Chapter 172: We Are Just Ordinary Friends
Mitchell grabbed Laura's wrist. He said icily, "You think I'm doing all this just to sleep with you?!"
Laura met his angry gaze calmly, "What else could it be? Do you want to date me or something?"
"What if I said yes?"
Laura was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "Mitchell, that doesn't suit you."
To the Lisa family, she was just an actress. She had no plans to rely on wealthy people, so neither Mitchell nor his family had any say over her.
Mitchell tried to explain, "Laura! I'm sorry for what I said before. I just wanted to keep my family off your back, so..."
Laura cut him off, "Mitchell, your reasons don't matter. I don't like you. Never did, never will."
She pulled away and turned to leave, but Mitchell chuckled, saying "No matter what you say, I won't give up. I've chosen you."
Laura paused but said nothing and walked away.
Half an hour later, Laura called Gianna, asking her to join her for a drink at a bar.
Gianna was about to leave when Felix frowned, "This is between her and Mitchell. Don't get involved. I'll call him."
"What does this have to do with Mitchell?"
"She was probably with him. If she's calling you, something must've happened. You shouldn't get involved."
Before Gianna could respond, Felix called Mitchell, gave him the address of the bar where Laura was, and hung up, "Let's keep eating."
Gianna hesitated, then stood up, "I'm worried. I still want to go."
Felix didn't stop her. He stood up calmly, "I'll go with you."
At the bar entrance, they saw Laura and Mitchell leaving together. They got into a car and drove off, not noticing Gianna and Felix.
Felix remained calm, "Can we go back now?"
Gianna stayed silent on the way back. When they reached the villa, Felix didn't get out immediately. He looked at her and asked, "Still thinking about Laura and Mitchell?"
Gianna frowned, "I don't want Laura getting involved with Mitchell."
"Afraid he'll hurt her?"
"You know that, so why ask?"
"Laura's been in the industry for years. She knows what kind of person Mitchell is. Her decisions are her own. She's an adult."
Gianna's face turned cold, "You're his friend, so you side with him. I don't want my friend to be one of his conquests."
Felix raised eyebrows, "How do you know he isn't serious?"
Gianna was momentarily speechless, then snapped, "Whether he's sincere or not, the Lisa family won't accept her. I don't want her to suffer."
"That's for the future. Focus on MY FASHION. Isn't one company enough to keep you busy?"
Felix's indifferent attitude infuriated Gianna.
"You all run in the same circles. You're not good either!"Gianna threw this angry remark, got out of the car, and slammed the door.
Felix smiled wryly, realizing he was being unfairly blamed.
In the following weeks, Laura returned to filming, and Gianna didn't reach out to her.
Gianna occasionally saw rumors about Laura and Mitchell, mostly photos of them dining together, with the rest being speculation.
Several times, Gianna wanted to call Laura to ask about her relationship with Mitchell but held back.
Time flew by, and a week before Gianna's birthday, Laura called her.
"Gianna, next Wednesday is your birthday, but I have to go into the mountains to film tomorrow. I already got you a gift, and you'll love it!"
Gianna glanced at the calendar and saw that next Wednesday was indeed her birthday. She pursed her lips.
"Laura, thank you. You must be busy with filming, right?"
"Yeah, working overtime, getting less than six hours of sleep. I'm exhausted and losing weight."
Gianna chuckled, "Well, hang in there! By the way, are you and Mitchell together?"
There was a brief silence, then Laura's cheerful voice came through.
"No, we're just friends. If we were together, you'd be the first person I tell."
Gianna lowered her eyes and didn't ask further. After chatting a bit more, she hung up.
She looked at the calendar again and fell into deep thought.
Gianna used to celebrate her birthday on the day her adoptive parents found her. After returning to the Redstone family, Lauren insisted on changing her birthday to match Bella's to avoid outsiders thinking the Redstones treated her poorly.
But every year, the Redstones held a birthday party for Bella. On her birthday, they would just mention Gianna's name in passing. The guests were all Bella's friends and the Redstone family's business associates. The party decorations and food were all Bella's favorites. Gianna could only watch them as a happy family of three from the corner.
Occasionally, when someone mentioned Gianna, Julian and Lauren would brush it off, saying she was too shy to come out and meet people.
Thinking back, Gianna realized how laughable her hope for her biological parents' love was when she first returned to the Redstone family.
Julian and Lauren had taught her that not all parents love their children.
Meanwhile, at the Redstone family home, Lauren and Julian were discussing Bella's birthday.
"Should we hold a party as usual and invite everyone? Now that Bella is Thomas's fiancée, no one in Dawnridge will dare disrespect us," Lauren asked.
Recently, because of the fake signature incident involving Bella and Elia, Lauren had been ridiculed by her friends during afternoon tea.
Tomorrow was Bella's birthday, and she had to use this opportunity to show off in front of those friends!
Thinking about Bella and Thomas appearing together tomorrow, Lauren couldn't help but feel proud.
Julian was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, you prepare everything."
"Okay."
"By the way, call Gianna and ask her to come back for her birthday too."
Lauren stood up abruptly, saying in a cold voice, "I disagree! I won't let her step into the Redstone home ever again!"
