Chapter 404: Narrow Encounters, Old Grievances and New Rivalries
Mona Summers’ sly laughter was still echoing on the phone, but Cecilia Vaughn’s face turned red in an instant.
"Mona, shut up already!"
I usually brush off Mona’s nonsense jokes, but now...now the actual Adrian Law is right here in front of me.
How can I even bear this!
However, Mona didn’t catch Cecilia’s hint at all, because this friend of hers is usually so reserved. Mona was actually a bit worried for her, after all, this shy friend of hers ended up marrying a man everyone gossips about as being impotent, like Big Boss Law.
The guy might be rich, but he shouldn’t ruin my friend’s happiness for the rest of her life, right?
"Cecilia, are you embarrassed? Oh, it’s alright, just tell me, there’s no problem with The Eldest Young Master Law in that regard, is there?"
It’s not just a problem...
No, it’s too...too big a problem...
Cecilia saw that Mona didn’t get her cue, normally they have such a mutual understanding, but at this crucial moment, Mona just isn’t catching on.
She suddenly felt frustrated, and the milk she hadn’t fully swallowed got stuck in her throat.
Neither going down nor coming up, it was quite uncomfortable.
"Cecilia, are you alright?"
Adrian Law was slightly alarmed, his expression held a hint of reproach as he advanced, yet his hand was already gently patting the girl’s back.
Patting Cecilia Vaughn’s back carefully to help her breathe.
...
The phone was still connected, and when Mona Summers heard Adrian Law’s voice on the other end, she was stunned!
Oh my god, Big Boss Law is actually there!
Mona, normally so daring, suddenly lost all curiosity, hastily trying to cover her tracks.
"Ah... so Mr. Law is there too, don’t misunderstand, Mr. Law. I meant to ask, did you and Cecilia have any differences in opinions while discussing that hundred million USD charity fund last night?"
"Mona, I told you to shut up!"
Cecilia Vaughn’s voice was almost squeezed out through her gritted teeth.
Who on earth would discuss a charity fund allocation all night, so diligently!
Watching Mona dig herself deeper while Cecilia’s cheeks puffed with anger, Adrian Law discovered for the first time how adorably childish his little wife was, and he couldn’t help but smile as he lightly tapped Cecilia on the head.
"You’re Cecilia’s friend Mona, right? Don’t worry, Cecilia and I are fine, Cecilia isn’t feeling well now, so I’ll hang up first."
"Okay, okay, Mr. Law, you’re busy!"
After receiving a response from Adrian Law, Mona hurriedly hung up out of guilt.
Oh dear, why is it that after hanging up, I’m even more curious?
...
A gossip-loving woman’s curiosity can never be satiated.
So, two days later, Mona invited Cecilia to the countryside estate to unwind.
"Cecilia, oh my, I haven’t seen you in days, you’re positively glowing! Women nurtured by love are just different..."
Cecilia might have physically recovered, but faced with Mona’s cunning smile, she felt she might suffer internal injuries.
"Don’t act like you don’t have love, or I’ll tell Isaac Zeller you’re living like a little widow."
Cecilia Vaughn and Mona Summers were close friends, over a decade of friendship where little jabs were made without inhibition.
"Hey, that’s not fair to report on me!"
Mona feigned fear, shaking her head, quickly playing coy as she hooked her arm around Cecilia’s.
"Alright, alright, beautiful, I came to make up for my mistake the other day, didn’t I? In front is a horse riding area, behind is a shooting range, and in the middle there’s a restaurant serving tea and drinks. This is a new private VIP estate that opened a month ago in Stellerton, and I only got two tickets by begging friends in the industry!"
Mona batted her moist eyes, swinging Cecilia’s arm with a pleading look.
"See, I didn’t even bring my other half, beautiful Cecilia, please forgive my unintentional wrong."
Cecilia shuddered with goosebumps all over.
"Get your claws off me."
Mona knew Cecilia was over her anger, so she cheekily tightened her grip on Cecilia’s arm.
"Nope, not letting go, you’re my gold sponsor, if I let you go, whose leg will I cling to?"
What Mona said wasn’t entirely wrong; ever since the producer and Director Chapman of "There Are Branches on the Mountain" knew that Cecilia Vaughn planned to give Mona ten percent of the future rights income, their gaze upon Mona and Cecilia had changed.
— Even with close friends, money matters are clear, and no one gives away money so easily!
Besides, the atmosphere between Mona and Cecilia is very intimate, if they weren’t both married with deep love for their spouses, people might suspect they were in a lesbian relationship.
Well, the entertainment industry isn’t short of women-loving women.
...
Cecilia felt her goosebumps rise even more when she heard Mona call her a gold sponsor.
"Let’s go, let’s go, stop flattering me, or I’ll really get angry."
"Okay, okay, Cecilia, didn’t you like archery in high school? Oh yeah, there’s an airsoft range too, I remember you liked that as well."
Cecilia nodded, and then interrupted Mona.
"Alright, let’s try it later, but let’s grab a couple of drinks first, I’m a bit thirsty."
Mona suddenly realized that after playing coy for so long, her mouth was dry too, and she promptly dragged Cecilia towards the teahouse.
The estate’s style was exquisite, even the drink area employed an understated yet elegant decor, with blossoms unfolding in vases, emanating a gentle fragrance, and the utensils were decorated with ornately beautiful plum blossoms.
What surprised Cecilia the most was that the benches and tables in the teahouse were made of agarwood, quite luxurious.
The proprietor made drinks rather slowly, which extended the waiting time.
Cecilia and Mona stood quietly in line, and when they finally got to the front, the exorbitant menu discouraged them, and Cecilia found the prices so steep that she opted for the simplest and cheapest soda water.
Yet, a shrill female voice pierced her eardrum.
"Cecilia Vaughn, what are you doing here? You’re not following me and Fiona, are you?"
Chloe Alden strutted forward, her eyes full of suspicion.
Meanwhile, Fiona Vaughn gently held Chloe Alden’s arm, looking surprised, and quickly added a hint of joy.
"Sister, what a coincidence, you’re out with Miss Summers? Why don’t we all hang out together?"
"Hang out with someone like her, why!"
Chloe Alden gave Cecilia a frosty look, and was just wanting for an excuse to mock when she saw the soda water in Cecilia’s hand, and immediately laughed.
"Wow, isn’t this someone who just spent a hundred million US dollars from a man?!"
"How come you can’t even afford a proper drink now, only fit to drink cheap water that costs a few bucks?"