. She's a notorious gossiper."
Jane smiled, "I just go to the Smith's to give lessons. I don't contact with others except for the child."
No sooner had she said it than the phone rang. She took it out. What displayed on the screen was: Edward.