Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Flora Shaw’s Clarification

“What did you say…?”

That sentence was a dagger to Renee Jennings’s heart. She couldn’t believe her ears. In Nathaniel’s eyes, she couldn’t even compare to that weak woman, Victor Vance.

Nathaniel completely ignored her wounded expression. “Victor Vance is at least obedient. What do you have?”

He sneered. “Hmph, easy for you to say. What makes you think you can take on Naomi Kenway? Do you think the Shaw Family is someone we can afford to offend?” Nathaniel’s expression turned vicious as he gripped Renee Jennings’s shoulders. “Isn’t the humiliation I’ve suffered enough for you? If you’re in such a hurry to die, go jump off a building! Why must you drag the Lynch Family down with you?!”

Gazing at Nathaniel’s savage, bloodshot eyes, Renee Jennings’s eyelashes fluttered. She stared at him in disbelief. “How can you say that to me? Didn’t you promise you’d be good to me forever?”

“Do you have no memory? Weren’t you the one hitting and biting me just a couple of days ago? I haven’t had a single moment of peace since I met you. Don’t stand there making me sick.”

“Isn’t she just some tacky rich woman who likes buying fakes? You’re going to fight with me over someone so irrelevant?” Renee Jennings pressed her lips together, her voice a warning. “If you piss me off, I’ll spill everything I know about you. I’ll ruin you. Don’t think you’ll have it easy! Stay out of my business, do you hear me?”

“Tacky rich?” Nathaniel jabbed a finger at her, shouting, “That’s the Shaw Family! The Shaw Family of Veridia! If it weren’t for you, you bitch, I never would have offended them! Our company’s partnership with the Shaw Group was canceled a few days ago! Are you happy now, you bitch!”

Renee Jennings looked completely stunned. “What are you talking about? What Shaw Family of Veridia? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“What do you think?” Nathaniel’s voice was a harsh grate, as if forced through clenched teeth. “How many Shaw Families do you think there are in Veridia? When you were so desperate to cozy up to the rich, did you not even do your homework on who the wealthiest family in the city is? You absolute idiot! You’re a curse!”

“The Shaw Family…” Renee Jennings furrowed her brow, thinking. Suddenly, her expression went blank as if she’d entered a stupor. She mumbled, “The Shaw Family… That’s impossible. You’ve made a mistake.”

“Naomi Kenway’s husband is Ethan Shaw. Her mother-in-law is Jane Chandler, and her father-in-law is Jonathan Shaw. Have you really never heard of them? Do I need to spell it out for you? If I weren’t so afraid you’d drag me down with you, do you think I’d be wasting my breath explaining all this? It would be better for me if you just dropped dead outside and stopped being a liability.”

Nathaniel’s tone was venomous. His cheeks were no longer clean-shaven, and his chin was covered in unkempt stubble. A closer look revealed his eyes were shot with red.

Watching coldly as Renee Jennings crumpled to the floor, Nathaniel felt not a shred of pity. He ordered impatiently, “Delete that stupid post you made, now. If this blows up, don’t even think about dragging me into it. Got it?”

*

It wasn’t until she picked up Ian from school that evening that Naomi Kenway heard from Laura Grant about the whole “posing as a wealthy socialite” affair.

Looking at the “well-argued” nonsense from the gossip accounts, Naomi Kenway had to suppress a laugh.

’How absurd.’

The Pines and Cypresses had been hanging in the living room for many years. It was a gift from Ethan Shaw’s grand-aunt, Flora Shaw. Naomi Kenway wasn’t sure of the exact date it was gifted; the painting was already there when she first joined the Shaw Family. Later, her curiosity got the better of her and she asked Nanny Warren, who told her Flora Shaw had given the painting to Ethan Shaw.

Flora Shaw had married and moved abroad decades ago. She used to return to the country to visit relatives during major holidays, but she hadn’t been back in the last couple of years due to poor health, recuperating overseas instead.

Naomi Kenway hadn’t met Flora Shaw many times, but she remembered her as a gentle soul. A devout Buddhist, Flora Shaw was rarely seen with a stern expression. Before Naomi’s “awakening,” back when she had made many foolish mistakes, Flora Shaw was one of the few elders in the Shaw Family who had been especially kind to her.

The online rumors were spiraling out of control. Naomi Kenway knew that posting explanations would be futile. The core issue was that a priceless landscape painting, which was supposed to be in Flora Shaw’s possession, had somehow appeared in her house.

After a moment’s thought, Naomi Kenway found Flora Shaw’s number on her phone and dialed.

The call was answered within three seconds by a young woman’s voice. “Hello, who is this, please?”

“Is someone calling?” A voice, clearly much older, came from the background. It was Flora Shaw. She must have glimpsed the screen. “Ah, it’s Nia. Give the phone to me.”

Flora Shaw’s voice, gentle and honed by the passage of time, was as soothing as a freshly brewed cup of tea. “That was just my caregiver, a very sweet young lady. Child, it’s been a while since we’ve talked. How have you been?”

“I’m doing well, but you sound a little hoarse. Are you still not feeling well?” Naomi Kenway asked with concern.

“I’m much better,” Flora Shaw replied, a smile in her voice. “It’s just my old age, my legs aren’t as nimble as they once were. I miss being home. I’d love to have a get-together with all of you.”

“Please focus on getting better. We’ll be here waiting for you whenever you’re ready to come back.”

“Of course.” Then Flora Shaw added, “You sound a little anxious. Did you call about something urgent?”

Naomi Kenway affirmed, “I have run into a little trouble, and I was hoping you might be able to help.”

Flora Shaw’s tone remained gentle and reassuring. “There’s no need to rush or panic, child. Just tell me what’s wrong, nice and slow. I’ll help in any way I can.”

“Thank you, Grand-aunt. It’s about the Pines and Cypresses you sent us a few years back. Do you remember it? I was filming a show, and a controversy has started online. A lot of people are questioning the painting’s authenticity, and I was wondering if you might be able to help clear things up?”

“Oh, it’s about The Pines and Cypresses,” Flora Shaw said, sounding relieved. “That’s very simple to resolve. Don’t you worry, child. I’ll have someone issue a clarification immediately.”

“Thank you, Grand-aunt.”

“It’s no trouble at all. For you to call, this must have been weighing on you. Don’t worry, child, I’ll handle it.”

After a bit more small talk, Naomi Kenway ended the call.

[Whoa, was that actually Flora Shaw on the other end?]

[Where’d she hire this actress? Is Naomi Kenway for real with this act? Why only a phone call? If you’ve got the guts, do a video call so we can see if that’s actually Flora Shaw.]

[Nina just called her Grand-aunt, so they must really be related.]

[If Naomi Kenway is going to lie, she should at least do her homework. Flora Shaw is an only daughter; she has no brothers. So where does this ’Grand-aunt’ business come from? That’s ridiculous.]

[Maybe they’re cousins or something.]

[That voice doesn’t sound like Flora Shaw. Is she really that old? She sounds so frail and sick, not like Flora Shaw at all. Naomi should’ve hired an actress who sounds more like her.]

[Naomi and her husband are seriously something else, just viciously ambitious. Now they’re even faking being related to the richest family. I can’t imagine what kind of long con they’re playing. Guess they deserve all the attention they’re getting.]

[Let’s not jump to conclusions. There’s a new twist. Renee Jennings deleted her post dissing Naomi Kenway. Super weird move. Maybe she found something out? Like maybe Naomi really IS part of the Shaw Family.]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep