Audrey Sutton was thinking to herself when Shane suddenly called a halt to the eting. Everyone in the room looked at him in confusion, only to see him preparing a bottle of milk formula, which seed both funny and sowhat heartwarming.
Shane was the kind of person who had to personally take charge of everything before he’d feel at ease. Audrey had previously suggested hiring a professional nanny to help with the child, soone with experience, which would make things easier for both of them.
But Shane didn’t feel comfortable leaving the child with soone else; otherwise, he probably wouldn’t be bringing the baby to work with him in a sling.
However, considering he had Faye and both Mors with him, bringing the child to the office should be manageable, and from the photos, it seed like his son was having quite a bit of fun.
"Audrey, let’s go, let’s find a spot in the restaurant to eat sothing."
A colleague called out to Audrey, and she put her phone away with a sense of relief, linking arms with Vanessa and heading to the second-floor restaurant with her other girlfriends.
Just as they reached the restaurant entrance, they ran into Jasper Jones, a handso man of a high caliber who was quite popular among the authors.
After the failed confession to Vanessa, Jasper often used Audrey to find out about Vanessa’s situation but never mustered the courage to face her again.
So when the two of them t here, there seed to be a hint of awkwardness between them.
Vanessa wasn’t embarrassed about the confession. Since Jasper never got the words out, she had no idea he liked her.
She just felt apologetic for saying so unpleasant things to Jasper before and then blocking all his contacts.
Jasper was quite adept at easing tension, and this ti was no exception.
Seeing Vanessa, he only paused slightly before continuing on with a cheerful smile, greeting and bantering with everyone.
Audrey noticed that most of the authors who attended were faces she recognized from before, including Crystal Wilson. Compared to their last eting, she hadn’t changed much, but after her recent success, she appeared more lively at gatherings, seemingly reveling in the attention and praise from others.
In the author group led by Laura Yates, however, there wasn’t a good word about Crystal.
"I heard when that comic of hers was adapted into a TV drama, she hooked up with one of the directors who was already married."
"I wasn’t at the last event, but I heard when the Third Young Master ca to pick up Audrey, that woman had eyes for him."
"Doesn’t she have any sense to compare herself to our Audrey? Full of silicone and cheap fillers; the Third Young Master probably wouldn’t spare her a glance."
Audrey smiled awkwardly, saying, "Keep it down, it wouldn’t be good if she heard."
Though she found their words quite pleasing to the ear.
"If she hears, she hears, we’re not afraid. She’s often said bad things about us behind our backs. Everyone knows what kind of person Crystal is, and even the friends who stand by her, how many of them are sincere? They can’t stand her current arrogance."
"And I’ve got a friend in their group. Audrey and Vanessa are always at the top of the rankings, but Crystal’s like a lunatic, always bringing them up, pretending to be close, while saying things that seem complintary but are actually sarcastic, implying she can’t snatch Audrey’s top spot from her talented husband. Don’t we all know what she really ans?"
Audrey had long heard about Crystal’s antics, skilled in quietly tarnishing others’ reputations without noticing, acting as if she were simply socially awkward. Face-to-face, she’d laugh along, making it hard to hold anything against her.
What was most irritating was that even if you didn’t want to engage with her, she’d still co over to you.
Like now, Crystal was heading straight over to Audrey with a warm smile, calling out, "Audrey, I thought you wouldn’t co, staying ho with the baby."
Audrey smiled politely and replied, "The baby’s with his dad, so I managed to get away."
Crystal stood by Audrey’s chair, her hand on the backrest, smiling as she said, "I really envy you, having a flourishing career and a handso, wealthy husband who dotes on you. Wasn’t the Third Young Master with you last ti too? Why didn’t he co with you this ti?"
Audrey: "He’s got to work to support , hasn’t he?"
Crystal: "Oh, Audrey, you jest. Maintaining top rankings, you must be rolling in money. Perhaps you’re worried your husband will catch soone else’s eye, so you’re keeping him under wraps?"
Audrey tugged at the corners of her mouth, smiling as she looked at Crystal, saying pointedly, "You’re right about that, Crystal. I’m afraid of soone eyeing him, but it’s not who’s afraid, it’s my husband. He particularly dislikes brazen won hitting on him and wouldn’t want to deal with it, so he didn’t co."
A lady next to Audrey chid in, continuing the conversation: "Exactly, besides, the Third Young Master is a busy businessperson, usually too occupied to attend casual gatherings. Miss Wilson, expecting to bump into him here is a bit optimistic."
Crystal laughed and said, "Oh, Mindy, you must not know, the Third Young Master and Audrey were inseparable when they first got married."
Another of Crystal’s friends joined in to support her comnt: "They’ve got a child now, how can it be the sa as when they just got married? Isn’t it common in the entertainnt industry to start off showing off, only to end up divorced? There’s no shortage of such news."
Audrey knew a few harsh words wouldn’t change her relationship with Shane, but it still annoyed her: "Have you been married or divorced before? You speak so insightfully. Anyway, since getting married, the biggest change for and my husband is turning what used to be exciting into routine; we’re an old married couple now, no ti for daily mushiness. I guess Crystal hasn’t experienced that yet? It might be hard to understand for those who haven’t."
Crystal’s smile faltered a bit, but she didn’t let it drop, continuing, "I believe if you love soone, no matter how long you’ve been together, it should feel like you’re in the honeymoon phase. If the passion fades, maybe the love isn’t that deep."
Audrey: "That’s not quite right, Crystal. Feelings are personal. Just because things aren’t fiery doesn’t an the love has faded, it just ans the way you interact has changed. Simply put, it’s turning lovers into family. No wonder Crystal keeps changing boyfriends; you’re chasing that initial rush of passion, huh?"
Crystal: "I’ve learned sothing new; well then, here’s to your everlasting love."
Audrey smiled and nodded: "And to you, Crystal, may you always find new passions."
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