Her gaze was full of hatred as if I had killed her family or something.
“Damn it. Who let her in?” Emery swore.
Soon, the woman was right in front of me. Her tactfully made-up face was tinged with hostility. Our proximity amplified her aggression.
I had no impression of her. Subconsciously, I knew we didn’t have a great relationship in the past, and I knitted my brows in worry.
“It’s really you! You’re still alive!” She spoke impassionedly, grabbing my elbow in the process. She began yelling like a banshee as she made a move to slap me.
Emery got up from her seat and pushed the woman away. “Rylee, you’re mad! Are you done acting like a b*tch?”
The woman named Rylee wasn’t paying attention to Emery, who suddenly shoved her mercilessly against the door of our private room.
Rylee seemed oblivious to the pain. Her eyes had never left mine as she yelled, “Anthony’s not dead, and so are you. Why must Armond die when the two of you managed to live?”
I had no clue what she was going on about. I was only certain of her resentment of me.
Emery butted in angrily, “Armond deserved it. No one owed anything to him. If you think your life’s too long, I can always send you and your b*tchy face to prison for life!”
Rylee ignored Emery’s words completely. Her ire was directed completely at me. “You know what, I’m glad to be alive. I’m going to make your life a living hell!”
Emery slapped her. “Rylee, you should go see a doctor if you’re barking mad. Don’t make me show you what a living hell really is!”
Just then, a fashionably dressed man in a beret walked past our room. At the sight of Rylee lying on the floor, he rushed forward to help her up. “Oh god, why are you making a mess again? What if the paparazzi were around? You’ll be dead!”
“They can take as many photos as they want! They’re all just a bunch of keyboard warriors. They’ve been attacking me since my debut, but I’m still as popular as I’ve ever been!” Rylee retorted. Her prima donna attitude turned me off.
I guessed that she was some sort of celebrity. The frustrated-looking man beside her was probably her manager.
Her manager seemed to be more tactful than Rylee was. When he recognized Emery, he immediately offered an apology. “Ms. Moore, I’m so sorry. Vivian must be drunk. I hope you can forgive her behavior. I’ll apologize on her behalf.”
Haughtily, Emery replied, “If this happens again, I’ll put both of you out of work.”
“It won’t, I promise.”
With an awkward smile on his face, he dragged Rylee out of the room.
When they reached the doors, Rylee stopped and glared at me.
It took me a long time to collect myself after Rylee had left.
Emery shouted, “What a b*tch!”
She turned toward me and noticed that I appeared lost. “Sienna, are you hurt?”
I shook my head and croaked, “Is she my enemy?”
“Yes.” Emery sat down and explained nonchalantly, “There were rumors that she had died at a drug rehabilitation center. Apparently, someone had brought her out of the place. She got herself a new face and a new identity. Now, she’s made herself into a C-list celebrity. Her acting’s pretty sh*t, though she’s great at keeping up her popularity. Or should I say, notoriety.”
“She’s in showbiz? Why and how do I know her?” I was even more confused.
“Hmph, I think it’s probably best if you never have a thing to do with Rylee again.” Emery scoffed. “That woman stole your man, and she almost stole your entire life and your kids. She’s a living example of an ultimate a**hole. Back then, I was still wondering what kind of blind idiot would save a hopeless drug addict like her. Now, I realize it’s something a psycho like Armond would totally do.”
“If that’s the case, shouldn’t I be the one hating her? Rylee made it seem like everything was my fault. Are you sure you’re not just sugarcoating things because you’re my best friend?”
“Huh?” Emery stared at me in incomprehension. “You’re blaming yourself for her evil schemes?”
I didn’t know how to argue with that. I guess there are plenty of things in this world that I’ll never understand. Just like love and hate. We may never outrun or hide from them.
“Ms. Stanhope!” Gregory’s childish voice drifted in through the door.
Turning around, I saw Anthony and Gregory framed in the doors of the private room.
Gregory was visibly shaking with excitement. Pulling on Anthony’s elbow, he dragged him into the private room. He leaned so much of his weight into Anthony that he almost toppled over.
Anthony, on the other hand, seemed perfectly calm. He walked over slowly.
I didn’t know to expect to meet them in the same place twice. “Greg, why are you here?”
“I’m hungry, so Daddy brought me out for lunch!” Gregory loosened his grip on Anthony and plastered himself to me.
Faced with Anthony’s chilly stare, I unconsciously took a step away.
Anthony looked between me and Emery. He seemed surprised that we were together.
A few seconds later, I recalled Emery’s bombshell. I looked at Gregory with mixed emotions.
Is Gregory really my son? I used to be married to Anthony?
As this thought crossed my mind, I tried to stare surreptitiously at Anthony. I began appraising him seriously for the first time.
The more I looked at him, the less sure I felt about ever having marital relations with this man.
Plus, my impression of Anthony was a man who was difficult to please. He wasn’t my type at all.
As if he sensed my roving eye, Anthony lifted his eyes and met my gaze head-on.
His gaze was as cold as his demeanor. I couldn’t help but shiver at the hostility.
Gregory may look like him, but he hadn’t inherited even an ounce of his coldness.
Joseph showed up later, probably facing some difficulty in securing a parking spot. He looked surprised to see me and Emery. He greeted us politely, “Good day, Ms. Stanhope and Ms. Moore.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Emery was shocked at his appearance. “Joseph?”
She glanced at Anthony, puzzlement in her eyes.
A second later, she exchanged a loaded glance with Joseph right under Anthony’s nose. They seemed to reach a wordless agreement.
Joseph came forward and reminded, “Mr. Featherstone, the private room is ready.”
“Good,” Anthony replied lightly. “Gregory,” he called as he prepared to leave.
I could almost see the little gears turning in Gregory’s head as he reached out to hold my hand in a vice grip. “I want to eat with Ms. Stanhope!”
Anthony’s gaze darkened, though he didn’t voice his opinion. After a short moment, he gritted out, “Fine, up to you.”
He left our room right after that.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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