“Call for a doctor!” Chaos erupted in the house.
Sandra glanced at Wesley.
“Was I too harsh just now?”
Wesley paused before offering his honest opinion.
“You still have room for improvement.”
His family seemed of little concern to him.
“I’m weary,” Sandra declared.
Had she known the incompetence of these people beforehand, she would have refrained from getting involved-what a waste of time.
Angela was released.
Tears streamed down her face as she embraced Debra. Debra, so absorbed in comforting Angela, completely forgot about Hailey.
At the garment department, she sided with Wesley and Sandra.
But this did not mean she had forgiven them!
They dared to torment Angela like this… She was resolute in making them pay.
Seeing Angela’s copious tears, Sandra turned to Joey.
“What did you do?”
“I merely allowed her to spend some time with a snake.”
Sandra understood why Angela had nearly been scared to death.
Joey asserted,
“It’s quite challenging to discipline Angela, with her protectors always shielding her. Now, I’ve seized the opportunity to leave her with a lasting impression.”
“You are an unusual man, Joey,” Sandra commented.
Joey chuckled, “Compared to you, I’m not unusual at all.”
This couldn’t really be considered a compliment.
On their way, traffic was at a standstill.
Joey sighed, “It looks like there’s a film shoot up ahead. We won’t be able to pass for now.”
He had planned to take an alternate route, but Sandra noticed a nearby cafe.
“I want some coffee.”
Wesley followed her.
“You want to buy me coffee?” Sandra asked.
“Yes, because you’re poor.”
He emphasized the word “poor” deliberately.
“Then thanks.”
Wesley smiled.
“You take it for granted, don’t you?”
Sandra turned away.
He’s impolite.
Wesley continued to play his role as her purse.
Inside the cafe, on the second-floor balcony, Vincent noticed their arrival.
His expression darkened. “What brings her here?”
His assistant informed him of the recent tension between the Cooper and Mason Serrano families. Mason worked with Vincent in the same company, and competition between them was inevitable.
Vincent’s face twisted into a mocking sneer.
“Is she here to plead for my help? I would never assist her!”
His assistant relaxed. “Of course. If you help, the resources you provide would be Mason’s condition.”
Vincent stirred his coffee before taking a sip. His assistant asked, “What will you do about your sister then?”
Vincent’s face showed a trace of displeasure. “Nothing.”
He sighed. “Have you found the person who defrauded me?”
“Not yet. Being in the public eye, we cannot draw too much attention. Thus, we can only investigate discreetly.”
Although Vincent wasn’t top-tier, he was certainly a celebrity with a substantial following. Over the years, he’d accumulated quite a fortune. But Vincent had been swindled when he tried to secure a spot on the red carpet at an international fashion week. The money was irretrievable, and the fraudster’s whereabouts were still unknown.
That was why he had been hesitant to contribute during his family’s financially difficult times. He was genuinely poor.
“Fine. Just urge them to pay my salary from the last drama. I’ll be needing it soon.”
“I see.”
Soon, the assistant became anxious. “Your sister is coming closer.”
Disdain was evident on Vincent’s face. “Unbelievable.”
Taking a deep breath, Vincent said, “You go deal with her.”
The assistant nodded.
Preferring silence, Sandra headed toward the second floor. She was unaware that Vincent was there. As she walked upstairs, she noticed numerous bodyguards but didn’t inquire further. Then, someone called out to her.
“Sandra.”
A man in a black suit with sunglasses was watching her from a short distance. Confirming that she was the only woman there, she responded, “Yes?”
He approached and removed his sunglasses. Sandra, who rarely interacted with her family, didn’t recognize him.
The assistant, acting as though they were acquainted, gestured toward her seat. “May I join you?”
Sandra asked, “Are these your people?”
The assistant was momentarily taken aback by her sharpness. It occurred to him that, despite her background, she must have received some training as the young mistress of the Cooper family. He then spoke plainly, “I’m here to tell you. Although Vincent is your brother, he owes you nothing.”
Sandra was confused by his words. “It’s natural for you to cling to your celebrity brother. But I suggest you don’t.”
Only then did Sandra realize, “Are you Vincent’s assistant?”
Furrowing his brow, the assistant replied, “You didn’t recognize me?”
Believing that she was intentionally trying to attract attention, the assistant looked at her scornfully. “I’ve seen all sorts in this industry, so save your tricks.”
Sandra, having had enough, made a “time-out” gesture. “Why are you saying this to me?”
The assistant rebuked her, “The Cooper family should settle its own affairs and not drag Vincent into them.”
Understanding the situation, Sandra replied, “I have no desire to ask for Vincent’s help. Excuse me, my coffee has gone cold. Please stop wasting my time.”
The assistant stood there, bewildered. Having spent so much time with Vincent, he was unaccustomed to being treated this way. She had certainly impressed him today.
As a country girl, she might lack certain refinements, but she was no less formidable.
He scoffed. “She’d better not show her face to Vincent again.”
Sandra felt a pang of embarrassment.
Wesley, who had overheard the entire conversation, chuckled softly and teased, “A poor sister has been despised?”
Sandra rolled her eyes in response. “How did you manage to say those words with your lips?”
Wesley countered, “How did you know they were those words?”
Caught off guard, she replied, “Well, I guessed.”
Their gazes locked, and in his eyes, there was a turbulence she couldn’t quite decipher.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have coffee stains on my face?”
“No,” Wesley replied, gradually pulling his gaze away.
Sandra, struck by the thought, burst into laughter. “Did you just imagine that I use my lips to check the temperature of your lips?”
Wesley’s ears turned a shade of red. Sandra took a leisurely sip of her coffee.
“You seem rather uninformed,” she remarked, “but now we have tools for that.”
“Wesley, forget it. I’m not your thermometer.” The remark caused Wesley’s complexion to darken.
“Have your coffee,” Wesley said, trying to regain his composure. “If you really want to know how warm your lips are, let me know next time.”
Emily, having learned that Vincent was present, hurried over. “Emily.”
With a cheerful smile, Vincent instructed his assistant to serve her coffee. The assistant fawned over her.
“No matter how busy Vincent is, he always makes time for you, Emily,” he said. To Vincent, nothing compared to his sister, Emily. So, the assistant treated her with unparalleled courtesy. His predecessor had been fired for failing to serve Emily water at the right temperature. His doting on her was beyond belief.
Emily smiled, her warmth evident. “I just missed my brother. I hope my visit doesn’t inconvenience your work.”
Buoyed by her presence, Vincent responded, “You’re more considerate than anyone else.” His words, though sincere, had a touch of comparison, and they didn’t go unnoticed by her.
“Has someone irked you today?” Emily asked, noticing the tension in his demeanor.
Vincent, not wanting to discuss Sandra, remained silent. However, his assistant, eager to vent after his recent humiliation, couldn’t help but chime in.
“She’s so arrogant, even when she’s asking for help!” the assistant added.
Emily sighed. “She still resents me for taking what she thought was hers. But we’re still family. I should talk to her.”
“Oh, Emily, how can you be so benevolent?” the assistant exclaimed, almost unable to hide his disdain.
Vincent said, “Don’t go. She’s nothing but a naive country bumpkin.”
“But-“
“There’s no ‘but’. Let’s go.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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