Chapter 196 You Can Be Hard Anywhere, Just Not Hard-Mouthed
When William heard this, he finally gave her a bit of attention: "Where did you hear about that?"
"Plenty of people were talking about it at last night's party."
"Did Mr. Brown buy it specifically for me?" Thalia said, moving closer to William. "Just say it directly. We're already married, and you still put on this act, pulling it out from under the sofa and tossing it to me like it's some piece of junk."
Hearing Thalia's words, Finn couldn't help but laugh. He always thought William was a bit of a closet romantic, and now that someone had called him out on it—how pitiful!
"Why bother! If I didn't have good taste and know quality when I see it, you really would have fooled me."
"Has Mr. Brown fallen in love with me? Wanting to give me all the best love in the world?"
"You men! You can be tough about everything except admitting your feelings. Acting like this, no woman will love you."
"Thalia..." William called her name through gritted teeth, holding back his anger.
Thalia didn't get worked up either. She pulled out her phone showing the auction information and held it in front of William: "What's wrong with admitting it? It's not embarrassing."
Not only did she want to show William, she also zoomed in on the auction description set for the necklace: "True Love."
"A bit cheesy, sure, but it's a good piece. Right, Finn?"
Suddenly called upon, Finn didn't react in time and forgot to brake during the last few seconds of the yellow light. When he realized it, the car had stopped in front of the crosswalk. He slammed on the brakes, and the person who had been leaning close to William was pressed into his arms by his hand.
"Can you even drive?"
"I'm sorry."
As soon as Finn finished speaking, a traffic cop on duty came over and knocked on the car door, gave Finn a lecture, and told him to back up behind the crosswalk line.
Thalia shrank back, obediently returned to her seat, and looked at William cautiously. The man picked up the iPad that had been thrown onto the car mat, stuffed it into the net pocket behind the driver's seat, and said in a flat tone: "Satisfied now?"
"I didn't mean to."
"If you ever flirt with Finn while he's driving again, you're getting out."
"Okay," Thalia mumbled and shut up.
The car arrived at the mall. Thalia, wearing a hat and mask, followed William inside.
"Where are we going?"
"We're having dinner at the Brown Villa tonight. Let's pick out some gifts first."
Thalia: "Why didn't you tell me in advance? I didn't even put on makeup."
"Even if you were uglier, you'd still have to meet my parents."
"You're the ugly one. Your whole family is ugly."
"Yes," William chuckled softly, "my whole family is ugly."
Looking at William's half-smiling expression, Thalia got it—she'd just insulted herself too with that comment.
"Why not just have your people prepare these things? Fallon should know your family better than I do."
William looked at her intently, ignoring the stares of passersby in the mall: "When you were dating that scumbag Walter, you personally picked out gifts for his whole family. Why is it different with me?"
Thalia: ......
"Am I not even as good as that cheating scumbag?"
Thalia: "Well, Mr. Brown, why don't you mention that back then I paid with my own card!"
"That's because Walter was pathetic. Are you comparing me to that loser?"
Thalia: ........
......
"Kurt, it really is Ms. Smith." Not far away, someone hiding in a corner of the mall called Kurt. On the other end, he sounded nervous.
"You're sure?"
"Positive."
Kurt pressed his damp palm against the desk.
His heart was pounding.
"Where are they now?"
"Central Plaza Mall."
"Keep watching. I'm coming over."
William watched as Thalia entered a medical beauty shop and chatted with the staff about something.
Finn came over hurriedly: "Mr. Brown, someone's watching us."
"Whose people?"
"Looks like Kurt's people."
William's hand hanging at his side curled slightly.
Finn continued: "Last night at the party, Kurt's people stared at the necklace on Mrs. Brown's neck for a long time. I'm guessing he recognized it."
William lowered his gaze, his long lashes hiding his expression.
"Mr. Brown, your card."
"It's fine. Kurt won't dare say much. They're the ones who should be worried."
William waved him away. He walked in and saw Thalia wearing her mask and hat, her eyes curved like crescent moons as she looked at him, like a little fox.
"Mr. Brown, Ms. Jolie is inside. Should I let her know you're here?"
The store manager clearly recognized William and knew his identity.
"No need." William pushed the card in his hand forward.
"Right away."
"Do you know Amara's phone number?"
"You're getting a card for Amara?"
"Yes!"
William opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but after thinking about it, decided against it. As long as she was happy.
When the card was ready, Amara had just come out of the operating room. She took off her mask, picked up her phone to check messages, and as soon as she opened the screen, she saw that someone had added money to her medical beauty account.
When she saw the balance, she thought she was seeing things. She grabbed a passing nurse: "Help me look at this—how much money is this?"
The nurse counted for a while before daring to confirm: "Two hundred thousand dollars."
"Dr. Anderson, did you strike it rich?"
"So loaded? Two hundred thousand dollars at one store—that's so extravagant!"
"Could this be some new type of scam? Should I report it to the police?" People like them who work for a living aren't like rich people like William who can spend hundreds of thousands on a single meal.
The nurse couldn't decide for a moment: "Are you sure it's not from some patient? Why don't you call and ask?"
Amara thought about it—that made sense. She called the store, and they didn't hide anything, saying directly that William had brought a woman to get a card, and the money was transferred to her name.
"William?"
"Yes."
......
"Mr. Brown, Kurt is on his way," Finn's voice sounded beside him. Though quiet, Thalia heard it.
"Which Kurt? Kurt?"
"He's coming to see you?"
"Probably to see you. I was at the auction when he bid on that necklace, and you wore it to last night's party. Plus he did that stupid thing of pushing Nora toward me, so he's probably coming to apologize."
Thalia didn't want to get involved in their capitalist social circles: "There's a spa upstairs. I'll go up and do my makeup for dinner at the Brown Villa tonight. You handle Kurt yourself?"
William raised his chin slightly: "Go ahead!"
Thalia took the bag from William's hand and turned to go upstairs.
As soon as she turned around, she saw a familiar face standing nearby, looking her over...