Chapter 375 Intentional
Gia tucked the check away. "I want to see what you can do to make him settle down and marry you. I've waited for years, and he hasn't married anyone. You're not exactly a knockout, and you don't have any standout qualities. Do you really think he'll commit to you? Don't be ridiculous! I'm only being polite because you're Bella's friend, and you dare to yell at me? How rude!"
Anna's face turned pale at Gia's words. She hadn't expected Gia to attack her appearance and personality so directly, nor had she anticipated such strong opposition to her relationship with Colin.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep her emotions in check. "Mrs. Rivera, what are you saying? Colin and I are in love, and it's not based on looks or money. Aren't you worried that your words will hurt Colin?"
Gia looked at Anna with a hint of disdain in her eyes. "Hurt? Then you should leave him. Colin is my son, and I know him well. He's not someone who gets easily tied down by emotions. Do you think your current relationship will last? Don't be ridiculous! When he dumps you, you'll be the one who's heartbroken."
Anna's eyes hardened with determination. "Fine, we'll see. The more you dislike me, the more determined I am to become your daughter-in-law and make you suffer!"
Gia laughed at Anna's defiance, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Alright, you said it. I'll be waiting!" With that, she turned and left the dessert shop, her elegant stride leaving behind an air of superiority.
Anna watched Gia's retreating figure, angrily gulping down a large glass of lemonade, the sourness making her wince. "So sour!" It was as if she was trying to swallow all her anger and frustration along with the drink.
Bella couldn't help but laugh at Anna's expression. He walked over and gently patted her shoulder, asking softly, "What do you want for lunch?"
Anna glanced at Bella, her anger slightly subsiding. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Anything, I don't have an appetite."
Then, with a touch of grievance, she complained, "I've just been humiliated by Colin's mom, and you're thinking about lunch? Are you a pig? I'm so mad I could have punched her if she wasn't an elder. It's infuriating!"
Bella gently patted her back in comfort and then explained, "Anna, don't be so quick to react. It seems to me like she's using reverse psychology."
Anna looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Bella patiently analyzed, "Think about it. She's provoking you, trying to make you back off. Or maybe she's testing how deep your feelings for Colin are. If she really looked down on you, she could have outright rejected you. Why go through all this trouble?"
Anna nodded thoughtfully. "You might have a point. But her words were too hurtful, saying I have no special qualities and I'm not good-looking. Who does she think she is?"
Bella smiled gently. "Don't take it personally, Anna. The most important thing now is to keep your emotions in check and not let her reverse psychology work. If you truly love Colin, you need to trust your relationship and not be swayed by outside comments."
Anna took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "You're right. I can't let her words affect me. I need to talk to Colin and figure out what's going on with his mom. We need to face this together."
Seeing that Anna was calming down, Bella didn't delve further into Gia's intentions. Instead, he started ordering takeout for lunch, trying to ease the tension.
Just then, Serafina chimed in, "Bella, why isn't Lily here? Did she take the day off?"
Anna's anger flared up again at the mention of Lily. She shouted, "She's not coming back! She won't be here anymore!"
Serafina was startled by Anna's sudden outburst and felt a bit hurt. "You yelled at me."
Realizing her mistake, Anna quickly explained, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm just upset. Lily really isn't coming back. It's just us now, and no matter how busy we get, I'm not hiring anyone else. Who knows what kind of people we'll get."
Bella understood Anna's feelings and gently patted her shoulder in comfort. Then he turned to Serafina and said, "Serafina, don't take it to heart. Anna didn't mean it. Lily's departure was her own choice. We need to work well together and keep pushing forward."
With the atmosphere slightly eased, Bella started ordering takeout, and everyone gathered to have lunch. Though the mood was still a bit awkward, it was better than before.
Back at the hotel, Gia, looking exhausted, knocked on Colin's door. When he opened it, she looked him straight in the eye and said bluntly, "I just went to see Anna and told her to leave you."
Colin's face turned complex, disbelief evident in his eyes. "Mom, you're kidding, right?"
Gia rolled her eyes slightly, her tone filled with a mix of helplessness and fatigue. "No, why would I lie? I'm exhausted now, need to sleep before dealing with you." She yawned and headed to her room.
Colin stood there, feeling a mix of emotions. He wanted to ask more but seeing Gia's tired figure, he held back.
Gia lay on her bed, not truly relaxed. Hearing Colin leave the hotel, a subtle smile appeared on her lips.
As Bella had guessed, Gia's confrontation with Anna was a test and a provocation. She wanted to see how deep Anna's feelings for Colin were and if they were worthy of her approval as a mother.
However, deep down, Gia didn't truly oppose Colin and Anna's relationship. She just wanted to test them, though her displeasure at Anna being proposed to by Caleb was genuine.
Colin rushed to the dessert shop and saw Anna having lunch with her friends.
Anna ignored him, focusing on mashing the rice in her bowl, her actions reflecting her anger and resentment, silently accusing him.
"Anna, I didn't know my mom would come to see you." Colin's voice was filled with guilt and anxiety, unsure of how to handle the situation.
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