Family Calls Me Scheming, I Just Want to Chill

Chapter 3

I wandered into the kitchen, where Mrs. Gray was bustling around the stove. Noticing my arrival, she quickly wiped her hands and walked over. "Miss Elaine Hale, are you really leaving?"

Mrs. Gray was the only person in the Hale family who had ever treated me well. She could tell I was not faking my temperament — I was genuinely just lazy and unmotivated.

"Of course. Why would I stay here and let everyone drive me crazy now that I've got the money?" I casually picked up a piece of freshly fried crispy meat and popped it into my mouth.

Mrs. Gray sighed and took a large insulated bag out of the cabinet. "I just made some braised beef and your favorite pineapple tarts. Take these with you for the trip."

I was so touched that I nearly teared up. "Mrs. Gray, you're far too kind to me. If you ever have a bad time in this family, come to Hawaii to find me. I'll take care of you."

Mrs. Gray laughed at my bold words. "Silly child, just focus on taking good care of yourself." I held the insulated bag and walked back to my room with a satisfied heart.

As I passed the collection room, a sudden memory crossed my mind. A few nights before, I had gotten up in the middle of the night for a cold drink and accidentally witnessed a secret scene.

That night, Mia had sneaked into the collection room sneakily. She replaced the antique Venetian glass inkwell prepared for Madam Hale's eightieth birthday with a high-quality counterfeit. She then traded the genuine treasure for a limited-edition designer handbag.

I had originally planned to ignore the whole incident, since it had nothing to do with me. But now that I was leaving with 50 million dollars, I worried the family would frame me for the crime later. To avoid unnecessary trouble in the future, I decided to leave solid evidence behind.

I headed back to my room and took out the photos I had snapped that night from the drawer. The photos clearly showed Mia holding the real one and completing a private transaction with a secondhand dealer at the back gate. I also printed out the bank transfer records for the limited-edition handbag she had purchased. I sorted out all the evidence and placed it neatly on my desk.

Right after I finished, noises broke out in the courtyard. "Walk slowly, Madam Hale! It's right here!" Mia's voice pierced through the door. I looked out the window. Madam Hale walked sternly at the front, supporting herself with a cane. Kenton, Seth, Mr. and Eleanor followed closely behind her.

Mia escorted Madam Hale, wearing a triumphant smile on her face. "I saw her sneak the precious ingredients reserved for your birthday banquet out of the kitchen with my own eyes! She must be planning to sell those expensive items for money! Even after Kenton gave her 50 million dollars, she still refuses to be content. She's utterly insatiable!"

I shook my head helplessly as I listened. Mia's imagination was truly wasted on being a family member; she should have been a novelist. Mrs. Gray had only given me braised beef and pineapple tarts. How did those ordinary snacks turn into precious banquet ingredients in her mouth?

"Open the door, Elaine! Get out here right now! If you can't explain this clearly today, you will never step out of this mansion!" Kenton roared outside, slamming heavily on the courtyard door.

Madam Hale struck the ground hard with her cane repeatedly. "What misfortune has befallen this family! How could I have such a dishonest, thieving granddaughter!"

Leonard and Eleanor also wore deeply grieved and disappointed expressions. "Elaine, you have let us down tremendously."

Faced with this group of drama fanatics, I could not even be bothered to open the door. I grabbed my suitcase and climbed out through the rear window. As I left, I accidentally knocked over a spare counterfeit glass inkwell that Mia had prepared for the replacement. The fake antique shattered all over the floor. I paid it no mind and walked straight toward the back gate.

Mr. Watson, the driver, was already waiting for me there. "Are we heading to the airport, Miss Elaine?"

I nodded and tossed my suitcase into the car trunk. "Yes, hurry up. We'll miss the flight if we delay any longer."

The car started up. I stared at the gradually receding Hale mansion in the rearview mirror. "Goodbye, you relentless workaholics."