CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: TONIGHT, YOU BETTER WAIT FOR ME

The reason she wanted to open a beauty salon was mainly to find a way out for James and herself.

Though they were married, Lucy decisively wrote an IOU to Jacob.

Why would Jacob want it?

He insisted on not taking it, burned the IOU in front of her, and warned her, "Lucy, I’m your husband. We’re married. My money is your money. If you play this trick with me again, you’ll be in for a night with me!"

Seeing him genuinely angry, Lucy burst out laughing on the spot, and that was the end of it.

The store was already well-decorated, but previously it was just a beauty salon. Now that it was to combine two businesses, it naturally had to pause operations for reshuffling.

The main structure remained untouched.

A designer was invited to reimagine the space.

First floor for hairdressing, second floor for beauty treatments, third floor for employee accommodations.

In half a month, the store reopened.

The name was chosen: Joy for You.

James was in charge of the first floor, Mia took care of the second floor, and Robert handled procurement and other daily maintenance tasks.

Lucy only managed the accounts and such, known as the behind-the-scenes boss.

Apart from regular staff, they didn’t have fixed salaries, all earnings were shared based on sales.

Lucy took seventy percent.

James, Mia, and Robert each took ten percent.

The sales figures were transparent among the four of them.

...

On the opening day, it was lunar March 20th.

Jacob didn’t come because of avoiding suspicion, but Charles did.

Not only that, but Stellan and Grace also came. To build a good relationship with Lucy, each of them bought a premium annual membership card.

Eighty thousand each.

After paying, they also went to the second floor to experience some beauty treatments.

While they were enjoying the beauty treatments, Lucy was beside them, chatting warmly.

"How does it feel?"

"The massages are quite skilled," Grace smiled and commented, "Must have cost a lot to open this shop?"

"Of course, the premises are quite expensive."

"Your man really doesn’t mind spending money on you."

Lucy feigned embarrassment, smiling, "Yes, he says if he doesn’t spend money on his own woman, then who should he spend it on?"

Grace praised her, saying, "I truly envy you. You found the right person, haven’t you? Are you planning to get married soon?"

"We’re discussing it."

"Are you close with Charles Sharp?" Stellan abruptly asked, "I see he’s here too."

"We’re good friends," Lucy stood up, "You two enjoy yourselves, I’ll go check outside."

"Alright, go ahead."

As Lucy walked out, she saw Mia rushing up, "Lucy, there’s a woman here with a bad attitude, asking to see you."

"Who?"

"She says her name is Ivy Fern. I brought her to the private room; she said you know her."

"I do know her, she’s Charles’s ex-girlfriend. You keep an eye on the second floor, I’ll go downstairs to check."

In the private room on the first floor, Ivy Fern was sitting on the sofa, wearing an orange sweater and a silver pleated skirt, with a crossbody bag.

"What can I do for you, Miss Ivy?"

Ivy Fern glared at her with hostility, "You tell me what I’m here for!"

"That’s a funny question. I’m not a worm in your stomach; how would I know?"

Ivy Fern looked around and sneered, "Charles sure is generous, willing to fund such a shop for you, really splurging."

"Miss Ivy, it’s true I’m friends with Mr. Sharp, but we’re not a couple. Where’s the proof he funded my shop? What evidence do you have?"

"Do I need proof? Shamelessly taking my boyfriend! Your seductive face shows you’re truly a natural temptress!"

"Miss Ivy, your words... I am indeed just friends with him, and I won’t bear the blame you’ve randomly cast my way."

"Just friends?" Ivy Fern scoffed with disbelief, "Secretly hooking up with someone else’s boyfriend, doing it yet not admitting it, so contemptible! A funeral director earning merely a few thousand a month can open a high-end beauty salon? Dreaming! Where do you think the money came from? Of course from Charles Sharp!"

"While dating you, Charles Sharp put so much effort into your heart condition, and after your surgery was a success, you took ten million from Mrs. Sharp intending to break up with him. He merely spoke first, and you come here resentfully to cause trouble? You repeatedly claim I stole your boyfriend, but do you have proof? Stop spreading rumors relying solely on your mouth. Do I have to report every detail of where my money comes from to you? What kind of authority do you think you are?! I’m warning you, don’t provoke me! Or I’ll make you regret coming here immensely!"

Ivy Fern jumped up from the sofa, pointing at her, "Dare to touch a hair on me and see! Believe me, I’ll have my people wreck your shop!"

Just as these words were spoken, Lucy kicked her onto the sofa, and before she could react, Lucy grabbed her neck, and soon her face turned dark purple from suffocation.

"So young, yet so arrogant; looks like your parents failed to teach you manners, I’ll have to give you a lasting lesson representing society." She drew out Fire Meteor with her left hand.

Seeing the knife, Ivy Fern’s face turned pale, "What... what are you going to do?!"

"This knife works wonders, curious how it feels against your face?" Lucy’s right hand eased off a little, as her left hand brought the knife tip slowly closer to Ivy Fern’s face, "Before you wreck my shop, I’ll make your face a mess, even if you wreck it, I won’t lose out."

As the cold blade touched her face, Ivy Fern screamed loudly, "I won’t wreck it, I won’t wreck it, I was just saying, I really won’t wreck it. If I do and you call the police, I’ll definitely get arrested."

"You think you’re so tough, how would the police dare arrest you?" The knife in Lucy’s hand lightly traveled across her face, "Miss Ivy Fern, isn’t that right?"

"No, no... please let me go?" Ivy Fern’s tone now carried a plea, a complete turnaround from when she first arrived.

"Let you go? You think you can come and go as you wish? Tell me, how much is your face worth?"

"In... invaluable."

"Invaluable?" Lucy raised her eyebrows, "So it’s worthless then?"

"Don’t you understand what invaluable means? It means extremely precious, worth more than any price!"

"In that case, if I let your face go, wouldn’t you owe me a debt you can never repay?"

"What?!" Ivy Fern was dumbfounded.

"Didn’t you say your face is invaluable, can’t be bought? If I let your face go, doesn’t it mean you owe me a debt you can’t ever repay?" Lucy smiled slightly, "Now, I’ll give you two choices. First, I cut your face into a mess, second, use money to buy your face."