Ch. 296..300: My Sugar And Your Spice Chapter 296-300

Chapter 296 Elyse’s Comeuppance

“Listen up, Elyse, and your entire family too.” Leo’s voice was still and unemotional. “This is the last time I’ll answer a call from you. I won’t ask for the money you tricked me into giving you, but you will need to suffer the consequences of your actions. The lawyer will get in touch with you soon. You can get into the details with him.”

“Leo!” Elyse cried out once more as her face turned ghostly pale. She couldn’t resign herself to this.

All she got in reply was a dial tone.

He ended the call!

“What happened?” Michael quickly asked when he noticed Elyse standing there motionlessly with a strange expression on her face.

The phone slipped out of Elyse’s hand and clattered on the floor. Elyse looked defeated.

“What on earth is going on? Hurry up and tell me!” Michael urged when he realized that things weren’t going the way he had hoped.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Michael eyed Elyse for a moment before rushing over to get the door.

A stranger was standing outside.

Michael scrutinized the man with his beady eyes and asked, “Who are you? Did you come to the wrong address?”

“I’m Mr. Alston’s lawyer. I’m here to see Michael and Elyse Clayton,” the man answered. “You must be Michael Clayton.”

“L-Lawyer?” Michael instinctively took a step back when he heard that this man was a lawyer.

The lawyer walked into the house and saw a clueless Ellen and an ashen-faced Elyse.

He nodded and said, “I suppose Mr. Alston has told you why I’m here, Miss Clayton.”

He deftly opened up his briefcase and took out a stack of paper.

“This is the evidence of your attempts to trick Mr. Alston. The truth is that Miss Ellen Clayton and Mr. Alston never had any contact before. You misled him on purpose to make him think that Ellen Clayton was Big Eyes. In the eyes of the law, this counts as fraud.”

“What?”

Michael was scared out of his wits.

His beady eyes were frozen as he gaped in shock.

Ellen’s eyes were flickering wildly too, and her legs went numb.

Everything has been exposed just like that? How did it get exposed? What went wrong?

Elyse and Michael stared at each other, but they couldn’t figure out where they had gone wrong.

All at once, Elyse snatched the so-called evidence and flipped through everything.

It was an investigation report which clearly stated that Ellen never stopped foot inside Leo’s room during his time at the hospital. She never even said a single word to him.

“That’s impossible! This evidence is false!” Elyse shrieked. “My sister kept a diary which contains a clear record of every single detail of their interactions! Leo confirmed the contents of the diary himself.”

“Yes! That’s right!” Michael backed Elyse up.

“If my Elie never stayed at the hospital in Quinn Town and never spoke to Mr. Alston, then how do you explain the diary? If you people look down on Elie because she’s mentally unwell and don’t want her around, then just come out and say so. How can you come up with these things to slander her? That’s too reprehensible of you.”

Michael looked every bit the part of an indignant man demanding justice. His beady eyes were large and round.

Michael looked every bit the part of an indignant man demanding justice. His beady eyes were large and round.

“Speak up, Ellen. Tell us whether or not you saw Leo.” Elyse shoved Ellen forward.

Ellen pouted with an aggrieved look on her face. Her eyes were reddened as tears pooled in them.

“I was the one with Leo. I’m his Big Eyes. He likes me so much. We made a promise! How could he…” Ellen’s tears streamed down her face.

She looked so pitiful that other people’s hearts would ache for her.

However, the lawyer simply smirked when he saw this. He took out another set of documents. “This is the report from the mental hospital which confirms that Miss Ellen Clayton has a paranoid disorder. She took the interactions she saw between Mr. Alston and someone else and made them her own. She created a wonderful fairytale in her head with herself as the subject, and she recorded everything in her diary. Also, our investigations have proven that although Miss Ellen Clayton never spoke to Mr. Alston,

she was constantly hiding in the dark and spying on him. We have found a witness who has given a statement that verifies this.”

“What…”

The lawyer’s evidence was irrefutable. Michael and Elyse were stunned into silence.

“Everything happened because there’s something wrong with her and she misled us. We’re the victims too!” Fraud was a crime that carried a serious penalty. They would have to serve a prison sentence.

I’m already in serious trouble because of the fraudulent contracts. If I get taken to court over this too, I’m doomed!

Elyse knew full well that her situation would be unsalvageable if she admitted to this!

I need to turn things around! I want to continue my life of glory! I can’t let this affect me!

Michael nodded in agreement. “Yes! That’s right! I didn’t know it wasn’t true. Her diary was so detailed. I really thought… Thank goodness you brought the evidence that proved it was all a lie, or else, we’d still be kept in the dark.”

He even took the lawyer’s hand before continuing, “Mr. Lawyer, please talk to Mr. Alston and tell him that we were tricked too, so that’s why… Here, how’s this? I’ll take Elie to him and make her apologize in person, so let’s… put a stop to the lawsuit against us.”

“Exactly. We wouldn’t have done anything if we knew the contents of the diary weren’t true.” Elyse cupped her hands and stared apologetically at the lawyer. Her act looked quite believable.

Seeing as how the two were still trying to put on a show for him, the lawyer cleared his throat perfunctorily and said, “If you wish to prove your innocence, why not do it in court? However, let me remind you that Mr. Alston doesn’t like being tricked. If you confess now, he might consider showing you

leniency, but if you refuse to admit what you’ve done, then knowing his personality, he won’t show any mercy.”

The lawyer nodded and left.

“That’s…”

Michael and Elyse stared at each other with stupefied gazes.

“This… What…” Michael slammed his hand against his forehead and cried out, “We’re doomed! We’re done for! I wanted to use this to live a life of luxury, but not only have I not enjoyed any of it yet, but I’ll be going to prison soon enough.”

He bawled his eyes out as he slapped himself on the thigh. He was filled with regret and reluctance to accept his fate.

I had everything right here in the palm of my hand! How could it disappear just like that? How am I supposed to accept this?

Elyse was frozen like a statue.

Initially, she thought that even if she lost everything, with Ellen around as her insurance, she would still be able to live comfortably.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, all her hopes were dashed.

It was an exhilarating ride to go from having nothing to having everything.

Alas, going from having everything to nothing was torture.

“It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!” Elyse had no other outlet to vent, so she began punching and kicking Ellen.

Her pointy heels stabbed into Ellen’s leg. The pain was so excruciating that Ellen shrieked in agony.

Ellen tried to move away, but Elyse held her in a death grip and refused to let go.

Elyse was taking her anger out by kicking with full force every time.

Ellen’s screams became even more desperate.

The more Ellen screamed, the harder Elyse kicked. “I had everything planned! You’re the one who didn’t know how to make full use of the opportunity. You must’ve said something to Leo that gave things away and made him suspicious. That has to be why he investigated everything. Why should we keep you around, you useless creature? You might as well die on the streets somewhere!”

Ellen couldn’t avoid the attacks. She could only curl herself up and shield her head with her arms as she cried out, “I didn’t! I didn’t give anything away! I didn’t!”

“That’s enough. Stop hitting her.” Michael finally came back to his senses and stopped Elyse. “Didn’t you hear what the lawyer said? She has a paranoid disorder and truly believes that she experienced all those things. How could she have given anything away?”

At last, Elyse stopped kicking Ellen, but her expression was still as stormy as ever. She felt like punching the wall.

“Now that it has come to be this, am I really going to go to prison?” Elyse began quivering at the thought of being locked up in a cold, terrifying prison.

Chapter 297 End of a Dream

Michael sighed. He was already out of options.

“What about the corneal donation?” Elyse suggested. “How did he find out about that case? A lot of people saw that in Quill Town’s hospital. It shouldn’t have been easy to find anything.”

Not even they could figure out how Ellen got her hands on the documents.

“Leo’s powerful. He can find out anything he wants.” Michael was really scared now. He no longer wanted to go against Leo. “We should just turn ourselves in. If he finds out what we’re up to, he’s going to kill us.” That was the best deal on the table at that moment.

“Turn ourselves in? If we do that, we’re going to jail. We’ll lose everything. After we’re released, you’ll be too old to work, and I don’t have any money-making skills. How are we supposed to live, then?”

Michael shivered. That’s not a pretty picture to imagine.

“At this point, we should just go all in. Perhaps we’ll have a chance at survival.”

Michael might be scared of Leo, but Elyse had a point as well.

Before he could say anything, Elyse dragged Ellen with her. “Come with me right now and settle this matter. If you can’t help us, I’ll sell you off.”

Thirty minutes later, Elyse arrived at Genesis. She had a pair of sunglasses on, a hat on her head, and a mask covering her face. She also wore a lot of layers of clothing. Now she looked like a courier rather than a celebrity. Even though she was no longer an A-lister, her past with Leo made her the topic of many news outlets’ articles. Moreover, after that contract scandal, she didn’t want anyone to recognize her.

“Out.” She yanked Ellen out of the car, her eyes devoid of any emotion. She didn’t bother to be gentle at all, but when she noticed the crowd staring at her, Elyse straightened Ellen’s clothes out as if she were a good sister. “You know what to do, don’t you?”

“Y-Yes,” Ellen whispered. Elyse raised her hand. Thinking that she wanted to hit her, Ellen curled up a little.

Elyse loved that Ellen was afraid of her. “Good. Make him happy, and you can be with him forever.”

“I’ll do my best. I want to be with him forever.” The mention of Leo made Ellen perk up, and her eyes started to gleam.

Elyse took her to the reception and put on the biggest smile she had. “Hi. I need to see Mr. Alston. It’s urgent. Take this to him, and he’ll understand what I’m talking about.” She handed a file to the receptionist.

The receptionist took a look. She had no idea what it was, but the fact that it was a hospital’s file told her it was important, so she contacted someone. A moment later, she looked at Elyse. “A moment, please. I’ll take this to Mr. Alston.”

The receptionist took a look. She had no idea what it was, but the fact that it was a hospital’s file told her it was important, so she contacted someone. A moment later, she looked at Elyse. “A moment, please. I’ll take this to Mr. Alston.”

“Of course.” Smugness flashed in Elyse’s eyes. He’ll take a look at this. As long as he is willing to go through the file, then we can make a comeback. Glad I came today.

Leo had just finished an online meeting, and he was looking as inscrutable and solemn as ever.

Eugene came in and stopped before him. “Mr. Alston, the Tax Bureau has contacted Elyse, demanding that she work with them. They’re taking this case seriously. She’s going to go broke and lose her

reputation.”

Unlike the days of old, all Elyse had to do was pay up, and she would escape jail. However, she would go bankrupt after that. Eugene looked at Leo in silence, and a chill ran down his spine. Never make him mad. He’s scary. Not only did he gather evidence of Elyse’s crime in silence, but now he’s going to sue her for fraud. She’s going to lose both money and reputation. “Oh, one more thing. Elyse sent this over.” Eugene looked at the file in his hand, then he placed it on Leo’s desk.

After Leo took a glance at the file, he frowned. He picked the file up and held it tightly in his hand.

Ten minutes had gone by since the file was taken upstairs. It was long, but Elyse was still in a fine mood. I know Leo. He’s a fair gentleman. No matter how much he hates me, he’s still going to repay Ellen’s favor. The file she presented was the proof that Ellen was the corneal donor, or so the file said. She was sure no one could see through it. Fortunately, Ellen was almost blind in one eye, so Leo must have fallen for the lie. I can keep my money and stay away from jail, thought Elyse smugly. I’m so smart.

Just as she was deep in her thoughts, she saw Leo walking toward them.

“Leo!” Noticing Leo, Ellen’s eyes shone as bright as stars. She couldn’t even look away from him.

A hint of love appeared in Elyse’s eyes as well. He’s perfect. He expresses his love in ways you only see in your wildest dreams. She reminisced about the times they used to date, but she knew those days would never come back. “Let’s go.” She pinched Ellen.

No longer able to hold back her longing, Ellen ran up to Leo. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me, Leo. I’m scared.”

She tried to pounce into his embrace, but someone stopped her. Leo was talking to the people beside him, not giving Ellen a moment of attention. They then stepped forth and got in a car.

“Huh?” Elyse was dumbfounded. They want to take this elsewhere? Hm, I guess that’s okay. Talking things out in the company is inconvenient. He would never leave his savior in a place like this. She looked around. “So, where’s our car?”

“Wake up, ladies. The good times are long over.” Eugene stopped them. He would puke if not for his professionalism. He couldn’t believe there was someone out there who knew no shame at all. Then, he tossed the file back to Elyse. “Mr. Alston has a message for you. If you want to spend more time in jail, you’re always welcome to pull even more tricks.”

Elyse said nothing.

“No. It’s true. I did donate my cornea to Leo!” Ellen argued and touched her eye. “I’m almost blind in one eye, and I did it all for him.”

Eugene sneered. “Is that so? Then you may go upstairs and wait for Mr. Alston, then. I’m sure he’ll talk to you in due time.” He gestured at the ladies, inviting them in.

“Alright!” Ellen nodded innocently.

However, Elyse didn’t dare to move. He clearly doesn’t believe us, and now he wants us to wait for him? If he finds any more proof of our shenanigans, he’ll make sure I spend my whole life in prison. “We’ll talk about this later.” Elyse dragged the protesting Ellen back to the car.

Eugene saw them off, a smile of mockery curling his lips. Their greed knows no bounds. No matter how much Mr. Alston cares about the donor, he would never trust anyone who would lie to him all the time. These women only got away with it because Mr. Alston used to care for them. Now they must pay the price.

Elyse drove to a quiet corner and impatiently chased Ellen out of the car, then she pulled her head in frustration. A moment later, she slammed her hands on the steering wheel and clutched it tightly. I can’t

get through to Leo now, but I can’t give up just like this. She went through a lot of ideas before she eventually decided on one. Elyse gritted her teeth and made a call to someone she never wanted to. “I need your help. This is serious.”

Chapter 298 Worthless

“You wish for my help?” the man said devilishly in a nonchalant manner. “But I’ve always been helping you, yet you are too stupid to get it. You keep disappointing me.”

“I have no other choice.” Elyse could no longer stay haughty, not in this situation. “I’ll do whatever you ask of me this time. I know what you want.”

“I do not help those without value to me, and you have lost all your worth,” the man answered coldly.

Elyse’s phone almost fell out of her hand, but her reluctance to admit defeat kept her going. “It’s your fault I became like this. If it weren’t for you, I would still be in a loving relationship with Leo. We’d probably be raising a family by now.”

“Is that so?” The man chortled, which annoyed Elyse.

The mockery in his tone crushed what was left of Elyse’s dignity.

“You were arrogant. You abused the love he gave you. Even if I hadn’t shown up, you would have gone for someone else anyway. It’s sad that you still can’t recognize the error of your ways and that you think it’s someone else’s fault you’re in this predicament. That’s not right,” the man said as softly and indifferently as usual. “Perhaps you might learn a lesson in prison.”

“No, I don’t want to!” Elyse had a meltdown. She couldn’t imagine what prison life would be like. She went there once for a shoot, and it was a dark, dreary place. The days of the inmates were filled with nothing but pain and despair. She would die if she were imprisoned.

“Pull off one last one, then. You need to go all in this time if you want to live.” Then, the man hung up.

Elyse clutched her phone, her face as pale as a ghost, and sweat drenched her forehead. “I need a chance,” she muttered as her mind raced. That’s it. I have an idea.

The clacking of heels echoed in the long, dark corridor shrouded in the darkness of night. No other sounds could be heard. Amelie stared at the slip of paper on her hand, illuminated by the flashlight of her handphone. This is where that mystery guy lives. An hour ago, they called her and promised to meet up. Amelie was going to make a new course.

Most people had never heard of that, but she knew it would be a trend in the future. Amelie was a shrewd businesswoman. She knew what the platform needed, and she knew what the best investment to make was. Every genius is a bit odd. Can’t believe they’re staying somewhere so remote.

Most people had never heard of that, but she knew it would be a trend in the future. Amelie was a shrewd businesswoman. She knew what the platform needed, and she knew what the best investment to make was. Every genius is a bit odd. Can’t believe they’re staying somewhere so remote.

Amelie stopped before a door. Just when she was about to ring the doorbell, she felt a gust of wind behind her, and she froze. I feel something cold on my neck. She reached back and grabbed the hand of her attacker, and she quickly turned around.

Her attacker gasped in pain.

Amelie slammed the attacker into the wall, their face sticking to the surface sideways. She shone her phone on the attacker and was met with a familiar face. “Elyse?”

Amelie was twisting Elyse’s arm behind her. Her grip was strong and it threatened to break Elyse’s arm. She let out another gasp, and something fell to the ground.

Amelie saw something glinting in the darkness, and she looked down. A knife. “You were going to kill me?” Amelie was shocked.

Fury and hatred crept onto Elyse’s face. “Damn it. You’re a martial artist?” Elyse thought she could kill Amelie for sure. The knife had already made contact with Amelie’s neck, but before she knew it, Amelie already had her pinned down.

Amelie chuckled. “You didn’t do any research, did you? Sloppy and stupid, but I guess that’s how you messed your own life up. And I’m not the one who you should be looking for.” Amelie looked at her coldly. “I’m not the one who snitched on you. Someone else gave the bureau the evidence of your tax evasion.”

“You have to save me, Amelie. I’ll do anything,” blurted Elyse.

Amelie froze. She didn’t expect Elyse to beg her.

“Leo did it. He showed the Tax Bureau evidence of my tax evasion, and he did it for you. He’s also going to sue me for fraud,” Elyse told her everything. “I don’t want to go to jail. Please, tell Leo to let me go. He’ll do it for you.”

Leo did it? Amelie thought that was unreal. But why? Just for me? No, I don’t think so. It was surprising what Leo did, but Elyse’s begging surprised her more. “You want me to help you? Are you stupid?” Any sane person wouldn’t have said that.

Elyse looked awkward. She didn’t want to ask Amelie for help, but this was her only option. “Ellen says you’re a kind and generous woman. You’re not petty and you love to help, so why don’t you help me?”

She knows no shame at all. Amelie sneered. “Just because I’m kind doesn’t mean I have to help you. You need to get your head checked.” She tossed Elyse into the distance. “Leo’s going to send you to jail anyway. I’d like to help.” She whipped her phone out to call the cops.

Elyse plopped to the ground. She noticed Amelie trying to call the cops, but she didn’t stop her. Instead, she sneered. “Sure, go on, but the moment I’m convicted, your family dies.”

Amelie froze, and she shot Elyse a look.

Elyse chuckled. “Did you really think I came here to kill you? No. I’m here to tell you something. You’d better call your father, but I don’t think he’d pick up.”

Amelie stared at Elyse, trying to determine if she was lying. Then, her phone rang, and she let it ring for a while before finally picking it up.

A man said darkly, “I have your father and daughter. If you want to see them alive, you’d best do what you’re told.”

What? Amelie felt a sharp pang in her heart.

“Gather the money and prepare ten cars. Elyse will tell you where to rendezvous. Don’t do anything stupid, or your family gets it.” Amelie heard the shouts of a man and a child.

The voices belonged to Steven and Brianna.

“Don’t hurt them!” Amelie said quickly, a lump forming in her throat. “I’ll do it!”

“Good.” The man sounded happy.

Amelie felt her heart squeeze, and she felt like she was suffocating. My family is in danger!

Only after she took a few deep breaths was she able to speak again. “How much do you want?”

 

Chapter 299 Revenge

“The more the better,” the man said greedily. “You forced us into hiding. We’re practically homeless now, and we need money to restart our lives.”

“Deal.” Steven had a heart condition and Brianna was still young. She couldn’t give them up, and she wanted to deal with this as soon as possible. “But how can I be sure you’ll stay true to your word?”

“You’re in no position to negotiate,” hissed Michael.

“Fine.” Amelie pursed her lips.

“I see we’ve reached an understanding.” Michael loved that Amelie was working with him so well.

Amelie hung up.

Elyse handed her a piece of paper. “Here’s the account numbers.”

They came prepared. Amelie took the paper and transferred her money into the accounts. Elyse kept a close eye on the phone screen in case Amelie tried to call anyone for help. Fortunately, she did nothing of the sort. Elyse did tremble in envy when she saw the amount of money that was transferred. Even though she used to be an A-lister, she never made seven billion.

Amelie transferred all the money to all ten of Michael’s accounts without batting an eye, then she wagged her phone. “Take me to them.”

“Come with me.” Surprisingly, Elyse kept her word and led her to the car.

However, before they got in the car, Elyse snatched Amelie’s phone away and smashed it on the ground, then she tossed it into a trash can.

Amelie watched in silence, not even stopping her.

Elyse drove around and around before they finally reached a mountain forest in a secluded area. The air there was stale and cold. Amelie had to hug herself to stay warm. They made a short trek, and Amelie saw a silhouette on a boulder.

“We’re here, Dad,” said Elyse.

There was no response. The silhouette slid away. Michael hid in the darkness, fearing that Amelie had brought reinforcements with her.

“Where’s Bria and my father?” asked Amelie coldly.

“Oh, calm down.” Elyse stepped ahead. “I’m letting them go right now.”

Amelie stared into Elyse’s eyes. Her gaze was dark and venomous. She should be making a run for it after taking my money. So why is she taking me to Dad and Bria?

“Here’s your lovely daughter.” Elyse picked Brianna up from the patch of grass beside her.

Chapter 300 The Mad Woman

Elyse’s eyes were glinting with madness. No matter how much her father was saying, she wouldn’t listen. “Don’t test my patience. Tie her up.”

“I remember you now!” Amelie shouted, remembering a memory from her past. “You’re that girl!”

That explains why she looked so familiar when I first saw her. Elyse used to live in Quinn Town. She was merely 11 years old back then, and she beguiled her aunt into cheating on her uncle. Then, Elyse led her uncle to the spot where her aunt was meeting up with her lover, leading to a… tragedy. That girl was dark, cruel, and smelled like death. Even in the face of her aunt’s bleeding corpse, she smiled.

However, she changed. When Elyse was with Leo, she was cheerful, happy, and beautiful. No longer was she the girl of death, so Amelie didn’t suspect her to be that girl.

Knowing what Amelie was thinking, Elyse nodded. “Yep. That b*tch kept coming down on me, snitching on me to Grandma. And her b*stard of a husband wouldn’t stop leering at me. I hated them, so I wanted them dead. As for you, Amelie, you’re not as kind as you think you are. You’re the real devil here. You wouldn’t stop showing off how happy you were back in Quinn Town. I know you were mocking me because I was unloved. After that, you even tried to take Leo away from me. You will pay for that.”

It was an unreasonable reasoning, yet Elyse fully believed she was the victim here.

Amelie said nothing for fear of angering her further.

Michael couldn’t take it anymore. “Elyse, please! We have to go now. Leo will soon know of his daughter’s disappearance. If he gets here, we’re done for.”

“Oh, shut it.” Elyse looked confident as she said, “Bria’s in Halport. Only Amelie knows she’s gone. There’s no way anyone could have called him. And I’ve kept my eye on her all the way. She didn’t have any chance to call Leo, either.” She slowly pulled out a knife and scraped it against Steven’s neck. “Not every day I get to see this, and I’m going to savor it. I won’t let him die a quick death. It won’t be interesting otherwise. How should I make it more exciting, then? Oh, I know. I will cut off his flesh inch by inch. A painful death is an entertaining death, after all.”

Beads of blood trickled from Steven’s neck before falling to the grass. She scraped some of it up and rubbed it between her fingers. Then, she smiled at Amelie as if asking for Amelie’s thoughts on her idea.