Chapter 8
“Not exactly, but I’m…”
Annabelle met Paulette’s gaze in time.
She instantly caught Paulette’s drift and changed the subject, saying, “I always aim at making my customers my friends. I’m sure we’ll be friends, too.”
Paulette secretly breathed a sigh of relief and echoed, “Anna’s massage skills are amazing. We hit it off.”
Only then did Nelson remember about Paulette’s waist injury. He had forgotten about it because she had said yesterday that it wasn’t serious.
Frowning slightly, he said with worry, “Paulette, are you feeling better now?”
Standing next to him, Patricia saw the concern in his eyes clearly.
Her eyes darkened as she remained silent.
Paulette, however, had grown immune to his belated concern. She wasn’t sad or moved and just replied absently, “Yes, much better.”
Noticing the look on her face, Nelson figured she was still upset. He gripped Patricia’s hand slightly before letting it go.
He knew Paulette was short–fused, and things would get nasty if she made a scene here.
Patricia lowered her head to look at her hand that was put down by him and clenched her fists tightly.
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Chapter B
But Nelson didn’t notice it. Like any other parent, he put on an
authoritative look and said to Paulette in a deep voice, “Since you’re better, go back home and get some rest. Don’t wander around outside. If your injury flares up, you’ll be a crybaby again.”
He made it sound like she cried a lot in front of him.
Smiling, she looked at his eyes and said, “Don’t worry, Dad. That won’t happen ever again.”
The resolution in her eyes somehow made Nelson feel she was cutting all ties with him, and a sharp pain in his heart shot through his entire body in a second before quickly vanishing.
He looked away and said, “Get a cab home. I’ll stay with Tricia as she gets. a waist massage.”
Paulette glanced at him without saying anything.
Then she grabbed Annabelle’s hand. “Anna, I’m off. I’ll come here when you aren’t that busy.
Catching her drift, Annabelle smiled meaningfully and pinched her face. playfully, “Alright. Come here after you’re together.”
By saying that, she meant Paulette and Jeremiah.
Yet, Nelson got her wrong.
After Paulette left, he immediately said to Annabelle seriously, “Ms. Patel, Paulette is just my stepdaughter. And she will always be.”
Annabelle parted her lips, wanting to say something, but she didn’t.
She thought, “Forget it. If he insists on playing dumb, who am I to expose him?”
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Chapter 8
With a meaningful smile, she said casually, “Alright. My bad. Paulette should be with someone younger. Given your age, I don’t think you have much to talk with her about.”
She saw every subtle change in Patricia’s expression clearly.
She thought, “A narcissist with a scheming woman? Sounds like a perfect match to me.
“I wonder how he’s gonna react when he knows the truth.”
Her interest was piqued. With a bright smile, she waved at one of her staff members not far away.
Then she said to Nelson and Patricia, “I’ve got something to do. Sorry. I hope you enjoy your time here.”
Just then, her staff came over. She said something in the man’s ear expressionlessly and turned around with her signature smile. After nodding at Nelson and Patricia, she turned to leave gracefully.
Once she was back in her office, she told Jeremiah everything that had happened.
Then she concluded, “Paula’s stepdad means something special to her. Are you confident in winning her over?”
It was
already evening in Hotruesia. Sitting next to the floor–to–ceiling windows, Jeremiah gazed out. The city’s night view was reflected in his dark eyes, making them even more obscure.
He retracted his legs crossed on the desk and said in a deep voice, “I’ll deal with work over here as soon as possible and come over to pick her up.”
“The answer is yes then.”
