Chapter 15: Is She the Other Woman?

As they stepped out of the school gates, a silver-grey Porsche rolled up slowly.

Livia recognized the car. It was Angelo's.

Valentia, who was about to get into her car, also stopped and watched as the vehicle approached.

As the person inside stepped out, Livia was debating whether to greet him with a warm hug when someone else beat her to it, rushing over and embracing Angelo.

"Why are you here? Don't tell me you came to surprise me," Valentia said with a lifted face, her voice sweet and whiny.

Livia was shocked.

She wasn’t seeing things. Valentia was holding Angelo.

Angelo seemed to freeze for a few seconds too, and as he caught sight of Livia, the joy in his expression slowly faded. He gently pushed Valentia away. "Be mindful of your image."

"There's hardly anyone here, it's fine," Valentia cooed, clinging to his arm again. "I'm so hungry, will you take me out to eat? I'm craving Mexican."

Livia's mind was a whirlwind. She never guessed that Angelo and Valentia knew each other, let alone appeared to be close.

She couldn't help but wonder if Valentia was the woman she had seen that day at the club and the one who got into his car.

Livia felt there was no reason to stay any longer. Maintaining a polite smile, she said, "Valentia, I'm very grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule to come to the school and fulfill the students' dreams today."

"Miss Ashcroft, you’re too kind. I was once a student here and haven't really contributed much to the school. I feel quite embarrassed about it," Valentia responded gracefully.

She was eloquent, adding, "I'm sorry for troubling you today and disrupting your teaching schedule."

Polite and even humble, she was indeed hard to dislike.

"You're welcome to come back and visit whenever you have time," Livia said generously.

"Definitely." Valentia smiled. "Miss Ashcroft, you don't have to mind me any longer. You can go back to work now."

Livia glanced at Angelo, who was looking back at her impassively.

The two of them standing together were quite a sight to behold.

Her heart soured, and she didn't want to embarrass herself, so she turned around.

At that moment of turning, her nose tingled, and tears filled her eyes.

She thought Angelo would call out to her, but he didn't.

She hadn't taken many steps when the sound of a car engine starting up came from behind.

Suddenly, she understood why Luke had asked her with that expression if she really had to invite Valentia, and even called her dumb.

The dumbest thing was that Livia didn't dare to embrace Angelo in public as if she were some shameless homewrecker.

"Miss Ashcroft."

The deep male voice from behind made her stop in her tracks.

She thought she was hallucinating.

"Weren't we supposed to meet for lunch? Where are you running off to?" Angelo walked up to her, noticed her reddened eyes, and frowned. "It seems I'm the one being ignored. Why are you crying?"

Livia turned around to see Valentia's car had already left.

She had thought he would leave with her.

"You didn't leave?" The quiver in Livia's voice revealed her tears.

Angelo, hands in his pockets, said with a hint of cool indifference, "Miss Ashcroft, I'm here to pick up my girlfriend."

Livia had to admit the word "girlfriend" pleased her.

In the car, Livia looked out the window, feeling content. Still, the thought of Valentia being so close to him sparked jealousy.

"What's your relationship with Valentia?" Livia inquired.

With one hand on the steering wheel, Angelo looked effortlessly stylish.

"We’re just friends," he responded casually.

Livia pursed her lips. "Just friends?"

"Yes."

Livia watched him for a few seconds before muttering under her breath, "Doesn't look like it."

Angelo, with keen ears, looked at her. "What relationship do you think we have?"

Livia wasn't naive. Just friends don't cuddle up that way.

She took advantage of him when he was drunk by the roadside three years ago, and Valentia had been working abroad for the same amount of time. Plus, that night when a single phone call took him away for two days and upon return, he was seen with Valentia again— it wasn't difficult to guess their past relationship.

She couldn't truly believe they were just friends.

Knowing this in her heart, it was pointless to probe further.

Angelo took her to a beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant that boasted natural scenery, resembling a cave of natural beauty.

It was bustling in the middle of the day, with people waiting outside for a table.

After a word with the host, they were led inside, through a wooden door, to a room already seated with several people.

Valentia was among them.

Livia's mood soured instantly.

Valentia's smile faltered for a moment when she saw Livia, "Angelo, aren't you going to introduce us?"

The two men beside them were also looking at Angelo and Livia. The one in the red shirt on the left had a somewhat suggestive smile on his face, while the man in the white shirt on the right seemed surprised.

"Miss Ashcroft," was all Angelo said, then he gestured for Livia to take a seat.

He shrugged off his coat, draped it over the back of his chair, and made no move to introduce the other two men to Livia.

"It's great to finally share a meal with you, Miss Ashcroft." The man in the red shirt stood up and approached Livia with enthusiasm, extending his hand. "I'm Donovan."

Before Livia could reach out her hand, Angelo pressed it down, shooting a glance at Donovan Blair. "Sit back down."

Donovan pouted. "Angelo, you've kept Miss Ashcroft hidden for so long before you deigned to bring her out, and now you won't even let me have a close chat with the beauty. That's harsh."

Valentia paused in her drinking, asking casually, "Has Angelo known Miss Ashcroft for a long time?"

"You should be asking if they've been together for a long time," said Donovan with a sly arch of his eyebrows, resting his hand on Angelo's shoulder.

Livia felt a bit awkward.

Only she knew that Angelo not introducing her to friends meant he never considered integrating her into his life. This time, indeed, caught her off guard and even a bit unprepared.

"Are you his girlfriend?" The man with the slightly cold demeanor suddenly asked.

Livia tensed up at his question.

"What else would she be?" Donovan slapped the man's shoulder. "Why would he bring someone who’s not his girlfriend here? Lockrey Shaw, you’d better step it up."

Livia felt a tinge of disappointment.

Angelo had brought her to meet his friends, but he didn't acknowledge her as his girlfriend.

Shaw brushed off Donovan's hand. "Watch yourself."

Donovan laughed. "I'm good at this."

"Angelo, when did you and Miss Ashcroft start dating?" Valentia asked coolly.