Chapter 241
Melany had already spotted Shirley from a distance.
Although she didn’t know the girl standing beside Shirley, one thing was for sure–it couldn’t possibly be Shirley’s daughter. After all, her husband had been under her thumb for more than twenty years.
man who belonged to someone. Shirley must hate her to the core, having spent all these years alone, waiting for a
A smug thought crossed Melany’s
But she was beautiful, seductive, and all the men were completely captivated by her, loving only her.
It thrilled her to see other women suffer in jealousy, tearing themselves apart, their desperate, hysterical attempts to compete giving her a sense of accomplishment.
Melany raised an eyebrow, took a step, and almost tripped, barely catching herself from falling.
Harvey, noticing, quickly grabbed her, his voice soft with concern. “Melany, are you alright?”
“Darling. Melany smiled faintly. “Thank goodness you were here to catch me. I’m not quite used to the heels you bought me today, so I almost lost my balance.”
Harvey reassured her, “It’s okay, we’ll get you a new pair next time. We won’t bother with these.”
“Thank you, darling. You’re so good to me.”
Melany clung to him, her gaze shifting to Shirley, and she leaned into Harvey even more, eager to flaunt their affection in front of her rival.
Seeing Shirley–so stiff, so cold–suffer was exactly what she wanted. She would enjoy watching the other woman seethe with envy and frustration,
Only women like her–seductive, charming–could truly claim the title of womanhood.
Melany fell into Harvey’s arms again, this time deliberately and with exaggerated softness.
The two of them were practically all over each other, their chemistry undeniable. But their display, given their ages, felt greasy and uncomfortable to anyone who was watching.
She kept stumbling into Harvey’s arms as if to taunt Shirley, casting quick glances at her, daring her to react. Her eyes practically screamed, “Come on, get jealous! I know you will.”
Elaine, watching all this unfold, couldn’t help but laugh. She turned to Shirley and said, “What’s this woman doing? Is she putting on some kind of dramatic performance? Does she really think she’s still in her twenties? She’s in her forties, and here she is, acting like some young girl. Doesn’t it make you want to look away?”
Elaine covered her eyes with a mock grimace.
Shirley, biting back a laugh, replied, “She’s doing it to show off in front of me. She probably thinks I’m still as easily provoked as I was before. Back then, I was furious not because she and Harvey were so in love, but because I couldn’t understand how a woman could be so shameless as to actually call up the wife and verbally insult her.”
“My values and upbringing don’t allow me to comprehend how someone like her exists–someone who behaves so despicably and flaunts it, making a spectacle of themselves in front of others. It’s beyond me.”
Elaine chuckled. “Well, I guess it’s because she’s shameless to begin with. She thinks she can be brazen in private, but she’s nothing more than someone trying to act important. No wonder Benjamin and Grace can’t stand her–no respectable family would tolerate someone like her.”
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18:01 Mon, 24 Feb
Chapter 241
While Melany was busy clinging to Harvey, Dangelo had noticed them too. He took off his sunglasses and said, “Shirley?”
Dangelo had naturally investigated everything about their movements in Lento, but that was only his overconfidence–he wouldn’t have been able to dig deep enough into the Morgans if he truly tried.
At the sound of Dangelo’s voice, Harvey and Melany’s attention was drawn to Shirley.
“Elaine, right?” Melany finally straightened up, offering a cool, faint smile. “I never expected to run into you here after all these years. What a coincidence!”
She then flicked her hair flirtatiously, which made her look even more seductive to Harvey.
Elaine didn’t hold back, calling out her act. “Oh, come on. You were all over that man just now, practically rubbing against him, and now you act like you didn’t see me and Shirley?
“You must think we didn’t notice the cringy performance you two just put on. Even the receptionist had to look away. You really think you’re still some twenty–year–old?”
Melany’s smile immediately froze.
The receptionist, unable to hold it in anymore, let out a laugh.
Melany had never been exposed like this before.
Women like Shirley would have exploded in anger from her antics, but times had changed–Shirley was no longer that woman who could be easily provoked.
Shirley rolled her eyes. “Really? You saw me already, so why act like you didn’t?”
Elaine made an exaggerated gagging noise, adding to the mockery,
Harvey and Melany stood there speechless.
Melany quickly regained her composure, furrowing her brows, and sneered at Elaine. “I’ve heard of you. You must be Kingsley’s new wife, right? Not bad… but nothing special.”
She turned to Shirley, continuing her taunt, “And as for you, maybe you should teach your daughter–in–law some manners. She shouldn’t be sticking her nose into matters that don’t concern her and speaking so insolently.”
Harvey shot Shirley a furious look the moment Melany spoke. It was as though every word Melany said made his temper
flare.
“Shirley, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Shirley, rolling her eyes so far it looked like they might get stuck, snapped back, “What do I have to say? Who do you think you are Harvey, do you still think you’re the big shot from the Morgan family? Don’t forget, you were kicked out long ago. You’re nothing now. So why act tough in front of me? Who cares?”
“A washed–up failure who came back from abroad, with a woman who can only flirt in public, thinking she can around: Don’t make me laugh. Even Elaine walks all over you two, and you still dare to act like you’re above her.
boss me
“You’re lucky she’s kind enough to tolerate you, but don’t get it twisted–if she insults you, if she slaps you, that’s what you deserve
Shirley’s words were sharp as daggers, her tongue cutting through the air.
Even Melany, who always prided herself on her charm, couldn’t hide her pallor as Shirley’s words hit home.
Elaine, nearly dropping her snack, couldn’t help but silently applaud Shirley for putting them in their place.
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Only then did the hotel staff realize that this wasn’t some glamorous, high–class family they were dealing with. Even if they once were, they were no longer in the elite circles.
The manager’s expression shifted, seeing them for what they truly were–people pretending to be important.
Dangelo could feel the shift in the hotel manager’s attitude and slowly clenched his fists.
Shirley, still not done, turned to Melany and said, “You probably get some twisted satisfaction from watching me get angry, from seeing me jealous, don’t you? But I’m long past caring about Harvey. If you love him so much, go ahead, take him.
“After all, he doesn’t even have the Morgan family name anymore–he’s nothing but a has–been, barely better than a beggar You’ve spent all these years catering to him, tolerating his faults, giving him emotional and physical support.
“I should actually thank you. I mean, the title of Mrs. Morgan may not mean much, but the benefits sure are all mine. You’re left as nothing but the other woman, forever in the shadows. I’ve thought about it, and honestly, I feel a little sorry for you.” Shirley’s words were a blow to Melany, and there was no denying it: Shirley wasn’t the woman she could push around
anymore.
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