Chapter 342: Someone Has To Pay

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After the dinner was served, Lisa hovered over Jennie like a fly. He was incredibly protective of his little wife and made sure everyone she spoke to was on their side. He never left her alone and always had a hand resting on some part of her body, ranging from her hips to her shoulders and then her lower back. His claim over her was clear for everyone to see. She was his.

Chittip Manoban was attempting to find an opportunity to detach her son from her potential daughter-in-law. She wanted to talk about the ring she saw and give her blessings. Her husband might've disapproved of the marriage, but she knew he would eventually come around. The worst-case scenario was that it might take a grandchild or two before he did.

She heaved a sigh. During the entire dinner, he refused to speak to her and was throwing a temper tantrum with his passive-aggressive silent treatment. That was fine with her. He needed her more than she needed him. She knew everything about him from his diet to where he misplaced his things.

Finally, she saw an opening when Lisa was called to privately converse with Elder Manoban. She watched him bend his head, whispering something into her ears, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek and walked off.

Other people began to approach Jennie now that her guard dog was gone. Chittip Manoban skimmed through the banquet where everyone parted for her. "Jennie."

Jennie raised her head and turned around to see Chittip Manoban approaching with intent in her eyes. "Madam Manoban." Her lips curled into a smile.

"Come and take a walk with me in the garden." Chittip Manoban offered her the curve of her arm to Jennie, who graciously placed her hand onto it. Never exchanging any more words, the two approached the garden, leaving everyone wondering what they would chat about.

- - - - -

"What is your intention on targeting Krystal?" Hojin Manoban cut straight to the chase. He rested his palms on the golden cane that was also an unsheathed sword. He was sitting on the grand couch of a room in the hallway.

Lisa did not make any moves of sitting down. He planned on returning to Jennie as soon as possible. "Someone has to pay for Somi's trauma."

"Someone already did pay." Hojin Manoban referred to Mu Ting and the nameless model.

Lisa nonchalantly glanced at his grandfather. Were two people enough for the bloodshed of his favorite granddaughter?

Hojin Manoban already knew what Lisa was thinking. "In most circumstances, I do not care who you target. You sank Kai's stock for being disrespectful. That was fine with me. You wanted to marry Jennie. That was fine with me. But when your heart wavers for her happiness, it's not okay."

"Have I lost power and my ruthlessness after meeting her?" Lisa slowly asked.

Hojin Manoban's lips twitched. Everyone knew the answer to that. Ever since Lisa encountered Jennie again, he became more merciless. "I'll ask for the last time, are you in love with her?"

"Is a King in love with his disposable pawns?" Lisa retorted without missing a heartbeat.

"Then why do you abuse your power for the sake of a forgotten grudge?"

"So, you'll allow a commoner to lay their dirty fingers on Somi and get away with it?" Lisa's words also implied a different message. Hojin Manoban was getting weak. He was beginning to care about miscellaneous opinions and consequences.

Lisa took out the contract from his suit. He placed it onto the marble coffee table that was designed to mimic the ones found in Buckingham Palace. "Krystal will not be the only thing I end."

Hojin Manoban picked up the contract and read through the thick packet. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of pages being turned and the ticks of the grandfather clock by the fireplace. After a few minutes, he settled the contract onto the table. "You plan on cutting off one of my major supporters. Is it because the five-year meeting is approaching?"

"When a dog walks ahead of his master, he should be thoroughly disciplined." Lisa recited the phrase Hojin Manoban had uttered in the past when the puppy was brutally beaten to death.

Hojin Manoban was quiet for the longest time. He contemplated his grandson's words. The reasoning was there and should anyone raise any objections, this contract would be proof. "I hope your decisions were not influenced by Jennie."

"Do I seem like the type to be influenced by a woman?"

Hojin Manoban had a knowing look in his eyes. He was on the thick side of the ice and did not want to tread over the thin layer. "Fine then."

"Ruining Krystal will also have the Kim's grateful to us. A change of CEO is always possible." He didn't bother to take back the copy of the contract and left without another glance towards his grandfather. He was allowing the words to marinate.

It was true Krystal was trying her hardest to have everyone like her. With the charm of a dashing female lead, she was slowly turning over the stones one by one. But she was going for the pebbles and not the boulders. None of it mattered now.

An extensive background check of Krystal came in a few days ago. He knew her biggest secret and it was one that would tarnish her reputation beyond repair. Her glass castle would come shattering down. It was a small price to pay for hurting his Nini.

- - - - -

Lisa walked back to the banquet. His sour mood worsened when his woman was nowhere in sight. 'Who stole her from him?' He didn't want to ponder over this thought anymore.

He took out his phone and easily located where the bodyguards were stationed. He turned around and headed in the direction of the garden, but a familiar raven-haired head stopped him.

"President Manoban, forgive me for speaking out of line, but may I—"

Lisa brushed past Chou Tzuyu without glancing her way. She was practically air to him.

Chou Tzuyu knew she would suffer his wrath sooner or later. She preferred to get it done as soon as possible. She had finally concluded her indecisive heart.

She mustered up all of her courage and grabbed his sleeves, forcing him to stop walking. He shook her off, fury written all over his face. He then dusted his sleeves as if she had dirtied it.

"Please! I just need five minutes to explain myself."

"How pathetic can you get?"

His words slapped her in the face. She was stunned to the core, her heart aching and tears building up in her eyes. All she wanted to do was talk and nothing more. Did he have to react like that? All she did was not stand up in a meeting and she was severely punished like this.

"Get out of my face. You disgust me." He spat out the words, turning his back to her.

Jennie was quietly watching the conversation unfold. Something about the way Lisa spoke to Chou Tzuyu rubbed her the wrong way. It was like witnessing herself in the past, the nightmare she had a few months ago when she still lived in Sky Arc Complex [1].

"Five minutes is all you have." Jennie turned the corner, her words surprising Chittip Manoban.

Chittip Manoban had expected Jennie to storm into the scene and make a possessive claim over Lisa. By not doing so, she was demonstrating how much she had matured and changed from the woman she was two years ago. If this was the previous Jennie, she would've slapped Chou Tzuyu in the face and accused her of attempting to covet Lisa.

Lisa swiveled around with a startled expression. He didn't expect her to be lurking and eavesdropping on the conversation. 'How long has she been standing there?' He glanced down at his phone and saw the positions of the bodyguards had changed to their current location.

Chou Tzuyu's throat ran dry. She felt like scum, for Jennie had just killed her with kindness. She tried so hard to sabotage the young woman in Elder Manoban's eyes. Yet today, Jennie showed who was the adult in this one-sided dispute.

Lisa's eyes connected with Jennie's. The two shared a silent conversation. In the end, she left to give them some space.

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