Chapter 471 Holding Her Waist to Make Her Stand Properly
The scene looked like it had been rehearsed a thousand times.
Everyone was in position almost instantly. William had no one with him that day, while Dione only had Jacob by her side.
Compared to the large crowd of reporters, they were clearly outnumbered.
"Isn't that Dione?"
"Yeah! Who's that man across from her? He looks so much like her! Could he be her son?"
"No way! Her son and daughter don't really look like her - we've seen them before!"
Thalia listened to the gossip around her and asked, "Son and daughter? Are they biological?"
"Of course! People from families like theirs definitely need biological children."
Did Dione have another marriage after splitting from Vaughn? Or was there no marriage at all? Just some kind of relationship?
"How old are they?"
"In their twenties, I think. They look about your age."
So she had a second marriage not long after leaving Vaughn? Damn it!
Having children but not raising them―that's basically being scum.
It must have been hard on Vaughn that William didn't go down the wrong path with a mother like that.
In the crowd, William stood before her with one hand in his pocket. Dione wore a white coat with a large fur collar around her neck. Everything about her, from her outfit to her posture, screamed wealthy lady.
"Ms. Jimenez..." Jacob looked at the reporters, somewhat panicked, worried this might turn into news that would be hard to handle.
Dione stared at William, not responding to his words.
"Ms. Jimenez, there are rumors that you had a son with your first husband. Is this him?"
"Ms. Jimenez, does your current husband's family know about this?"
"Ms. Jimenez..."
The barrage of questions created chaos at the scene. Dione's expression remained unchanged, and as she lowered her eyes, the smile on her lips deepened.
In an instant, her gaze fell on the reporters. "When did the fact that I had a son with my first husband become a rumor?"
"How did something I've never hidden become gossip to you people?"
With that, Dione glanced at Jacob. "Remember which media outlets are here today. Let's see who dares to spread rumors."
"Yes!"
Dione walked toward William step by step, her eyes looking at him like a stranger, with a probing quality.
A mother and son meeting again after nearly thirty years should have been warm, but clearly, these two had no warmth whatsoever.
It would be good enough if they didn't want to kill each other.
"Let's talk somewhere else." This was a statement, not a request for input.
William said nothing, his demeanor cold and stern, his whole being radiating unwillingness.
Dione probably anticipated being refused, and her gaze swept to Thalia standing at the store entrance.
"Mrs. Brown must be getting impatient, right?"
"A stage with just two people is a bit lonely after all. Mr. Brown wouldn't mind if I brought Mrs. Brown into this too, would you?"
William smiled, the slight curve of his lips making everyone present momentarily confused. With that bearing and appearance, no one would believe they weren't mother and son.
In the VIP room of the luxury store, William and Dione sat in the lounge while Thalia wandered around the shop, leisurely making a round, trying on a few outfits. She walked to the VIP room entrance and saw Jacob waiting by the door.
Her fingers, hanging at her side, curled slightly.
Jacob looked up to see Thalia standing not far away, staring at him openly, her fingers at her side curling slightly.
Inexplicably, Jacob felt his face itch, as if the warmth from last night's two slaps still lingered.
Looking around Regal City, which heiress from a wealthy family would dare to hit someone in public?
Even if you had no shame yourself, you'd have to consider your family's reputation. But this person truly had no shame.
"What's your name?"
"Jacob." By rights, given Jacob's status, he could completely ignore Thalia's question, but inexplicably, when she walked over to him in high heels, he felt a sense of fear―fear no less than what he felt when with Dione.
"Does your face still hurt?"
Jacob was taken aback, looking at Thalia, momentarily unclear about her intentions.
"Ms. Smith, if you have something to say, just say it."
"Is Dione looking for William to warn him not to get involved in the Jimenez family's business?" Thalia asked. Jacob didn't respond.
Thalia seemed to understand, nodding. "Interesting. Someone who doesn't even want to acknowledge his own mother―and people think he'd acknowledge his grandfather?"
"Which one of those ungrateful guys in the Jimenez family is worthy?"
After saying this, Thalia turned and left. Jacob watched her pick out a few outfits and enter the fitting room. Standing at the door, he reflected on what she'd just said. So William had no intention of helping the Jimenez family?
If that was really the case, then Dione's warning had truly stabbed at the heart of the matter.
........
"Done choosing?" Thalia opened the fitting room door in her outfit to see William waiting outside.
"Finished talking? That was quick."
"Mm," William responded, walking over to take over from the sales assistant, pulling up Thalia's zipper, and offering his assessment. "This one doesn't suit you."
"Doesn't it look good?"
"Too revealing."
Thalia was speechless.
She turned to look at the sales assistant. "Wrap this one up for me."
Hearing this, William frowned. Thalia blinked and hooked her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear, "I'll wear it just for you."
William's ears turned red from Thalia's teasing. His hand gripped her waist, making her stand properly, then mimicked her by breathing warmly into her ear. "At this level... not enough..."
"Ms. Jimenez, Ms. Smith just said a few words to me."
On the way back, Jacob sat in the passenger seat, looking at Dione, who had her eyes closed.
"What did she say?"
Jacob relayed Thalia's words. Dione's eyes opened slightly. "You mean William isn't going back to the Jimenez family to take sides?"
"I don't think so. And we've been looking into it - apparently, when Steven went to Emerald City to find Mr. Brown, he was turned away."
"Things didn't end pleasantly."
"Apparently, Ms. Smith even slapped Eileen."
Hearing this, Dione's eyes narrowed. "She does have some nerve."
"Daring to slap anyone."
"Have you arranged what I asked you to arrange?"
"All taken care of."
...........
The two planned to return to Emerald City that afternoon and found a restaurant in the mall for lunch.
Just as they entered, Thalia poked William's side. The man followed her gaze to see Sean leading over a girl in a white sweater.