Chapter 407 Each Man Manages His Own Wife (1)
"You!"
Riley's face showed a flicker of discomfort, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "If Samuel hadn't meddled back then, Robert and I would be married by now. But I just don't get it. If Samuel doesn't like me, why would he let you into the Browns?"
She had investigated Ophelia, who came from a family with some money but no real clout. Compared to the Browns, it was a mismatch. Ophelia marrying Robert was definitely a step up.
It wasn't just Riley who found it odd; even Ophelia was puzzled. If Robert really didn't want to marry her, he could have easily refused, no matter the media frenzy or the Browns' reputation. So why did he insist on it?
Ophelia couldn't figure it out. She tucked her hair behind her ear and decided to provoke Riley. "How would I know? Maybe I'm just lucky. If Robert was that into you, I wouldn't be here."
Riley's face turned red with anger. Ophelia smirked, glancing at the pale yellow Kelly bag. "Forget it, I have plenty of these at home. If you like it, you can have it."
Riley was right about one thing: to buy a bag like that, you needed the means to match it. Ophelia was just a nine-to-five news reporter. If she got divorced, even her car would be taken back by her parents. Would she really carry a rare Hermès bag on the subway? The thought was laughable.
As Ophelia and Juniper were about to leave the boutique, Riley called out, "Ms. Perez, why do you think Robert married you?"
Ophelia shot back, "If you're so curious, ask him yourself. I'm not interested in such boring matters." With that, she pulled Juniper out of the boutique.
Outside, Ophelia let out a long sigh. Juniper looked at her, "You really don't want that bag? That color is pretty nice."
Even someone like Juniper, who didn't usually go for luxury items, thought the Kelly bag was nice. And Ophelia, who loved collecting, must have found it hard to resist.
Ophelia sighed, "The bag is nice, but I can't take them all home. Riley was right; I need to think about my future. If you had bought that bag for me, I wouldn't know what to do."
Juniper smiled, "Ms. Perez, this is the first time you've resisted, even with my temptations. It looks like in less than three months, you'll curb this spending habit."
The first step to getting a divorce was to curb her high spending. Otherwise, she'd be like a canary trapped in a gilded cage, never able to escape.
Ophelia forced a weak smile, "It's not easy to curb. It's like quitting drugs. After the divorce, my parents will take back the car and house they gave me. I'll have to rent a place. With my salary, it's hard to find a decent place in Imperial Capital."
Ophelia looked at Juniper with admiration, "Juniper, you rented a place and raised Jenny by yourself for six years. How did you manage? Just thinking about it makes me want to break down."
"I'm different from you. You've never had hard times. In college, Isolde used to cut my living expenses, so I often didn't have money for food. I got used to hardship a long time ago. Hardship only comes to those who can handle it. The more you're willing to endure, the more you get."
Ophelia genuinely felt happy for her friend. "You've finally made it through the tough times, and good days are ahead. Not only can you make money, but you also don't have high material desires. Juniper, you're amazing!"
Juniper chuckled, "It's not as dramatic as you make it sound. I like nice things too, but I don't feel the need to own them. It's like seeing roses by the roadside; you admire their beauty, but you don't have to pick them."
Ophelia leaned her head on Juniper's shoulder and whined, "Compared to you, I'm just a materialistic person. Juniper, let's go quickly. If we don't leave now, I'll want to rush back to the boutique and fight Riley for that bag!"
Juniper burst out laughing and pulled her towards the escalator. "Then let's go quickly!"
By seven in the evening, Juniper had tried a few more restaurants, but none left a lasting impression. Feeling stuffed, Ophelia suggested, "Let's go for a drink. My treat!"
Juniper laughed, "Didn't you say you were broke?"
Ophelia hooked her arm and headed towards the bar. "I still have money to buy you a drink! If I really go broke after the divorce, I'll come to you for help!"
Just then, Juniper's phone rang. It was Magnus calling. Ophelia pleaded, "He's definitely asking you to go home. Turn him down and stay with me. I'm really feeling down lately!"
Juniper answered the call, "Hello?"
Magnus asked, "You're not home yet? Where are you? I'll come pick you up."
Ophelia clung to Juniper, shaking her head vigorously. Juniper said, "I drove myself. You don't need to pick me up. I might be home late. Ophelia is feeling down, and I want to keep her company."
Magnus replied, "I'm feeling down too."
Juniper couldn't help but laugh, "I'm serious. She's going through a divorce with Robert and ran into Robert's ex at the Hermès boutique today."
Magnus wasn't surprised. To him, Robert and Ophelia were both a bit crazy, treating marriage like a game. They got married on a whim and talked about divorce just as easily. The key point was, they had been talking about divorce for so long but still hadn't finalized it.
Magnus asked, "Can you be home by ten?"
If she wasn't back by ten, he would come to get her. Juniper, holding her phone, glanced at Ophelia and said, "We'll see. I don't know how long she'll need to vent."
After explaining, she hung up the phone. Ophelia grumbled, "You're not even married yet, and he's already checking up on you like this. If you do get married, Magnus will keep a close eye on you. But I get it; someone like you is liked by both men and women. It's normal for him to be worried."
The two arrived at a bar near Golden Shopping Center. Ophelia ordered a strong drink. Juniper glanced at it and also wanted a drink. Although she was allergic to alcohol, she always craved it, so she ordered a very low-alcohol mojito.
Ophelia vented to her for a long time and had several cocktails, eventually starting to speak without a filter. She picked up her bag and bragged to Juniper, "Juniper, do you know when I bought this glacier white crocodile skin bag?"
Juniper, also a bit tipsy, propped her head on one hand and smiled at her, "Let me guess..."
She remembered, "When Robert and Riley's hotel scandal hit the news! Right?"
Ophelia clinked her glass with hers, "Correct! You got it! This bag wasn't cheap! Do you know the best thing about Robert?"
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