Chapter 106 Thalia Slaps Scarlett Across the Face.....
"Mr. Brown, you're not getting it done!"
"Who would've thought that our ruthless Mr. Brown, who crushes people in business without batting an eye, would have his off days too."
"It's been so long, and you still haven't won her over? Can't bring yourself to make a move?"
Early that morning, when William pushed open the office door, he saw Angelina sitting in his chair with breakfast laid out in front of her.
Seeing him come in, she looked like she'd just found some juicy gossip to enjoy.
Angelina watched William take off his coat, propped her chin on her hand, and continued: "If you keep putting it off, Maple Grove Villa is going to get old—won't be suitable as a wedding house anymore!"
"I see Elon has no plans to leave Emerald City lately. If he keeps pushing forward, you're in real danger."
If Angelina hadn't discovered his secret, this flashy guy William would probably keep hiding it forever.
William ignored Angelina's sarcasm: "I asked you to keep an eye on Wesley. What's the situation?"
"Actually, it's pretty interesting. Wesley's been meeting with several executives from the Smith Group lately. Looks like he's trying to poach people."
"Him?" William scoffed.
Angelina shrugged: "The Wood family isn't as powerful as the Smith family, but now that Hayden isn't running the Smith family anymore, Wesley still has a shot."
"Plus, he's gotten the Lewis Family on his side."
Seeing William's surprise, Angelina continued: "Yeah, the same Lewis Family that wanted you to marry their daughter."
"This mess is your fault for getting Thalia involved. Mr. Lewis originally had no intention of teaming up with Wesley, but! You're the guy he had his eye on, and Thalia is now your rumored girlfriend, right?"
"He just can't swallow that insult."
William's whole presence turned ice cold.
His gaze at Angelina grew somewhat distant.
William's position in the business world was too special—anyone connected to him would inevitably get caught up in things.
A rising star with no family background to back him up, yet somehow this guy had the skills and strategy that commanded both respect and resentment.
People with small guts wouldn't dare mess with him.
People with big guts all wanted to test themselves against him.
........
The next day, Thalia accompanied Evelyn to a beauty salon.
As soon as they entered, they heard mocking voices coming from another room.
"Everyone's just waiting for Thalia's dad to die! Once her father's gone, Thalia's status in Emerald City will plummet. I want to see what happens to all those people who used to suck up to her."
"Wonder if she can still hold onto her position as Emerald City's princess."
"What goes around comes around. Heaven spares no one. If you play games, you'll pay the price eventually."
Scarlett?
She'd recognize that voice anywhere, even if it turned to ashes.
Evelyn glanced at Thalia, worried she might charge in and tear into them.
Unexpectedly, Thalia just called over a staff member, said something, and left.
In the room, Scarlett had just finished a treatment and was wearing a face mask when a server came in carrying a tray: "Ms. Lewis, this is the lemon water Ms. Smith ordered for you."
"Who?" Scarlett's eyes sharpened.
"Thalia, Ms. Smith."
Before Scarlett could respond, someone beside her got angry: "Don't you have any sense? Take it out."
The server jumped: "Ms. Smith said you two are friends..."
Her voice got smaller and smaller, as if she realized something was wrong.
The scheming between these wealthy young ladies wasn't something a server could figure out.
She quickly left with the tray.
"What's Thalia's deal? Is she crazy?"
Scarlett ripped off her face mask: "She definitely just heard us talking about her."
The person beside her froze.
Everyone in Emerald City knew Thalia always got her revenge!
"She's not going to pull some weird tricks to get back at us, is she?"
Scarlett rolled her eyes at her companion: "You think she's still the same Ms. Smith as before?"
Times had changed. Thalia now wasn't the same as she was three months ago.
Scarlett changed clothes, grabbed her bag, and was about to leave when a glass of lemon water was splashed in her face before she reached the door.
"The lemon water I sent you—why didn't you drink it? Eighty dollars a glass! Not good enough for you?"
Scarlett screamed and stumbled backward, grabbing a nearby towel to quickly wipe her face.
She'd just had a treatment, and the doctor said she couldn't get her face wet for 24 hours.
And Thalia actually...
"Thalia, you're asking for it."
With that, Scarlett lunged forward to slap Thalia.
Before her hand could touch Thalia, someone grabbed it.
"Can't take a hint, can you?"
"Even if my dad dies, you'll still just be a supporting character. You can't even be second place, and you dare challenge me?"
"I heard your dad's been going after William lately? If William marries you, I'll write my name backwards. With that face of yours, no matter how much money you spend, it is what it is. Things you weren't born with—trying to fix them later? Let me see, what did you get done today? Is there any part left that's original?"
"None of your business! You think you can stay Emerald City's princess much longer? Everyone's waiting for your dad to die!" Scarlett yanked her hand back and shoved Thalia hard.
Thalia stumbled a few steps.
She steadied herself against the wall.
No matter what, she stayed composed.
She wouldn't bow her head, and she wouldn't let her crown fall.
Thalia raised her hand and slapped Scarlett across the face.
This move made everyone around gasp.
Thalia shook out her hand and looked at Scarlett: "Consider it a gift from me."
"Thalia, I'm going to kill you. How dare you hit me."
"Ms. Lewis."
From a distance, a woman's low voice stopped Scarlett.
Hearing this voice, Thalia paused.
Angelina?
"Ms. Jolie?"
Everyone knew Angelina was William's right hand. Years ago, William still put effort into the law firm, but now his business focus had completely shifted away from it. The person running the firm now was Angelina.
Scarlett still had to give her some respect.
In all of Emerald City, only she could represent William.
"What a coincidence?"
"Quite the coincidence," Angelina nodded. "Just walked in and caught a good show."
Angelina's half-smiling gaze swept over the two of them.
Thalia had no interest in continuing any conversation with her. Love me, love my dog—and vice versa.
She was annoyed with William, so naturally she was annoyed with everyone around him too.
"Who's outside?" In the room, Evelyn lay on the treatment bed, ears perked up listening.
"Angelina."
Thalia sat nearby waiting for Evelyn, sipping coffee absentmindedly from her cup.
Her mind was on Scarlett's words just now. She was angry. She'd been proud for over twenty years—just because Hayden died, was she supposed to become a beggar?
Someone knocked on the door.
The therapist stopped what she was doing, pulled back the curtain, and opened the door slightly.
Angelina stood at the door and said politely: "I'm looking for Thalia."