Chapter 212
Michael pressed his thin lips together, struggling to hold back his emotions.
Daphne raised an eyebrow and gave a meaningful smile. "Really? Sorry, it seems I was mistaken."
"No problem." Michael lowered his eyes and responded indifferently.
Daphne took a sip of red wine. "Speaking of which, how did you and Miss Brown fall in love? Miss Brown was in a vegetative state for six years, and six years ago, I knew you didn't know each other."
"Actually, Mandy and I have known each other for a long time," Michael said, shaking his head slightly. "It's been about ten years. We were pen pals and only met in person six years ago."
"I see." Daphne nodded in realization, then smiled and asked, "But I'm curious, why did youfall in love with her?"
Michael's lips moved slightly. He wanted to say it was the wonderful qualities in her letters that made him fall in love with her. But the words just wouldn't come out.
He thought, 'Does Mandy have good qualities? Her alter ego certainly doesn't. Even her main personality, I've realized, has more flaws than virtues—she's stingy and petty, for example. The Mandy I see now is nothing like the lively, kind girl from the letters. Honestly, I'm finding it hard to love her. But I vowed to make her happy for life, so I won't let go easily, even if my love fades. Unless Mandy wasn't the one writing those letters. But how could that be?'
A trace of self-mockery flashed in Michael's eyes as he took a glass of red wine from a waiter and said lightly, "I love her for no reason."
"With all due respect, someone as excellent as you shouldn't fall in love with someone like Miss Brown." Daphne swirled her wine glass and looked at him with a smile. "I don't believe you can't see right through her."
Michael pressed his lips together. "I know, but I made a promise to Mandy."
"Mr. Smith, you really value your promises, but honestly, I suggest you leave Miss Brown. She's not worthy of you, can't compare to your ex-wife, and will cause big trouble sooner or later." Daphne said, then turned and left.
She said this purely out of consideration for Catherine. When she was young, she had been oppressed by her husband's mother, and Catherine had helped her a lot. She was just repaying that favor.
Michael watched her back, his eyes deep. After a moment, he finished his wine, took out his phone, and texted Rachel: [I'm sorry about tonight.]
Rachel was sitting in the car, talking to Robert and John, when her phone suddenly rang. Seeing the message, she frowned.
Robert, who was driving, saw her impatience through the rearview mirror. "Rachel, who is it?"
"Michael," Rachel replied.
John, in the passenger seat, quickly turned his head, "What does he want?"
"I don't know. He sent a message." Rachel opened the message and sneered.
John curiously took the phone and rolled his eyes. "He's apologizing for Mandy again, isn't he? He's apologized several times in the past few months, and I'm sick of it. Rachel, let me reply for you."
Saying this, he started typing, reading aloud as he did, "If you truly feel sorry for me, prove it by sending Mandy to jail. That's real sincerity. Just apologizing without taking action? You can keep that apology. Send!"
John handed the phone back to Rachel. "How was that? Rachel, did I do well?"
"Not bad," Rachel rarely praised him, and John was instantly overjoyed.
Robert glanced at him. "Rachel, I can do it too."
"I know, but focus on driving. Don't get distracted; pay attention to safety," Rachel scolded, giving the seat a pat.Robert responded with a hint of grievance in his voice.
At the banquet, Michael saw Rachel's reply and narrowed his eyes.
Obviously, this wasn't from Rachel. After the divorce, her replies were always brief, never this long. So he guessed it was Robert or John who replied, and they were either at Rachel's house or their own.
No matter who replied or where, Michael felt uncomfortable, so angry he wanted to crush his phone.
He rubbed his temples, barely suppressing his anger, and typed: [Where's Rachel?]
Rachel saw his reply and raised an eyebrow. He actually figured it out, but she didn't bother to explain and directly turned off her phone.
Michael waited several minutes without a reply. Realizing she wasn't going to respond, he pressed his thin lips together tightly. He thought, 'What is she doing? Why isn't she replying? Is she busy, or is she with Robert and John?'
Michael angrily slammed his wine glass on the table, the glass broke, and the shards cut his hand, blood mixing with the wine.
A nearby waiter quickly approached. "Mr. Smith, are you alright? I'll call a doctor."
"No need." Michael took a tissue, expressionless, and wiped the wound on his hand. As if he couldn't feel the pain, he threw away the tissue after wiping and simply bandaged it with a handkerchief from his pocket.
"I have something to do; I'm leaving. Inform Mr. Jones and the others."
With that, he put his hand in his pocket and left with large strides.
He didn't want to keep wondering what Rachel and those two were doing, just thinking about it made him restless, he had to see for himself.
On the way, Michael drove at high speed.
As he approached Starglow Valley Estates, his phone rang again. He impatiently answered, "Hello?"
"Michael, it's me." Ethan's voice came through.
"Mr. Brown, what's up?" Michael asked, steering with one hand.
"Mandy's having some issues; I hope you can come and see her." Ethan sighed.
"What's wrong with Mandy?" Michael's tone was unusually calm.
Ethan was stunned, thinking, 'I thought Michael would be nervous and worried. Why is she so calm?'
But he quickly dismissed his thoughts, rubbing his nose. "She embarrassed herself at the banquet, and has been crying in her room since she got back, refusing to come out. I'm worried about her, so I called you to comfort her and apologize."
Michael pressed his lips. "I understand comforting Mandy, but why should I apologize? I don't think I need to apologize to her."
"How could you not?" Ethan's face darkened. "At the banquet, Mandy was targeted and mocked by Rachel and her people, and as her fiancé, you didn't stand up for her. Don't you think you need to apologize?"
Michael's face turned cold. He thought, 'The Browns are so unreasonable! They mess up but won't admit it, and they want me to take the blame.'
"Ethan, tonight's events are clear. Mandy falsely accused Rachel and wore the wrong clothes. Since she made a mistake, she should bear the consequences. If I blindly protect her, that would be harming her." Michael replied in a deep voice.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
