Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Upon hearing Roxanne's suggestion, Chloe furrowed her brow, "Are you sure this approach will work?"
Roxanne replied confidently, "We won't know until we try. As long as you can play your role
convincingly without any mistakes, I believe they'll fall for it."
"Roxanne, but doesn't this seem a bit too cunning? After all, we're still family."
"You've treated them as family and given your all for them. You have children and still take care of their
entire family. But have they treated you like family?"
"They haven't really treated me like family."
As she recalled the injustices she had suffered over the past few years, Chloe couldn't quell the anger
burning within her anymore.
However, she worried that she might not have the necessary skills and cunning to engage in a fight
with her own family.
After listening to Chloe's concerns, Roxanne encouraged her, "Chloe, don't worry about not having
enough abilities. Think about your two children. Without money and a house, how would you protect
them? Be realistic; don't be too kind to others. Otherwise, they will take advantage of you."
Chloe made a firm decision and nodded resolutely, "Roxanne, I'll take your advice."
She decided to take action immediately.
When Aria was discharged from the hospital after her surgery, Chloe took care of her while studying
the stock market.
Recently, Charlotte noticed that after Chloe finished work, she would leave Austin and Aria in Amelia's
care.
Chloe would then sit on the couch for hours with a computer in front of her.
Charlotte asked, "Chloe, are you researching stocks?"
Chloe stared at the computer and replied, "Yes."
Charlotte wanted her money, "Where did you get the money to buy stocks? If you have money, why not
let me keep it safe? Why invest in risky stocks?"
Ha! Did she want her money again?
She once said she would keep Aria and Austin's childbirth fund safe for her.
However, she never returned it.
If she gave her money to this nasty old woman to keep, she would truly be a fool.
Chloe decided not to argue with Charlotte.
Roxanne had told her to stay calm, and also learn how and when to act.
In the battle against the villains in this family, she couldn't confront them head-on; she had to use
strategies.
Otherwise, she would suffer great losses.
While suppressing her anger, Chloe pretended, "Mom, you're the one managing things at home. If I
really had money, I would definitely have you keep it for me. All this money is tied up in stocks, and I
can't access it at the moment."
"In fact, I borrowed this money to invest in stocks. I thought that if the stocks made money, I could
repay the debt for Aria's surgery."
"Can you really make money?" Charlotte asked, feeling skeptical.
"Of course! I have a college classmate who works in stock funds. He has insider information, so
making money is very possible."
Charlotte found Oliver.
"Oliver, you're right. Chloe indeed managed to borrow money. Not only for Aria's surgery, but she also
borrowed money to invest in stocks. Can she really make money by investing in stocks?"
"Her college classmate does work with stock funds, and if he truly provided her with insider information,
making money isn't impossible."
During dinner, Chloe intentionally withdrew a lot of cash, placing fresh banknotes conspicuously on the
dining table.
The pile of cash on the table amounted to twelve thousand dollars.
Charlotte was flabbergasted to see so much money.
"Chloe, how did you get so much money?" she asked.
Chloe touched the cash and explained, "I earned it through stock trading."
She collected the cash, placed it into a bag one by one, and handed it to Amelia.
"Amelia, this is money I borrowed from Roxanne to pay for Aria's surgery. Please go to Roxanne later
and give her the money."
With two thousand dollars remaining, Chloe gave it to Charlotte, "Mom, please keep this part for me."
Charlotte couldn't contain her excitement once she saw the money.
Chloe gave her a few scripted lines, saying Charlotte was the head of the family and that she should be
respected.
Then the real act began. She emphasized, "Mom, it's mostly because investing in stocks really pays
off. I have a friend who gave me insider information, and within a few days, my investment increased
tenfold. I only invested a little over a thousand dollars and made over ten thousand."
Charlotte was excited, "This is a huge profit."
Chloe explained, "It's not that investing itself is a surefire way to make money. It's just that the insider
information is accurate, which is why I made money. I only invested a small amount, but if I had more
capital, I could have become rich."
Charlotte was immediately captivated.
If she put all the money Oliver gave her into the stock market, couldn't she make a lot of money?
"Chloe, tell me about this insider information." She said.
Chloe responded, "Mom, you don't have any income; where would you get money to invest in stocks?
Oliver doesn't save money either. Otherwise, we could invest more."
Charlotte felt embarrassed, "I don't have money. Oliver’s expenses are high, and he doesn't have
money either. But I can borrow some from relatives."
Chloe knew Charlotte was hiding something from her.
Charlotte was trying her best not to let her find out about the little stash of money she and her son had.
So Chloe pretended not to know, "Mom, if you can really borrow the money, I can help you invest in
stocks. If we make money, it's all yours. But you have to be quick, or else we'll buy in at a high price."
Chloe used simple language to briefly explain the basics of stock investing to Charlotte.
That night, Charlotte and Oliver decided to secretly hand over the fifty thousand dollars to Chloe.
However, they lied and told Chloe that they had borrowed the money from relatives.
Chloe reassured Charlotte, "Mom, don't worry. If I make money, I'll take it out and give it to you."
Oliver also told her, "Chloe, we borrowed this money from a few relatives. We promised to share the
profits with them if we made money. You need to invest cautiously, and if you make money, take it out
immediately."
Chloe promised them, "Rest assured, if I make money, I'll take it out right away."
Oliver and Charlotte both waited, hoping to turn their initial investment into hundreds of thousands.
They were both eager.
A few days passed.
During breakfast, Charlotte, with enthusiasm, asked between bites of fried eggs, "Chloe, how are the
stock investments doing? How much have they risen? If they've gone up, sell and take the money."
Chloe leisurely sipped her milk, "No rush; let's wait a few more days."
Charlotte inquired, "How much have they risen? Open your computer; I want to see." NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
Chloe didn't answer.
She handed a piece of toasted bread to Aria, "Amelia will take you to school today. We need to leave
early. You can have your bread in the car."
After sending Aria off, Chloe finished her milk and prepared to confront Charlotte and Oliver.
"The fifty thousand dollars you gave me, I didn't use it to buy stocks."
Charlotte looked puzzled, "Didn't you say you could make a lot of money? Why didn't you invest?"
Chloe set her cup down, smiled, and calmly observed Charlotte's comical state of panic.
"Mom, let's not discuss whether we'll make money or not. Can you tell me where this fifty thousand
came from?"
Charlotte blushed suddenly, "I told you, didn't I? I borrowed it from several relatives. If you haven't
invested it, then give it back to me quickly."
Chloe sneered, "You really think I'll give it back to you?"
Oliver asked, "Chloe, what do you mean?"
Charlotte also angrily asked, "Chloe, what's going on here?"
Chloe no longer wanted to continue acting with this mother-son duo.
She confessed bluntly, "Truth is, there was no plan to invest in stocks and make money. I fabricated it
all intentionally. Don't lie to me anymore. Stop saying this fifty thousand is borrowed from relatives. I
know the truth; Oliver earned this money."
Chloe continued, "I've been taking care of all the household chores throughout our marriage, and for
every cent Oliver earned, I also have a share. So don't think I'll return this fifty thousand dollars to you.
When Aria fell sick, neither of you spent a dime, and I didn't dwell on it. But from now on, don't think I'm
an easy target. I'm not someone to mess with."
She channeled Roxanne's confidence, using a calm tone to issue a most powerful warning.