Chapter 43 I Slept with William
"What's up with your neck?"
"What's up with your house?"
"And what did you do last night? You've even got a pimple."
Early in the morning, Layla bombarded Thalia with a barrage of questions at Golden Valley.
Thalia lay on the couch, looking utterly drained and lethargic.
"Did you hook up with someone last night?"
Thalia hissed in annoyance, "Can you wish me well for once? I'm a law-abiding citizen, you know."
Layla stared at the hickeys on Thalia's neck, clearly made by adult activities, and shook her head in exasperation. "Don't tell me those are mosquito bites."
"I slept with William."
Layla: ........
Isla: ........
"Addicted after one time? You sound so proud of it. He's such a stingy guy, is he really worth it?"
"Thalia, congrats."
Isla, still in shock, finally managed to say something, and Thalia winked at her flirtatiously. "Thanks, sweetie."
Layla: ....... Crazy.
"You two are both nuts."
William has issues, and Thalia does too.
These two have a twisted way of thinking.
She was curious to see who would end up ruining whom—William or Thalia.
"We have a new show promotion tonight. You better figure out how to cover up those marks on your face and neck."
At seven in the evening, Thalia appeared at the promotion event looking both sophisticated and stunning, with the hickeys on her neck meticulously concealed.
As she walked onto the stage and stood next to the director, he teased her, "Thalia, you're in the wrong spot!"
"What?" Thalia asked, surprised.
"Your place is next to Andrew."
Thalia rolled her eyes internally. She wasn't sure if the director was genuinely unaware or just pretending. If she moved over there, Andrew's fans would probably want her to disappear.
Not wanting to disrespect the director, Thalia swayed her way over to Andrew. Before she could steady herself, someone in the audience yelled, "Thalia doesn't deserve it."
Thalia: .......
See, some people may look decent, but their fans can be explosive.
"Of course I don't! Andrew belongs to everyone," Thalia responded into the microphone, addressing the angry fans.
Andrew: ......
Director: ......
"Thalia is the best! Who do you think you are? How dare you say she doesn't deserve it? Do you think Thalia's fans are pushovers?"
Thalia's fans leaped to her defense as soon as they heard Andrew's fans insulting her.
"Calm down, everyone. Freedom of speech and choice are rights given to us by law. Let's not argue, or I'll feel really bad," Thalia said, soothing her fans with her microphone.
"Be good, listen to me. I'll buy you all coffee afterward."
Her words were met with cheers from her fans.
The promotion event hadn't even ended when the internet exploded with the headline, "Andrew's Fans and Thalia's Fans Clash at Event."
Videos were posted online, and Thalia's handling of the situation received widespread praise. Inevitably, some troublemakers started dragging Andrew through the mud.
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"Ms. Smith," Thalia had just come out of the restroom after the event when she saw Andrew leaning against the wall, waiting for her.
"Andrew, what's up?"
Thalia spread her hands, still wet from washing. Andrew handed her a handkerchief.
Thalia hesitated but accepted it. If she didn't, and someone took a picture, she'd be vilified.
"About what happened earlier, I'm really sorry."
Thalia paused mid-wipe.
"Sorry for what?" she asked.
"When your fans were attacking me, you didn't defend me right away, letting the situation escalate. Now you apologize? Isn't it a bit late?"
"I was afraid that if I spoke up, it would only make things worse."
Thalia chuckled at his explanation. It sounded like he was admitting he couldn't control his fans, implying they were a bunch of hotheads.
"Do you want your handkerchief back? If you do, I'll wash it and return it. If not, I'll toss it."
"I want it back."
Thalia: ........
Fine. She'd keep it and return it later.
"Ella is waiting for me. I have to go."
"How about dinner tonight? Consider it my apology."
Thalia shook her head. "I have to go home and walk my dog."
They exited the hotel, Thalia's car parked to the right, Andrew's to the left.
After a brief chat, Thalia headed towards her car.
Isla, sitting inside, honked frantically.
She stuck her head out and shouted, "Thalia, get out of the way...."
Andrew, hearing the shout, looked up to see something falling from above. His heart raced as he sprinted to shield Thalia. Almost immediately, a flowerpot crashed onto Andrew's shoulder....
If Andrew hadn't protected her, that pot would have hit Thalia's head.
The scene was chaotic.
An ambulance took Andrew away, with Thalia and Layla following to the hospital.
"The police have been notified. The hotel is cooperating with the investigation. We know the pot was aimed at you, but we're not sure if it was your dad's illegitimate child or one of Andrew's fans. If there are any media present, make sure to put on a good show. We can't let Andrew's side win."
"Andrew's fans are so wild because he enables them. We need to be careful. I suspect he's two-faced, deliberately letting his fans act out."
"Did you hear me?" Layla shouted when Thalia didn't respond.
"I heard you."
At the hospital, Andrew was rushed through the emergency entrance.
Thalia hurried to follow, passing Amara in the hallway.
"Isn't that Thalia and Andrew? Why are they at our hospital?"
"What happened?" Amara asked.
"Check Facebook. It's intense. Their fans almost fought at the new show promotion."
"But honestly, Thalia is way more interesting than Andrew."
Amara opened Facebook as she walked into her office, where Harper was waiting with a thermos.
"Walking and browsing your phone?"
"Look, fresh news about Thalia."
Harper and Amara huddled together, scrolling through the video of Andrew shielding Thalia from the falling pot.
Hero saves the damsel? What about William?
"Is William out of the picture?"
"Why don't you ask him?" Harper was curious too.
"I don't dare. He always snaps at me."
Amara: .......