Maya Monroe had a pair of extremely beautiful eyes, enchanting enough to draw attention even when filled with malice at the moment.
Maya raised her slightly sharp eyebrows, not forgetting to mock Kiki Monroe: "You can't even hold a chopstick in your mouth, besides eating, is there anything else you're good at?"
The chopsticks dropped from Kiki's mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Sister...you...how could you..."
Seeing Kiki about to put on another pitiful show, Maya cut her off: "Don't keep trying to hang onto our relationship. I've never acknowledged your identity! Instead of crying, why don't you learn something else? Aren't you afraid of drowning yourself with your tears!"
Kiki was choked up once again.
Although Maya hadn't been fond of her before, she had never pushed her to such an embarrassing point with sharp words...
Everyone usually doted on her, who would make her feel so awkward and disgraced...
Maya keenly noticed the flash of resentment in Kiki's eyes, which filled her with glee.
Quentin Rowe coldly spoke: "Do you have any respect for others? Is mocking someone in public a part of your manners?"
"You're not blaming Kiki for dressing ugly and disrupting my practice, but instead, you blame me for mocking her? How is this even mockery? Aren't I just stating the facts? What does Kiki, a worthless little thing, have that can compare to me? Never mind anything else, this time she foolishly auditioned for the same role as me; she's just waiting to get crushed and cry!"
People around turned their heads, looking at Maya with more disdain and dislike in their eyes.
Everyone knew how hard-working and gifted Kiki was in acting, even catching the eye of renowned director Shane Morgan. On the contrary, Maya relied on her financial backers to run rampant in the industry like a show-off crab, having neither the acting skills nor intelligence. How thick-skinned could she get!
Quentin's gaze moved up from the chopsticks at Maya's feet: "Huh, all you're capable of is making big talk!"
With Quentin's sarcasm, the surrounding artists also chimed in:
"Maya Monroe's face is thicker than the city walls; hasn't she looked in the mirror? Aside from that face, she has no other merits!"
"There's still time for Maya to cry now. When the audition results come out in a few days, she'll know how swollen her face will be!"
...
Maya casually glanced around, seeing Kiki standing beside her, letting others speak for her without saying a word of reconciliation this time.
Those bright eyes carried a hint of repressed silence.
It seemed that Maya's recent "villainous acts" finally made the saintly heroine feel disgusted; Kiki was probably planning how to make Maya face a crushing defeat.
Maya was very satisfied with the current plot development, which had not deviated from the expected course. Especially since the plot's excitement had increased by three points.
It seemed like readers outside the book were also very satisfied, just waiting for heroine Kiki to grandly slap Maya in the face!
Since that's the case, she would dutifully play her villainous role.
*
"Wyvern Tech has already signed the equity transfer agreement. According to the current situation, the shareholder behind Wyvern and multiple other companies is Tristan Rowe..."
Vincent Summers had a somewhat youthful baby face, yet he was all business when it came to serious matters.
He adjusted his black-framed glasses, methodically analyzing the information he had.
Faelorn Road in the Jinzar District was the most bustling commercial area of Kyston, towering skyscrapers filled with nationally renowned corporations were everywhere in sight, and the headquarters of Valerius Group was situated at the very center of this golden location.
Ian Rowe withdrew his gaze from the distance; this was the top floor of Valerius, overlooking the bustling scenery through floor-to-ceiling windows. He lightly tapped his fingers, adorned with a signet ring, before turning to look at Vincent Summers.
The sunlight was at its peak, fragmented light casting across his handsome face, yet not softening his cold, sleek facial lines.
Vincent couldn't see Ian's expression clearly but could hear a faint sneer in his somewhat hoarse voice due to the swirl of smoke.
"My dear third uncle... really is something."
Pure sarcasm.
Vincent thought for a moment: "So now, should we proceed with the original plan?"
Ian let out another laugh: "We can't let my uncle be disappointed, can we? At his age, he still can't settle down, always yearning for what doesn't belong to him. He'll eventually learn the consequences of wishful thinking."
Suddenly, a phone rang, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Vincent noticed Ian's expression turning impatient, giving him a general idea of what to expect.
No one other than Maya Monroe could rattle Ian Rowe this much.
Ian answered the call.
A coquettish voice came through immediately.
Yes, it was coquettish.
"Honey, I twisted my ankle and I'm in the Valerius Entertainment lounge waiting for you. Hurry and come pick me up~"
Ian was accustomed to Maya's bossy attitude and rough voice, yet this time he didn't hang up immediately but listened to her coyness.
Maya's voice was naturally pleasant, and when she spoke in a high-pitched voice, it was actually cute instead of annoying.
Not hearing a response from Ian, Maya wasn't embarrassed at all, continuing: "It's so cold here, if you don't come soon I'll be frozen~"
Ian finally responded, seeming to snap out of her spell.
"...Where's Ryan?"
Ryan Spencer was practically Maya's second caretaker, handling everything without a hitch and never letting her face work difficulties.
Even if Ian didn't care much for Maya, he knew Ryan's efficiency and thoughtfulness.
"Ryan has things to attend to, no time to take care of me."
"...I'll send a driver to pick you up."
"How can that be? I twisted my ankle, and I want my husband to carry me. If another man comes, I'd rather die!"
There seemed to be a convincingly fake sobbing from the other side.
Vincent didn't know what Maya had said, but seeing Ian's complicated expression, he gathered that Maya's performance was remarkable.
Vincent grew up with Ian and considered himself relatively knowledgeable about him.
Some things were purely mystical, like Ian, who, from a young age, had no interest in romance. While others his age were experiencing sweet young love, by then Ian had taken over most of The Rowe Family's enterprises, becoming a headache for many bigwigs in the Kyston business circle with his genius in stockholdings.
Ian's ideal partner was probably a highly educated woman, preferably silent enough not to disturb him.
Who would have thought he'd later get tied down in marriage due to Maya's fake pregnancy? Ironically, Maya was simple-minded and usually had a lot of unnecessary talk.