Chapter 197 Toys and Pets Given to Him by Others
"Thalia?"
Thalia walked past her, trying to ignore her completely.
"You're hooking up with William?" Lyra had been hearing all kinds of rumors around Emerald City lately. Thinking that Thalia had always been surrounded by gossip, she hadn't taken it seriously. But today, she actually saw William, such a high and mighty golden boy, carrying Thalia's bag, and doing it so casually, as if it were just a normal everyday gesture.
Who was William? In Emerald City, from the capitalists who held the power of life and death at the top, down to ordinary people at the bottom, everyone knew who he was.
This man stood at the peak of power, controlling everything with ease. Just a few words from him could shake up all the wealthy families in Emerald City. Even Kurt, a businessman with nearly a century of experience, had come begging to him.
You could imagine how many people coveted what William held in his hands.
Thalia frowned: "Hooking up? Can you use more accurate words?"
Lyra's expression wasn't great. Although the Smith family wasn't as prosperous as when Hayden was around, now that Grace was in charge, they were still doing better than the Hayes family anyway.
The Hayes family had been doing well these years only because of Thalia.
When Walter and Thalia were together, it not only boosted the Wood family's economy but also lifted up all the Wood family's branch families. The Wood family ate the meat while the Hayes family drank the soup - this pattern had lasted for a long time. When Walter did that trashy thing back then, the Hayes family people were extremely anxious, afraid that the Smith family would take their anger out on them.
What Thalia did was truly ruthless - not only did she cancel all cooperation with the Wood family, she also took Walter to court. Surprisingly, no one in the entire Emerald City dared to take the Wood family's case. At first, she was puzzled, but now seeing Thalia walking together with William, she understood.
Thalia might not have that ability, but William did.
"Isn't it true?"
Thalia tugged at her face mask: "Whether it is or not, do I need to tell you?"
"You should deal with your own problems first! Don't be like Walter, getting caught with a lover and making everyone lose face."
Hearing Thalia's words, Lyra's expression changed: "What do you mean?"
Thalia laughed: "We're all adults. I can understand having certain needs, but..." Thalia stepped forward, walked to her ear and whispered softly: "I saw everything, so what are you pretending for?"
Thalia slowly pulled back: "I'm not someone who likes meddling in others' business, but that's only if you don't provoke me."
"Lyra, was that Thalia? What did you two talk about?" Winter came out of the restroom wiping her hands, just in time to see Thalia's back as she went up the mall escalator.
Lyra collected her emotions and spoke flatly: "Nothing. Let's go!"
"I heard the Wood family is going to send Aria away now. Don't know if it's true or not."
Winter muttered.
Lyra didn't respond to her, but asked instead: "Didn't you say you had plans with Emma? Has she arrived?"
"Yes, she just messaged me saying she's at the parking lot."
Not long after the two arrived at the private room, Emma came, with Andrew following behind her.
Winter's greeting got stuck in her throat and went back down.
"I thought you'd come alone."
Emma casually pulled out a chair and sat down: "Ran into him on the way, so we came together."
"Guess who I just saw?"
"Who?" Emma looked at Lyra.
"Thalia, together with William. They seemed close."
Emma paused for a moment, then collected herself and spoke: "If she wasn't close with William, how could all the lawyers in Emerald City not dare to take the Wood family's case?"
"So the Wood family is just going to let it go like this?" Lyra didn't want to let Thalia off so easily. If she remained in that position, then everything she said would be believed. If Thalia told people about her situation, she'd be finished.
But now with her current strength, she had no way to compete with Thalia, not to mention William backing her up.
Right now, the only person she could rely on was Emma.
"My dad will find a way. If worst comes to worst, Walter will just have to go to prison."
Lyra: ........
........
"Mr. Brown."
When Kurt arrived at the mall, William was sitting in the open-air café in the central hall, holding a cup of coffee and looking down at his phone. Men and women passing by kept casting curious glances at this business tycoon.
Someone boldly tried to approach and strike up a conversation, but before getting close, was stopped by Finn, who gave them no chance.
William's superior demeanor was completely different from the shoppers coming and going in the mall.
William took a sip of coffee, crossed his legs, looking calm and composed: "Kurt."
Kurt's eyes met William's half-smiling gaze, and he understood - this man was waiting for him.
"Rare to see Mr. Brown at leisure."
William hummed in agreement: "Indeed rare."
"Did Kurt come specifically to find me?"
Kurt paused for a moment, wanting to explain, but was interrupted by a server bringing coffee. For a business elite in his fifties, someone who had once been a commanding figure, asking him to gather courage and humble himself to apologize was indeed not easy. The determination he had finally built up was interrupted by the server.
Kurt steadied himself: "Is Mr. Brown alone?"
"For now, yes. You too?"
"Yes."
"This coffee isn't particularly good, but the shop location is excellent. Sitting here, you can observe everyone coming in from outside. In business terms, how do we say it?"
William casually tossed the question to Kurt, seemingly asking, but actually giving a hint.
Kurt understood William's meaning. Being reminded by a junior wasn't exactly glorious, but business was like a battlefield - what mattered wasn't age, but the money in your pocket and the power in your hands: "Choice is more important than effort."
William's phone rang. He took it out, glanced at the caller ID, hung up without expression, and spoke leisurely: "Indeed."
William's presence in this shop was condescending, and Kurt being able to meet him in such a place was also special treatment.
He had wanted to apologize for last night's rudeness, but William hadn't given him a chance to speak.
Once was an accident, twice was deliberate. Kurt was now thinking that Thalia was probably just like Nora, a plaything and pet that someone had given to William.
When the time was right, they would separate.
If William and Thalia really had a relationship, if his actions last night had been seen by Thalia, he should apologize and explain to avoid damaging their relationship.
But William had pushed his apology back.
Halfway through the coffee, William's phone rang. He took it out and looked - Thalia had sent him a sneaky-peek emoji.
He immediately replied with a question mark.
Thalia quickly replied: "I'm done"