Chapter 34
"Then why does Isabella call my husband 'daddy'?"
Amelia was caught off guard by my question. A flash of panic crossed her face, but she quickly composed herself and spoke up.
"Isabella doesn't know any better; she's just calling him that randomly. You're an adult; why make a fuss over a child?"
"It's fine that Isabella doesn't know any better." My tone turned cold, full of implication. "What I'm worried about is that some adults have these inappropriate thoughts too, and even teach children to do this."
"What do you mean?" James's deep voice suddenly cut in, clearly displeased.
He turned to look at me, his eyes cold. "What do you mean? Explain yourself."
I met his questioning gaze without backing down and stated the facts. "The intention to wreck someone else's marriage."
"Who has that intention?" He continued pressing, his tone aggressive.
I looked at him and suddenly smiled, my smile full of endless mockery. "Well, I don't."
The car instantly fell into dead silence.
James stared at me hard, his chest rising and falling slightly. He was clearly angered by my words but couldn't refute them.
Amelia's face turned pale as she clutched at her clothes.
Just then, the car stopped at the hospital entrance, breaking the suffocating silence.
James got out first, took a deep breath, and warned me in a low voice. "When we're in front of Grandma later, watch what you say. Don't talk nonsense."
I got out after him, ignoring his warning. Instead, I quickened my pace and reached out to grab his hand hanging at his side.
His palm was warm. The moment I touched it, it stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he didn't pull away.
I gripped it tightly, as if we were truly a loving couple, then pulled him along and walked straight into the hospital, leaving Amelia with her awful expression completely behind us.
I could feel that jealous, hateful gaze from behind, like thorns in my back.
We brought Indigo home. Her spirits seemed much better, and when she saw James and me appear hand in hand, she smiled with relief.
To calm the rumours and speculation that had arisen from our previous separation, the Smith family had an important business banquet that evening. Indigo specifically instructed Amelia to stay home and keep her company, and insisted that James and I must attend together.
As night fell, the banquet hall was filled with clinking glasses and elegantly dressed guests.
James and I, as the main attraction, drew countless eyes the moment we entered.
He remained cool and distinguished, while I played the role of James's gentle and proper wife, handling probing questions and small talk from all sides.
However, before long, a familiar figure entered my line of sight, Audrey.
She had changed out of her business suit and was wearing a champagne-colored spaghetti-strap evening gown, the skirt swaying and outlining her graceful figure.
She was no longer the timid newcomer from earlier in the day, but like a dancing butterfly, moving between several important clients.
She smiled and chatted, her manner polished, with a certain charm that didn't match her age or position.
James clearly saw her too. His brow furrowed, and his expression darkened.
He gave a low instruction to his assistant nearby.
The assistant nodded and left.
After a while, Audrey walked up to us with a wine glass, all charming smiles. "Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith."
"Audrey, the company doesn't seem to have arranged for you to attend tonight's banquet, much less to entertain clients." James's stern face showed coldness and authority.
Audrey's smile didn't waver, her eyes innocent.
"Mr. Smith, I volunteered to work overtime. I thought that having more contact with clients would help me integrate into the company faster and ease your burden."
She blinked those clear, large eyes, as if she really was just being proactive at work.
Just then, Dean Palmer, a rising star in the tech field, walked over with a wine glass, flattering James. "Mr. Smith, I've heard so much about you. I understand the Smith Group is building a brand new core business system. Our company is very interested in this project - I wonder if there might be an opportunity to collaborate?"
James clinked glasses with him, his tone distant but clear. "This project can only work with ZeroSpecter."
"ZeroSpecter?" A flash of surprise and understanding crossed Dean's eyes. "I see, then it looks like we don't have a chance. To get ZeroSpecter on board, that's quite impressive, Mr. Smith."
Audrey, standing nearby, heard the name "ZeroSpecter" and her eyes suddenly lit up.
She quickly stepped forward, her face showing perfectly timed surprise and confidence, speaking up in a clear voice. "Mr. Smith, what a coincidence. My brother happens to be one of the core assistants on the ZeroSpecter team."
At these words, even James showed slight interest, looking at her.
Audrey seemed satisfied with this reaction.
She lifted her chin with a hint of girlish pride and continued. "If you're willing, perhaps I could help arrange for my brother to put in a good word for the Smith Group with ZeroSpecter, or even arrange an informal meeting?"
Her words were full of temptation, as if she held a crucial trump card.
James frowned in thought, not answering immediately.
But I knew ZeroSpecter was too big a temptation for him to resist.
Sure enough.
He looked at Audrey and finally nodded. "You set the time and place."
"It's my honor to contribute to the company." Audrey smiled sweetly, her gaze sweeping over me with barely concealed contempt in her eyes.
I had been standing nearby the whole time like an outsider, listening quietly, my face wearing a faint, ambiguous smile, as if none of this concerned me.
Her brother was ZeroSpecter's assistant?
How come I didn't know about this?
This was getting more and more interesting.
This Audrey was much more skilled than Amelia.
Amelia only knows how to cry and play the victim to gain sympathy.
But Audrey knew how to use her "resources" to directly target James's core needs.
I gently swirled the wine glass in my hand, watching Audrey's confident expression, laughing coldly inside.
If Audrey knew she was provoking ZeroSpecter herself, would she still be boasting in front of James?
Still, I was curious which member of the ZeroSpecter team Audrey's brother was, and I was actually looking forward to "meeting" him.
This banquet, because of Audrey's sudden "reveal," became even more treacherous.
In the car on the way back, the air was oppressively heavy like the low pressure before a storm.
James and I sat on opposite sides, an invisible chasm between us.
The light from his phone screen was particularly glaring in the dim interior. I caught a glimpse of his finger swiping; it was a location message from Audrey, with an attached note.
Audrey: [Mr. Smith, my brother has arranged everything. ZeroSpecter has agreed to meet tomorrow night at 8 PM at this location.]
The location was a private club known for its exclusivity and high barriers to entry.
James's finger paused on the screen for a moment before he replied briefly: [Okay.]
Then he turned off the screen and closed his eyes to rest. His sharp profile looked inscrutable in the flowing light and shadow.