CHAPTER 88: ACRIMONY III
Jacqueline, her voice laced with curiosity, turned to Diana. "So, Diana, what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a caterer and an event planner, Auntie," Diana replied politely.
Margaret scoffed. "A caterer, huh? What exactly does that entail?"
Before Diana could respond, Cassandra piped up, a smirk playing on her lips, chimed in. "More like a modern-day housemaid, wouldn't you say?"
James' eyes flashed with icy fury. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as he met Cassandra's gaze, causing her to flinch and bite back a retort.
"A Housemaid?" Harold boomed, his voice laced with disapproval, misunderstanding Diana's profession. "Is that what you've come to, James? Marrying a…"
"No, Dad," Diana interjected, desperate to salvage the situation. "It's not like that at all. We're more like event planners. We help people organize special occasions – birthdays, parties, galas, anything they can imagine - you name it. And of course, we charge a premium for our services."
Suzanne, concern etched on her face, spoke up. "That sounds like a demanding job, Diana. Will you have enough time for yourself?"
"Absolutely, Grandma," Diana reassured her.
Harold, however, remained unconvinced. "I don't like the sound of it, Diana. It still sounds an awful lot like a glorified servitude"
"Even without the money involved." Harriet added.
James' voice turned glacial. "Money is a crucial aspect, Harriet," he said, his gaze locking with his aunt's. "Why on earth would anyone remove it from the equation?"
Harriet quickly shut up and looked at her brother. The aura James was emanating at this point was enough to chill a living body dead. Even Suzanne and Diana both shuddered unwittingly, a tremor of unease running through the room.
Harold, however, refused to back down. He slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing in the tense silence, causing everyone to jump except James.
""James, this will be the last time I ask you to have some self-respect! Stop terrorizing your family. Seems you've grown up a lot, boy."
James met his father's gaze, his expression unreadable. He slapped his hands on the desk. Everyone gasped as they looked at him. Suddenly, with a deafening crack, the table between them split in two.
Gasps filled the room as everyone stared at the splintered wood, the weight of James' anger hanging heavy in the air. "Seems like someone else needs to learn some self-control," he retorted..
Harold's finger trembled as he pointed at James. "Don't… don't you test me, boy!"
James mirrored the gesture, his voice low and dangerous. "And you, don't test me."
The tension crackled in the air, thick enough to choke on.
"Go on, Harold," James said, a humorless smile twisting his lips. "Do your worst." A sinister smile stretched across his face.
Harold, momentarily stunned, sputtered incoherently.
"Enough of this. Stand up and get out this instant, you evil son of Belial!" Harold said, standing up.
"Enough, Harold," Suzanne stood up too and pointed at him. "I will not have you speak to my grandson that way."
"Says the woman who still stays in her son-in-law's house acting like the queen while her own daughter lies six feet under!" Harold retorted.
A collective gasp resonated through the room. The accusation hung in the air, heavy and shocking.
Before anyone could react further, Suzanne delivered a stinging slap across Harold's face.
"How dare you, Harold!" Suzanne shrieked. "You've lost your mind, completely lost it over this… this… urchin you married!" Her voice trailed off, her gaze falling on Jessica, who shrank back in her seat.
"I have held my grandson back long enough. Harold, if you dare, come and take his pound of flesh since that's what you're after."
The room hung heavy with the weight of unspoken threats and simmering resentment. The once pleasant gathering had devolved into a battleground of old wounds and bitter memories.