A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 156 Not Daughter-In -Law Material

Augustine looked at them and said, "Well, have a seat." His attitude was cordial, but not particularly warm. It was like Sebastian was not his biological son.

Wearing her presbyopic glasses, Charlotte continued to read the newspaper in her hand. She didn't spare a glance for her son or his wife.

Sebastian sat opposite them with his wife. He asked, "Dad, Mom, how have you been? Need anything?"

"No. We're good," Charlotte answered and put down the newspaper. "Maria and James hooked us up. Food and essentials. Perfect for the Mid-Autumn Festival. We have enough to keep us going for a while." It was normal for James to visit Augustine and Charlotte. He loved his grandparents.

But Maria came with him.

Sebastian and Judy exchanged glances. It was obvious they were not impressed.

Sebastian believed he should say something. He complained bitterly, "Why would allow Maria to visit you? Did you forget about Arthur?"

Hearing his son's question, Augustine's heart sank. "Of course not. I told you what I think, and I don't like repeating myself. Let's not talk about who's at fault for Arthur's death. Maria is Arthur's mom. The kid is gone. You ever think about how she feels? You even kicked her out of the Xi family."

He hated the mere thought of it. After Arthur's accident, he was too sad to handle it properly. Augustine didn't think things would come to this. Maria left H City and disappeared for more than six years. Judy wore an embarrassed smile. She wanted to say something to him, but she bit back her reply. She couldn't disrespect them.

But Sebastian didn't disappoint her. He retorted, "Who cares if it was an accident or not? She is guilty. She was never respectful anyway, ever since she married into the Xi family. Definitely not daughter-in-law material!"

Charlotte took off her presbyopic glasses and set them aside. She replied calmly, "That's right. An evil woman would only disrupt our peaceful, quiet family."

The living room calmed down for a moment after this.

It seemed like Charlotte was not referring to Maria. More than likely, she was talking about Judy.

Sebastian didn't want to talk about Maria. He didn't like gossip anyway, and there was something he wanted to say. "Mom, Dad, you didn't attend James and Alina's engagement ceremony. Sometimes I don't know what you are thinking. James and Cooper are your favorite grandsons. Why ignore James?"

"What are you doing here anyway?" Augustine looked at his son worriedly. They didn't have anything in common. "You shouldn't have come here. Maybe you should go."

Judy tried to mediate the dispute. "Mr. and Mrs. Xi, please don't be angry. When we were traveling abroad, Sebastian missed you. He said he'd come visit, but had to deal with the chaos Maria caused during the engagement ceremony. We didn't have time until today. We came here as soon as we could."

Augustine didn't appreciate it, though. "I know my son well," said he indifferently. There was a good reason why he handed the reins of HL Group to James and not Sebastian.

When she heard that, Judy was so embarrassed that she could hardly sit still. But again, she kept her thoughts to herself.

Charlotte looked at Sebastian and asked in confusion, "So Maria made a fuss at the engagement ceremony. James doesn't care. Why do you?"

"Why do you think that is? He ordered his men to block the news. Maria humiliated him. He's probably mad about it." Sebastian didn't agree with his parents. His parents were too old to understand what was going on.

Augustine didn't want to mince words with them anymore. "All right, all right. Let's just leave it alone. James can handle himself. We need to do the same. If you have nothing else to do, go home. You're starting to annoy me."

Judy wasn't willing to leave it there. She added, "Alina wants to come by-"

Augustine glared at her. "Why? We're fine. She can wait until we're dead."

Judy had to swallow the rest of her words. She felt like bursting open. She was full of unsaid words.

Sebastian couldn't stand his harsh words. He complained, "Dad, stop it. She's just trying to be nice."

"Yeah. Alina's a good girl. Now that they're engaged, can we really say anything else?" Judy supported her husband, and tried help convince the elders.

Charlotte's face turned cold. Before the couple left, she stared at the woman opposite her and said, "You'd better pray I don't get involved. You're better off facing Maria than me, Judy." Maria tended to take her time. Sometimes that worked to her disadvantage. If Charlotte decided to do something, she wanted Judy to worry about it. She wanted Judy scared for Alina.

Judy was visibly cowed. Frightened by the coldness in Charlotte's eyes, Judy thought of what she and Alina had done before. She didn't know how much Charlotte knew about it, so she had to nod helplessly. "Yes. I got it," she answered in a small voice.

At last, Judy dragged Sebastian out of the villa.

Sitting in the car, Judy finally breathed a sigh of relief. She complained, "I wonder how Maria managed to charm your parents. They stick up for her a lot!"

Sebastian was also in a bad mood. With a straight face, he said, "It's James' fault. If he could keep it in his pants, Maria wouldn't have gotten to him. Now she's part of the Xi family again."

But Judy didn't think James would listen to her. All she could do was get Sebastian on her side. Since he was down now, she didn't say anything.

She'd already made up her mind to meet Maria. She wanted to see for herself how tough Maria was.

In Miracle Cafe, Maria stood in front of the coffee machine, answering a phone call.

"She's been invited on to a variety show. It's a lot of cash. What do you want to do?"

"Tell the host Daniela's an awesome dancer."

"Okay, I see."

"Call me if you need me."

"Yes, Ms. Song."

After hanging up the phone, Maria took her coffee mug and put it under the nozzle of the coffee machine.

Someone pushed the door to the cafe open. A woman came in wearing a long brown dress, light makeup, and sunglasses. She also sported a set of diamond jewelry. Holding a silver-gray bag fashioned of crocodile skin, she had the arrogant look of a rich woman.

After she came in, she glanced around the shop and chose a corner seat. A shop assistant came over with a menu and greeted her, "Welcome to Miracle Cafe. Would you like something to drink?" The woman didn't take the menu she offered. She raised her chin and said arrogantly, "I'd like to see your boss."

The shop assistant looked in the direction of Maria with embarrassment and answered slowly, "A moment please. Let me see if she's here."

"She's here. I asked someone to check before I came," the woman said confidently.

The shop assistant didn't know what to say for a second. Then she said, "Okay. One moment please."

She wondered if her boss was a big shot. After all, people who came to meet her seemed rich and powerful.

Hearing the woman say her name, Maria looked up. The shop assistant came to get her, and pointed in the direction of the rich woman who had summoned her. Maria recognized her instantly. She had already been mentally prepared for this and knew they would meet sooner or later. She said to her employee, "Prepare a cup of coffee for me, please."

"Okay, Maria."

Maria washed and dried her hands before going over there with her own coffee.