Chapter 17 Getting married?
Leila chuckled, “Do you think that’s possible?”
After ordering their food, Shirley lowered her voice and said, “Hunter get involved with his boss’s wife?”
Leila nodded.
Shirley’s eyes filled with disdain, “People are really not what they seem.”
Leila was briefly lost in thought and then said, “Yeah, I really didn’t expect that.”
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Leila glanced at the screen, saw the caller ID showing “Mom,” and her smile deepened as she answered the call, “Hey, Mom.”
Mrs. Patel’s voice came through with reproach, “Leila, why haven’t you come back yet? Hunter and his parents are already here.”
Leila furrowed her brows, “Mom, I’m still at the office.”
Mrs. Patel sounded surprised, “Why are you still at the office? Didn’t we agree to have dinner together with both families today?”
Without hearing Leila’s response, she lowered her voice and asked, “Did you and Hunter have a fight? He seemed quite nervous when he arrived today.”
Leila took a deep breath over the phone, “Mom, I’ll be home in an hour.”
Hearing Leila’s words, Mrs. Patel didn’t inquire further, “Okay, just drive safely.”
Then, Mrs. Patel paused for a moment before adding in a softer voice, “Whatever happens, don’t be afraid. Mom’s here for you.”
Leila felt warm inside at her mother’s words, “Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, Leila wiped her mouth with a napkin, “I need to go back to Yort city.”
Shirley was taken aback, “Now?”
Leila nodded, “Hunter took his parents to my house.”
“What? Is he crazy? Didn’t you already clear things up with him? What’s he trying to do now?”
Leila thought for a moment before saying, “I suspect he’s so insistent on marrying me because he wants to use the guise of being married to have an affair with his boss’s wife more easily.”
“He’s really shameless.”
Shirley handed her the car keys from the table, “Take my car.”
Leila didn’t take them, “I don’t lend my car to anyone, and I don’t borrow from others.”
Shirley chuckled at her stubbornness, “Even at a time like this, you’re still sticking to your principles.”
Leila lifted her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, “Especially at times like this, I need to keep my cool.”
Leaving the restaurant, Leila hailed a cab to her place. She dropped off her luggage, changed clothes, and then drove to Yort city.
Yort city was about an hour’s drive from Neo city, so it wasn’t too far.
On the way, Leila called Hunter three times.
The calls went through, but Hunter didn’t answer.
After hanging up on the third call, Leila sent Hunter a voice message: “Hunter, if anything happens in front of your parents later, it’s all on you.”
After sending it, Leila focused on driving.
Leila arrived in Yort city about an hour later.
The villa of her family had been seized, so they now lived in a rundown apartment.
The house was dilapidated, an inheritance from Leila’s grandfather.
Leila parked the car in the yard and headed upstairs. As she approached the door, she heard Mrs. Brooks’s arrogant voice from inside.
“Leila is so lucky to marry into our family”
Leila stood at the door, feeling a surge of disgust. She remembered Mrs. Brooks didn’t have this attitude before The Patel Group went bankrupt.
Leila was about to push the door open when her phone started ringing. Seeing Mason’s name, she hesitated. “Mr. Ramirez?”
Mason’s deep, magnetic voice came through, “You’re getting married?”
Mason’s question was sudden and intrusive. After his question, there was over a minute of silence on the line. Just as Leila was about to respond, Mason hung up.
Leila frowned at her darkened phone screen. ‘Did he dial the wrong number?’
Before Leila could ponder further, the door in front of her suddenly swung open, revealing Hunter smiling warmly.
“Leila, you’re back.”
As he reached out to take her bag, Leila stepped back conspicuously, avoiding his hand.
Hunter lowered his voice and said, “Leila, don’t embarrass your mother.”
Leila stared coldly at him.
The standoff at the door lasted so long that their parents noticed something was off. Mrs. Patel spoke up first, “Leila, come in.”
Leila pushed past Hunter and stepped inside. Hunter stumbled back a few steps from the push.
Mrs. Brooks stood up, displeased. “Leila, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Where have you been?”
Leila’s voice was flat, “There was something going on at work.”
Mrs. Brooks sneered, “Work? How busy can you be as a department manager? Are you busier than Hunter, a vice president? Besides, today’s date was set in advance. It’s not a last-minute decision. Don’t you know…”
Mrs. Brooks’s words were cut off by Hunter, “Mom, maybe you should calm down. Leila just came back from a business trip today.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Hearing Hunter speak up for Leila, Mrs. Brooks’s expression darkened even more, she wanted to say more.
Leila interrupted her, putting down her bag, “Auntie, don’t worry. It’s the last time we meet. Because… we’re not getting married, anyway.”