Chapter 156 SOS!
Ethan was trying hard not to laugh beside them.
Honestly, when Daisy roasted him, it made him furious, but watching Daisy roast someone else was actually... pretty satisfying?
Rachel awkwardly averted her gaze from her own chest, sneaking a glance at Ethan. He was happily embracing women on both sides, looking like he hadn't taken any of what just happened to heart.
She tested the waters. "What's your... relationship with Daisy?"
Ethan narrowed his eyes, pulled out a cigarette, and puckered his lips at the beauty beside him. "Baby."
The woman immediately and obediently lit his cigarette for him.
Ethan contentedly patted the woman's ass, earning a chorus of flirtatious giggles. Rachel's eyes blazed with fury.
Right in front of his fiancée, he was fooling around with other women like this, completely ignoring her existence, let alone answering her question.
She felt utterly wronged. From birth until now, if not exactly pampered, she'd at least grown up getting her way. When had she ever suffered this kind of humiliation?
All afternoon, she'd been completely ignored.
She bit her lip, unwillingly watching Ethan's retreating figure, and called out loudly, "If you hate me so much, why are you marrying me?"
Ethan, with his arms around the beauty, turned back in surprise. "Can't you tell? My family's forcing me. This is just who I am—wild and irresponsible now, and even less likely to change in the future. My family found me a woman to be a free nanny for my son. Naturally, I won't refuse. If you don't want to, then don't cling to me."
Rachel's expression changed, too shocked to even feel humiliated. "You have a son?"
Ethan smiled wickedly. "Yeah, just turned two. Real handful at that age."
"Who's the mother??"
"Don't remember."
After saying this, Ethan ignored her completely, turning to leave with his beauties.
Rachel stood there as if struck by lightning, not moving for a long time.
Marrying a bastard like him had already made her extremely unhappy. She'd barely convinced herself to compromise for money and status, but now... he actually had a kid...
If she married him, she'd be a stepmother! No way. She didn't want to be a stepmother. She was only twenty-one, so young—how could she become someone's stepmother!
But the engagement was happening soon... Her brother would never agree to break it off. Who could help her? Who could help her?
Wait, she could ask her mother for help. Her brother would listen to what their mother said.
She frantically called Jennifer, but for some reason, Jennifer wasn't picking up. Rachel couldn't wait any longer and ran out of the mall to hail a taxi home.
---
Meanwhile, as soon as Arabella and Daisy got in their taxi, Daisy received a call from the assistant director saying the crew was having a wrap party at 7 PM at the hotel, investors would be there too, and asking her to come out of courtesy.
When Daisy heard the word "investors," her eyes lit up.
Who was this drama's investor? Didn't she know perfectly well?
Was Alexander thinking she wasn't trying hard enough and wanted to call her over for a face-to-face pep talk...?
Hehe, well she was going to shock Alexander then—Arabella wanted to confess to Alexander, so she'd just bring Arabella along!
Wouldn't that work out perfectly? Look how beautifully this was all falling into place!
Daisy hung up with a mischievous grin and told the taxi driver, "Sir, take a turn up ahead—we're going to Crystal Club."
"You got it!"
Arabella was half-sobered up, her brain still a bit sluggish. "What are we going to Crystal Club for?"
Back when Philip was around, the three of them often ate at Crystal Club, but it was expensive. If it weren't for Philip, that evil rich guy, always footing the bill, the two of them would never have been able to afford such a place.
So Arabella's first thought was: someone was treating Daisy to dinner?
Her cheeks were still flushed, and because of the slight intoxication, she didn't look as composed as usual but carried a hint of charming innocence. Daisy couldn't help pinching her cheeks.
"The crew's wrap party is there. Come with me for a bit."
Arabella paused. "Isn't that inappropriate? It's your crew dinner—what am I doing there?"
Daisy waved dismissively. "It's fine, I told the assistant director I'm bringing a friend. Don't worry, there won't be any problems."
With Alexander running the show, what could go wrong?
"Besides, I'm just going to sit for a few minutes. Won't stay long."
Since Daisy thought it was okay, Arabella didn't bother thinking too hard about it. It was rush hour and the taxi was stop-and-go, making her a bit carsick, so she closed her eyes to rest.
They soon arrived at Crystal Club. Before going in, Daisy gave Arabella a pep talk.
"You need to be brave, right? We decided to fight for this, didn't we? So no matter where you are or what situation you see Mr. FitzRoy in, don't forget your original intention. You must confess, okay? Remember to confess, confess, confess!"
Arabella laughed. "You're giving me this pep talk way too early. You can remind me when we get back."
Daisy sighed internally. She was really breaking her heart worrying about Alexander.
When they pushed open the door, the crew had already gathered. As the female lead, Daisy was naturally greeted enthusiastically as soon as she entered. She looked around and asked the assistant director nearby, "The investor isn't here yet?"
The assistant director chuckled. "Not yet. Big shots like that usually make grand entrances—you wouldn't understand."
His gaze kept drifting to Arabella, and he asked Daisy conspiratorially, "Your friend? She's gorgeous—is she planning to enter the industry too?"
He'd seen this phenomenon plenty. When someone got famous, they'd bring along their proteges. Daisy was the female lead in this drama, and barring any surprises, her fame would increase significantly after it aired. Wanting to bring someone along was only natural.
But Daisy gave him a mysterious smile. "Guess why our drama suddenly got so much additional investment?"
She patted Arabella's shoulder and nodded toward her. "This lady right here is the reason!"
The assistant director was shocked and immediately extended his hand enthusiastically to Arabella. "Hello, hello! I'm the assistant director for 'Echoes of Waves,' my surname is Hu. May I ask your name?"
Arabella was flattered. "Hello, I'm Arabella."
After the assistant director left, she looked at Daisy incredulously. "Damn girl, you're really making it big now. I'm getting the VIP treatment just being with you."
Daisy laughed, thinking to herself that they didn't know who was really getting the VIP treatment.
Unexpectedly, after a while, Ethan showed up too. The two beauties from earlier weren't with him, but he still wore the same outfit, swaggering in casually. Because of his bad reputation with the crew, few people dared approach him.
He walked straight toward Daisy, wearing an improper grin. "Hand over your phone."
Daisy looked at him suspiciously. "What for?"
Taking advantage of her inattention, Ethan reached up and snatched her phone, unlocking it by scanning her face, then operating something on it.
Daisy tried to grab it back, Ethan dodged, she tried again, he dodged again—all while continuing to work on her phone.
Daisy got angry, gritting her teeth. "Green, you're asking for a beating!"
Ethan had finished his operation and flicked his wrist, handing the phone back to her.
Daisy looked down to see the WhatsApp contact that had been removed from her blacklist.
Before she could say anything, she heard Ethan say, "Block me again and I'll personally come to your house to make you add me back."
He deliberately leaned close to Daisy with a sinister air. "You know my reputation isn't great. If someone like me shows up at your place, I can't guarantee what might happen."
Daisy narrowed her eyes, studying him for a moment before asking suspiciously, "You don't actually like me, do you?"
Ethan acted like he'd heard the funniest joke ever. "Like you? God, am I crazy? How could you have such a ridiculous idea? That's hilarious—you're way too narcissistic. Do I look like some kind of masochist?"
Daisy's expression was blank. "Oh."
She looked down and unhesitatingly clicked delete.
Ethan's face went green, stammering, "You, you, you..."
"You what?" Daisy gave him a sideways look. "If you've got the guts, go stake out my house. If you can actually do anything, I'll consider you a real man!"
From spending day and night together on set, she'd figured out Ethan's temperament—his mouth was the toughest thing about him. That wild, reckless act of his was about sixty percent fake.
In other words, she wasn't afraid of him. She'd originally planned to leave him some face, but ever since seeing Rachel mixed up with him, her last bit of mercy for him was gone.
Ethan was left speechless by Daisy's retort.
Arabella was genuinely eye-opening. Sometimes she really envied Daisy—that mouth was unstoppable. She could never say things like that.
Just then, the assistant director shushed everyone. "The investor's here."
Daisy immediately stood at attention, expectantly pulling Arabella and staring intently at the entrance.
Arabella found herself inexplicably nervous too.
A few seconds later, the director and producer respectfully escorted a figure inside.
Arabella saw that figure and her back straightened involuntarily.
Daisy stared for a moment, then poked the assistant director in disbelief. "This is the investor?"
The assistant director was also somewhat surprised. "You didn't know? Ms. Reed was one of the original investors in our drama, holding fifty percent with a few other investors. Although mysterious capital later added substantial investment, people at that level aren't accessible to us. The director begged and pleaded just to get Ms. Reed to come—I'd say she's giving the director plenty of face."
Daisy was thunderstruck. Arabella was even more thunderstruck.
Because this Ms. Reed was none other than her former mother-in-law, Jennifer.
She never would have imagined running into Jennifer in a place like this.
She could almost picture what Jennifer's attitude would be if she discovered her here. And with Daisy beside her, if Jennifer was an investor and decided to target Daisy later...
Without a moment's hesitation, Arabella tugged on Daisy's arm. "I'm leaving."
Daisy was confused. "Leave? We're already here. Even if it's not Ale—ahem! Even if whatever, let's just leave together later."
Arabella pointed to Jennifer, who was being surrounded in the distance. "Her. Anthony's mom. My former mother-in-law."
Brief and to the point, but it made Daisy break out in a cold sweat.
"Shit, what kind of mess is this!"
She'd only seen Jennifer once at Arabella's wedding back then and had long forgotten what that old witch looked like. Who would have expected to run into her here?
Daisy thought for a moment and said seriously, "Let's both leave. I'm afraid I won't be able to resist splashing wine in her face."
Arabella figured she was capable of doing exactly that and nodded. "Okay, let's go together."
Daisy said, "Let me tell the assistant director."
When the assistant director heard she was leaving, he tried to persuade her to stay. Daisy looked heartbroken. "I'm really sorry, my dad got hit by a car. Hit really badly—he's almost dead. I need to see him one last time."
Arabella's eye twitched. She'd always known Daisy found her father annoying, but not to this extent. What a good daughter indeed.
The assistant director looked sympathetic. "Then hurry back! I'll cover for you here if anything comes up. Go quickly, go see your dad one last time."
Daisy nodded mournfully and pulled Arabella along.
As they crept toward the exit, they collided with someone else who was also crouching and sneaking out. Daisy glared. "Are you sick?"
Why did he have to butt into every bit of drama!
Ethan was baffled. "You're the sick one! I want to leave too—is that not allowed?"
Daisy eyed him suspiciously for a few moments. The situation was urgent, so she didn't argue with Ethan much. Just as she was about to continue out, Ethan suddenly sped up and shot out like an arrow.
Daisy cursed. "Freak."
The two were about to continue when suddenly the director spotted her and called out enthusiastically, "Daisy, come have a drink with Ms. Reed."
Daisy's body froze. Arabella's body froze too.
Across the crowded room, Jennifer saw Daisy and Arabella, her eyes flashing with an unreadable expression. "It's you two."
Daisy had no choice but to straighten up.
Unexpectedly, Jennifer didn't make a scene in public but said lightly, "Come sit."
Neither Daisy nor Arabella moved. Jennifer raised an eyebrow, and the director immediately walked over to push them forward, whispering, "Didn't you hear her calling you? Go on, don't offend the investor!"
He didn't know Arabella was an outsider and assumed she was also a minor actress from the crew.
Daisy said, "Director, she's my friend. I'll go over alone. She has things to do—let her leave."
The director paused, then waved dismissively. "Fine, let her go. You hurry over!"
But Arabella grabbed Daisy's hand. "I'm not leaving. I'll go with you."
If she left, Jennifer would definitely take her anger out on Daisy. Daisy was in the entertainment industry—if any scandal got photographed, it would ruin her reputation and seriously damage her career.
She couldn't let Daisy sacrifice her future to take bullets for her.
After so many years of friendship, Daisy naturally understood what she meant. Though deeply moved, she still pushed her. "Stop dawdling and go."
"I'm not leaving." Arabella was stubborn when she set her mind to something.
The director laughed at their exchange. "It's not like you're going to hell. Come on, have a couple drinks and then leave. Our crew doesn't have those kinds of toxic rules."
Seeing Arabella's determined expression, Daisy was about to be driven crazy by her friend's stubbornness. Unable to argue her out of it, she took advantage of no one paying attention to secretly send a WhatsApp message to the group chat Chloe had created.
[Chloe, Jennifer has me and Arabella cornered. Arabella's former mother-in-law. Crystal Club. SOS!]
She didn't have Alexander's contact information, so this was her roundabout way of getting help, hoping Chloe could send Alexander to rescue them.