A Matrilocal Husband's Counterattack

Chapter 42: A Visit from Margaret

While Eugene Zacher and his team handled the scene, Ethan escorted Sophia to a nearby hospital.
Her injuries were not serious; Ethan just wanted her to relax and recover.
Sophia quickly woke up and asked about the accident. Ethan informed her that the other party was fully responsible, the car had been sent to the insurance company for repairs, and five thousand were paid for medical expenses.
Sophia did not doubt him and, after confirming she was fine with a brief rest, insisted on leaving the hospital. She even asked Ethan not to tell her parents about the accident.
She didn't want Linda and the others to worry, especially after two accidents in half a month.
"Your luck has been so bad lately. Not only is there trouble at your company, but you're always in some kind of accident. Don't you think it might be because of the Buddha amulet?"
Ethan seized every opportunity to address the Buddha amulet issue:
"I think it's best if you just get rid of it."
On the way, Ethan had considered breaking the amulet in the car accident, but he ultimately dismissed this rash idea.
The amulet was very sturdy, and since Sophia's chest was fine, it was unlikely the amulet would break. Doing so might easily make Sophia suspect that he tampered with it.
Even if Sophia believed the amulet had broken, she couldn't resist wearing another one, and if a stronger and more dangerous amulet replaced it, it could backfire terribly.
After weighing the pros and cons, Ethan decided not to interfere with it. Instead, he drew some charms to dispel any negative energy, hoping it would prevent Sophia from encountering more bad luck.
"Is it happening again?"
Whenever Ethan mentioned the amulet, Sophia's mood soured. "It's obvious the other driver was careless; what does that have to do with the amulet?"
"If it's so evil, then why is it that I drive to work every day and only have two accidents?"
"You're blaming the amulet, but I could just as easily suspect that you're the one bringing me bad luck, since both times the accidents happened when you were in my car."
She shot Ethan a look and grabbed her handbag, saying, "Don't say such nonsense again. Let's go home."
She was worried Ethan might be losing his mind, constantly being paranoid.
Ethan anticipated this outcome and smiled helplessly as he followed her out.
As soon as they reached the elevator, Ethan received a text message from Zacher's Group. They had dealt with the aftermath, and Lynn Zacher and Hanson Zacher had been caught again.
Zacher' Group assured Ethan that he would no longer be harmed.
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly and deleted the message without showing any emotion.
The trouble with Lynn Zacher had been resolved.
Ethan didn't want to get his hands dirty, but since the other party wanted to kill him and harm Sophia's family, he could only send them on their way.
Sighing, Ethan and Sophia returned to the villa and found a few guests at home.
Ethan looked closely and saw that it was Margaret and her daughter, Fiona.
Timothy and Linda were seated across from them, their expressions solemn and helpless.
Margaret was Linda's cousin, an employee at a state-owned enterprise, and they had a decent relationship, visiting each other during holidays.
However, Margaret always came empty-handed, often bringing her son and daughter along, calling it a "big family meal."
But today, she had unexpectedly brought a gift box.
The box was placed on the coffee table, looking rough and tied with a red string, resembling some kind of handicraft.
"Margaret, Fiona, how are you?"
Ethan and Sophia greeted them politely.
Margaret nodded slightly at Sophia but didn't even glance at Ethan, clearly not interested in him as the son-in-law of the family.
Then she frowned and spoke to Linda:
"Linda, I really don't know what to do anymore, or I wouldn't have come here so rudely."
"Fiona graduated with a degree in archaeology, but she's been unable to find a job. The current company is simply unreasonable."
"I've told them that my Fiona is a city girl, spoiled since childhood, and she can't do hard labor. Her material needs are quite high."
"I asked them to arrange a light job with a decent salary of around 18,000 for an intern, but they refused."
"They either sent her to the field or offered only 5,000 in salary—just like a rural graduate."
"You see, isn't this insulting to Fiona's background?"
Margaret, dressed in red, pounded her chest in anger, her sharp demeanor replaced by frustration and bitterness.
Fiona, meanwhile, played with her phone, barely lifting her eyelids, as if it didn't concern her.
Linda gently tried to comfort her: "Sister, I understand your feelings. How about this, Fiona could work at my clinic for a few months to gain some experience?"
"Spring Wind Clinic?"
Fiona's face twisted in disdain: "Aunt, forget your clinic."
"The patients there are all from the lower class—truck drivers or street vendors, and some are even gangsters."
"There's no class there."
"Besides, I studied archaeology, a sophisticated and noble field, not something related to your Spring Wind Clinic, which is like a vegetable market. I'd have to serve the patients."
She scoffed: "I wouldn't go even if you paid me ten million."
Margaret echoed: "Exactly, Fiona would learn nothing there and would lower her standards."
Linda's face changed slightly, but she forced a smile: "If Spring Wind Clinic isn't good enough, what do you suggest we do?"
She respected her family, but when it came to Ethan, she showed nothing but contempt.
"I've thought about it. Those small companies are too dismissive, so we won't go there."
Margaret's eyes lit up:
"I've decided to send Fiona to Aurora Group."
"I saw in the news that Aurora Group has discovered another jade mine abroad and their business is booming. Fiona would do well there."
She laid out her plan with precision: "I'm not asking for her to get rich, just earning around one to two hundred thousand a year would be fine."
"Going to Aurora Group sounds good, but they have high professional requirements."
Timothy frowned and spoke: "It's harder to get into Aurora Group than to pass a civil servant exam."
"They only hire experienced appraisers or exceptionally gifted individuals."
The implication was that Fiona's chances were slim.
"I know it's hard to get in, that's why we came to you."
Margaret winked:
"Linda, you've run a clinic for years and have countless medical resources. Timothy, you're an expert in antiques and know many wealthy families."
"You definitely have good connections with Aurora Group. Just put in a good word for Fiona and getting into Aurora Group will be as easy as drinking water."
Margaret's smile faded slightly: "Unless you don't want to help, or are worried about spending money and owing favors..."
Timothy and Linda looked troubled. They didn't want to help, but this request was beyond their capabilities.
Andrew Brooks made billions every year, while the Thompson family made only a few million annually. The gap between them was immense.
They admitted to knowing Andrew, but it was only a casual acquaintance—no one had the ability to pull strings.
Even if they could pass on a message, their influence was too weak.
Ethan, who was about to go upstairs, hesitated when he heard Andrew's name:
"Mom, what happened? Is it about Aurora Group?"
Under pressure from Margaret, Linda was immediately irritable when Ethan asked:
"Why are you asking? Can't help anyway."
She waved him off: "Go, cook. Margaret and the others are eating here later."
Ethan spoke nonchalantly: "I just heard you mention Aurora Group. I have some connections with Mr. Andrew. Maybe I can help..."
If it weren't for the tense atmosphere and worrying about Sophia's mood, Ethan wouldn't have bothered.
"You can help? What can you do?"
Margaret raged at Ethan: "This matter needs at least a manager from Aurora Group to solve it. Do you know one?"