Chapter 67
Chapter 67
You and Doris are so close. Who’s going to believe what you say?” Lily retorted. “A woman from such a humble background like Doris thinks she can marry into a rich family just because she’s pretty, but she got dumped.
“If it weren’t for hooking up with Mr. Watson, what would she have to show off? Being someone’s mistress, she asked for it.”
Lola rolled up her sleeves as if preparing for a fight. “You don’t understand what I’m saying, do you?” she snapped, her voice thick with contempt. “Your mouth’s foul. I’m going to tear it apart.”
“What do you want to do, Lola?” Lily asked, stepping back, suddenly fearful.
“To slap you,” Lola said calmly, and the sound of the slap echoed sharply through the air.
“Lola, you actually hit me?” Lily gasped, clutching her sore right cheek. It felt like it had been dipped in hot chili sauce. “There are security cameras around here!”
“Why? Am I supposed to pick the right place to slap you?” Lola walked toward Lily, her heels clicking as she took a slow, deliberate step. She carried herself with the authority of a queen, her gaze dripping with disdain for Lily.
Lily stood frozen, still dazed by the slap. She wasn’t going to let herself be bullied like this. She was going to fight back.
“Lily, stop!” Doris rushed over, her cold eyes locking onto Lily. “Lily, remember when Ryan came to pick me up from work, and you tried to flirt with him, only to be rejected? Is this really the right time to kick me now?”
“L.. I didn’t try to flirt with Mr. Watson. You’re lying.” Lily’s face turned pale, her voice shaking as she denied the accusation.
“I have a voice message from Ryan that I can share with everyone,” Doris said, her tone final.
Lily’s expression faltered, her face going even paler. “I… I…”
“I’m not a mistress, Lily,” Doris said firmly. “And if I hear another rumor from you, I’ll sue you for defamation. Now, apologize to me and Lola, and let’s end this here.”
Lily, of course, wasn’t going to lower herself and apologize to Doris. She searched for an excuse to escape. “It’s late. I really need to go home now.”
Lola took a step forward, blocking Lily’s path. “Are you guilty?”
“Guilty? What are you talking about? I just need to go home. Is there a law that says I can’t go home?” Lily retorted, trying to push past.
“Apologize,” Lola said, her voice steely and unwavering. She wasn’t interested in listening to any more excuses.
Doris joined in, her voice steady. “Lily, if you apologize now, we can just drop it.”
Doris waved her phone, a reminder that she wasn’t bluffing.
Lily bit her lip, battling with her emotions. After a long pause, she finally relented, muttering under her breath, “I’m sorry.”
“That’s too quiet. I can’t hear you,” Lola said, pushing her further. “Who are you apologizing to? Are we not good enough for you to say it louder?”
Lily struggled to swallow the humiliation that bubbled up in her chest, but she reluctantly raised her voice. “Lola, Doris, I’m sorry.”
The words left her mouth like poison, and as soon as she spoke them, she wanted to bury her face in her hands and run as far away as possible. The onlookers had already dispersed.
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Lola pulled Doris aside, her voice lowered to a whisper. “Everyone at the hotel knows you went to see Ryan. What happened? Did he do something to you again?”
Doris quickly summarized the situation.
“Doris, how can your dad and brother be so unfair to you?” Lola frowned, feeling a deep sense of worry for her.
“What can I do about it?” Doris said with a sigh. “He’s my father, he gave me life, and I can’t cut ties with him, no matter how he treats me. I just have to put up with it.”
Lola held Doris‘ hand tightly. “I believe you. About everyone else, I don’t care. As long as you and the people who matter to me believe in me, that’s enough.
“I don’t live for the opinions of others. I only care about the ones who care about me”
It was not worth stressing over what people thought.
Lola considered her words, still unsure. “But does your husband really not mind at all?” she asked, her skepticism still there. It was rare to find a man who could fully trust his wife without a second thought.
Doris glanced at Lewis, her heart filled with uncertainty. She couldn’t tell how much of what he’d said earlier was true.
“He won’t mind,” Doris replied, trying to convince herself. She turned her gaze away.
We’re just in a marriage of convenience. There’s no real affection between us. Since my mom doesn’t care, why would he?‘ As she thought about it, Doris felt a pang of sadness deep inside.
“Doris, you should really cherish Mr. Hartman. Don’t end up like Ryan, who doesn’t know how to appreciate what he has,” Lola advised.
Doris‘ family background was complicated, to say the least, but at least she had found a good husband in Lewis. This was something that made Lola, who had grown up in a wealthy family, feel both envious and impressed.
“I will,” Doris said, a soft smile playing on her lips.
“It’s getting late. You two should head home,” Lola said, remembering she had worked late and barely managed to finish her tasks.
Doris said her goodbyes to Lola and walked over to Lewis. “Let’s go. It’s time to head home,” she said, falling into step with him as he walked ahead with long strides.
By the time they got home, it was already quite late. Doris wished Lewis goodnight.
Lewis didn’t acknowledge her and simply walked into the house, slamming the door shut behind him with force. The loud bang made Doris flinch.
‘What’s going on with him? He’s been cold the entire way home, and now he’s shutting me out completely. What did I do wrong? She bit her lip, trying to figure out where she had offended him.
The next morning, Doris woke up early to make breakfast.
When she saw Lewis coming back from his morning run, she eagerly called out to him. “Mr. Hartman, I made breakfast. Would you like to eat together?”
“I’ll have breakfast at the office,” Lewis replied curtly, barely glancing at her as he walked straight into the bedroom.
Half an hour later, Lewis came out of the room, already dressed in his suit, his expression still as cold as ever.
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Doris wasn’t ready to let it go. She hurried in front of him and blocked his path. “Mr. Hartman, you’re angry, right? Is it because of me?*
“No,” he denied immediately, his voice flat.
“Is it because of what happened yesterday? The meeting with Ryan wasn’t what Lily made it out to be. I was meeting him because of Rupert’s work issue.” Doris explained, watching him carefully, hoping to see some hint of understanding in his expression.
“You said you trusted me, right?”
“I do trust you,” Lewis replied coldly.
“Then why are you angry? If you truly trust me, why would you be upset? Or is it that you don’t care that much after all?” Doris‘ frustration began to surface, especially after how convincingly Lewis had acted in front of her colleagues the day
before.
“It’s you who doesn’t care, Doris,” Lewis said, his gaze hard as he locked eyes with her, his voice low and intense.
“Me? Why?” Doris didn’t know what she had done wrong.
He began. “You used work as an excuse, but then went to meet your ex–boyfriend at a hotel. We’re legally married, but we haven’t even gone to a hotel room together. Just think about it. Who would believe that you two are innocent?
“I trust you, but that doesn’t mean what you did was right. You could have told me, but instead, you lied. Were you afraid I’d say no?
If you’ve had a change of heart and want to get back together with Ryan, just tell me. I’ll set you free and let you be with
him.”
He added, “You sneaked around to meet Ryan. It made me feel like, as your husband, I wasn’t someone you could trust. It shows me that you just don’t care.”
“Actually, you are right. Anyway, I’m not important to you at all. Whatever you do or think doesn’t matter to me. That’s what this shows me.” Lewis‘ words were harsh, each one landing like a blow.
“That’s not it. I never intended to get back with Ryan. You have to believe me. Even if we divorce, there’s no way I’ll ever be with him,” Doris explained firmly, her voice resolute.
“The reason I didn’t tell you was because I didn’t want to drag you into this or cause you any trouble.” ‘I was trying to protect him… she wondered.
“Trouble? Since I met you, Doris, how much trouble have you already caused me? Do you think this is the only problem?” Lewis scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Doris pressed her lips together. It was true. She had caused him a lot of problems.
“I’m sorry. This time, it’s my fault. I didn’t think things through. If you don’t mind, I’ll bother you every time in the future.” Doris cautiously reached out, trying to tug at the sleeve of Lewis‘ suit jacket.
“Cut it out,” Lewis snapped, pointing at her hand. “I’m late for work.”
“What about breakfast? You’re really not going to eat?” Doris asked.
“No,” Lewis said without hesitation. He turned and walked away, though, in the back of his mind, his anger seemed to have faded somewhat.
As soon as Lewis arrived at the office, he called Daniel into his office and issued a clear order. “Get me all the information on Watson Group and the Watson family members.”
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Since they dare to mess with my wife, I’ll make sure they get a taste of their own medicine, he wondered.
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“Got it.” Daniel responded, nodding in acknowledgment as he thought, Mr. Hartman is looking into Watson Group now… Is something big about to happen?”
