Free Web NovelChapter 48: Chapter 48: Arguing with a Baby Bump
Sonia Quincy stroked her rounded belly, smiling at the woman. "You wanted to make your case. Go on."
"Sonia..." Mrs. Preston didn’t want her to get involved in the dispute. Taking her by the arm, she tried to talk her out of it. "Listen to me..."
"Mom," Sonia Quincy interrupted, her voice gentle yet carrying a firmness that couldn’t be denied. "I’m part of this family too. When something happens at home, I have to help where I can. How could I leave you to handle this alone while I go hide somewhere for peace and quiet?"
"Don’t worry, I’ll be careful."
As she spoke, Sonia Quincy gently patted the back of Mrs. Preston’s hand. Mrs. Preston sighed and gave a wry smile. "Alright, then. I’ll stay with you."
Sonia Quincy: "Okay."
"And the agents?" Instead of jumping straight into an argument with the woman, she turned to survey the two men beside her.
"We’re the agents." One of the men took two steps forward and said with an awkward smile, "My last name is Liu. You can just call me Lewis."
The other man quickly added, "My last name is Li. You can call me Lawrence."
Mrs. Preston clarified, "Lawrence is the agent I hired. Lewis here is his manager."
"Oh." Sonia Quincy nodded to show she understood.
"Alright, Lawrence, why don’t you tell us what exactly happened today."
"Ahem..." Lawrence cleared his throat, took two steps forward to stand between Sonia Quincy and the other woman, and said in a voice clear enough for everyone to hear, "This whole thing isn’t actually that complicated."
"Three hours ago, I brought Ms. Armstrong and her husband here to see Mrs. Preston’s apartment. Her place is one of the most sought-after in this complex. Ms. Armstrong really liked it after just seeing the photos and the VR tour, so she came today specifically for this apartment."
"At first, the viewing was going great. But when they got to the bathroom, the floor was wet and his slippers were too slick, so Ms. Armstrong’s husband took a nasty fall. We took him to the hospital, and it turns out he fractured his arm and chipped half of a front tooth."
"A broken front tooth?" Hearing those four words, Sonia Quincy’s eyes widened. She asked nervously, "How many teeth did he break in total?"
"Just one," Lawrence said. "The one right in the front. Half of it broke off."
"Oh..." Sonia Quincy secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’Just one tooth isn’t so bad,’ she thought. ’It’s not too serious.’
"What’s with the ’Oh’?" Ms. Armstrong was clearly unhappy with Sonia Quincy’s reaction. Before Lawrence could finish, she snapped, "Are you saying my husband didn’t get hurt badly enough?"
"That’s not what I meant," Sonia Quincy said.
Ms. Armstrong stuck her neck out. "Then what did you mean?"
Sonia Quincy didn’t want to get bogged down in a pointless argument, so she ignored her. Turning to Lawrence, she said coldly, "Continue."
Lawrence continued, "Ms. Armstrong’s husband fell in Mrs. Preston’s apartment, so Mrs. Preston is, to some extent, responsible. So, Ms. Armstrong wants Mrs. Preston to pay for their medical bills. And also for the various costs of postponing their wedding..."
Ms. Armstrong jumped in. "My husband and I are getting married soon! With this fall, the wedding will definitely have to be postponed. You have to pay for every single cost that comes from that delay, down to the last penny!"
Lawrence gave a troubled smile. "So... that’s the situation."
"I understand." Sonia Quincy looked at Ms. Armstrong. "So, you’re demanding that we cover the medical bills and the fees for postponing your wedding."
"You absolutely have to pay!" Ms. Armstrong planted her hands on her hips and leaned forward slightly. "We came here in high spirits to see this apartment, and now look at the mess your place has caused us! If you don’t pay, who will?"
"Calm down." In contrast to the other woman’s temper, Sonia Quincy’s reaction was much more composed. She pulled Lawrence, who was standing between them, out of the way and said slowly and deliberately, "Your husband did fall in our apartment, after all. We will certainly pay for whatever we’re liable for, down to the last cent. But before compensation, I feel it’s necessary to first file a police report, or consult a lawyer, to..."
"Why would you get a lawyer?!"
Before Sonia Quincy could finish, Ms. Armstrong cut her off at the top of her lungs.
"Did you not hear what Lawrence said? My husband fell in your apartment. All you have to do is pay up. Why get a lawyer involved? Are you trying to shirk your responsibility or just pass the buck?"
"..." The shouting was starting to give Sonia Quincy a headache. "Ms. Armstrong, could you please let me finish? I never said I wouldn’t compensate you, so why are you getting so agitated?"
Ms. Armstrong jabbed a finger at her. "If you’re going to pay, then pay up now! Why bring a lawyer into this for no reason? You’re just trying to weasel your way out of it, aren’t you?"
"My husband fell in your apartment! He fell because you didn’t clean the water off the floor! That’s an undeniable fact, and you can’t get out of it! You have to give me a resolution today!"
"..." Sonia Quincy sighed wearily. "I will give you the resolution you’re asking for, but on one condition: I need to have the police or a lawyer determine liability first. After that’s been decided..."
"Shut up!" Ms. Armstrong swung her hand forcefully, her palm brushing past Sonia Quincy’s face and creating the illusion that she was about to slap her.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Mrs. Preston, startled by the gesture, rushed forward to shield Sonia Quincy. "Just talk if you have something to say! Don’t you dare get physical."
"Who laid a hand on anyone? Who?!" Ms. Armstrong’s voice grew louder and louder until it echoed through the living room.
"You old hag, did you see me lay a finger on her? Are you trying to turn this around and accuse me?!"
"Watch your mouth." Sonia Quincy’s patience was wearing thin. She frowned, unconcealed anger flashing in her eyes.
"Oh, so now who’s the one with the filthy mouth?" For some reason, that comment set Ms. Armstrong off, and her temper exploded. "My husband fell in your apartment! He broke a tooth and fractured his arm, and not only are you refusing to pay, you’re accusing me of assault! How does that make any sense?"
Sonia Quincy: "I—"
"You shut up!" Ms. Armstrong was gesticulating wildly, giving Sonia Quincy no chance to speak. "This is entirely your fault! You need to make this right!"
Sonia Quincy: "I—"
Ms. Armstrong, her face flushed red, glared at her. "Shut up! Don’t even think you can get out of this!"
"..."
After being cut off repeatedly, Sonia Quincy had finally reached her limit. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was dripping with venom.
"You’re the one who should shut the fuck up!" Her voice was just as loud as Ms. Armstrong’s, and the outburst left the other woman momentarily stunned.
Sonia Quincy pressed on, "You demand a resolution, but you won’t let me speak. What do you actually want? I’m suggesting we get the police or a lawyer involved simply to determine who’s responsible. Why are you getting so hysterical? Do you have something to hide?"
