Chapter 517

Ruby and Lauren were in the middle of a heated argument with the restaurant manager.

Lauren, face flushed with anger, snapped, "What do you mean my membership's gone? Do you have any idea how much I've spent here? How much business I've brought you? You figured that out, right? So, without a membership card, I'm nothing here? You think you're too good for my money?"

The manager, looking exhausted, tried to calm her down, "It's not that we don't want to seat you, but we're fully booked. Even if you went inside, there'd be nowhere for you to eat."

"I used to be a member here. Let me in and see for myself if you're really full or just full of it."

Lauren was fuming, her irritation growing by the second. Coming here to eat and being told there's no room was bad enough, but losing her membership status was adding insult to injury.

Flames practically shot from her eyes as she unleashed her fury on the manager. Ruby tugged at Lauren's arm, trying to calm her down, "Mom, let's not make a scene. It's getting awkward with all these people walking by."

Ruby dreaded being recognized; the embarrassment would be unbearable.

Lauren, however, was like a volcano ready to erupt, finding a perfect target for her pent-up frustration in the beleaguered manager.

"What's this woman's deal?!"

The manager kept his cool but was stern, "Ma'am, as a former member, you should know our policies. We're always bustling. The tables are booked solid. Even if you walked in, there'd be no place to sit."

"How am I supposed to know if there are no seats if I don't go in?"

"Your temper tantrum here isn't helping. If I let you in and our patrons see this commotion, it's bad for business," the manager was on the verge of losing it.

Not wanting to waste more words, the manager turned to walk away.

But Lauren grabbed his arm, refusing to let him go. "I'm not leaving until I get an explanation!"

"Call security," the manager bellowed, "and get the police on the line."

Ruby intervened quickly, "Mom, let's just go. Please, let's drop it."

She pulled Lauren aside, whispering earnestly, "Mom, let's just let it go. It's humiliating, and if someone recognizes us and word gets out to Xavier about Billy running off with the money, how am I going to face marrying into that family?"

Lauren's anger cooled a bit as Ruby's words sank in. For her daughter's sake, she chose to swallow her pride.

Just as Lauren and Ruby were about to leave, they saw Josefina.

Josefina stood between Hattie and Garrett, looking every bit the image of a united family.

Dressed in designer clothes, Hattie was carrying a bag worth a cool three million, while Josefina sported a chic little purse valued at two hundred thousand.

As for Garrett, the watch on his wrist was one Lauren had seen online, a lavish piece with a price tag of eight million.

Lauren and Ruby stared at them in disbelief, dumbfounded.

Lauren muttered under her breath, "Are those Josefina's folks? They look the part, but how could she have parents rolling in that kind of cash?"

Ruby was equally skeptical. "I'm not buying it either."

As Josefina identified Lauren and Ruby, Hattie and Garrett glanced coldly at the two, their eyes brimming with disdain.

Hattie, gently pulling Josefina along, said with tender indulgence, "Josie, let's go have lunch. I've reserved the Crystal Room. Let's go eat."

Garrett added, "Josie, Dad's got a jewelry set picked out for you. After lunch, your mom and I will take you to see it."

Their words floated to Lauren, piquing her interest and stoking the fires of her rage.

Why was Josefina's family so loaded, yet she still insisted on picking a fight with Lauren?

Unable to contain her anger, Lauren marched up and blocked the path of Josefina and her parents.