Chapter 1064 The Visit
Anthony felt a slight displeasure in his heart. It had been a long time since he had seen Jane this happy.
To Jane, Anthony wasn't even worth a few-dollar milkshake!
Jane reached out for the milkshake, but Anthony lifted the bag, dodging her hand.
"Just so you know, you can only drink a third of it," Anthony said.
Jane was shocked. "A third of it?"
'How could you even say that!' she thought, and then said, "Only a third? That's such a waste. How about half? Can I drink half?"
Anthony looked at Jane expressionlessly, as if to say, "if you haggle any more, you won't get a single sip."
Anthony really could do something that heartless.
Jane pouted and reluctantly said, "Fine."
Jane took the milkshake and instructed the servant to bring a large cup.
Anthony sat on the couch and watched as Jane opened the milkshake lid and poured the regular-sized milkshake into the oversized cup.
"A third of the cup!" Jane marked a third of the oversized cup.
A third of that cup was equivalent to more than half of the original milkshake.
Jane's face lit up with a smile, her eyes gleaming with a cunning triumph, like a little fox.
Anthony couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. Only Jane could pull off something like this.
Before Anthony could say anything, Jane spoke first, "You said a third of a cup, no take-backs."
"Jane, you don't want to drink it a second time, do you?" he asked.
"Can I drink it a second time?" she asked in surprise, but quickly regained her composure. "What if you're tricking me? It's better to drink my fill this time."
After all, Anthony had been adamant about correcting Jane's diet for years, not letting her drink milkshakes. The fact that he allowed it today made Jane think he had changed, maybe because the Clark Group had signed a multi-million dollar deal.
Jane contentedly inserted the straw and took a deep sip of the milkshake, sighing in satisfaction.
Jane rarely showed such a satisfied, girlish demeanor over any food, but milkshakes were one of the exceptions.
Anthony looked at the milkshake, not seeing anything special about it. "Jane, what's the difference between drinking this and drinking oatmeal?"
Jane was shocked that someone could ask such a question!
"If you don't understand, just shut up," she replied.
Anthony indeed didn't understand, and he thought he never would, but he silently noted the flavor of the milkshake Jane ordered today.
"Jane, a third of the cup is up."
Jane had only drunk half of it when Anthony's reminder startled her, almost making her choke.
In a panic, Jane took a deep breath and sucked in a large mouthful.
When her lips left the straw, her cheeks were puffed out. Anthony looked at Jane as if she were a hamster hoarding food.
"Jane, where's your dignity?" Anthony's eyes were full of amusement, and he couldn't help but tease her.
Jane reluctantly swallowed the last mouthful of milkshake and, after savoring it for a few seconds, said, "My dignity doesn't depend on a milkshake. A man like you who doesn't know how to enjoy life will never understand my happiness."
Seeing Anthony about to take away the remaining half cup of milkshake, Jane tentatively suggested, "Since there's only a little left, why not let me finish it?"
"Since there's only a little left, it won't hurt you to drink a little less," Anthony replied, using Jane's own words against her.
Jane glared at Anthony, and then a large hand pressed down on her head.
Anthony ruffled Jane's hair, his tone full of helplessness and affection as he said, "Be good. Only kids think about snacks all the time. Jane, you're all grown up now."
"Don't touch my head!" she snapped. "What am I, a puppy?"
Jane glared at Anthony and went upstairs.
A man like Anthony would never understand that a girl was always eighteen at heart!
After a day of emotional ups and downs, Jane was satisfied after drinking the milkshake. She planned to do some photo editing after washing up, but she started to feel sleepy.
Jane dozed off on the couch, and when she woke up again, she was lying in bed, covered snugly with a blanket.
Jane looked around but didn't see anyone. However, the curtains weren't fully drawn, and a floor lamp cast a soft, warm light. The light wasn't harsh but provided enough comfort for someone afraid of the dark.
No need to guess, this was Anthony's doing.
Jane hugged the blanket and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, recalling everything that had happened yesterday.
Anthony's compromise over the milkshake seemed to be a turning point in their relationship. Since yesterday, Jane's attitude towards Anthony had softened. Unconsciously, she had taken a step down, and once she did, it was hard to put up her guard again.
Jane now recalled everything from yesterday and even suspected that Anthony had allowed her to have a sip of the milkshake with this very intention in mind.
It wasn't that Jane wanted to think ill of him, but Anthony indeed had such cunning and depth, and he knew her well enough.
"Ms. Watkins, you're up!" Billy, who was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper, greeted Jane cheerfully as she came downstairs. "Mr. Clark said that some items will be delivered from the mall this afternoon."
"What are they delivering?" Since Billy specifically told Jane, it must have something to do with her.
"I'm not quite sure," Billy teased. "Ms. Watkins, you'll have to ask Mr. Clark yourself."
Although Jane knew Billy was deliberately creating opportunities for her and Anthony to interact, she also understood that people tend to meddle more as they age.
In the afternoon, the doorbell rang.
The servant went to open the door, and Jane, thinking it was the delivery from the mall, followed along. However, she saw a somewhat familiar face—Ava.
"Ms. Watkins, I don't know if you remember me. We met by the lake before. You might not know me, but my husband’s last name is Miller," Ava said with a smile, and the accompanying servant handed Jane a gift box.
In Southvale, anyone who could claim the last name "Miller" and lived in Emerald Gardens was undoubtedly from a wealthy family.
Jane signaled her maid to accept the gift and said indifferently, "Thank you, Mrs. Miller."
Such gifts were common in their circle; it was basic etiquette to bring a gift when visiting, so there was no question of whether to accept it or not.
"Ms. Watkins, I happen to have some free time today. I've long heard of your reputation. Could I have the honor to invite you for a cup of coffee? I'd like to be friends with you," Ava said with a smile.
Friends? Jane couldn't see any genuine intention of friendship from Ava.
Who introduced themselves by only mentioning their husband's last name and not their own first name when making friends?
Jane's expression remained indifferent; she didn't have much fondness for Ava.
Although Jane was born into a prestigious family, she always looked down on women who socialized using their husband's last name and took pride in it, as if they were merely appendages to their husbands. Didn't women have their own independent identities?
But it was hard to refuse someone with a smiling face. Besides, Ava had found her here, knowing she was staying at Anthony's place. Jane's words and actions could potentially affect Anthony's interests. Jane didn't care about Anthony's interests, but she didn't want to implicate him because of herself.
Jane didn't want to owe anyone anything for any reason, especially not Anthony.
"Go get the bottle of Lafite that just arrived from the cellar," Jane instructed the maid beside her.
Ava looked puzzled, completely unaware of why Jane suddenly asked for wine.
After a while, the maid brought the 1982 Lafite.
"Sorry, Mrs. Miller, I have something to do this afternoon, so it's not convenient timing today," Jane said, signaling the maid to hand the Lafite to Ava. "Mrs. Miller, consider this a return gift for today. I'm sorry I can't accept your invitation."
Ava's face looked a bit displeased, but she quickly forced a smile and accepted the Lafite.
Ava wanted to say something more, but seeing Jane's indifferent expression, she decided against it.
After Ava left, the maid whispered to Jane, "Ms. Watkins, that Mrs. Miller's husband is the head of a real estate group and has some business dealings with Mr. Clark. However, we are the client, and they are the contractor."
The maids chosen to be around Jane by Anthony were not ordinary maids. For instance, the one speaking now was well-versed in Anthony's affairs and could provide Jane with introductions and even handle emergencies.
Jane nodded, having already guessed as much. Otherwise, Ava wouldn't have left so easily.
The maid, having spent the past few days with Jane, found that Jane wasn't as cold and difficult to get along with as rumors suggested. She grew bolder and initiated a conversation with Jane.
"Ms. Watkins, weren't you afraid that Mrs. Miller would hold a grudge for what you said earlier?"
This circle was full of scheming. Men's scheming mostly happened in the business world, while women's scheming was often in their words and actions. The former hurt financially, the latter emotionally.
Jane raised an eyebrow, amused, and asked the maid, "What do you think she came to see me for?"
The maid didn't dare to speak. Could she say that Ava came to gossip about Jane. If she say so, it would be asking for trouble.
Jane saw what the maid was thinking and said directly, "Since she came to see me to laugh at me, what's the difference between inviting her in and not inviting her in? If she's not someone easy to get along with, why waste time?"
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