Chapter 573

Since it was Daniela'sorder, Ensley had to execute it flawlessly.

Perhaps Elyse's payment had fallen shot by just a single dollar.

Ensley's tone was almost excessively polite. "Please wait a little longer. I've already submitted the application. As soon as Ms. Harper signs it tomorrow,I'll transfer the money to you right away."

Elyse replied with little interest, double-checking the account number with Ensley to make absolutely sure there were no slip-ups.

By the next day, Elyse had already burned through all her cash. So when she saw just one dollar hit her account,she was caught completely off guard.

"What's going on with Ensley? I verified the account number with her yesterday. Why send only one dollar? Is she testing if my account is still working?"

A second Jater, Ensley's message popped up."Di the money come through?"

Elyse responded, "Yeah, I got it."

Ensley sent over a smiling emoji. Elyse returned one,convinced the real money would follow any moment now.

That villa was massive-selling it could easily fetch her hundreds of millions.

With that fortune, she could keep up her extravagant lifestyle. Maybe she could even find herself a handsome young man to spoil. Now that she was older, it was finally time to start enjoying life.

She kept staring at her phone, waiting, but nothing showed up.

"Ensley!" Elyse's voice sharpened with anger."Where's the money?" Ensley replied, "I already sent it, didn't l?"

Elyse's breath hitched. "I didn't get it! Ensley,how could you screw this up? We're talking about a huge amount! Did you send it to the wrong account? Can you even afford to cover a loss like that?"

Ensley pressed her lips together. It was literally just a dollar. The phone call itself cost more than that measly transfer. But she wouldn't dare voice that thought. Elyse had a razor-sharp tongue..

"I did transfer it. I have a screenshot to prove it.Take a look."

Elyse's eyes landed on the screenshot-just one dollar. "One dollar? Is this some kind of joke? Do l look like I need a single dollar? I'm talking about my land compensation-the millions I'm owed!"

Ensley forwarded the land sale contract.

As Elyse stormed towards Daniela's office,she passed the finance department, where laughter rang out. "Can you believe Elyse? Asking me for millions in land compensation? I was completely speechless!"

"Exactly! Ms. Harper gifted that land straight to Phillips Group for their amusement park. And this old hag thinks she can cash in on it? It's downright hilarious!"

"Elyse is greed personified. She played these same tricks on her own sister, and now she's trying to pull the same stunt on Ms. Harper. Honestly, having a relative like that is just bad luck for Ms.Harper!"

"That old hag has no shame. Isn't Nina a celebrity now? She doesn't even look after her own mother,yet here Elyse is, leeching off Ms. Harper instead!You should've heard her on the phone earlier-acting all high and mighty. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was the one in charge of the company!"

Elyse stood frozen at the finance office doorway,her face twisting with rage.

The conversation inside carried on. "Didn't she once tell her own daughter to sell her body? If things are so bad, she can just sell herself now." The moment those words landed, Elyse stormed in and smacked the speaker across the face.

Just as Daniela wrapped up her meeting, she walked in to find Elyse standing there, face dark with fury.She arched a brow.

"What's the matter, Aunt?" Daniela's voice was smooth, unreadable. When it came to putting on an act, she was leagues ahead of Elyse.

"You sold the villa for just a single dollar?"

"Yeah. Phillips Group is setting up an amusement park. I didn't feel like charging them for it."

Elyse bristled. "Why? Sure, you're married now,but who's to say that'll last? I get it, you're in love, but what if things change? Your mother handpicked the villa as a gift for me, and you practically gave it away for free! I don't accept this!"

Lillian, overhearing, rolled her eyes. "We paid full price for that place back then. You don't agree? Who cares? What right do you even have to object?"

Elyse's frustration spiked. "I'm Daniela's aunt! If she's making reckless decisions, how can I not be concerned? Daniela, you're married now,but you still have to protect your assets! Small sums are one thing, but a villa that size? How could you just give it away? Are you even thinking about your future?"

Daniela let out a soft chuckle. "Did my mother think about her future when she gifted you that villa?"

Elyse stiffened: "Let's not dwell on the past. I'm just trying to remind you to be more careful with your finances."

Daniela nodded. "Understood. Anything else?"

Elyse was caught off guard by the question.

Anything else? What else was left for her?

The villa was gone. What else could she possibly ask for?

Elyse walked away from Elite Lux, pockets empty, eyes lifting to the vast sky where dark clouds threatened rain.

Regret crashed over her. If she had known things would turn out like this, she never would have harmed Brylee.

Now, with no one left to turn to, what was she supposed to do next?

Elyse tracked down Nina. "You should be supporting me in my old age. Give me five hundred grand a month, and I'll stay out of your way."

Nina's response was flat. "I don't have any money."

Elyse had no interest in pretending to be a doting mother anymore. All she wanted was cash. "You're a big-time celebrity now, and you expect me to believe you're broke? Come on. I'm not asking for much-just half a million!"

Nina sighed. "I'm still new to this industry. Daniela gave me a shot, and that's the only reason I even have a chance at making it." Elyse narrowed her eyes. "You're lying. Daniela didn't pay you? That's impossible! | know her-she's never stingy with money."

Nina nodded. "That's true. Daniela offered me money, but I refused. Since I live and eat with her, I told her to treat it as living expenses. Instead,she set up a fixed-term savings account for me-one I can't touch until it matures. So, no, I really don't have any money right now!"

Elyse squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. "Why a savings fund? How much did she even put in it?"

Nina shrugged. "I don't know, but like you said,Daniela wouldn't shortchange me. Since my health isn't great, I added a clause-if anything happens to me, the money will be a thank-you gift for Daniela's support. It won't count as an inheritance."

This completely shattered any chance Elyse had of getting her hands on the money.