Chapter 24: Her Ambitions

The wars between women were often over a man.

Livia was never the fragile type, possessing a definitive sense of ownership over what was hers.

'If Angelo is mine for now, why should I care about Valentia's feelings? Valentia made her ambitions quite clear. A challenge had been issued, and how could I not respond?'

Angelo stared at Livia's provocatively innocent face, uninterested in partaking in the subtle or overt battles among women, letting them size each other up in secret or in plain sight.

"She needs rest," Angelo said to Livia. "The show's over."

A triumphant smile couldn't be hidden in Valentia's eyes.

Livia admitted to feeling a pang of disappointment. She stood up, confidently took Angelo's hand, with each finger assertively weaving through his. She leaned in, and kissed his lips with a voice dripping in seduction, "Come back early tonight."

Without caring about Angelo's mood, she turned and waved at the frowning Valentia. "Valentia, get well soon. See you another day."

As soon as the door closed, the smile on Livia's face faded away.

At the doorstep, Livia bumped into Donovan, holding a basket of fruit. They locked eyes, and Donovan offered an awkward smile. "Miss Ashcroft, what a coincidence."

"Yes," said Livia. "Are you here to see Valentia?"

"I am," Donovan replied, acutely aware of Livia's relationship with Angelo, and it was he who had called Angelo here, so he felt awkward.

Livia smiled. "Well, Angelo and Valentia are in the room now. Maybe you should come back later."

Donovan was a bit confused.

Livia walked past him with an enigmatic smile.

Turning to watch Livia leave, Donovan thought, 'Is she really giving Angelo and Valentia space to be alone? She's way too generous.'

Meanwhile, Valentia's eyes were moist, yet her face was smiling contentedly.

Angelo sat on the nearby couch, legs crossed, continuously checking the time, looking quite impatient.

"Are you serious about Livia?" Valentia asked.

Angelo's fingers were interlocked on his lap, his eyes indifferent. "What do you mean by serious?"

"Have you fallen for her?" Valentia's voice shook slightly.

"How is that any of your business?"

Valentia grew agitated. "How can it not be? Back then, I did it for my career, for a better life for us in the future."

"Valentia," Angelo said emotionlessly, "let's not talk about the past."

Valentia clenched her hands tightly. "Do you love her?"

Angelo remained silent.

"Do you still love me?" she pressed.

Valentia's interrogation drew a frown from Angelo, clearly displeased.

Seeing his silence, a spark of hope lit up in Valentia's eyes. "You still have feelings for me, don't you? Otherwise, why have you never acknowledged Livia as your girlfriend? You haven't even introduced her to your friends.

"I don't care how long you've been with her, Angelo. Can you break up with her?" Valentia's eyes brimmed with hope, her voice carrying a hint of a plea.

Angelo fixed his gaze on her for a long while, his silence sending Valentia's heart racing.

Then, unexpectedly, he stood up, walked to the door, and pulled it open, revealing Donovan on the other side.

Donovan hadn't anticipated Angelo opening the door so suddenly. He swore he hadn't overheard anything. He was just heeding Livia's advice not to enter right away.

"Are you leaving?" Donovan called out to Angelo's retreating, aloof figure. "Join us for lunch, alright?"

Angelo completely ignored him.

With a sigh, Donovan stepped into the room. "What were you guys talking about?" His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Valentia. "Why are you crying?" He quickly put down the fruit basket and handed her a tissue.

Valentia took the tissue, her voice choked. "Does he hate me?"

Donovan paused. "Why would he hate you? If he did, he wouldn't be thinking about collaborating with you."

"But his attitude toward me is cold," Valentia inhaled deeply.

"He's like that with everyone," Donovan tried to console her. "Don't overthink it. And don't be too eager for quick success. After all, you're back now."

"If there weren't another woman in his life, I probably wouldn't be so anxious," Valentia sniffed, her morale faltering. "That woman has been with him for three years."

Donovan found it difficult to interject on this topic.

'Years of friendship, and yet I couldn't decipher Angelo's feelings towards Livia. If it were purely affection, Angelo never brought Livia to meet us, let alone join us for meals. It could be disinterest, but they've been together for three years—going on four.

'Even raising a cat or a dog would create a bond, not to mention a woman he sleeps with every day. Who knows what he really thinks.'

As Angelo exited the hospital, he instantly spotted the woman standing beside his car. Even dressed in the simplest fashion, she seemed to have an aura that made her stand out.

Livia was kicking a pebble with her foot, just wondering how much longer Angelo would stay.

Then she saw a pair of shiny leather shoes appear before her. Looking up, her eyes met his.

She smiled at him. "That was quick, wasn't it?"

Angelo was all too aware of her ulterior motives as he opened the car door. "You've already laid your ambitions bare."

Livia paused momentarily as she got into the car, then slid into the passenger seat, shut the door, and fastened her seatbelt. "Ambitions? What ambitions could I possibly have?"

"Livia, I'm not fond of these little schemes of yours," Angelo said with composure as he drove.

Livia pulled her seatbelt tighter, taking a deep breath. "I guess I'm not that magnanimous."

"This is just normal socializing for me," Angelo glanced at her. "Are you going to get involved every time something like this happens?"

Livia was already feeling quite unsettled. She was fine with everyone else, but not Valentia. Valentia had made it abundantly clear that she was out to snatch her man.

"So you're saying I should just ignore Valentia, right?" Livia looked at him. "My boyfriend meets a woman who fantasizes about him and even comes to me, openly declaring her intention to steal my man, and I'm supposed to remain indifferent, correct?"

Angelo furrowed his brows.

Livia inhaled deeply, her voice tinged with desolation. "Ultimately, I’m not entitled to be jealous, am I?"

"I don't like to be controlled," Angelo said coolly. "And I certainly don't like being followed."

Livia was furious, yet she had to chuckle.

She suddenly felt that anything she said was superfluous. After all, she had no right to question anything about him.

She had always deluded herself, misinterpreting his intentions.

The so-called boyfriend-girlfriend relationship between them essentially existed only when they were alone together.

"Okay then. Do me a favor and pull over."

"Don't be unreasonable," Angelo said, giving her a sidelong glance. "You’re an adult. Be sensible."

Livia unbuckled her safety belt, her tone steady. "I am being sensible. I was wrong. I shouldn't have intruded. Please pull over. I want to get out."

Angelo's eyes narrowed, but he did as she asked and pulled the car over.

Livia pushed the car door open, stepped out, slammed the door shut without a backward glance, and walked away.