Chapter 167:Explanation
Thinking about Felix's cold look earlier, Ximena felt deep regret, but it was too late.
Connor threw a fit and stormed off.
Meanwhile, Gianna and Felix were silent on their way back to the villa.
As soon as the car stopped, Gianna, looking cold, was about to get out.
Felix grabbed her hand as she unbuckled her seatbelt and said, "Gianna, let me explain."
Gianna looked at him blankly, "Fine, go ahead."
"Tonight, I found out about Ximena and Bella's plan, so I made a counter-plan."
Gianna frowned, "So you even set up Thomas?"
Felix paused before saying, "Yes."
"Why? He just got back from abroad and has no grudge against you."
Felix shook his head, "Gianna, I can't explain now, but Thomas isn't as simple as you think."
"Fine, I won't ask more, but in the future, tell me beforehand. Don't keep me in the dark."
"Okay, I get it. Are you still mad?"
"What do you think?"
Felix stayed silent.
"By the way, why did Bella answer when I called you? Did you give her your phone?" Gianna asked.
"No, she spilled water on my phone during dinner. She probably tampered with it while pretending to help. My phone's always been with me."
Gianna took Felix's phone, saw it was set to call forwarding, fixed it, and handed it back.
"Don't let your phone out of your sight next time."
"Okay."
Early the next morning, news of Bella and Thomas's engagement spread quickly in Dawnridge, shocking everyone. No one expected their relationship to move so fast.
Since both Bella and Gianna were involved with Clinton family men, people started gossiping.
"Who would've thought both Clinton men would fall for the Redstone sisters? What's so special about them?"
"I don't see anything special, but they sure know how to manipulate men. How else could Thomas, who just got back, fall for a woman who looks like his sister-in-law?!"
"Now that you mention it, it's suspicious. Maybe he likes Gianna but can't have her, so he settled for Bella?"
"How is that possible?! Gianna was away for over ten years. How could Thomas like her?!"
"Why not? Maybe Thomas just likes that type!"
Rumors spread that Thomas liked Gianna and chose Bella as a substitute because he couldn't have her.
When Bella heard this while shopping with Jasmine, she was furious.
Bella thought Gianna must be spreading rumors. People always said she was better than Gianna. How could they now say she was a substitute!
Thinking this, Bella called Lauren and subtly suggested Gianna was spreading false rumors.
After hanging up, Jasmine smiled, "Belle, you don't need to care about these rumors. They won't hurt you."
Jasmine, having faced extreme fans in the entertainment industry, had grown mentally resilient.
Bella pursed her lips, "If I don't deal with it, Gianna will only get worse."
Jasmine didn't say more. After shopping for a while, they parted ways.
After Bella told her Uriah wasn't with Faith, she finally felt relieved. Even if she and Uriah were done, she didn't want Faith involved with him!
Meanwhile, Lauren was fuming after Bella's call. Already upset that Gianna hadn't helped Bella with the Clinton family, she was now even more enraged. She stormed into Gianna's office to confront her.
Gianna was in a meeting with a business partner when Lauren burst in, making both of them frown.
Ignoring everyone, Lauren yelled, "Gianna, do you have any shame? Did you start the rumor about Thomas liking you?!"
Gianna shot a cold look at Otis, who had followed Lauren in, and asked icily, "Who let her in?"
"Gianna, Lauren said she was your mother. We couldn't stop her," Otis tried to explain.
Gianna's expression remained indifferent, "If you can't stop her, call security. Do I need to teach you the basics?"
Otis looked embarrassed, not realizing how bad things were between Gianna and Lauren.
Lauren sneered, "Gianna, if you harm Bella again, you'll pay for it!"
Gianna raised an eyebrow and ignored Lauren, then turned to Otis, "Aren't you calling security? Or do I have to do it myself?"
Startled by Gianna's cold demeanor, Otis quickly called security.
Lauren, not expecting Gianna to be serious, gritted her teeth, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Felix likes you now. When he gets tired of you, don't come begging me for help!"
Gianna found it amusing, "Do you think you can help me?"
"You!" Lauren was furious, but Gianna grew impatient.
"I have business to discuss. If you have nothing else, Lauren, please leave," Gianna said coldly.
"You just wait!" Lauren stormed out.
Gianna turned to her business partner with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that, Mr. Hayes. Quite a scene."
Mr. Hayes smiled, "Let's continue. Where were we?"
An hour later, Gianna escorted Mr. Hayes to the elevator. After he left, she went straight to Otis's desk.
"Inform the front desk that no one from the Redstone family is allowed in from now on," Gianna commanded.
Otis nodded, "Understood, Gianna."
Back in her office, Gianna found out about the rumors saying Thomas liked her. She was speechless.
She called Felix.
"I just heard about it today. I've already sent someone to investigate who started the rumor," her said.
Hearing the coldness in Felix's tone, Gianna couldn't help but smile, "Are you angry?"
"When I find the person who spread the rumor, I won't let them off!" Felix was really angry.
Gianna reassured him, "It's just a baseless rumor. Don't take it so seriously. I've only met Thomas a few times, and there's no way we'll have any relationship in the future."
"Okay, I understand."
"Alright, I have work to finish. I'll hang up now."
After hanging up, Gianna put down her phone and continued working.
Near the end of the workday, Emily came to her with new design drafts. Seeing Emily's red eyes and dark circles, Gianna was surprised.
After looking at the drafts for a while, she frowned, "Emily, did you draw these?"
