1355 YOU 14 B5 YouShir
Alicia picked up the phone and instantly recognized Henry’s voice. She kept her voice t as she said, “Henry, let me tell you one more time: I’m not ying any games. We broke up. Don’t ever call me again.”
Just as Alicia was about to hang up, Henry chimed in with a mocking tone, “We broke up? Oh, really? <b>If </b>we’re so done, then why did youe pick me up when I was drunk the other night? Why’d you take me home?
“Alicia, you still have feelings for me. You just can’t let me go. Admit it already–isn’t that what you want? Me caring about you? Fine, I’ll care about you. From now on, I’ll be here for you.
“As long as you behave, quit the drama, and stop fighting with Tiffany over pointless stuff, I’ll treat you well.”
Alicia couldn’t help butugh into the phone, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.
When Henry heard herugh, he grew even more smug, thinking to himself, ‘ssic. I knew it. She can’t ever let me go. All she wants is for me to <i>pay </i>her more attention–women are always like this.
He continued, “Tiffany’s a sweet kid. She’s been through a lot growing up. As her sister, you should cut her some ck.”
Then, suddenly remembering something, he said, “By the way, who’s getting you food from Noble <i>Leaf </i>Bistro? And that ce you’re living at, Linen Bay Residences–is that your ce or did you rent it? How much <b>is </b>the rent?
“Food from Noble Leaf Bistro takes forever to get; you gotta wait in line for ages. Did you seriously pay someone just to stand in line for you?
“Seriously, Alicia, are you doing all this just to one–up Tiffany? Don’t be like that. I can’t stand it when you’re being so vain.”
Henry was convinced there was no way Alicia would ever cheat on him–he was sure all those fancy things were just her blowing cash to keep up appearances. <fn0936> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fn0936>
Alicia kept her tone icy, waiting for him to finish. When he finally stopped ranting, she said, “First off, I didn’t pick you up the other night. Your friend Bill called me and tried to get me to do it, but I told him we were done. So if you want to know how you got home, take it up with your buddy.”
She went on, “Also, what you think about me being vain is none of your concern. We’re really over, and I don’t want your attention. Go care about whoever you want–just stop bothering me. Period.”
With that, she hung up.
Henry shouted into the phone, “I never agreed to break up! You hear me? I never agreed!”
But Alicia had already hung up.
He was so pissed off he nearly hurled the phone, but the maid quickly reminded him, “That’s my phone, Mr.
Yates<b>.</b><b>” </b>
She hurriedly swapped it for his own and reimed hers–her eyes seemed to say, “<b>If </b>you have to <b>break </b>
…
G95 vouchers
something, make sure it’s yours.”
Henry raised his phone, hesitated, then just tossed it onto the bed. He slid under the covers, curling up tight like a shrimp, the nket trembling faintly–as if he was quietly sobbing.
The maid didn’t darefort him and quietly left his room.
*****
Meanwhile, Tiffany listened to the dial tone, stunned for a moment before her face twisted with anger. She spat out, “What a bitch! She keeps saying she’s done with Henry, but the second he gets drunk, she runs right over to pick him up?
“Pathetic–she just can’t let go of his status, can she? Shacking up with some rich old guy and still keeping Henry on the hook?
“She’s really got the whole ‘act like she doesn’t care just to get more attention‘ thing down. I totally underestimated how sneaky she is.”
“Well, that’s your own stupidity.” Hugh’s voice suddenly sounded from the doorway, full of disdain.
Tiffany jumped in surprise, quickly masking her earlier nasty look and switching to a sweet smile for Hugh. “Dad, you’re back!”
Hugh snorted. “If I didn’te home, you’d have ruined the Lawrence family’s reputation for good.”
“I…” Tiffany chewed on her lip, nerves showing. “Dad, you know about everything?”
Hugh dropped into his seat, giving Tiffany a frosty re. “I used to think you were above your brothers–1 always put you first, made them step aside for you. But look at you now, just as clueless as the rest of them.”
“Dad, I had no idea there’d be security cameras in that stationery shop!
“Please, you’ve <i>got </i>to save me–please, help me, okay?
“I promise I’ll be more careful next time. Really, I just messed up this once!” Tiffany practically crashed to her knees with a thud, scrambling over to Hugh and hugging his leg like her life depended on it, tears brimming in her eyes as she begged desperately.
Maria rushed over as soon as she heard from the housekeeper that Hugh was back. She was nning to have him help Tiffany with the mess Alicia had stirred up. But the moment she walked in, her heart dropped–her dear Tiffany was on her knees in front of Hugh.
Maria darted forward, wrapping Tiffany protectively in her arms. “Hugh, what the hell are you doing? Why would you make Tiffany kneel like this?”
Tiffany curled up against Maria, eyes big and shimmering with tears, looking so crushed she didn’t even bother to speak. Just seeing that pitiful little face made Maria’s heart twist with pain.
Maria’s voice broke as she turned on Hugh, tears already gathering in her eyes. “We spent so long trying to get our daughter back, and now Alicia is bullying her at school! Instead of defending her, you’re making her
19:19 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>
kneel? What kind of father would do that?”
:
Hugh watched as Maria wrapped her arms protectively around Tiffany, and he let out a silent sigh. Maria really was soft when it came to Tiffany–she felt every bit of her daughter’s pain.
But Hugh wasn’t looking for just any daughter. What he wanted was a child who could bring honor to the Lawrence family, someone who would put them at the top–no matter what it took.
Back when the Lawrence family faced disaster, Hugh’s father was desperate to keep everything together. He reached out to families they’d once been close with, but everyone turned their back on <b>him</b>–leaving <b>him </b>feeling humiliated and alone. The resentment consumed him, and it eventually made <b>him </b>sick.
On his deathbed, he said to Hugh with all seriousness, “Hold up the Lawrence family. Make us the biggest and most powerful in the country. Never again bow your head to anyone, never beg anyone for help–make sure it’s others whoe begging to us.”
But Hugh was his father’s only son, and keeping the family afloat was an endless struggle. Now that the Lawrence family had finally wed their way this far, Hugh was starting to realize he couldn’t do it all alone. He didn’t have the strength to take them any further, so he could only pin his hopes on his children now.
He worried that having just one kid would mean they’d end up suffering as much as he did. That’s why he did his best to build a big family–just hoping his kids would stick together, have each other’s backs, and someday, lift the Lawrence name <i>to </i>the very top.
But none of his sons looked like they’d amount <i>to </i>much. It was only this newly found daughter, Tiffany–the one who actually seemed <i>to </i>have her wits about her.
When Tiffany first came back into their lives, she was all cautious smiles and polite words. She even told them she wanted Alicia to stay too, so the two sisters could look after Hugh and Maria side by side.
She always looked like she wasn’t interested in fighting for anything, but she knew exactly how to work people and get them on her side.
She didn’t just have her family eating out of her hand–even Alicia couldn’t help but feel guilty around her.
But Hugh had witnessed it up close–Tiffany slippingxatives into her own milk, hiding sharp needles in her clothes. She didn’t hesitate for a <i>second </i>to put herself through hell just to pull off her schemes.
At first, he’d been stunned by Tiffany’s twisted cleverness. But soon, that shock turned into satisfaction. This girl’s <i>got </i>every one of my <i>sons </i>beat. She isn’t just calcting–she’s fierce. Anyone cold enough to turn that edge on themselves? They’ve got no weaknesses at all, Hugh thought, his pride dark and deep.