Chapter 34 Aren't Women Indestructible?
"Didn't you eat?"
William glanced up to see Thalia emerging in a pair of black satin pajama pants that were too long, so she had rolled them up a bit.
"Nope."
"Why not just order takeout? Cooking is such a hassle."
William thought to himself: Of course! Thalia, who has no clue how tough life can be.
"Why do you always ignore me?" Thalia pulled out a chair and sat down by the kitchen door, watching him.
White shirt, black dress pants, William's tall frame was perfectly showcased. Who would have thought that Emerald City's new elite would be in the kitchen making a meal?
This mix of asceticism and domesticity made Thalia's heart flutter.
"Because Ms. Smith and I are not the same kind of people."
"As long as we're the same kind in bed, who cares?"
"Ms. Smith, has anyone ever told you that your mind is quite... something?"
"Something dirty."
Thalia rested her chin on her hand, watching William methodically chop vegetables and cook pasta.
Before long, a plate of pasta was ready, smelling both light and fragrant.
"None for me?"
"Ms. Smith, didn't you already eat?"
"Did I?"
"In the private room, holding onto that college athlete, remember? Forgot so soon?"
William picked up some pasta, blowing on it slowly, completely ignoring Thalia's embarrassed look.
Thalia cleared her throat, watching William eat his pasta. "I didn't want to, but I've been so frustrated with Mr. Brown lately. I'm the most beautiful woman in Emerald City, my father raised me with pride for over twenty years, and I've thrown it all away on Mr. Brown. If you showed me a bit of kindness, I wouldn't be looking for fun with other men!"
William thought: Instead of reflecting on yourself, you blame others?
"Thalia, you really are something else," she goes out with other men and it's his fault?
"Mr. Brown, look, I'm so miserable, can't you help me out?"
"Ms. Smith, how are you miserable?" William asked.
"The entire Emerald City is waiting for my father to die! Once he does, how many people will come to bully me? I'll have no support, no money, won't I be done for?"
"What does that have to do with me?" William countered.
"Sure, we get along well in bed, but standing on the same side as you is too much trouble. I'd rather spend the time figuring out how to make money from the rich. Thalia... not everyone is interested in your inheritance."
Thalia thought: The new elite of Emerald City sure speaks tough.
After William's retort, Thalia didn't respond for a while. He glanced over and saw her face pale, clutching her stomach, curled up in the chair.
"What's wrong?"
"You made me mad..."
"You don't look mad, you look like I poisoned you." William, alarmed by her pale face, picked her up and took her to the couch. "Stomachache?"
Thalia weakly nodded.
William: "Painkillers or hot water?"
"Both."
William glanced at Thalia, took out his phone, and called the bodyguards downstairs to buy painkillers and bring them up.
Thalia always knew William had people around, but it was the first time she heard him call them out.
Wrapped in a blanket on the couch, she vaguely heard William leave and come back.
Soon, a warm hand gently rested on her stomach, massaging it.
Thalia, dazed, looked at William, pondering for a moment. “Did you have a lot of ex-girlfriends?”
William's hand paused, his face stiffened, and he pulled his hand away.
“Don't go.”
Thalia grabbed his arm, looking at him pitifully.
“Any man with common sense knows this, Ms. Smith. Are you trying to annoy me?”
Thalia pouted, not in the mood to argue with William.
After taking the painkillers, Thalia finally settled down.
Lying on the couch, having her stomach rubbed, she was so comfortable she almost fell asleep.
Just like Amara's ragdoll cat...
Running around the house when crazy, but so docile when being petted that it made you want to spoil it.
William's hand paused, suddenly feeling a bit wicked.
The next morning, Thalia opened her eyes and found herself in bed.
Woken up by the need to pee, Thalia sat up quickly.
Then—she felt a warm flow down her thigh.
Thalia: ...No way! Did it leak?
There’s nothing more embarrassing than having your period leak in someone else’s bed.
Thalia quickly lifted the blanket and saw a large red stain on the gray sheets.
Thalia was almost scared to death.
Would William, the stingy man, make her pay for the sheets?
Just as she was about to leave the bedroom to find William, she noticed a note on the bedside table.
“Court appearance. Make yourself at home.”
Short and to the point, not a word wasted.
Thalia thought for a moment, then lifted the blanket to cover the sheets and ran off...
By noon, William finished his court appearance, checked his phone, and saw no messages or calls from Thalia... not like her.
He went home before heading back to the office, found the bedroom in disarray, and Thalia nowhere in sight. He picked up the note that had fallen on the sheets, and as his fingers touched it, he noticed a faint red stain.
With a swift motion, William lifted the blanket.
Seeing the large bloodstain on the bed, his face darkened...
...
“Nicholas’s birthday party, invitation...” Evelyn placed the invitation on Thalia's vanity.
“Not going,” Thalia said lazily while applying skincare products.
“William is invited too, and so is Scarlett. If you don't go, aren’t you giving them a chance?”
Thalia's hand paused.
Just as she was about to respond to Evelyn, Grace called, urging her to come home.
Thalia rushed back to find Ruby Hill, the Smith family matriarch, sitting in the house.
Hayden was sixty this year, and Ruby Hill was over eighty and still alive.
Ruby had been living abroad for years, not involved in domestic affairs. Her sudden return gave Thalia a bad feeling.
“Grandma.”
Ruby rested her hand on her cane, lifting her eyes to look at Thalia. “I'm surprised you still remember you have a grandmother.”
“What are you saying!” Thalia knelt by Ruby's side, her slender fingers resting on Ruby's knee, smiling sweetly.
When Ruby's eyes fell on Thalia's pink nail polish, her face changed. “Your father is dying and you’re still all dolled up? What, afraid he won’t die soon enough?”
“I!” Thalia was about to say something when Ruby threw a glass of water in her face.