Unwanted Marriage: Honey, No More Divorce!

Chapter 494: You Truly Understand Christian Best

After downing the entire portion of soup, Wendy seemed to have thought of something.

With a gentle sigh, she said, "I used to come here often with Zen.

"At that time, we didn’t have much money and often went Dutch.

"Since she left us, I’ve not heard from her. I wonder how she is now...

"She should be about six months along in her pregnancy, and her belly must be showing by now."

Zen was someone whom Wendy treated sincerely as a friend.

Now, they stood on different sides and could no longer remain friends.

Nonetheless, as Wendy reminisced the past, she still felt pangs of pain and regret.

Wendy often wondered if she had not fallen in love with Michael or if Zen did not give her heart to Christian, would they still be close friends today?

"If you want to find out about her, I could send someone to look her up," Michael offered, knowing how Zen left a scar on Wendy’s heart.

Perhaps, Wendy was Zen’s greatest regret too.

Perhaps, she had regretted loving Christian.

Wendy kept her gaze on her bowl and fidgeted with her spoon aimlessly.

She replayed images of herself and Zen in her mind. They had many hearty conversations and shared laughter over soup at this very same restaurant.

All that were images of over six to seven years ago.

These memories left Wendy in a trance.

The same soup carried a familiar flavor.

Weakly smiling, she shook her head. "It’s fine. Even if I knew, there’s nothing I could do. She has made her choice."

In fact, Wendy had allowed Zen to choose many times over.

But each time, Zen chose Christian.

Michael noticed how Wendy sank into her chair, downcast. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

He began to regret his decision to bring her here for soup.

Looking up and noticing the remorse that began to show in Michael’s eyes, Wendy straightened her back and widened her smile. "Don’t worry, I’m just feeling a little nostalgic. It’s really nothing."

Changing the topic, Wendy asked, "By the way, Michael, do you think our provocation of Christian today is going to be effective?

"Would he resort to his underground connections like we planned for him to?"

"He most definitely will," Michael responded as he recalled how Christian had barely held himself back. "Christian has no other choice. He badly needs funding.

"Otherwise, his flow of investments for the project will most definitely dry up.

"In fact, even if we did not provoke him today, he would have sought shady resources to finance himself.

"He is left with no choice.

"The only difference, if we did not incite him into taking action, is that he would probably make great plans to launder the money and remove all traces of his involvement with shady people.

"With us fanning the flames today, he would likely lose some of his usual cunning.

"After all, not only had we both returned to Lake City, we even formed an alliance with the Collins Group.

"Now, Christian is on his own and is threatened by the lack of funds, which would lead to me taking over the project.

"As long as he misses out on some details in covering his tracks when he takes this path, we will be able to get our hands on the evidence.

"This would be our golden opportunity."

This was Michael’s ultimate goal for the day.

To rile Christian up was just a means to an end.

Certainly, this means was also a gratifying one.

Nodding in agreement, Wendy raised a thumb at Michael. "You truly understand Christian best."

"After being rivals for so many years, we probably understand each other well," Michael responded with a tinge of helplessness in his voice.

As Wendy opened her mouth to speak, a ring interrupted her.

Not knowing whose phone was ringing, both Wendy and Michael fidgeted around to pick up their phones.

When Wendy held her phone in her hand, she realized that it had been hers.

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"It’s for me," Wendy said with a laugh as she raised her phone.

Her eyes fell on the number that flashed on her screen... it was a call from the mansion.

Wendy laid her phone down so that Michael could see who had called as she continued, "Grandmother must have known that we’re back and wants us to go visit her."

Michael smiled and shook his head knowingly while gesturing for Wendy to take the call.

Wendy tapped on the screen to place the call on speaker mode, allowing Michael to join in.

"Grandmother," Wendy began with both respect and warmth lacing her voice.

"Wendy, are you all back in Lake City?" Grandmother’s voice quivered. She seemed to have aged much since Wendy had last heard her.

"Yes, we just came back," Wendy responded.

"I heard that you lot touched down yesterday." Grandmother’s voice grew slightly sterner. "You didn’t even let this old lady know about your plans to come back. If I hadn’t called, were you both not intending to tell me?"

"That’s definitely not true, Grandmother. We were planning to bring the twins over this weekend," Wendy responded patiently as she glanced at Michael. "It’s Thursday today, so we’ll come by in two days with Jake and Leah. How does that sound?"

"Really?" Grandmother could not contain her joy at Wendy’s reply.

Yet she was worried that Wendy was merely pacifying her.

"Of course! Would I lie about visiting you?" Wendy looked over at Michael and continued, "Michael’s on the line too, if you don’t believe me, you can check with him."

Wendy did intend to visit Grandmother too.

She had always doted on Wendy. Since they had not met in such a long time, Grandmother must have missed her.

"Don’t worry, Grandmother, we will be sure to visit this Saturday," Michael assured her.

"Well, you had better keep to your word. Don’t back out telling me that you’re busy with work or have to deal with this or that emergency," Grandmother warned with dissatisfaction in her voice. "That was what always happened in the past... you would always have excuses."

"I promise I won’t do that this time," Michael responded in remorse.

He knew that he should visit Grandmother more often.

"Well then, I’ll be waiting for you and my great-grandchildren," Grandmother’s tone grew audibly lighthearted over the receiver.

Once they promised to bring the children to the mansion, the call ended.

Wendy and Michael continued with their soup.

After a while, someone walked over.

With a meek and wary tone, she asked, "Are you the designer, Corrine Swift?"

It was something out of the ordinary for Corrine Swift to be at a place like this.

Therefore, the young lady was not certain if it was actually Corrine Swift herself.

Wendy and Michael exchanged looks, then Wendy nodded.

"It’s really the both of you..." The young lady was beside herself and wanted to hug Wendy.

Realizing that her action was inappropriate for the situation, the effervescent youth stopped in her tracks and asked, "May I give you a hug, Corrine Swift?

"I really love your designs. Take a look, I’m wearing a piece that you designed!

"I’ve been a loyal fan! I did not expect to see you here."

Wendy had long noticed the girl was wearing one of her creations.

Bumping into a fan naturally made Wendy’s day.

She smiled and nodded. Rising from her seat, she stretched both arms out.

The young lady wasted no time and leaped into Wendy’s embrace.

As Wendy hugged her, she said, "This suits you well."

Wendy’s comment was clearly directed at the clothes that the young lady wore.

"Thank you. It’s all because you designed it well," the young lady responded. Being overwhelmed with emotion, her voice shook.

...

"Would you like a picture together?" Wendy initiated, seeing that the young lady was holding her cell phone and hesitating.

"May I?" responded the young lady with hope glistening in her eyes.

She clearly was afraid to ask for a photograph with Wendy, her idol. To be able to hug her had already been a great privilege.

"Of course," Wendy replied. Then, she turned to instruct Michael, "Help take a picture of us."

Beaming, the young lady handed her phone to Michael, "Thank you!"

Did this young lady not realize she was speaking to Michael Lucas? Or was his face no longer attractive in the eyes of a younger lady? Somewhat frustrated, Michael reduced himself to an assistant and helped to snap the shot.

At first, the young lady did not dare get closer to Wendy, but Wendy pulled her close.

After the photograph was done, Michael returned the phone to its owner and asked, "Check if you like it."

Looking at the image on her screen, she was more than satisfied, "I like it. I really like it, thank you!"

"Well," Michael began as he had made a decision to ask, "do you happen to know who I am?"

Logically speaking, weren’t teenage girls of about seventeen years of age like her often drawn to men like himself? After all, he was sure he’d be seen as one of the most eligible boyfriends in Lake City. Was he wrong?

The young lady only took a closer look at Michael after he asked her that question.

After studying the man before her, she frowned and asked, "And you are...?"

After her question to Michael, she muttered under her breath, "You look pretty good, though."

"You don’t recognize who I am?" remarked Michael who was taken aback.

She shook her head.

Wendy looked upon Michael’s horror and disappointment.

Knowing the thoughts that ran through his head, she snorted a laugh.

Tugging on Michael’s hand, Wendy whispered, "Well now, don’t put the girl on the spot, will you?"

"That’s not what I’m trying to do, how could she not recognize who I am?" Michael’s eyes widened in disbelief as he pointed at himself, "I’m someone pretty well known in Lake City, aren’t I? How could she recognize you, but not me?"

"Is your face the one on our dollar note that everyone needs to recognize?" Wendy teased mercilessly.

"I..." Michael sulked.

"Hurry, go back and finish your food," Wendy waved at the young lady, gesturing at her to pay Michael no mind.

The starstruck youth nodded and her grip tightened around her phone as she turned to leave with her spoils.

After a few steps, the young lady stopped once more and turned back.

She asked politely, "May I know when you would be launching a new collection? I’ve been following you on social media and whenever you have new releases, I’d be one of the first to head down and buy them!"

"I’m in the midst of designing right now, it shouldn’t be a long wait," Wendy replied, "once I have a date, I will update my social media with that information."

Nodding frantically, the youth responded, "As your fans, we’re all looking forward to it! By the way, did you know that there are many fan clubs devoted to you? I’m the leader of one of them."

Wendy shook her head as she had no clue before the young lady mentioned it.

"It’s okay, you don’t need to know either. Just design knowing that we will always have your back!" the young lady cheered as she gestured to Wendy to keep up her good work, before continuing, "I love to design too.

"It’s my dream to someday be able to get accepted into the design school that you started your design classes at and then get a place in your company upon graduation."

"I hope your dreams come true," Wendy responded in encouragement.

At her words, the young girl seemed to be recharged with energy as she exclaimed, "Thank you so much, Ms. Corrine Swift!"

Wendy laughed as she waved at the girl once more, "It’s my pleasure, I’ll be awaiting the day you join my company."