Dump My Ex, Dive into Love with His Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 181: Five Million, Leave My Son

Bella Woods arrived at the address given by Calvin Marshall and discovered it was a club called Listening Orchid Pavilion.

Bella was familiar with this club; Cyan Marshall had brought her here once for afternoon tea. It was a popular gathering spot for the elite women of Peace City and was known for hosting multiple card games in the evenings.

However, Cyan had only taken her there once, and it had been an unpleasant experience.

It was said that Listening Orchid Pavilion had a new owner, namely the current wife of Old Master Marshall, Ethan Marshall’s biological mother. It was a scandal back then, as Old Master had kept a mistress for many years outside the family.

Later, Old Master’s legitimate wife unexpectedly passed away, and this mistress and Ethan were brought back to the Marshall Family to be officially recognized, due to Old Master’s long-standing guilt over having them live outside for so many years.

Therefore, Old Master kept his grip on important shares of the Marshall Clan Group, intending to leave something behind for Ethan in the future.

Even when Ashton single-handedly toppled Ethan back in the day, as long as Old Master was alive, he sought to support Ethan’s rise.

These tidbits, collected over the years from Cyan Marshall, Oliver Hughes, or the newly acquainted Calvin Marshall, pieced together this grand family secret for Bella Woods.

As Bella was led down the corridor of the club by the staff, she suddenly realized the message that had summoned her there wasn’t sent by Calvin.

And now Bella had already arrived at the private room door with the staff. She held her phone, ready to send her location and a distress call to the backup Ashton Marshall had left her.

"Miss Woods, the lady is waiting for you inside." The staff respectfully opened the door and added, "Miss Woods can be at ease; the lady said today’s meeting is just for a chat."

The lady?

Bella was unfamiliar with this term and didn’t know which lady it referred to.

Given the staff’s reassurance, Bella naturally let her guard down a bit and stepped into the private room, curious about which lady, apart from Cyan Marshall, in the elite circles of Peace City, wanted to see her.

As Bella entered, the door was shut, and the room was filled with a strong scent of tea.

The tea master, dressed in a traditional outfit with bamboo embroidery, displayed high-level tea art skills, serving the lady sitting nearby.

The lady seemed to be around fifty, well-maintained, and wore a massive jade Buddha pendant on her chest, along with large diamond rings.

From her attire to her accessories, and her mannerisms, she exuded an aura of opulence and unattainable elegance.

Bella recognized who she was.

"Mrs. Sutton, hello," Bella greeted her.

"You recognize me," Maria Sutton coldly assessed Bella with her gaze.

Maria, sitting at a higher level at the tea table, looked down at Bella with a cold arrogance, as if superior to her.

"Mrs. Hughes brought me here once before, where I met you, Mrs. Sutton," Bella candidly replied.

Maria Sutton, now Old Master Marshall’s wife and Ethan Marshall’s biological mother.

Due to the Marshall family’s influence and Ashton’s as well, no one dared to address Maria Sutton as Mrs. Marshall, only as Mrs. Sutton.

"That was how many years ago, and you remember so clearly?" Maria was clearly skeptical. "How much investigating have you done privately?"

"I don’t understand what you mean, Mrs. Sutton."

Bang!

Maria Sutton slammed the teacup onto the table, her face displeased. "I, for one, dislike a certain type of woman the most, especially one who tries to act smart in front of me."

"Especially those who are lowborn, trying to climb up by connecting with the right people, thinking they can jump social classes, when in fact, they couldn’t be more foolish!

A sparrow is just a sparrow; it can never become a phoenix."

Maria’s words were filled with warning, and Bella understood why she was summoned here.

"Mrs. Sutton, regarding the video of Ethan Marshall and me, it’s just a staged online piece, edited as well," Bella explained, "Ethan and I..."

"Is Ethan someone you can refer to so casually?" Maria’s voice cut like ice.

Bella corrected herself, "There is nothing between me and Lord Ethan."

"Heh, you don’t need to pretend to be all virtuous in front of me." Maria rose, descending the step to stand arrogantly before Bella.

"I know your type. You maneuvered to save Cyan Marshall, coerced Oliver Hughes into an engagement with you. Then, after hobnobbing with Ethan, dropped Oliver..."

Maria disdainfully shook her head. "A woman like you, too scheming and calculating."

Bella disliked being characterized this way by Maria, but she held back from arguing.

There was no point in disputing it.

"Mrs. Sutton, as I said before, there is nothing between Lord Ethan and me," Bella reaffirmed her stance. "The reason you summoned me today is simply to warn me to stay away from Ethan.

I understand that, to you, Lord Ethan might have a better future, a more fitting partner. I truly am not suitable, but rest assured, I will never have any ambiguous relationship with Lord Ethan in this lifetime."

"So you’re saying Ethan isn’t good enough for you?" Maria found it amusing.

"I’m just stating there’s no entanglement between Lord Ethan and me," Bella maintained her position.

Maria said nothing but turned to grab a teacup from the table and flung it at Bella’s face.

The tea, still warm, splashed all over Bella’s face.

Maria slammed the teacup back onto the table with force, warning, "Don’t try talking circles with me. I know what you women are after.

All this runaround, you still feel the benefits from Ethan aren’t enough."

"Considering your relationship with Cyan, I’m giving you one last chance. Five million to leave Ethan, and have no further dealings with him."

Upon finishing, someone handed Maria a check for five million.

Touched by the tea on her face, Bella was inwardly upset.

Dragged here for inexplicable reasons and met with a barrage of warnings; her explanations fell on deaf ears.

Bella’s expression hardened. "You ought to keep your check, ma’am."

"What, you don’t think five million is enough?"

"It’s not the five million; I just don’t value it from you," Bella said while taking a tissue to wipe the tea from her face.

Her words changed Maria’s entire demeanor. "Do you even know what you’re saying?"

Facing Maria Sutton, Bella replied, "Your five million is just what Old Master Marshall gives you. But the Marshall’s current status is due to Old Master marrying the richest woman in Peace City back in the day, who supported him all the way to build today’s Marshall dynasty."

"And you, reaping the benefits, are essentially spending the wealth that belonged to the original Mrs. Marshall, so this five million, I’m sorry, I can’t accept it."