Chapter 49 Only with Comparison Can You Hurt William
Thalia stepped out of William's law firm and arranged to meet Evelyn for a spa day.
As they entered the spa, they stood at the entrance changing their shoes.
They heard laughter coming from what should have been a tranquil spa.
"Thalia's really having it rough. Ever since her dad fell into a coma, her life's been a mess. Remember when Andrew was nobody? Now he’s walking all over her."
"The funniest part is, she hasn't even dealt with the Wood family yet. Walter’s out with his girlfriend, and her sister almost hit her with a flowerpot at home."
"Is the proud Thalia gone for good?"
"I wonder how she's handling all this mentally."
"She used to argue over everything, but now the Wood family has humiliated her completely."
"Exactly!"
Thalia and Evelyn sat in the lobby, listening to a group of wealthy women gossiping in the courtyard. Thalia's face darkened. This spa was in the upscale Central Street villa area, one of the top spots in Emerald City, a gathering place for the city's elite women.
By coincidence, there was a flower arranging event at the spa today, attracting about ten of Emerald City's high-society ladies.
And, by another coincidence, Thalia had shown up...
The staff member attending to them looked a bit uneasy...
She was about to warn the courtyard staff with her earpiece when Thalia's glare stopped her.
Thalia sneered, "Bring me a bucket of water."
"What?"
"Did you not hear me?" Thalia's tone was thick with warning.
"No, I'll get it right away."
The staff brought a bucket of water to Thalia, who stood up and headed towards the courtyard.
"I heard she’s trying to get into Emerald City's legal circle with William. I wonder if William will even look at her..." The woman’s words were cut off as a bucket of water was dumped over her head.
"Who..."
Thalia tossed the bucket aside.
The woman who had been speaking turned pale upon seeing Thalia.
"You..."
"What? Keep talking. I've been listening for a while."
"Let me, the person involved, verify your claims."
Thalia crossed her arms, her gaze contemptuous, as if she were looking at something filthy.
The woman grabbed a towel from the table to wipe the water off her face, ruining her makeup. Thalia remarked, "Honestly, the wall plaster isn’t as thick as your foundation. So, are you spreading rumors about me because you’re hiding behind that makeup?"
"Thalia, what are you so arrogant about? Without your dad, you’re nothing. He’s not even dead yet, and you’re already chasing after William. What, you’re that desperate for a man?"
"Can’t live without a man, can you?"
Thalia raised her hand and slapped the woman hard.
Perhaps her hand hurt from the slap, as she shook it afterward.
"Thalia, I’ll kill you."
The woman, holding her face in shock for a second, then lunged at Thalia with scissors in hand.
Before she could strike, Thalia pinned her head to the table and snatched the scissors, pressing them against the woman’s face. "Keep being arrogant."
"Thalia, you’re crazy! This is illegal," someone nearby said, seeing the situation escalate.
"So what? Isn’t slandering someone illegal too?"
"Double standards!" Evelyn chimed in right on cue.
"Thalia might have lost her dad, but she still has me. My family might not be as powerful as the Smith family, but we’re stronger than anyone here. If you’re going to bully someone, at least consider who they have backing them."
Thalia smiled, twisting the scissors in her hand before stabbing them into the table next to the woman’s face.
"Here’s your scissors back."
...
"Alright, enough of this. Let’s go have some fun."
Their planned spa day turned out to be a bust.
Evelyn drove while Thalia sat in the passenger seat, looking annoyed.
"Why do you let them get to you? Aren’t you the princess of Emerald City? What if they post what you did today online? You’ll be ruined."
"Where are you taking me for fun?"
"Where all rich ladies go."
Half an hour later.
Thalia stared in shock at the nightclub sign in front of her.
"A nightclub?"
"Yep."
"And a low-end one at that?"
"Am I going to see greasy, overweight men in there?"
"I haven’t inherited my fortune yet, but I’m not that poor! Why bring me here?"
Evelyn: ...
Does this place match her beauty?
She might be temporarily broke, but not that desperate, right?
"Just go in and see."
Evelyn, tired of Thalia’s skepticism, pushed her inside. They walked through a narrow hallway into the club’s main area, where deafening music played. Thalia saw what could only be described as paradise...
Paradise!
"How is it? Not bad, right?" Evelyn hooked her arm around Thalia’s neck, looking smug.
"After all the good deeds I’ve done, this is the kind of happiness I deserve."
The street was near a college town, so despite the club’s modest exterior and decor, it was aimed at college students. Everywhere Thalia looked, there were handsome young men. What other bar in Emerald City could offer this kind of joy?
This was true happiness!
"William might be a stuffy, elite guy who’s all about appearances, but college guys are different. They’re all yours once the clothes come off."
"Why not give it a try? Only by comparing can you see how much better William is."
Thalia looked down at her palm, the events of the morning still fresh in her mind. Her hand still felt hot.
"What are you looking at? Don’t tell me you helped William with his needs?"
Thalia: ...
...
"Mr. Brown, you asked us to follow Ms. Smith..."
"Speak," William said, flipping through his tablet in the black Maybach, his expression calm.
No emotion.
Finn awkwardly scratched his nose, mustering the courage to speak. "Ms. Smith and Ms. Thomas went to a nightclub near the college town."
Finn said, showing William the pictures on his phone.
William’s eyes narrowed as he took the phone, his face growing stern.
Finn glanced at William through the rearview mirror, unable to discern William’s feelings towards Thalia.
Interested?
Or uninterested?
William’s hand tightened around the phone, veins bulging. He had underestimated Thalia.
She promised to behave in the morning, yet by evening she was at a college town nightclub.
Calling it seamless was an understatement.
"Call the police. Report it."