Chapter 92 Invitation
Suddenly, Ben felt disenchanted and lost his appetite. ” You can use your money to pay the debt, Jean. I have spare.” Ben lowered his eyelids and said with disinclination in his voice.
He had thought of every possible solution to the problem. But his mother insisted he got engaged to Ally first in exchange for the extension in funding the racing team.
His friends had also been notified on the same matter. He put down his chopsticks, “No matter how difficult the situation gets, I won’t…”
… Accept Jean’s money. The latter half of the phrase was unspoken as he met Jean’s sagacious eyes. He bit his tongue despite the urge to decline her offer.
He muttered, “I’ve said I don’t want it. Period.” Jean took out an IOU from her handbag and laid it before him, “Sign it. Pay it back to me with a compounding interest when you have the money. You have to at least get through the two tournaments this month. ”
She had a phone call with Sonny before she came and was informed of the team’s financial bottleneck.
The team would get disbanded if the funding didn’t get resolved in time.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Ally said aloud, “Ben, your mom is here.”
“My mom?” Ben was flustered, “How did she find out about this place?”
He sprung up, frantically clearing up the littered floors.
Jean swallowed another mouthful of noodles, picked up her bag, and exited through the balcony that was linked to next door.
When Ben finally came back to his senses, Jean was long gone. The IOU was left on the table.
Farra demanded Ben’s racing team to let her in.
As soon as she got into the room, she saw that Ben was eating noodles alone.
Ally puckered her brows in confusion, “Wasn’t Jean still here a moment ago?”
Ben swallowed the noodles and acted oblivious, “Mom? How did you know I was here?”
The guilt-stricken Ally, who was behind Farra quickly darted her eyes and kept her eyes down.
Nobody else would tip off Farra of his whereabouts other than Ally! It also happened exactly when Jean and him were talking in the room and away from the others.
Farra smiled, “I am here to bring you a good news. I am willing to continue funding your racing career.”
Ben and the racing team were surprised by Farra’s announcement.
Ben saw through his mom’s façade and guised kindness, “Mom, I can’t agree to what you mentioned to me.”
With a poker face, his eyes traveled past Farra and locked on Ally.
Ally lowered her head and remained silent.
Farra sneered in displeasure, “Mom knows who you like. I have thought about it and decided to stop forcing you because Ally relentlessly persuaded me to drop the ultimatum. Please do not distant yourself from her hereafter. Take her as a little sister, would you?”
She knew only by giving Ben the leeway and blessing could she for trade his pliability. Only then Ben would stop despising Ally.
Ben’s eyes lit up, “Really?”
“Of course, I have brought the money along.”
Outside the room, Sonny and the others exclaimed excitedly, “Hooray!”
“Thanks, Mom!”
Ally pursed her lips seeing Ben warmed up and elated to the free rein. She got a lift in Farra’s car when the latter wanted to leave.
“Your idea was brilliant, Ally. He has been distancing from family due to the funding issue with his racing career. I was stressing for a way to give him an out.” Farra held Ally’s hand. She was very pleased with Ally.
She just couldn’t wrap her head around why her son would fall in love with a divorced woman.
Ally forced a smile, “Auntie, Ben is also very concerned about yours and uncle’s health. Resentment and grudges are the thief of joy in a family. Furthermore, he really likes Jean. I’m willing to quit and bless them.”
“That won’t work!” Farra rattled upon remembering how influential and prestigious the Sans family was in the marketplace. She couldn’t help but tighten her grasp on Ally’s hand.
“You are the daughter-in-law I have always wanted. I got Ben to invite Jean to my birthday party, I’ll show her that she is never enough for my son!”
She would have still thought so even if Jean was still the rich young lady of the Eyer family in the high society. Not to mention the doom of Eyer family had transpired, Jean was no good to elevate the Ludwig family’s distinction.
Ally concealed the conceited look in her eyes.
She put forth an understanding and obedient front, “I’m honored by your support. I will try my best.”
Farra had grown increasingly fond of Ally. On the contrary, she got flustered whenever she thought of Jean.
Ben sped and pulled up on Jean on her way home.
He got out of his car, pulled her out of the taxi and returned the IOU, “Take your money back. We’ve secured a funding.”
“So fast?” Jean accepted the IOU without hesitation.
Ben kept her still, “Also, I have good news for you.”
“An invitation to dinner tonight?”
Ben gagged on his saliva, “Can you stop thinking of food just for a second?”
“Well, food is important. It’s the source for survival.” Jean raised her head and looked at him, “Is there any better news than free meals?”
To her, everything came second to free meals.
Ben nodded in agreement, “You’re right. Then, you’re invited to a wholesome treat at my house in a few days.”
He finally had his mother’s blessing to pursue Jean!
By bringing her to the birthday party, he could make a public statement that Jean was no longer living in the shadow of her failed marriage with Edgar. She would no longer be bullied by Gigi. Henceforth, she would be his girlfriend and even the future Mrs. Ludwig.
“I refuse.” Jean was reminded of Farra’s pompous attitude. Farra was arrogant, and looked down on her. Jean shook her head and declined his invitation, ” I’ll be busy preparing for the design competition.”
“I heard that an Australian chef will be flown in for an on-the-spot fine dining experience.”
“What time is it? I don’t have to bring a birthday gift, right?”
Ben chuckled while looking at her, “You don’t have to. You just need to show up.”
He will prepare a birthday gift on her behalf.
He just wanted her to stick with him throughout the birthday party.
On the next evening, while Jean was dragging her tired body home, she saw a large parcel lying in front of her house. Her name was written as the consignee on the parcel.
She stared at the parcel and was reminded of Ben’s text message to her in the morning.
Jean hunkered down and picked up the parcel. She candidly tossed the parcel aside and headed to the kitchen as soon as she entered the house.
When Ben came to pick her up the following day, the parcel was still lying on the ground. Untouched.
“Didn’t you try on the dress I got you?” Ben looked at her plain attire of a shirt and jeans. He hinted, “My mom is celebrating her birthday today. Most of my family members will be attending too.”
Jean blinked, “Is there a problem with my outfit?”
