Chapter 118
Chapter 118
When Eleanor dialed the number, Lydia scoffed, “Don’t think calling Mr. Langford will scare me. You’re just putting on a show. I just saw him busy up front –he’s not coming for you.”
But before Lydia could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed–Tyler had arrived.
When Tyler saw Chris and Serena standing next to Eleanor, his face darkened. He strode over, his gaze icy as it swept over the two of them, then landed on the group of socialites. “Chris, what are you doing bringing this crowd over here?”
“We just came with Serena,” Lydia replied. “They want to use this shameless woman to get close to you. Not me–I heard she knows Angust Marlov
Xyla looked at Lydia with sympathy, who didn’t realize her words had already annoyed Tyler. ‘So clueless,’ Xyla thought. She figured this was her chance -if she could just get a little favor from Tyler, she’d finally have some say at home.
“Lydia, watch your mouth,” Xyla warned. “Be careful what you say, or you’ll get our family blacklisted.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “Girls should be pampered. Only someone like you, who isn’t favored, would want to fight for attention. Me? I just need to marry well. I met Angust once–he smiled at me. He must like me. Only I’m good enough for him.”
“He’s engaged,” Xyla reminded her.
Lydia boasted shamelessly, “I know–to some actress. It’s not a big deal. Probably another Cinderella story. Cousin, you should start planning for yourself. Why work so hard? You have lost your parents, so you might as well try to please mine and marry into a good family. Once I marry Angust, I’ll move to the capital. But having kids hurts too much–I’m not doing that. I’ll just have someone else do it for me.”
Eleanor sneered at Lydia’s smug face. “With brains like that, no wonder she was the only one to stand up for Serena just now.”
“She spoke ill of you?” Tyler asked.
“Yeah, and she said she was going to tattle on me to you,” Eleanor said with a cold laugh. “Well, he’s here now. Aren’t you going to say something?”
Xyla tugged at Lydia’s sleeve and whispered, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Watch what you say.”
Lydia pushed Xyla away and turned to Tyler. “Mr. Langford, your wife is cheating on you. Don’t you feel any shame that you married your nephew’s girlfriend?”
Lydia shot Tyler a defiant look, but the moment their eyes met, she felt a wave of pressure. Tyler didn’t say a word, but she suddenly didn’t even dare to
breathe.
Xyla quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Langford, she’s just being immature. Please don’t take it to heart. Feelings are complicated. Today’s your wedding day, and my cousin said some things she shouldn’t have. I hope you won’t mind.”
Tyler waved her off. “Eleanor always says the thing she hates most is having to justify herself. So, Miss Reed, you hold that Chris should shamelessly cling to my wife even after breaking up? But who are you to judge? Wasn’t it all over the news when your father forced his first wife to her death just to marry your mother? And now I hear you want to marry Angust. I guess some things really do run in the family.”
“Serena says only the unloved ones are in the wrong, I’ll fight for my happiness, no matter what,” Lydia glared at Eleanor. “Don’t think I don’t know–you like Angust too!”
“So that’s why you’re hostile toward me?” Eleanor shot back sarcastically. “Figures. Different backgrounds, different perspectives. Serena, what’s wrong? Your own wedding didn’t go well, so you’re here to stir up trouble at mine? How’d you convince my dear nephew to help you with this little stunt?”
Tyler’s eyes went cold as ice, landing sharply on Chris.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Serena whispered. “I was just as surprised to see Chris here as you were.”
“Mr. Langford, I think you should just dump her right now,” Lydia chimed in from the side. “She’s probably been flirting with everyone.”
1/2
Chapter 118
Tyler frowned slightly, pulled out his phone, fired off a quick text, then looked over at Xyla, “Your dad died in a car accident, right?”
“Yes,” Xyla replied. “It happened three months ago.”
“And now your uncle has taken over your dad’s business?”
“Yes.” Xyla replied.
Tyler nodded, then turned his gaze back to Serena. “We’ve caught someone you know. Want to go
“You caught Ethan?” Serena blurted out.
“How’d you know it was him?” Tyler stared at her. “I never said who it was.”
see him? Maybe catch up?”
Serena looked a little flustered. “I just guessed. I don’t know many people, and he’s the only one still on the run. Eleanor is his daughter, after all. Maybe he’d want to see her.”
“You’re his adopted daughter–and his lover. Chris, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m saying it anyway,” Tyler said lazily. “Why don’t you both go see him together?”
“Tyler, I had no choice,” Serena whispered. “He’s my nightmare. I’m not going.”
“Fine, don’t go,” Tyler said coolly. “My nephew does love you. Even knowing how close you were with your adoptive father, he still broke up with Eleanor for you and slept with you before that. You’re something else–every time people start to forget about it, you just have to bring it up again. What, are you proud of it?”
?
Serena pressed her lips together, clinging to Chris’s arm. She whispered, “Chris, I’ve always loved you. You were my first.”
Tyler sneered, “With how advanced medicine is these days, who can really tell?”
Eleanor chuckled, realizing Tyler had just thrown Serena’s own words right back at her.
Suddenly, Lydia’s phone rang. “Dad, what’s up?”
A thunderous voice exploded from the phone, “Lydia! What the hell did you do? Get home right now!”
Lydia pouted, having no choice but to stomp off.
Xyla stepped up and handed Tyler her business card. “Mr. Langford, here’s my card. I’m a senior engineer and economist. If you’re still interested in working with the Reed family, I hope you’ll consider me.”
Tyler took the card and spun it between his fingers. “I only partner with people who are smart.”
“I won’t let you
down.”
“Mr. Langford, I’m-”
Someone tried to introduce themselves, but Tyler cut them off with a raised hand. “I’m not here to talk business today. If you need anything, talk to my assistant. And you–Chris–if you don’t want to be here, then get out. Try any more tricks, and don’t blame me if you lose everything.”
Chris hung his head and hurried out with Serena.
Suddenly, Tyler scooped Eleanor up into his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Actions speak louder than words. This time, I’m not letting you stay in the background.”
