Chapter 100 You'd Better Sleep with Your Eyes Open at Night
"What? Isn't that Walter?"
"Yeah, that's him."
"Where is this? Thalia's place?"
A bunch of rich kids, bored and glued to their phones during a night out, suddenly stumbled upon Thalia's Facebook Live.
As soon as they clicked in, they saw Thalia streaming from a camera set up in her yard, showing a drunk guy yelling and making a scene.
"Thalia's a genius, locking the door and streaming it live. Doesn't Walter have a pregnant girlfriend? What's he doing at Thalia's?"
"Pregnant, so what? Walter's just messing around with his secretary, never planned to marry her. If she hadn't gotten pregnant, this would be over by now. Walter probably didn't expect to slip up. Between the princess of Emerald City and a secretary, even an idiot knows who to choose. Is there anyone in Emerald City as beautiful and poised as Thalia?"
"Walter's playing with fire, cheating and not dealing with the consequences. He's engaged, yet still causing trouble."
Someone turned up the volume on their phone, listening to Walter shouting at Thalia's door.
"Quick, listen to what he's saying."
Everyone fell silent, cranking up the volume.
Walter was begging Thalia for forgiveness.
"Shameless. He's disgracing the Wood family."
"What's his dad going to think?"
"Look, Wesley's here. Is that pregnant woman his secretary?"
They watched a car pull up in the yard.
Inside, Thalia sipped coffee calmly, hearing the engine. Casually, she went to open the door.
As soon as she did, Walter lunged at her. Thalia stepped back, and her bodyguards swiftly intercepted, pinning Walter to the ground.
"Thalia, what’s the meaning of this?" Wesley roared, as Aria tried to help the drunken Walter, only to be shoved aside.
Thalia leaned lazily against the doorway, mocking, "Meaning? I should be asking Mr. Wood that! You come questioning me first?"
"If it weren't for our past acquaintance, I'd have let Walter in and called the cops for breaking and entering, Mr. Wood..." Thalia hugged herself, the wind making her shiver a bit.
"Unlike you, I have a conscience. The Wood men, one worse than the other!"
"Your father wouldn't dare talk to me like this," Wesley snapped, having lost all patience with Thalia.
Thalia smirked, about to respond when a bodyguard draped a shawl over her shoulders. She adjusted it, "My dad doesn't talk to you like this because he has class and manners, knowing not to stoop to the level of a dog. But I'm different. I give as good as I get."
"How dare you!"
Wesley, a prominent figure in Emerald City's business world, couldn't tolerate Thalia's repeated insults. He lunged at her.
Thalia glanced at her bodyguard.
Before Wesley's hand could touch her, he was pinned to the ground.
"Wesley, really? You almost drove my dad into a coma, and I didn't even hold it against you. Now you come here to bully me? Do you think I'm easy to push around?"
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of police sirens filled the air...
...
At the Brown villa.
Amara mirrored the live stream on the living room TV.
Watching Thalia handle Wesley and Walter, she was almost ecstatic.
"Mom, isn't Thalia amazing? No wonder my brother likes her. I'm totally on her side."
Harper nodded, "I thought she wouldn't call the cops."
"Of course she would. Thalia never lets anyone get away with anything. Not calling the cops would be out of character. She'll make sure the Wood family pays."
"And Walter, what an idiot. He's got a fiancée but still chases other women. Did you see how he treated that pregnant woman? She tried to help him, and he shoved her away. Thalia's bodyguard had to catch her to stop her from falling. His character is obvious."
Harper pondered, "Who arranged this match with the Wood family?"
Amara paused, "How would I know? Thalia's dad?"
"Walter's neither good-looking nor decent enough for Thalia. Why arrange this match? Did Thalia like him?"
Amara: ....... Stumped.
...
"Your dad thought the Wood family was less powerful than the Smith family, thinking you wouldn't be bullied and could be happy. Look now?"
"Everyone says a man shouldn't aim too high, and a woman shouldn't marry down. The Wood family is trash and belongs in the dump."
In the Smith villa living room, Thalia listened to Grace ranting.
Thalia sighed, "Stop yelling. Go rest!"
"Can you sleep?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Thalia, you better sleep with one eye open. Chase might send someone to kill you."
Thalia flipped her hair, "Don't worry. If he wants to kill, it won't just be me."
Grace watched Thalia head upstairs, frustrated.
"Ms. Smith."
Thalia's steps paused at the bodyguard's call.
"Chase went to the Brown villa."
"Which Brown family?"
"William, Mr. Brown's house."
"Apartment or...?"
"It's Wednesday. Mr. Brown goes to the villa near Emerald City University to have dinner with his parents."
Thalia glanced at the clock. Ten o'clock...
Not too late but not early either.
Chase was something else.
Thalia felt she was going to work herself to death.
"Get the gifts ready, prepare the car..."
Meanwhile, Chase drove three cars to the Brown villa, the middle one his, the others packed with gifts.
If William's path was blocked, he had to find another way. He couldn't be stifled.
With Hayden gone, a big battle awaited him. A little humiliation now was nothing.
"Who are you messaging?" Chase's gaze fell on Elizabeth texting.
Elizabeth stiffened, "My mom."
"Show me."
Chase's face darkened, "No need."
"When we get to William's, behave well. I hear he respects his stepmother. Make sure to please her."
Elizabeth felt disdain but kept her face neutral, "Mr. Vaughn Brown and his wife are scholars. Are you sure they'll like this?"
"Do you have a better idea?"