Chapter 423 A Towel Covered Only the Waist and Abdomen
"Sean's on his way to Emerald City."
"Alone?"
"Yeah."
Michael lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
Henry seemed to see right through him, but there were some things he couldn't quite get himself to bring up. He changed the subject instead, saying, "What about your grandmother..."
"No need to meddle. Since she called Sean, it just proves she only trusts Sean."
"We'll just sit back and watch the show."
"Got it."
That evening, the first thing Sean did when he arrived in Emerald City wasn't to return to the Jimenez Mansion, but to find Michael.
Hearing this, the driver hesitated. "Maybe we should just go home tonight instead of looking for Michael."
"Why?" Sean asked, cigarette between his fingers, looking at the driver.
"Michael's usually busy at night."
"Busy with what?"
The driver seemed reluctant to say. "Busy... having fun."
"Women?"
"Yes."
"Take me there."
Michael didn't get around much. There were only a few places in Emerald City worth his time. The driver turned the car around and headed straight for Aurora Tower.
Aurora Tower had dedicated an entire floor to pool enthusiasts.
Some played normally, others played with flair. Tonight, Michael was the latter. He stood by the pool table, surrounded by hot-bodied nightclub girls. Every time he sank a ball, flirtatious compliments poured from their mouths like they were nothing.
After spending enough time in this scene, these women knew better than anyone who was generous and who was cheap.
They knew who would pay without sleeping with them, and who would sleep with them without paying.
Clearly, Michael—stupid with money, paying without sleeping around—had earned unanimous approval from all the women present.
A man this easy to milk? Of course, they had to butter him up.
Sean walked in just in time to witness this scene. The moment this man in a sharp suit, radiating an air of restraint, appeared at the entrance, eyes were drawn to him.
"That guy at the door, what a catch."
"From Emerald City? Never seen him before."
"Not sure, but definitely seems like it's the first time."
"Want to try?"
"Let's go!"
Sean had no idea that just by standing at the entrance, doing absolutely nothing, he'd become hot property to these women.
His gaze fell on Michael with scrutiny.
He'd never believed Michael's Playboy persona was real, nor that he genuinely enjoyed hanging around these Eclipse Lounge-type places.
He'd known this guy's true nature since they were kids.
He'd just gotten better at hiding it as he grew up.
"Hey, handsome, here alone? Want to have some fun?" A woman swayed her hips as she approached him, her curves pressing tightly against his arm. The man gave her one cold glance—just one glance—that sent chills down the woman's spine, leaving her momentarily speechless.
This man carried too much menace.
Like a demon freshly crawling out of hell, merely wearing human skin.
She unconsciously stepped back several paces.
Michael had just taken aim and was about to take his shot when someone grabbed his cue.
"Is this how you waste your days in Emerald City?"
Michael didn't need to look up to know who it was. That was just how Sean was—on one hand suppressing him, afraid he'd work too hard and surpass him, putting him down at every opportunity.
On the other hand, despising him for lacking ambition.
"Sean, what are you doing here?"
"Grandpa's in trouble. Did you know?" Sean stared at him, brow furrowed.
"Yeah, I know." At a time like this, saying he didn't know would be too far-fetched.
"You know, and you're still fooling around in a place like this."
"What else am I supposed to do if I'm not fooling around here? If I showed up in front of Grandma, wouldn't she just get angrier? Think I'm useless, can't help the family, then tell me to get lost. I already know how it ends, so why go get yelled at?"
"Come home with me." Sean shot him a cold look, took the pool cue from his hand, and tossed it on the table.
Michael didn't mind, just shrugged and left with him.
Of course, he knew Sean wasn't sincerely trying to bring him back into the family fold. He was dragging him along to create a stark contrast in front of Eileen.
That way, even if Sean did nothing, one look at Michael would make Eileen feel like Sean was her real grandson.
Michael had seen this too many times. He didn't care anymore.
Sure enough, the moment they entered the Jimenez Mansion gates, Eileen didn't even have time to exchange pleasantries with Sean. The instant she saw Michael, her anger flared, and she launched into a tirade.
Listening from the side, even Henry felt bad for him. Eileen's favoritism couldn't be more obvious.
Who the Jimenez family would end up in the hands of was still anyone's guess.
..........
When Thalia got home and saw the master bedroom's big bed, she nearly shed tears of joy, feeling that life at home was just too wonderful.
After her bath, she came out and started applying ointment to her legs.
She couldn't reach the back, so she called Fallon upstairs.
"Mrs. Brown, were your legs bitten by bugs?"
"Yeah." After staying in dirty hotels for several days, Thalia felt she'd really suffered. She'd had tough times before, but at least nothing like the accommodations of the past few days.
There were even ants in the bed, forcing her to spend the second half of the night cramped in the business van.
Utterly miserable.
"Should we have a doctor come look?"
"No need. Just apply some medicine, then help me arrange a spa."
"I'll have them prepare it."
The downstairs spa room had become Thalia's favorite spot after returning from filming.
When William came home and didn't see her, before he could even ask, Fallon informed him she was in the spa room downstairs.
"Mrs. Brown seems to have been bitten by bugs when she came back."
"Is it serious?" William asked with concern.
"Somewhat," Fallon replied. For ordinary people, it might be minor, but Thalia's skin was so delicate that even the slightest rash was very noticeable.
Hearing "somewhat," William, who had been about to go upstairs, pivoted and pressed the elevator button to go down instead.
Mistwood Hill had six floors total. Thalia's daily activities were limited to the first and second floors, so she didn't need the elevator, and William, always one for exercise, rarely used it either.
The servants' and owners' elevators were separate.
So this front elevator rarely operated. In the eight-plus months Fallon had been here, this was the first time she'd seen it run.
"Mr. Brown..."
The person giving Thalia her spa downstairs was about to speak when the man raised his index finger to his lips, stopping her words.
"Mrs. Brown is asleep."
Thalia lay on the spa bed with only a towel covering her waist and abdomen, her back and legs exposed.
"Keep going." William was brief, walking over to stand beside Thalia. He immediately spotted the rash on her legs.