Emily's blunt tone caught Stacey off guard. "Go ahead," she urged, perplexed.
Emily didn't mince words. "Focus on yourself and mind your own business, thank you."
Stacey, accustomed to a life of smooth sailing and rarely hearing a harsh word, was taken aback by such a direct rebuke from a younger woman, especially when she believed she was offering well-intended advice.
Caught off balance, Stacey remained silent, relieved when a car horn indicated Murray's arrival.
Without another word, Stacey headed straight for the car, following Emily.
Once in the car, Emily instinctively sat in the back seat while Stacey took the front passenger seat.
Upon noticing Stacey's sullen demeanor, Murray inquired, "Upset about waiting?"
Stacey forced a smile. "What kept you so long?"
As Murray maneuvered the car, he replied, "Had to take
Murray chuckled, "Just by asking one extra question, how does that mean I'm interested?"Stacey laughed along, "I know you asked because of Ronald."Murray cleared his throat, neither confirming nor denying.Stacey, as if struck by a sudden thought, perked up. "Do you think Ronald is after this girl because she reminds him of Jean from the past?"Murray stared ahead, his expression unreadable. "Not sure."Stacey turned to him, her gaze laden with meaning. "Do men always fancy girls in their early twenties?"Murray's lips curled slightly. "Not necessarily. It depends on the person. A woman's allure isn't tied to her age."Stacey was pleased with his response, affectionately brushing her hand against his handsome cheek.Seizing the moment, she asked a question that had lingered on her mind for a long time. "Why haven't you shown any sign since I returned? What are you waiting for?"Murray was briefly taken aback, then smil
Forced into another bath, Emily observed a stark change in Murray. Not only had his demeanor shifted dramatically from just moments before, but he was also efficiently handling work emails while seated on the sofa.Murray asked, "Can I use your phone?"Busy loading clothes into the dryer, Emily nodded towards the bedroom with her chin. "It's on the bed. You can get it yourself."Rising, Murray headed to the bedroom. Emily tossed his clothes, save for the coat needing dry cleaning, in the washing machine. Now, he was just wrapped in a towel.Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a glow on his back. His figure was alluring.Emily couldn't help but admire the contours of his back and the indentation at the base of his spine, thinking to herself how unfairly blessed he was by nature.It felt unjust, but what was the use of being upset with fate?Nonetheless, Emily fetched Murray's clothes from the dryer and took
Emily's eyelids drooped, a single tear tracing down her cheek, shimmering briefly before falling to the floor.Murray watched the tear disappear into the darkness, unmoved.He leaned forward to grab Emily's phone, unlocked it in front of her with a few taps, then tossed it back onto the table, his voice cool and detached, "I really dislike these little games of yours!"Realization dawned on Emily as she saw the images of the man and woman in the photo album. In her haste to lock the screen, the interface had stopped on the photo of Stacey and the man at the restaurant.Murray had stumbled upon these photos using her phone and assumed she was scheming, intentionally trying to slander Stacey.Understanding the reason behind his anger, Emily found herself regaining composure.She laughed, her voice even colder than Murray's, "Did I take the phone and show it to you myself?"Murray didn't respond, just stared at her.Emily co
"Can't you even recognize your boyfriend's voice?" came Ronald Richardson's passive voice over the phone."Fuck off, asshole."Emily hung up the phone, wishing to smash the screen. Ronald was like a plaster that, once applied, was impossible to shake off.No sooner had she hung up than the phone rang again. She didn't answer, staring blankly at it.Suddenly, she remembered what Murray had said to her last night. He had mentioned he didn't mind sharing her with Ronald Richardson.As she thought about it, a smile crept across her face, like a rose dipped in poison, beautiful on the outside but filled with deadly venom.The phone kept ringing stubbornly, and Emily finally answered."Don't hang up; I need to talk to you," Ronald Richardson said, probably fearing she'd cut him off again. His tone was much more serious."Speak." Emily stirred the boiling noodle soup with her chopsticks."Where are you now?""At a friend
After that night, Murray stopped contacting Emily.Remembering his definition of their relationship, Emily didn't feel the need to impose herself when he didn't require her presence. She continued her daily dance practice, preparing for her graduation performance.Despite Ronald Richardson's warning about his mother possibly visiting her school, Emily didn't take it too seriously. The day arrived for the first dress rehearsal of their graduation showcase. As the lead dancer and the soul of the performance, she felt the weight of expectation. Nervousness was inevitable.Backstage, she practiced controlling her facial expressions in a corner, as this was her only weakness. The "Metamorphosis" dance demanded significant emotional range and complexity, and her expressions were too calm to resonate with the character."You can't just practice in the mirror; that only results in superficial expressions," came a voice.Emily turned to see an elegant
Emily paused for a moment, then picked up her phone and made a 'shush' gesture to Sandy before making a call.The call connected."Is it a good time? I have something very important to discuss with you."It seemed Devin Cromwell was looking for a private spot to talk as he hung up the call.Soon after, he called back."What's the important matter?""It's like this today. I overheard Mr. Gibson on a call. It seems the person approving your project might be in trouble, possibly under investigation. Are you aware of this?"Devin Cromwell was visibly shaken, his hands barely steady as he gripped the phone, "I had no idea. What happened?""Mr. Gibson isn't quite sure of the details either. He overheard it during a dinner conversation. It hasn't been openly discussed yet. I thought of informing you as soon as I heard it, th
As Emily hesitated to speak, the words stuck in her throat. After a moment, she finally said, "I went to see Ronald Richardson the other day, and Murray was there. Turns out, they've been close friends since childhood."She paused, choosing not to share Murray's offensive remarks from that day with Sandy, and instead said more gently, "I feel like Murray might be getting tired of me.""Well, that's a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to him. You don't need him, and I don't want to see you bending over backward to please a man," Sandy firmly stated. She always believed in independence, even if it meant a tougher path to vengeance.Emily sighed, "We've been trying to find a lead in the Gibson family for years, and now that we're finally close, it feels too unsatisfactory to just walk away empty-handed.""What makes you think he's tired of you?"Sandy, inexperienced in romantic rel
Moon Bay, the heart of the Gibson family, nestled on a hillside overlooking the sea, was a serene haven, for it was the sole property of the Gibson estate.Typically, only the family patriarch resided there.The Gibsons, while esteemed, were not a populous branch.Ellis Gibson, the eldest, married into banking royalty, tying the knot with Madge McCarthy. Together, they had a son and a daughter.Magee Gibson, Ellis's firstborn, was two years older than Murray and the esteemed first grandchild of the third generation.His sister, Erica Gibson, a high school student, was a bright presence in their lives.Murray's father, Bruce Gibson, was the second son. He and his wife, Georgia Adelaide, were blessed with only Murray.The youngest Gibson, married to the Oakking heiress Veromca Isaac, enjoyed an arranged marriage but was fortunate, welcoming