Chapter 476 I Have No Shame?
"Thalia, is it possible that what Layla said is true? That this whole thing is just an act staged by Mr. Brown to get official recognition?" Isla turned her head stiffly to look at Thalia, stammering a bit as she spoke.
She would never dare say these things in front of William.
That scheming, petty man might throw her into the desert the next second.
But right now, if she didn't speak up, wouldn't she just be letting the news become fact?
Thalia found William's number and called him, warning him coldly. "William, if you dare drag me into the news, I'll kill you."
On the other end, William's tone was calm, as if he'd already expected Thalia's warning. "Dad asked us to come home for dinner early this morning. I just happened to be passing by, I wasn't planning on getting out of the car."
"How smart of you." Thalia snapped, walking straight past the black Maybach and getting into the business van.
"Drive, to the Brown Mansion."
"Let's not go! I feel like it's a trap."
"William's father asked us to come home for dinner."
Isla wanted to say something but held back, not knowing what to say. She didn't go to the Brown Mansion often, once a week was already a lot. Vaughn was a teacher by profession, and the scholarly air he carried always gave people a sense of authority that couldn't be refused.
Even when he spoke in a questioning tone, to others it sounded like a command, especially to someone like her who had given teachers plenty of respect when she was in school.
The business van stopped at the entrance of the Brown Mansion. Isla was so cautious that she had John get out first to check if there were any reporters around.
"Come on down!"
The neighborhood where Vaughn lived was also William's territory. If there were reporters, they probably couldn't get in anyway.
"Hat," Isla handed her a hat and mask.
She wished she could completely change Thalia's appearance.
As soon as they entered, Amara saw Thalia come in fully armed, sitting cross-legged on the sofa froze.
"So bundled up, are you cold or trying to hide?"
Thalia stood in the house, taking off her hat while asking , "What do you think?"
"William's scandal has been up all day without being taken down. I thought you wouldn't come today."
Amara hinted subtly.
However, Thalia had just experienced the incident with William's birth mother in Regal City, so she didn't think in that direction at all. Even if she did, she figured it was the Jimenezes' doing.
"It's just a scandal, not a big deal. You're not working today?"
"Rare day off, so I thought I'd finally take a break at home on my day off."
"Want some?" Amara asked, passing the chips to Thalia.
When William came in, and he saw Thalia and Amara sitting on the sofa, cracking sunflower seeds and scrolling through Facebook. The scene was extremely harmonious.
"Where's Dad?"
"He's not back yet, he'll be late."
Amara's finger paused on her phone screen, looking at William as if remembering something. "When I came back from working overtime last night, I saw Dad burning something in his study. Has something happened recently?"
"William's birth mother showed up and met with your dad."
"When did this happen?" Amara suddenly sat up straight, staring at William.
No wonder Vaughn's mood was off that night, it was because of this.
"Yesterday."
Amara's gaze swept from William to Thalia. "You've both met her?"
"Yeah," William said, sitting across from them, preparing to drink tea.
In the living room, a faint tea fragrance lingered. Thalia leaned against the sofa, watching William's movements; it couldn't be more pleasing to the eye.
Amara glanced at Thalia and clicked her tongue. "Look at that look in your eyes. Should I make some room for you two and set up a tent right here while I'm at it?"
Thalia's ears turned red as she glared at Amara. "Do you think I'm shameless?"
"If you had shame, would you be eye-fucking your own husband in front of a single person?"
Thalia was speechless.
"Being single is already hard enough, and I have to watch you two being all lovey-dovey from time to time. Is it easy for me?"
With Thalia's blatant stares, no wonder William wanted to go public.
If he didn't make their relationship official while Thalia was still drooling over his looks, it would be too late when Thalia set her eyes on some better-looking man.
"What about that university teacher I introduced you to last time?" William quipped.
Amara scoffed. "Bald."
"I studied medicine for eight years and didn't go bald. He graduated from a foreign grad school and came back to teach, and he's bald? The hair he lost doesn't match the education he got."
"What's wrong with being bald? Your dad's bald too and you turned out fine, didn't you?" Just as Amara finished complaining, Harper stood at the kitchen door wearing an apron, glaring at her.
Amara shrank back, not daring to make a sound.
Feeling something was off, she looked at William and saw him smirking as he passed tea to Thalia, his eyes gleaming with calculation.
"You deliberately set me up, didn't you?" Amara snapped.
"William, you're too sneaky."
At seven-thirty, Vaughn came home just when dinner was nearly ready.
The family gradually gathered at the table, Harper brought the dishes to the table. "Chicken soup, perfect for winter."
"Today's meal was prepared on short notice, a bit rushed. If..."
"It's already great," William picked up Thalia's bowl to serve her soup, interrupting Harper.
Rushed? Didn't they say he asked them to come home for dinner early this morning?
If that was so, it should have been prepared in advance. How could it be rushed?
Thalia's scrutinizing gaze swept to William.
Seeing her chance for revenge, Amara dished out some food and continued Harper's unfinished sentence, "Yeah William, next time you're coming home for dinner, say so earlier. Don't notify us last minute. Look, Dad had to work overtime tonight, and you dragged him back."
Thalia felt something was off.
"Ah! Why'd you kick me?" As soon as Amara finished speaking, William kicked her under the table.
"I heard your recent research project is facing funding issues?" William held his bowl, spooning his soup leisurely, his tone cold and warning.
The implication was basically telling Amara to remember who her investor was.
Sure enough, one move enough to defeat the enemy.
Amara immediately shut up.