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Chapter 62 - 62- Maureen
Jim stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded, a trace of awkwardness flickering across his refined features. After all, he was someone of considerable standing—or so he thought. Yet now... someone had dared to yell at him. Worse, someone had actually told him to... leave.
Well, apart from his boss and that vixen Monica, no one had ever treated him like this. And now, Cynthia had joined the ranks of those rare few. Jim suddenly felt like the world was conspiring against him. His once-pristine reputation was utterly wrecked.
As the main actors in the drama disappeared, the elegant woman in the back finally stepped forward. The moment Jim saw her, his despondent expression vanished, replaced by a frosty demeanor.
"Not a word of what happened here leaves this place!"
His sharp gaze swept across each employee like a blade, his voice merciless as he added,
"Otherwise... no mercy!"
The woman let out a helpless chuckle.
"Come on, Mr. Jim. Surely you trust my staff. We owe our livelihoods to the vice president; no one here would dare gossip about this."
Meanwhile, Cynthia had bolted from the store, tears streaming down her face. She kept running, her steps frantic. The streets, still slick with snow from earlier, were treacherous. In her haste, she lost her footing and fell flat onto the snowy ground.
Fortunately, the snow was deep and soft enough to cushion her fall, sparing her any injuries. But the tumble jolted her back to her senses. Her mind replayed his cold words from earlier:
"If you want Maureen Lancaster to stay safe, you'll come to me."
A biting gust of wind whipped past her, sending shivers through her body. Hugging herself tightly, she trembled, the chill seeping into her very core. She had always been terrified of snow, but in this moment, she couldn't even muster the energy to care. She sat there, dazed, her thoughts swirling.
It wasn't until the honk of a car behind her snapped her out of her stupor that she stirred. Slowly, she struggled to her feet, her movements stiff, her expression vacant. She wandered aimlessly, like a puppet without a soul.
Her thoughts were a tangle of regret and dread. After venting her fury and raining down curses on him, how would he retaliate against Maureen Lancaster? She could have prevented her sister's tragedy... but now...
Albert Wilson sat in his car, irritated and restless, puffing on a cigarette. When he looked up, he saw her storming out of the store, tears streaming down her face. He also caught the moment when she slipped and fell, her slender frame trembling as she remained on the ground. For a brief instant, an unfamiliar pang of sympathy stirred in his otherwise cold heart.
She sat there, shaking, making no attempt to get up. He began to wonder if she'd injured herself. Just as he considered stepping out to help her, he saw her struggle to her feet. Limping slightly, she trudged forward.
Albert crushed his cigarette and started his car, trailing slowly behind her. He had no idea what had come over him. Just moments ago, she'd made him so angry he nearly exploded, yet now, seeing her so helpless, he felt a gnawing concern. Still, his pride wouldn't let him approach her directly.
So, they continued in this strange stalemate: her walking aimlessly ahead, and his car crawling behind. Cynthia, lost in her thoughts, didn't even notice the car following her.
She limped on, her mind consumed with worry for Maureen Lancaster and her family. After walking for what felt like two or three bus stops, the damp chill of her wet clothes finally snapped her out of her daze. She realized she should take a bus home.
Albert, meanwhile, had followed her for block after block. With each step she took, his frustration grew. He had half a mind to jump out and knock some sense into her. *What on earth is this woman thinking? Was she seriously planning to walk all the way home?* He knew full well it was quite a distance.
Just as he was about to act, he noticed her pause at a bus stop, seemingly regaining her senses. She turned toward the street, clearly intending to catch a ride home. Annoyed, he floored the gas pedal, and his silver car roared past her, stirring up a whirlwind of snow in its wake.
Cynthia, standing at the edge of the road waiting for the bus, was caught completely off guard. The speeding car whipped up a flurry of snow, sending it swirling into her face. She stumbled backward, coughing and waving her hands to clear the air.
By the time she managed to open her eyes, the car had vanished into the sea of traffic. Frustration bubbled up inside her. *Ever since that man showed up, nothing but bad luck has followed me.* Even waiting for a bus had turned into a miserable ordeal.
When she finally got home, the unease lingered. All day, her mind remained restless. By evening, she couldn't take it anymore and decided to call Maureen Lancaster. She spent half the conversation hesitating and stammering, trying to indirectly ask if everything was okay.
On the other end of the line, Maureen's voice sounded delighted, full of surprise and joy.
" I was just about to call you!"
Maureen Lancaster's cheerful voice came through the phone. She had always known her fourth sister, Cynthia, to be rather aloof—distant and indifferent to everyone. Her attitude toward their other sisters, Doreen Lancaster and Grace Lancaster, was even colder. Maureen was perhaps the only one Cynthia treated with some warmth.
Hearing Maureen say she was about to call her made Cynthia's heart sink. Her anxiety deepened. But Maureen's voice was so bright and joyful, it didn't sound like something bad had happened.
While Cynthia was still caught up in her inner turmoil, Maureen extended an enthusiastic invitation:
"Let's have dinner together tonight!"
Cynthia opened her mouth, ready to decline, but Maureen quickly cut her off.
"And bring your husband, too! Honestly, it's your brother-in-law who's inviting him. Considering we've hardly seen you since you got married, he thought it'd be a good excuse to include you as well."
Cynthia froze, her mind going blank. Her brother-in-law wanted to invite *him* to dinner? What was going on? Holding her phone tightly, she muttered,
"Maureen, what exactly is happening?"
Maureen Lancaster laughed lightly and said,
"Today, the project your brother-in-law is handling ran into a bit of trouble, but thankfully, Vice President Wilson stepped in and helped resolve it. So, your brother-in-law is inviting him to dinner as a token of thanks."
Without thinking, Cynthia immediately shot back,
"Impossible!"
How could that man be so kind? He wouldn't lift a finger to help Maureen Lancaster's family—he was probably just as cold toward them as he was toward everyone else. If anything, wasn't this just another one of his manipulative tactics against Maureen Lancaster and Wendy?
Maureen Lancaster seemed taken aback by Cynthia's sharp tone. She paused for a moment before her voice softened,
"Cynthia, how can you say that about Vice President Wilson? I know you married him to spite Vincent, but haven't you two been getting along well now? Just look at today's newspaper—don't you two make such a perfect couple standing together?"
Maureen Lancaster was the epitome of a well-mannered, traditional lady. Her marriage philosophy was simple: marry the rooster, follow the rooster; marry the dog, follow the dog. While Wendy's husband wasn't as outstanding as Cynthia's two brothers-in-law, he was still fairly well-known, and their son was clever and cute. She didn't ask for much more in life.
Cynthia found herself at a loss for words after hearing Maureen Lancaster's comment. How could she respond? Could she tell them that the so-called "good man," Vice President Wilson, was eyeing their family like a hawk? Or should she mention how their relationship wasn't as perfect as they thought, and that just this morning, they had an earth-shattering argument?
In the end, Cynthia clenched her teeth and told Maureen Lancaster,
"Maureen, I'll be there tonight!"
No matter what, she had to go—she needed to see for herself and ask him directly what he was planning to do to Maureen Lancaster's family.
When Cynthia arrived at the hotel Maureen Lancaster had mentioned, Maureen and Wendy were already there, but the man had yet to arrive.
Wendy, always the obedient one, explained that it was just the three of them—no one else—getting together for a meal to chat and strengthen their bond. She was quite fond of her honest and straightforward brother-in-law, so she behaved politely in front of them.
The three of them waited in the private room, and exactly at 7:15, the door opened, revealing the man with a big smile, holding onto a stunning woman.
The woman wore a dazzling ethnic-style long dress, with a grey fur coat draped over her shoulders. Her luxurious yet grounded appearance merged seamlessly, with no awkwardness, but an almost harmonious blend of elegance and simplicity.
Everyone froze for a moment. Wendy and Maureen Lancaster exchanged an awkward glance. They had specifically arranged with him that Maureen would be joining, yet here he was, with another woman in tow. Weren't these the same two who had been wrapped in each other's arms in the snow just yesterday?
Cynthia, too, felt awkward. After all, he was openly holding another woman in front of her sister and brother-in-law, showing no regard for her feelings. But she said nothing—only gave them a faint smile and casually sat down.
