Chapter 54 Thalia Patted Her Skirt and Stood Up...
At the police station, Ethan put down his phone and glanced at William. "Gotta hand it to you, Mr. Brown. You've got Thalia wrapped around your finger."
Ethan pulled a chair over and sat down across from William. "So, with the way things are going between you two, should I start shopping for a wedding gift?"
William, cigarette in hand, flicked the ash into the tray. "I wouldn't want anything you'd give."
Ethan: Typical capitalist arrogance.
"Ms. Smith isn't one to forgive easily. If she finds out you've been playing her, won't she come after you?"
"Why would she find out?" William's gaze carried a hint of warning.
Ethan: Sometimes, William's ruthless capitalist ways were just inhuman.
Dealing with him could shave years off Ethan's life.
"Is Walter really still in Emerald City?" Ethan was curious.
When he cheated, Thalia had the whole city hunting him down, determined to destroy him. But in the end, Thalia still couldn't beat William.
Half an hour later, Thalia arrived at the police station. Ethan greeted her as soon as she walked in.
"I'll open the door for you. You can see for yourself."
"Cut the crap."
In the interrogation room, Emma was pinned to a chair. As Thalia pushed the door open and entered, the person interrogating Emma glanced at Ethan standing behind Thalia.
Ethan raised his chin, signaling the interrogator to leave.
"Alright, Ms. Wood," Thalia said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. She crossed her arms and looked at Emma sitting across from her. "You were all sweet and charming when you took my Hermès. But when you threw that vase at me, did you forget everything?"
"Everyone says you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you, but you seem to have no problem with it!"
Emma chuckled. "You dare to bring up that fake bag you gave me? Thalia, have you no shame? Who are you trying to insult?"
Thalia laughed, more out of anger than amusement. "Fake bag? Who told you I gave you a fake bag? Someone from the store or a luxury goods appraiser?"
Emma's face changed color, and Thalia could guess what had happened. "One of your so-called friends? Have they ever seen a limited edition Hermès? They called it fake, and you believed them?"
"Stop it," Emma retorted, unable to forget Thalia's haughty demeanor when she gave her the bag. It was as if a princess was dismissing a commoner.
Sure, she couldn't afford a limited edition bag, but that didn't mean Thalia could trample over her so easily.
"How pathetic. Do you know what a charge of attempted murder means? It means if I don't forgive you, you're going to jail. I'm tired of this. Your brother cheated on me, and I couldn't find him, so I'll just deal with you!"
"Anyone from the Wood family will do."
"Ms. Wood, never faced hardship? Try prison."
Emma's face turned ugly at Thalia's words. She knew Thalia wasn't one to make empty threats. She had earned her reputation as the princess of Emerald City.
Thalia nonchalantly flicked her nails. "Or, you could tell me where your brother is, and maybe I'll let you off."
"Impossible. With a woman like you, even if my brother didn't cheat, your other men would. You're domineering and treat everyone like your servants. Who do you think you are? A real princess?"
Thalia frowned in irritation and didn't bother to respond.
"Contact her family. Tell them I'm pressing charges. I don't believe the Wood family won't come to her rescue."
Ethan was taken aback. "Seriously? We're all part of the same circle."
"Who said she's in my circle? A poor person who can't even tell a real bag from a fake one?"
Ethan: ... Impressive.
You're so high and mighty, insulting everyone with a single sentence.
Thalia stormed out of the police station and opened the door to her SUV, finding Isla and Nicholas playing games on their phones.
Isla glanced at her. "Thalia, are we still going to the airport?"
Thalia looked at her. "Can you drive with those hands?"
Isla's fingers were a blur on the screen. "I can, but you'll have to wait."
"Forget it. Let's have barbecue tonight. I'll take you to experience some real-life grit and shake off the bad vibes."
...
That evening, Daniel hosted a small barbecue party in his mansion's garden.
When Nicholas and Thalia arrived, most of the guests were already there.
The lively chatter quieted down for a moment when Thalia walked in.
Nicholas asked, "What's the deal?"
"Thalia's presence graces us all!"
Daniel, lounging in a chair with a beer, looked at Thalia. "You serious?"
"Of course not. Have a seat."
Emerald City's social circle was large, but not many people could truly get along.
Nicholas and Daniel were well-liked and could easily gather a crowd.
Thalia found a spot and sat down.
Someone admired her legs and commented, "No wonder she's a socialite! Not a flaw on her."
"I heard it was Emma? The Wood family is something else. First, her brother cheats, driving your dad into a coma, and then he flees abroad. Now, this girl wants you dead. Tell us the truth, was it Walter who cheated, or did you?"
"The way things are going, it seems like you wronged them."
"Wronged them? This is like digging up their ancestors' graves."
Thalia listened to their chatter, unfazed, as she replied to messages on her phone.
Whatever the other person said made Thalia's smile grow wider.
Someone noticed her lack of interest in the conversation and nudged Nicholas. Nicholas winced, looked at Thalia's phone screen, and saw:
Evelyn: "Pick one. I'll test them for you."
Thalia: "The third one on the left."
Nicholas: ... Seriously?
Nicholas cleared his throat. Thalia looked up from her phone, just as William approached, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette. Seeing him, Thalia's smile faltered.
Enemies always meet.
Thalia couldn't stand the sight of William right now.
She stood up, brushing off her skirt. "You guys have fun. I'm leaving."
Nicholas was surprised. "Where are you going?"
"You saw it yourself."
"I don't think the third one on the left is any good. Looks underage. You could get in trouble."
Nicholas spoke loudly enough for William to hear.
Sure enough, William, cigarette in hand, stiffened as he walked over...
---
Thalia's irritation was evident as she stormed out of the police station and opened the door to her SUV, finding Isla and Nicholas engrossed in their phone games.
Isla glanced up. "Thalia, are we still going to the airport?"
Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Can you even drive with those hands?"
Isla's fingers were a blur on the screen. "I can, but you'll have to wait."
"Forget it. Let's have a barbecue tonight. I need to shake off these bad vibes."
---
That evening, Daniel hosted a small barbecue party in his mansion's garden.
When Nicholas and Thalia arrived, most of the guests were already there. The lively chatter quieted down for a moment when Thalia walked in.
Nicholas asked, "What's up with the silence?"
"Thalia's presence graces us all," someone quipped.
Daniel, lounging in a chair with a beer, looked at Thalia. "You serious?"
"Of course not. Have a seat."
Emerald City's social circle was large, but not many people could truly get along. Nicholas and Daniel were well-liked and could easily gather a crowd.
Thalia found a spot and sat down. Someone admired her legs and commented, "No wonder she's a socialite! Not a flaw on her."
"I heard it was Emma? The Wood family is something else. First, her brother cheats, driving your dad into a coma, and then he flees abroad. Now, this girl wants you dead. Tell us the truth, was it Walter who cheated, or did you?"
"The way things are going, it seems like you wronged them."
"Wronged them? This is like digging up their ancestors' graves."
Thalia listened to their chatter, unfazed, as she replied to messages on her phone. Whatever the other person said made Thalia's smile grow wider.
Someone noticed her lack of interest in the conversation and nudged Nicholas. Nicholas winced, looked at Thalia's phone screen, and saw:
Evelyn: "Pick one. I'll test them for you."
Thalia: "The third one on the left."
Nicholas: ... Seriously?
Nicholas cleared his throat. Thalia looked up from her phone, just as William approached, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette. Seeing him, Thalia's smile faltered.
Enemies always meet.
Thalia couldn't stand the sight of William right now. She stood up, brushing off her skirt. "You guys have fun. I'm leaving."
Nicholas was surprised. "Where are you going?"
"You saw it yourself."
"I don't think the third one on the left is any good. Looks underage. You could get in trouble."
Nicholas spoke loudly enough for William to hear. Sure enough, William, cigarette in hand, stiffened as he walked over...