Mysterious Little Wife
Chapter 48 You Can’t Win Against Them!

Fast forward to two days later.

It was Tilly's birthday.

Every year, the Garrison family would arrange a massive spectacle for her on her birthday.

This year, because of Lillianna and Sam's engagement.

The ceremony was particularly grand.

All of South City's powerful figures had arrived, including the A-list superstar.

Reporters surrounded the Garrisons.

They not only wanted to photograph the stars but more so the influential people in South City.

Tilly was an intelligent woman. Before her birthday, she had sent out invitations to three of the biggest media companies in South City. She wanted to cover her birthday in all its grandeur.

Furthermore, currying favor with the three major media companies would make it easier for her to take advantage of them in the future. Just then, the Garrison family was seen calmly taking care of business.

The Carter family, on the other hand, was the polar opposite. They seemed to be quite hectic.

Lacey, who was sleeping on the first floor, kept hearing Lillianna shouting early in the morning.

"Oh, my God! Which one am I supposed to wear?"

Lacey rolled over and buried her face in the quilt.

Bailey, too, got up early in the morning to get ready.

He was considered a well-known figure in the South City as well.

Bailey had finally managed to keep his grip on the Garrisons.

As a result, he had to get dressed for such a momentous occasion. He didn't want to embarrass the Carters, after all.

Meanwhile, Madeleine had hired a make-up artist and a dresser to groom her and Lillianna early in the morning.

The three masters in the room were occupied to the hilt.

Lacey, unlike everyone else, got up in her slippers and went to wash up.

It was the third day of the week, and she was supposed to be in class.

However, she had requested a leave of absence.

Of course, it wasn't because she wanted to attend Tilly's birthday party.

Lacey believed that the last person Tilly wanted to see was her.

As for the Carters, none of them would let her go.

They seemed wary of her after her night with the Garrisons.

Though, no more questions were asked.

Even so, she could tell something was wrong by looking into their eyes.

Never mind. She wasn't even interested in knowing what they were up to. All she wanted to do was get revenge on Bailey and cause him to fall apart.

Then, before leaving South City, she'd send Tilly a tape recorder.

On it was Lillianna's ugly side, where she was cursing loudly at home.

Once Tilly had listened, she was sure to reconsider her candidacy for daughter-in-law.

Thus, Lacey had to plan her plot against Bailey carefully.

Lacey wore a black coat that day.

A birthday present Maria gave when she turned twenty.

Meanwhile, down the stairs came Lillianna, who was dressed to the nines.

She was glammed up like a fairy in a customized pink dress with shimmering on top.

Lillianna's flawless makeup added to her attractiveness. Every move she made drew attention. Lacey grinned faintly. Maria's genes were the reason she and Lillianna had such pretty faces.

Unfortunately, Lillianna was not appreciative.

"Good morning, daddy." Lillianna smiled as she approached.

Bailey responded with a nod. He sat at the table and enjoyed the breakfast Aunt Mya had prepared.

Madeleine wore a green gown that best suited her curvy figure.

She took a seat next to Bailey.

Lacey, on the other hand, seemed out of place among them.

"Why are you dressed in such shabby clothes?" Lillianna cast a glance over her shoulder.

Lacey looked up at her and asked, "Shabby?"

"Do you know how much time and money it took for dad to transfer you to Sandalwood Institute? The school is not like any other college in Klosa. The people who go to Sandalwood Institute are rich and famous. Look at you. What on earth are you wearing? Didn't I give you some clothes?" Lillianna said with disgust. Then, she turned to Bailey and complained, "Look at her, daddy, she's going to school all dressed up like this. Those who didn't know probably think we're abusing her!"

Bailey looked over at Lacey and frowned. "Your sister has given you so many clothes. Why didn't you put them on? What in the world are you wearing?"

Lacey raised her arm and looked at her clothes. "It's neither tattered nor rotten. Is there anything wrong with it?"

"Lacey, do you genuinely think you must wear clothes until they are torn before throwing them away? How shocking-" Lillianna shook her head. "I never wear the same outfit more than three times." Lacey remained silent. She didn't even bother to give a perfunctory smile.

What was there to be proud of?

"I'm stuffed. I'm leaving." She then rose to her feet.

"Where are you going?" Lillianna hurriedly stood up.

Lacey stopped in her tracks but did not turn around.

"I heard you went on leave today. Where are you going? I'll have the driver send you over!" Lillianna sounded anxious.

How could she be so kind as to let the driver give her a lift?

There must be bad intentions.

"It's still very early. Therefore, it's not convenient for you to go out. I'll have the driver drop you off." Lillianna gradually approached as she locked her gaze on Lacey. She raised an eyebrow and added, "I'm your elder sister, after all. I can't always bear to make you ride the bus for miles."

Lacey stared at her with piercing eyes. She suddenly smiled after a brief moment. "Well, thank you then, Lillianna!"

Only then did she walk out the door.

Lacey understood what Lillianna meant.

Was Lillianna afraid she'd go to the Garrisons?

Or was she afraid she'd go looking for Sam?

Lacey raised a helpless smile. Whatever, it was better that way. Instead of walking, she had someone drive her.

On the outskirts of the South City-

"Miss Lacey, We've arrived at our destination. I'm going to leave now." The driver looked at Lacey and said.

"All right, thank you." Lacey nodded.

As soon as Lacey got out of the car, the driver drove off without hesitation.

Lacey turned around and walked inside with a bouquet in her arms.

A week had passed since Maria's death.

Lacey had requested a leave from school to visit her mother's grave.

The temperature was a little low in the early morning. White mist lingered in the air. There weren't many people around, and even the man who looked after the cemetery had just woken up.

She walked in slowly, holding the flowers in her arms.

It was the second time she had been here since Maria's passing.

A week had seemed like a lifetime to her.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Maria. I'm so sorry-"

An unfamiliar voice reached her ears just then.

Frowned, Lacey walked over in confusion.

In front of Maria's tombstone, a man knelt on the ground.

His hand touched Maria's picture, and tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Who are you?"

The man was stunned by the sudden voice.

He was even more surprised when he saw who it was.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Lacey frowned and sounded upset.

The man quickly picked up his crutch from the ground and got up. He shivered as he looked at her. "You're Lacey, aren't you? Is that you, Lacey?"

Lacey gave him a wary look. "Who are you?"

"My name is Roderick Hayes!" He replied.

Lacey paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Roderick Hayes? Are you Uncle Roderick?"

"You know me!" Roderick grew excited.

"Are you Uncle Roderick, the one who's been sending us money for over ten years?" Lacey asked with a frown.

Roderick nodded and wiped his tears. "I'm sorry. I had no idea Maria was so sick-"

Lacey wondered how the man had gotten here as she stared at his long hair, unshaven beard, and limp leg.

Roderick slowly sat down and set his crutch aside. He looked at Maria's picture on the tombstone, and tears fell again.

Lacey's heart began to ache as she saw this.

"Uncle Roderick, my mother asked me to save the money you sent us. She wanted me to replace you in the future and return you the money. Where do you live now? I'll send you the card tomorrow." Lacey sighed.

Roderick frowned. "Did Maria not use the money I sent?"

Lacey shook her head. She didn't know why her mother refused to use the free money, even though they were so poor.

Now she knew. It turned out that Uncle Roderick needed the money more than they did.

"Silly woman" He patted his leg and said, "She knew I was disabled. Hence, she was definitely unwilling to spend the money I gave. But didn't I tell her I was cured in a letter?"

"Uncle Roderick, what's the relationship between you and my mother?" Lacey asked cautiously.

Roderick waved his hand hastily. He explained, "Please don't get us wrong. Maria and I have nothing to do with each other. I'm very fond of her, that's all."

Lacey wasn't surprised by the answer. Why would a stranger send her mother thirty thousand dollars every year, consistently?

If it weren't for love, she wouldn't have expected anyone to be so selfless.

"Lacey, your mother was a good person. She didn't deserve to leave so soon. This is not right!" Roderick's eyes were red again.

Lacey lowered her gaze as she stared at the tombstone. "Isn't there an old saying that good people don't live long?" There was sadness in her voice.

Noticing her grief, Roderick hurriedly said, "Lacey, I've just arrived in South City and saw a lot of criticism of you in the papers. Why haven't you clarified yourself? You aren't that type of person!"

Lacey cocked her head at him and asked in confusion, "How do you know I'm not that type of person?"

Roderick sighed and went on to explain, "Maria has a good heart. She couldn't have raised a bad daughter. You took the fall for your sister, didn't you?"

Lacey was too shocked to speak at this point.

She hadn't thought that a stranger could be so sure of her character!

"Lacey, you don't have to return me the money. I don't need it. I make money repairing shoes and receive a monthly stipend from the government. For me, it's more than enough. Take the money and leave the Carter family, Lacey. Go somewhere else and start a new life. Leave the Carter's!"

Lacey felt a lump in her throat as she looked at the middle-aged man. She then said, with a smile, "Uncle Roderick, my mother's death was no accident. It was forced on her by my sister and my father. Therefore, how could I leave?"

She smiled helplessly. "How could I just leave like that? How could I allow them to live a life of freedom and ease? How could I? Uncle Roderick, tell me, how?"

"You can't win against them!" Roderick sounded worried.

"How are you be so sure? How will I know if I don't try?" Lacey looked at him with red eyes.

"How can you possibly stand up to them when they framed your mother seventeen years ago, and she was nearly killed? How will you be able to fight them on your own?" Roderick blurted out accidentally.

Lacey was startled.

"Uncle Roderick, what did you say?"