Chapter 61 Can Also Lie Under Others and Whimper.....
Evelyn burst in, looking like she just survived a hurricane.
When she got close to Thalia, Thalia waved her hand dismissively.
"Didn't you two come together?" Nicholas asked, eyeing Evelyn's state.
Thalia started to explain, "We were supposed to, but someone..."
"Enough," Evelyn cut in, clamping her hand over Thalia's mouth before she could finish.
Just then, Luna Bailey approached them in a sleek black dress, a vintage version of Thalia's modern, more daring outfit.
"Luna," Thalia greeted warmly.
"It's been a minute. You're looking more gorgeous every time I see you," Luna said.
"And you're getting more elegant," Thalia replied smoothly. They exchanged compliments until the moment felt right.
"How's your dad doing lately?" Luna asked.
Thalia kept her cool. "Same as always."
Her eyes reddened, looking like a fox with tears, adding to her allure.
"Don't stress too much. Life and death are fate, and wealth is destiny. Everything has its place," Luna said, trying to comfort her.
Thalia felt a wave of irritation. All that talk about fate and destiny was just Luna's way of saying she shouldn't expect any inheritance.
As if Chase stood a chance of getting much of it anyway.
"Yeah, I always believed that if something's meant to be mine, it'll be mine. If not, there's no point fighting for it," Thalia said, faking a sniffle and looking pitiful.
Luna: ...No point fighting for it.
She always knew Thalia was sharp. Thalia's mind was way more cunning than her innocent face let on.
In the entertainment world, she was the pure-hearted actress; at home, she was the sly fox.
Everything was under her control.
"You and Chase are both your father's kids. Shouldn't you be teaming up now?" Luna suggested.
"Sure," Thalia answered humbly, though she thought teaming up with Chase would be a disaster.
"You young folks have fun," Luna said, realizing she wouldn't get anything useful from Thalia and left awkwardly.
Thalia rolled her eyes and noticed William standing nearby, one hand casually in his pocket.
"Ms. Smith, isn't it about time you got that Best Actress nod?" he teased.
Thalia patted her dress, her fingers brushing against her thigh, making William's eyes darken slightly.
"If Mr. Brown sponsors me, that award's as good as mine," she said.
William chuckled, strolling over. "And why would my sponsorship matter to you?"
Thalia, annoyed by his smug look, leaned in closer. "Because I have a special relationship with Mr. Brown."
She gritted her teeth as she said it.
A special relationship?
If they were so special, why was she flirting with Elon?
William couldn't resist. "What kind of special relationship? Ms. Smith, do tell."
William was setting a trap, and Thalia was about to walk right into it when she noticed his faint smile and snapped back to reality.
She took a step back, creating some distance between them.
"Mr. Brown, karma's gonna get you if you keep being such a jerk."
William: ...
"Don't burn bridges," Thalia advised like someone who had seen it all.
Evelyn: ...What!
Nicholas: ...Intense!
William glared at her. "Thalia, you really can push my buttons anywhere, anytime."
"Is it any of your business?"
"Honestly, I don't get you, Mr. Brown. You act like you're into me, but you won't help me with my case. You act like you're not interested, but you keep showing up, making it hard not to get the wrong idea. Either help me or leave me alone. This back and forth makes me wonder if you'll only help me once you get what you want."
Thalia moved closer to William as she spoke, her eyes cold and displeased.
"If you really don't want to take my case, then stop bothering me. It's hard enough finding a wealthy husband without you getting in the way."
"If I can't get the inheritance, I need to find a rich husband so I don't end up begging on the streets."
"While I still have my looks, I need to use them to their fullest."
As Thalia spoke, William's hand clenched at his side, his eyes fixed on her. "What rich man would want a bankrupt woman?"
"What if there's someone who doesn't care about money?"
"I'll use his money, and he'll use my body. It's a fair trade!"
"Mr. Brown should know that my figure is quite appealing to many men..."
"I can be with Mr. Brown or someone else..."
Thalia was trying to provoke William, this dark and repressed man.
She wanted him to suffer just as much as she did.
William was so infuriated by her words that he acted without thinking. He grabbed Thalia's shoulder, opened the balcony door, and threw her into the pool.
"William, are you crazy? Thalia cares so much about her image, and you threw her into the pool at someone else's party. She's going to kill you when she gets out!"
"Mr. Brown, that was too much."
William, realizing what he'd done, was furious with himself. For the first time in his life, he acted before thinking. Thalia's comment about being with someone else had really hit a nerve.
As he was about to go downstairs, he saw someone jump into the pool.
Elon had stepped away from the party to take a work call by the pool. The layout of this venue was different, with the main hall on the second floor and a relaxation area on the first floor.
He was on the phone when he saw something fall into the pool. Instinctively, he reached out but missed.
By the time he realized what had happened, Thalia was already in the water.
Elon jumped in and pulled her out.
Thalia coughed violently, having swallowed some water.
"Here, put this on," Elon said, draping his jacket over her shoulders.
Thalia grabbed the jacket and covered her face. "Carry me out of here."
"Hurry, if the media gets a picture of me like this, I swear I'll kill you."
Elon: ...
Thalia's thinking was always different from others.