Chapter 30 Disguise Runs Deep
Their conversation unexpectedly drifted toward children.
Ophelia thought of the baby in her belly, and her mood immediately became complex and uneasy. 'Did Finnegan like children?' she thought.
Finnegan calmly took a sip of his juice and analyzed in a matter-of-fact way, "Children are the most troublesome creatures in this world. You see them as adorable, but that's before you see the trouble they bring. Children are the lowest-return investment in this world. You may invest decades of effort and end up with nothing."
Ophelia fell silent.
He didn't like children.
Unconsciously, Ophelia's hand caressed her belly, a bitter taste rising in her heart.
He saw a child as an investment.
Ophelia strongly disagreed, "No parent sees having children as an investment with expectations of returns!"
Finnegan countered with a smirk, "Then why have children? Just to have someone call you mom or dad?"
Ophelia was at a loss for words, knowing Finnegan's argument was flawed but seemingly unable to refute it.
"Mr. Abbott, do you really plan to never have children?"
Finnegan stated bluntly, "I have no such plans."
Ophelia's anger flared at his words. "Mr. Abbott, be careful. You might find yourself unexpectedly a father one day."
Immediately regretting her words, she worried Finnegan might recall that night. 'Wouldn't that be the end of everything?' she thought.
Just as Ophelia was about to say something to cover up, Finnegan said decisively, "That's not a possibility."
'Not a possibility?'
'Did he really not remember that night?'
'Or perhaps he slept with so many women that he simply didn't care?' she thought.
Ophelia remained silent, eating her meal. Her appetite seemed to grow, fueled by Finnegan's words. She ate an extra serving.
When they left the service area, Ophelia didn't speak. It was an hour's drive to Starview, and she kept quiet the whole way, her gaze fixed outside the window.
Finnegan noticed Ophelia's mood was off. 'Is she angry with me?' he thought.
Of all the secretaries who had worked for Finnegan, only Ophelia dared to be angry with him or give him attitude.
'Where did she get her courage to defy her boss?' he thought.
Unable to hold back, Finnegan asked with a stern face, "Ms. Sinclair, are you angry with me?"
Ophelia immediately put on a smile. "Mr. Abbott, you’re overthinking it. Why would I be angry with you? You're my benefactor."
That smile was forced, insincere.
Finnegan wanted to scold her but held his tongue when he saw Ophelia's feigned smile.
He must have been out of his mind to bring Ophelia to Starview.
While Ophelia seemed to fear him, deep down it was quite the opposite. She dared to talk back and show her displeasure, which was probably why he had brought her along.
Because Ophelia's fakery was transparent. Her pretense was all on the surface, easily seen through.
The car continued onward, entering the boundaries of Starview. Then, they arrived at the hotel.
"Go check in. I have some business to take care of," Finnegan said, dropping Ophelia off at the hotel entrance before leaving.
Ophelia was puzzled. 'If he didn't need me for his business, why bring me to Starview at all? To alleviate boredom?' she thought.
Ophelia couldn't figure out what she was supposed to do in Starview. She checked into the hotel, rested for the afternoon, and took a nap, but Finnegan still hadn't returned.
The night view of Starview was beautiful.
As night fell, Ophelia didn't want to sulk alone in the hotel, so she went out for a walk nearby.
First, she asked about where to find some street food. She strolled around to pass the time, treating it like a personal trip.
After eating and drinking her fill, Ophelia wandered back to the hotel. When she was almost at the hotel entrance, a handsome young man approached her. "Hey, beauty, want to make a friend? Maybe exchange WhatsApp?"
Young men these days were quite direct.
The handsome guy was in his early twenties, exuding a sunny charm.
Ophelia glanced over, where a few men were watching them, one of them filming with a phone. They were probably with the handsome guy.
Such tricks were to get more traffic on social media. Many people shot short videos to create topics of interest.
Those men might even be live streaming.
Many bloggers flirted on camera to boost traffic, letting their audience have a peek to get gifts.
Ophelia politely smiled. "Sorry, I'm not into guys. I like girls."
The man's expression faltered.
This response was clearly unexpected for him.
He looked embarrassed.
Ophelia, however, maintained her smile, sticking to her nonsensical story.
The man could only give a dry laugh. "My apologies."
"No problem," Ophelia said, turning to head back to the hotel, only to come face-to-face with Finnegan standing a few steps away.
It felt oddly familiar.
Finnegan also had a sense of familiarity.
'Wasn't this how she had rejected her male colleagues at the office?Her disguise ran deep,' he thought.
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