Chapter 223 Let's Talk Properly, Put the Scissors Down First
William raised an eyebrow: "Taking things out of context?"
"Making false accusations?" Thalia shot back.
William couldn't be bothered to argue with her. He went straight to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. Before he could say anything, Thalia followed him and demanded: "Did you cause this mess?"
William glanced at Thalia and saw her aggressive stance - she looked like she wanted to kill him right now.
"We're in a secret marriage, babe. Do I need to explain what that means? It means people outside don't know we're married. Even if someone out there has a grudge against me, it won't affect you. Got it?"
"You sure they won't investigate?"
"Investigate where?" William took a sip of water, trying to calm his anger.
"The marriage registry."
"Does your family run the marriage registry? You think you can just check whenever you want?" William snapped back.
Thalia had been injured and given anesthesia during the stitching. Now that it had worn off, her wound was throbbing with pain. And on top of that, she was being talked back to. Her temper flared instantly.
She stared at William, about to explode with rage.
She watched as William lifted his glass and finished the water.
"Just calm down for a second. Let's sit down and talk this through."
"What's there to talk about?" Thalia demanded angrily.
"You insist this whole thing is my fault, standing in front of me yelling accusations, forcing me to admit to something I didn't do regardless of the facts - how is that different from forcing someone into prostitution?"
"Fine, you're so noble, you're so great - you're sleeping on the couch tonight."
William stood in the living room staring at the closed bedroom door, breaking out in a cold sweat.
It was his fault for being stubborn!
His fault for trying to reason with a woman!
His fault for being too rational!
His fault for not confessing under pressure!
All his fault!
"Thalia, open the door."
"Go away."
William apologized through the door: "I was wrong, I'm sorry, just open the door first."
"Stay away."
"Don't you want to know how this all turns out?"
The door swung open. Thalia stood there with one hand on the doorknob and the other holding a gleaming pair of scissors, looking fierce: "You better tell me the truth, or don't make me cut off your dick."
William looked at the scissors in Thalia's hand and felt his legs go weak: "Let's talk nicely, just put the scissors down first."
"William, you think I'm joking?" Thalia walked toward William with the scissors, and he instinctively took a step back.
"Can't learn to talk to me properly, can you?"
"I was wrong." A real man knows when to bend. William had known Thalia's temper since childhood - he wasn't about to ruin his future happiness over something this small. Apologizing to his wife wasn't shameful.
"Whose family runs the marriage registry?"
"Your family does," William said against his conscience, going along with Thalia.
His serious expression made Thalia's chest tremble.
She slammed the scissors down on the coffee table and sat on it, mimicking William's usual manner, looking at him: "Speak!"
"As for enemies, I do have quite a few. But until we investigate and get results, I can't really say for sure who they are or what they're after."
"So?"
"I'll try to resolve it as soon as possible."
........
"Mr. Brown offended someone?"
John was also curious. The recent events had been strange and bizarre. It wasn't like Thalia hadn't offended people before or been targeted, but having two incidents in three days, both aimed at killing her - that frequency was pretty terrifying. It felt like the other party was losing control.
Finn sighed: "If Mr. Brown hadn't offended anyone, would he be Mr. Brown?"
John: .......
Just like last time, the other party seemed to have planned ahead, leaving no traces. They followed the surveillance footage and found the motorcycle in a pond, but the person had long disappeared.
When Thalia wrapped her wound in plastic wrap and went into the bathroom to wash her face and remove her makeup, William received a call from Finn.
Hearing this, William wasn't surprised. He asked Finn and the others to go check it out, just to confirm.
"Arrange for someone to protect Thalia in secret. Tell John not to make a big deal out of it."
Finn looked at John beside him.
After hanging up, Finn relayed William's message to him.
John indicated he understood.
"Did you catch them?" Thalia came out of the bathroom wiping the water from her face.
William shook his head: "No."
"Mr. Brown, aren't you supposed to be some hidden big shot in Emerald City? Can't even handle this little thing - are you capable or not?"
William casually tossed his phone onto the small bed, turned to look at Thalia, his tone slightly raised: "If you're so capable, you do it?"
"If you can't, get out. Don't sleep in my bed."
William: ..........
........
"Why is Ms. Jolie here?" Following William's orders, Angelina came to the Wood Villa after work, with several bodyguards and Aria in tow.
When Wesley saw Aria behind Angelina, his expression changed: "What's the meaning of this, Ms. Jolie?"
"Exactly what Mr. Wood sees. Mr. Brown said the Wood family isn't very peaceful anymore. If Mr. Wood really wants to rebuild the Wood family, it's better to avoid trouble. Otherwise, if they pin some charges on Mr. Wood in court, he'll be finished for life. Anyway, we're all acquaintances - might as well sit down and talk properly. What do you think, Mr. Wood?"
Last time, Wesley had been relatively polite. Today he clearly had lost his temper, looking at Angelina with wariness: "Ms. Jolie, speak plainly."
"Legally speaking, before a newborn is weaned, even in a divorce, custody goes to the mother. What's more, for someone like Mr. Wood who's addicted to domestic violence, it's a guaranteed loss. If Mr. Wood doesn't want this to get too ugly, just bring out the child and we won't stay a minute longer."
"The Celestia Group's fees aren't something Aria can afford. Don't tell me Ms. Jolie is playing the hero and helping the underdog?" How could a penniless woman like Aria hire a legal heavyweight? Wesley didn't believe Angelina was that kind-hearted. Everyone knew how much money she'd made from the Wilson family case.
Angelina held a glass bottle of mineral water. Hearing Wesley's words, she smiled lightly, opened the bottle and took a sip, her casual tone uncannily similar to William's nonchalance: "I've always been kind-hearted. Mr. Wood should know, I don't lack money - what I lack is the mood to do things."
"The Wood family bloodline isn't for an outsider like you to dictate."
"Of course the Wood family bloodline isn't for an outsider like me to dictate, but as for Mr. Wood's future, I can........"