Chapter 224 Mrs. Brown, What Are the Benefits?
"Here's your ticket. Ms. Clark, remember what you said. If you dare come back to Emerald City, we can't guarantee your safety," Angelina handed her a plane ticket.
Aria took it and thanked her repeatedly: "Thank you, Ms. Jolie. I promise I'll never set foot in Emerald City again."
Angelina glanced at the baby in her arms, her expression showing neither compassion nor disgust. To her, motherhood itself was contradictory. Marie was wealthy—when she learned of her ex-husband's affair, instead of rushing to divorce, she got pregnant first. To secure a large fortune, she used the child as bait, willing to miscarry through her ex-husband's actions.
In the end, she got both money and freedom, with no child to tie her down.
And Aria, penniless and unable to even support herself, was desperately trying to take the child with her.
Who was good? Who was bad? Who was a qualified mother? Who wasn't?
Impossible to define.
Angelina opened her wallet and pulled out what little cash she had: "As a lawyer, I'm most afraid of leaving evidence. I'll skip the transfer—take this cash."
Aria was broke. Without it, she might not even be able to afford food after leaving.
"Thank you."
"Aria, I've seen too many young women go down the wrong path. You didn't lose this gamble—at least these people had some conscience and didn't destroy you completely or kick you while you were down. I hope you won't go down the wrong path again."
Aria knew Angelina's words were a warning. She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
It wasn't until she stood at the airport entrance, holding her child and watching the black Mercedes speed away, that she slowly looked away.
Emerald City was a major financial hub with endless streams of travelers. Even the late-night airport was as busy as daytime. The destination she'd dreamed of during her school days was now a place she had to flee from overnight.
Was she wrong? No.
Was William wrong for setting this trap? No.
She wanted money, he wanted love. Neither was wrong.
She remembered that night when she got news that her mother was critically ill and had been transferred to Emerald City for treatment. When she rushed to the hospital in panic, she saw her father signing a form to stop treatment. In that instant, she felt like someone had struck her head with a club, shaking her soul.
She begged her father not to do something so cruel, but he told her there was no money to save her mother.
No money!
A young woman fresh out of college, because of no money, knelt crying in the hospital corridor, drawing attention.
Until a pair of shiny leather shoes stopped in her line of sight. She looked up through blurry eyes at the extraordinarily handsome man before her.
William, the dream guy of Westbridge University students.
It wasn't that she hadn't fantasized about romance novel scenarios, but later, from William's few words, she learned she wasn't good enough for him.
How could a girl who'd struggled to climb out of a small town compare to a princess?
Five million dollars to play a part.
Just let Thalia see Walter's true colors and return to being single.
As for why she later ended up with Walter and moved into the Wood Villa, that wasn't part of the deal—it was all her own foolish doing.
And as Angelina said, William had been more than fair.
If he hadn't had some conscience, her situation would be much worse now.
The next morning, Thalia had no work. When she sat up holding her blanket, she saw a figure moving in the kitchen through the doorway.
"Isla?"
"You haven't left yet?"
Usually by this time, William would be long gone.
She hadn't expected it to be William in the kitchen.
"Saw you weren't awake. Go wash up and come eat breakfast."
"Okay," she rubbed her eyes and headed back to the bedroom barefoot, but just as she turned around, she heard William remind her: "Put on shoes."
"You won't leave until I wake up? Afraid I'll sleep forever or waiting for me to sleep forever?"
William paused while picking up his soy milk and glanced at Thalia: "Are you forcing me to strangle you?"
"I'm just asking."
"Then ask something I want to hear."
"What do you want to hear?" Thalia stirred the porridge in her bowl.
Before William could respond, his phone on the table buzzed with a message.
William glanced at it: "Walter's appeal was rejected. First trial sentence of fifteen years stands."
"I know," Thalia replied slowly.
William's brow furrowed at her "I know."
"Brian messaged me this morning."
William: .........
How clever!
"You're in pretty close contact with my secretary." William's tone turned ominous.
Thalia hummed: "Of course, I referred him a multi-million dollar divorce case."
=
"Rainey came to the set yesterday, found Aaron, and kept offering me variety shows and commercials. He wanted to have dinner together last night, but I refused."
"Please have Mr. Brown handle this."
"You don't like the type of variety shows and commercials?"
Thalia leaned back in her chair: "Not exactly."
"I don't just eat whatever's put in front of me."
She propped her elbow on the table and stretched her neck to look at William: "It depends on who."
William saw her like this and couldn't help but chuckle softly. That was definitely Thalia's style.
"Mrs. Brown, what's in it for me?"
"What's in it for you?" Thalia raised an eyebrow.
Thalia responded.
Thalia put down her sandwich and stood up, reaching across the table to grab William's loungewear, opening fiercely: "Giving you the chance to help me solve problems is your blessing. What benefit do you want? Should I send you ten women?"
.........
The helicopter had just landed on top of the Celestia Group building when it started raining. The downpour was heavy, and William got soaked within meters of the tower.
The first thing he did when returning to his office was change clothes.
When Angelina came in, she saw William wiping rainwater from his neck with a dry towel.
"Everything you asked me to do is handled."
William casually handed the towel back to Brian and waved him out.
"Where did she go back to?"
"Seaside City."
Angelina watched William pull out his chair and sit down, looking at him with some concern: "Are you sure you're just letting this go? What if Aria is used by someone with ulterior motives? You and Thalia might not even make it through your two-year marriage period."
William had just opened his computer, his eyes on the screen before it even booted up.
A trace of unfathomable ruthlessness flashed through his narrow eyes. William didn't respond to her words, but based on Angelina's years of understanding him, she knew he already had an answer.
"Boss, Mr. Wilson is here."