Chapter 29:The Defense
Mildred’s POV*
My mind was racing, overwhelmed with too many thoughts at once. Anthony's sudden appearance felt like a thunderclap in the middle of a quiet room. His presence was chilling, like an ice storm creeping through my veins. But I forced myself to remain calm, keeping my eyes fixed on him, even as my heart pounded in my chest.
“Anthony,” I managed, my voice steady despite the nervous smile I gave him. “How long have you been standing there?” My weak smile disappeared almost immediately, replaced by a wave of unease.
Anthony didn’t respond right away. He just stared at me, his eyes cold and unyielding, like stone. Then, slowly, he paced into the room with his hands buried deep in his pockets. His gaze shifted from me to Mary, and his expression darkened.
“Dean,” he called, his deep voice resonating in the room like a distant thunder.
Before I could even comprehend what was happening, Dean appeared at the door as if summoned by magic.
“Send this lady back to Romania,” Anthony instructed without so much as a glance at me. His tone was filled with disgust as he gestured toward Mary. “And make sure she doesn’t come back.”
“Yes, sir,” Dean replied without hesitation. He walked over to Mary and grabbed her by the arm.
“Please, sir! Don’t send me away. I’m begging you, please!” Mary cried out, her voice trembling with desperation. Her eyebrows knitted together as she pleaded, her eyes wide with fear. But Dean was unmoved. He dragged her toward the door, her voice fading as she continued to plead, her words echoing faintly down the hallway.
For a moment, the room was silent. I knew I had to act fast. Anthony’s attention needed to be redirected, or things could spiral out of control.
“What are you doing here, Tony?” I asked, my voice bright and cheerful, as if we hadn’t just witnessed that dramatic scene. “It’s your birthday today! Happy birthday, my love. And congratulations on getting rid of that despicable woman of a wife.” I gave him my best wide smile, my eyes sparkling with excitement, hoping to soften him.
Anthony’s reaction wasn’t what I expected. He chuckled, but it wasn’t a warm laugh. It was a mocking one, sharp and unsettling. One corner of his mouth curved up in a teasing smirk.
“Despicable?” he repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I don’t think you’re in any position to judge, Mildred. And don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to all these years.”
My smile faltered. His words hit me like a slap, and I furrowed my brows, trying to hide my confusion.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice defensive.
Anthony’s smirk faded, replaced by a stern expression. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
“Speaking of despicable,” he said, his tone colder than ever, “you’re leagues ahead of her. And if you don’t stop involving my employees in family drama, you’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of.”
The warning was clear, and it sent a shiver down my spine. But I wasn’t about to let him intimidate me. I stood up from my chair, trying to look confident and composed.
“What are you even talking about?” I snapped, frowning. “I don’t go anywhere near your company.” My words came out quickly, but my eyes betrayed me, darting around nervously.
Anthony didn’t bother responding. He turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, feeling a mix of frustration and relief.
“Phew,” I sighed heavily, slumping back into my chair. I rolled my eyes dramatically, letting out the tension that had built up in my chest.
“Doesn’t seem like he heard what we just said,” I muttered to myself. “Doesn’t seem like he knows that Aileen is his wife. But he’s suspicious. He senses I’m up to something.” I paused, narrowing my eyes thoughtfully. “I’ll have to be extra careful. Cause this whole thing is getting interesting.”
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*Aileen’s POV*
“Who does she think she is?” I fumed silently with furrowed brows as I walked away from Anthony's step mum. “Ordering me around like she’s my employer? And what’s with her stalking me and digging into my background? What does she even want from me?”
These questions kept swirling in my mind, refusing to leave me in peace. I felt a mix of anger and confusion, my emotions bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
I stepped outside, trying to clear my head, when I noticed Susan walking toward me. She was holding a glass of orange juice, her usual polite smile plastered on her face.
“Aileen,” she said sweetly as she stopped in front of me. “Do you want some orange juice?” she asked, her voice sharp.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of her intentions, then nodded. “Um, sure. Thanks,” I replied, my cheeks flushing slightly as I accepted the glass.
Susan’s eyes swept over me slowly, taking in my outfit with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
“Wow, nice outfit,” she said finally, her smile faltering slightly. “Where’d you get it? Target?” Her voice was filled with fake curiosity, and I could sense the mockery behind her words.
I didn’t respond. I just stared at her, my eyes locked on hers.
Her smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a sneer. “Are you deaf or something, bitch?” she snapped, raising her hand as if to hit me.
Before she could follow through, I grabbed her wrist mid-air, my grip firm.
“Who do you think you are?” I asked, my voice calm but laced with warning.
“I’m Susan Harrington,” she shot back, trying to pull her hand free. “And I can have you thrown out of Riverdale in seconds.” Her confidence was almost laughable, but I wasn’t amused.
“Miss Harrington,” I replied, my grip tightening slightly, “I work for Pennington and Price. And last time I checked, you’re not a Price yet.”
Susan’s eyes widened, and her tone shifted immediately. “Aileen, I promise I’ll stay away from Anthony. Just let me go. My arm is hurting,” she whimpered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Her sudden change in demeanor caught me off guard. I frowned, my mind racing to figure out what was going on. That’s when I noticed Anthony standing nearby, his eyes fixed on us.
“Anthony!” Susan cried, yanking her wrist free. “Don’t blame Aileen. She didn’t mean to hurt me.”
Anthony didn’t look amused. “Well,” he said coolly, “if she really did hurt you, you probably deserved it. But if you touch her again…” He trailed off, his tone a clear warning.
Before Susan could respond, Trisha appeared, looking flustered.
“Susan,” she said urgently, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Grannie’s on the phone. She wants to talk to you.”
Susan’s demeanor changed instantly. “Oh, really?” she said, her eyes lighting up. She hurried off with Trisha, leaving Anthony and me alone.
Anthony turned to me, his expression softening. He stepped closer, his hand gently cupping my chin.
“Something you want to say?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
I opened my mouth to respond, but my words caught in my throat. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and I didn’t know where to start.
“I…”