Divorcing The Wrong Man: Her Regret

Chapter 6: Lies And Looks

Vanessa’s accusation was a serious one. Her face was red, her eyes wild, like she’d caught him red-handed. Adrian was amused, really. What kind of woman had she turned out to be?

He smirked, a cold smirk forming at the corner of his lips. “Cheating? Really? That’s um.. rich, Vanessa. You and Bobby here are the ones cozying up. You are the one cheating with him. Me and Helen? We literally just met today.”

Vanessa’s jaw dropped, her purse nearly slipping from her grip. Cheating was her worst fear, the label she’d kill to avoid. “You lying monster!” she screamed, her voice bouncing off the marble walls. The crowd leaned in, eating it all up. “You’re making this up to save face! What’s next, huh? You gonna say she —” she jabbed a finger at Helen, whose calm smile hadn’t budged —“invited you to dinner with the Cross family? Huh? Huh? Is that it?” 

Adrian’s eyes didn’t waver, his voice flat but sharp. “You are right in saying that Helen is Cross family, yes. But no, she didn’t invite me. Someone else did.”

The crowd snickered, all amused by Adrian’s words. Bobby Jackson, his tie still crooked, barked a laugh. “Damn, V this your ex is really a dreamer. Can you hear the nonsense he is spewing?” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You? Cross family? Come on.”

Vanessa’s sneer grew, her heels clicking as she stepped closer. “You’re pathetic, Adrian. I want you to know that you are a pathetic piece of lying shit!”

The noise soon pulled a woman from the back of the lobby. It was Vivian, the E Hotel’s manager. She wore a crisp, red brazer and her face looked all business and no nonsese. Her heels tapped sharp as she cut through the crowd. Everyone parted ways for her to pass through. The staff quickly scurried back to their posts.

Bobby spotted her, his smirk widening like he’d just won a bet. “Oh, Vivian, so good to see you,” he said, his voice oily, offering a hand she barely shook. But he had passed the message. He knew her. She knew him.

Vivian’s eyes narrowed, scanning the scene. “What’s going on here, Bobby?”

He chuckled, waving a hand at Adrian and Helen. “We got two lunatics crashing your hotel, Vivian. This loser —” he pointed at Adrian, his watch flashing, “he says the Cross family’s treating him to dinner. Can you believe that? And her?” He nodded at Helen, “She claims she’s Cross family. I mean, my ears hurt already from their bluff.”

Vivian’s face immediately went pale, a bead of sweat on her brow. She knew the Cross family was hosting someone big in the Supreme Banquet Hall tonight. In fact, John Cross himself had called to confirm. And he never calls.

Viewers were equally taken aback. They saw the pale on Vivan’s face. Like she had just seen a ghost. Could it be? Could it be that Adrian was telling the truth all along?

Her eyes flicked to Adrian, then Helen, her mind racing. Bobby, oblivious, kept talking. “It’s fine, Vivian. You have no need to be worried. See, Vanessa’s the one hosting the Cross family. Big Cooperation deal. Right, V?”

Vanessa nodded, her chin high, soaking up the crowd’s murmurs. “That’s right. Bobby got me the deal. Adrian’s just… desperate. A leech. He must leave.”

But Vivian wasn’t listening. She couldn’t afford any misunderstanding. “I know every single member of the Cross Family. I know sir John Cross, I know all of the elites and important people, even as far as distant cousins. There’s not a single one of the family member I do not know of.” she claimed.

Pushing through the crowd, Vivian saw Adrian and Helen still standing there confidently. She carefully examined their faces. And then, her voice shot out, loud and angry. “Security!” she barked, pointing at Adrian and Helen. “Get these two out of here.”

“Now!”