Chapter 229 Does Mr. Brown Have a Woman Outside?
A woman?
Thalia picked up her phone and glanced at the caller ID, her brows furrowing tightly. The questioning voice on the other end sounded so confident - clearly someone who knew William.
And they weren't just casually acquainted either.
Just as Thalia was about to speak, William took the phone from her and hung up.
Wrapped in a bathrobe, she lay on the bed watching William's face darken. "Mr. Brown, what's going on?"
"Spam call."
"If it's spam, why were you in such a hurry to hang up?"
"Didn't want it to ruin your mood."
"Well, you're already ruining my mood now."
William paused, staring at Thalia for a moment, then his eyes caught her lit phone screen. "Who are you transferring money to?"
"I'm asking you! Don't change the subject."
"William, if you dare mess around with other women, don't even think about touching me again."
"Thalia, is it really that hard to trust me? One phone call and you're already threatening me?"
As William spoke, something seemed to occur to him, and he leaned closer to Thalia. "Is Mrs. Brown jealous?"
Using her own tactics against her?
Thalia almost laughed in frustration - she wasn't falling for that trick.
She pushed William away. "Mr. Brown, fighting fire with fire? I'm not buying it."
"Mrs. Brown, my body, my money, my heart - they're all in your hands. If you don't trust my character, at least trust my money. One phone call and you doubt me?"
"Trying to manipulate me?"
"Fine," Thalia tapped her phone, displaying an account number in front of William. "Transfer me ten million dollars and show me your sincerity."
William glanced at the account number without hesitation, went to the living room, and came back with a checkbook and pen. His boldness in writing a check on the spot made Thalia freeze.
Was William stupid with too much money, or was he really trying to protect the woman on the other end of that call?
"Who is she? Worth such a grand gesture from Mr. Brown?"
Thalia waved the check.
William now understood what it meant to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Wasn't he exactly that?
Giving money meant he felt guilty; not giving money meant he lacked sincerity.
"Let's sleep."
"You sleep! You know I care about this. Knowing I care and still not dealing with it only makes me care more. Who knows, maybe after a good night's sleep I'll see things clearly."
"See what clearly?"
"Getting a new husband."
"Thalia," William's voice came through gritted teeth, filling the entire bedroom.
The next morning, Thalia went to the set and saw Nora from afar, coming in with an ice pack pressed to her face.
Did she... get hit by Zephyrine?
Thalia was just thinking this when Isla directly spoke up without fear of stirring up trouble.
As soon as Isla's words came out, Nora appeared nearby.
She stared at Isla with fierce eyes. "Say that again."
Isla shrank back a bit, but remembering she'd taken photos last night, she wasn't worried anymore. "What? We all saw you get into Kurt's wife's car last night. I even took photos! If you think I'm wrong, I can show everyone."
"You..." Nora choked with anger, then turned her gaze to Thalia. "Thalia, control your dog."
"That's a strange thing to say. My dog bites you, and you bite back? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
Nora: ........
"Delete the photos, keeping them is bad luck," Thalia glanced at Isla before going in.
Isla took out her phone and deleted the photos. Just as she was about to leave, Nora grabbed her. "Clear the recently deleted folder too."
"You..." Isla was about to say something, but remembering Thalia's cold look just now, she held back and obediently deleted them.
She pushed open the makeup room door and went in. She'd expected Thalia to already be getting her makeup done, but instead saw her leaning back in the chair with her arms crossed, watching her.
Isla shrank back. "Thalia..."
"Isla, do you understand industry rules? You're my assistant. Taking photos of Nora to threaten her won't bring me any benefits. If you keep acting so thoughtlessly, I'll replace you."
"I... I just thought, since she treated you that way before, so I..."
Thalia nodded. "In other words, you didn't just photograph Nora - you photographed Kurt's wife too."
"I understand now. It won't happen again," Isla said with her head down, looking dejected.
Thalia pressed her lips together and thought for a moment. "Go on out. Send the makeup artist in, and be more careful."
Isla was good, but sometimes she saw things too simply.
...........
"Boss, Lumira's here again, demanding you compensate her for her great-grandson."
Brian looked at William with difficulty - this was worse than eating shit. Ever since Aria left Emerald City with the child, Lumira had gone crazy, having her family driver bring her to the company every day to sit at the entrance and scream.
Demanding William compensate her for her great-grandson.
Though they'd dealt with plenty of situations before, this was the first time they'd seen someone so shameless.
"How many days has it been?"
"Five days," Brian said, watching William put down his pen, his eyes cold and dark.
William tossed the pen onto the desk, pushed back his chair, stood up, and rolled up his sleeves as he headed out.
"Bring the iPad."
Brian followed William, asking uncertainly, "Should I call for backup?"
"Call people for what? A group fight to make tomorrow's news?"
Brian: .........
Downstairs, William walked up to Lumira in his expensive leather shoes, looking down at her.
"Who are you?"
"Aren't you the one demanding I compensate you for your great-grandson?"
"It's you..." Lumira's face turned vicious. She reached out to grab William's collar, but William stepped back, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.
The fall left Lumira dizzy and disoriented, lying on the ground yelling that someone was trying to kill her.
Seeing this, Brian wanted to help Lumira up, but one look from William stopped him.
William, wearing a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves revealing his lean arms, reached out his hand. Brian wisely handed over the iPad.
William tugged at his dress pants and crouched down like a deity before a struggling old society lady. He was never kind - in Angelina's words, people who thought he was kind simply hadn't seen him personally tear off that fake mask.
His finger lightly touched the iPad, and images played one after another - starting with Walter's domestic violence, then photos of Emma fooling around with shady men.
"Lumira, you're educated. You should know what it means if I release these things."
"If I bring Aria back to file a lawsuit, Walter will get at least five more years. Not only will you lose custody rights, but you'll also have to pay damages for emotional distress."
Lumira's face went pale with anger. "Aren't you afraid I'll die at your company entrance?"
William's lips curved slightly, his emotions unreadable. "Obstructing business is illegal. Suicide is your personal choice - I'll help you call the police."
"The Celestia Group operates legally. Besides, even if you bring your whole family here to jump off the building, I don't mind."