Cora reached out her hand and shook hands with Ophelia. Then she said, “Are you his friend? I've
never seen you before.”
“That's because I met him after you went abroad. I'm still glad that you know me now.”
“I see...” Cora turned her face and said to Zachariah, “She's your friend, but why are you showing then
that attitude? You may scare them.”
Zachariah put his arm around her waist and said, “I think they are here for dinner. We shouldn't get in
their way from too long.”
“In that case... maybe we should go now,” Cora said, nodding to Ophelia. Then she went downstairs
with Zachariah.
Madeleine was so angry that she wanted to yell, while Ophelia sounded so helpless and desperate,
“Just don't do it, for me, OK?”
Madeleine withdrew her curse and asked worriedly, “Are you OK?”
Ophelia shook her head and said to Tassach, “I'm sorry you have to see this.”
Tassach was a gentleman. He said, “You don't look very well... I think we should drop the dinner, and
let me send you two home.”
Ophelia smiled apologized, “That will be nice.”
“We're friends, and you can always turn to me if you need any help. I know the guy was Zachariah, but
I don't know your story. Is what Madeleine said true? Are you really his wife?” Tassach asked.
Shaking her head, Ophelia said with a rare begging tone, “Please don't ask me those questions now.”
Tassach was not the kind of gossip guy. So he changed the topic and said, “I'll send you home first.
Just remember to get back to work the day after tomorrow. Remember what I told you just now, call me
if you need help.”
“Thank you!”
Tassach sent Ophelia and Madeleine back to her downtown apartment. When Ophelia got out of the
car, she thanked him politely, “Thank you for what you've done for me today. I'll be at work in time the
day after tomorrow.”
Tassach nodded and replied gently, “Take a good rest and don't think too much.”
Ophelia nodded.
After Tassach drove away, Ophelia said to Madeleine with a pale face, “I’d like to stay at your place
tonight, is that OK?”
Madeleine held back her anger. She didn't want to blame this poor woman. So they took a cab and
went back together to her three-bedroom apartment.
As soon as they were back in the room, Madeleine put her hands around her waist and said, “Ophelia,
the scumbag is showing his mistress in front of you, don't you feel that you should do something?”
What she said gave Ophelia a headache. She begged, “Can you please stop it? I don't want to talk
about him now.”
Madeleine was so exasperated at her for being so such a coward. “Ophelia, why are you always so
cowardly in front of this man? Where's the tough woman I knew before?”
Ophelia's hands were still a bit cold. Instead of answering her question, she replied, “Can I have a cup
of water?”
Ophelia swallowed her disappointment and told her to wait for a moment.
Ophelia nodded and supported her forehead with both hands. Her mind was occupied by all kinds of
thoughts.
“Ophelia! The slut is humiliating you in your face! What's in your mind?”
Madeleine was a quick-temper woman. She had written so many romantic novels, which set her high
standards for love. She wouldn't let anyone or anything stain her love. She knew many men and
women would think that she was too naive, but for her, that was her real thoughts learned from all her
writings.
Were Ophelia a stranger, she would've grabbed her shoulders and asked what the hell she wanted.
She wondered why the woman would allow a man to stain her love so badly.
Ophelia had regained her calmness, and said, “What else can I do? Do I have a second choice except
waiting for divorce?”
Madeleine listened to her and replied angrily, “OK, you can get a divorce, but you should take your part
of the property. Please don't be so lofty and want nothing, or you might be looked down upon by me... a
woman who knows nothing but writing.”
“I thought you said you don't care much about money, because you've died once.” Ophelia asked a
harsh question.
“Yes, I have said that before, but I was talking about salary then. You should be satisfied if your salary
is enough to support your food, accommodation and entertainment. I didn't tell you to be a saint who
doesn't want a cent from others. If you do that, I'll leave you.”
Ophelia couldn't help laughing.
“Why are you still laughing?”
Ophelia shrugged and said, “I know you're doing this for me. Trust me, I know what I should do and
what I shouldn't. I'll take every cent I deserve.”
Upon hearing her reply, Madeleine stopped being stern.
“Ophelia, you were such a coward in the restaurant just now.”
“It was because Cora came back so suddenly that I don't even have the time to react. When I see her
next time, I'll teach her a hard lesson.”
Madeleine sneered, “I trust you, but given how soft and recessive you were in front of Zachariah, I
doubt that you can give that Angelic bitch a real lesson.”
Madeleine paused before continuing, “That woman looked innocent and pure. She's so good at playing
the fool and pretended to be weak. Men like this kind of women. No wonder Zachariah still loves her
after what she had done to him years ago. His heart must have softened when she looked at him with
those deer eyes.”
“You do know that you're speaking highly of our enemy, right?”
“No! I am warning you that you should never look down upon your rival,” Madeleine said, shaking her
index finger.
Ophelia crossed her legs and leaned forward in a charming manner, saying, “Then the battle just gets
more challenging and fun, doesn't it?”
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