He made a resolute statement before turning swiftly. “Callie’s my wife, always will be. No one will take her place!”
His words were firm and authoritative.
Dale, enraged, grabbed his cane, ready to throw it.
Nelson turned his head slightly, “Uncle, I have never insisted on anything, but Callie must be mine.”
“Someone had better not covet what they shouldn’t have.”
Nelson walked a short distance away when the sound of a cup shattering came from inside.
Dale had thrown it.
At Paucaster Villa, Callie received a call from Mrs. Gamble.
“Afternoon tea at the Twin Towers, coming?” she asked directly.
Callie hesitated briefly, “Who will be there?”
“What do you think?”
Anyone invited by Mrs. Gamble would not be of low status.
“Prepare the car for me, I need to go out.” Callie came downstairs, having just finished her bath. Her hair was still slightly damp, tied up loosely.
The servant was puzzled, “You just returned, and now you’re going out again?”
Callie chose a smoke-gray coat, which gave off a cold impression. She stood in front of the mirror, examining her outfit.
No matter what she wore, it seemed that she was trying to be the prettiest.
The gathering was at the highest floor cafe of the Ylosea Twin Towers, named Sky Garden, a perfect spot for ladies’ afternoon tea.
Marilyn sat by the window, draped in a shawl, her posture elegant and exuding the aura of a socialite.
A group of people surrounded her, speaking to her while she responded indifferently.
As Callie approached, she noticed Marilyn wearing a mask, revealing only her brown eyes.
Marilyn mocked upon seeing Callie, “Mrs. Oconnor, you’re quite late.”
Callie smiled lightly, “Mrs. Scott, you arrived earlier than I did.”
A waiter approached, asking what Callie would like to drink.
“A caramel macchiato, seventy percent sugar,” Callie replied softly.
Marilyn watched her coldly, “You seem very calm.”
There was none of the expected exhaustion or aggression.
Callie could even manage a slight smile, “It’s my honor to be personally invited by you, Mrs. Scott.”
The warm afternoon sun fell on the two women.
Marilyn clenched her hand tightly, hearing Callie use the most irritating title for her.
Callie placed her hand on the table, “Say what you want to say.”
Only then did Marilyn remove her mask. Perhaps due to many issues, she looked unexpectedly haggard, her pale face surprising Callie.
Her tone was unexpectedly gentle as she spoke, “Callie, I had a dream last night.”
“I dreamed I went back to before I was eighteen, to the time before you appeared. Back then, Nelson only interacted with me. On his birthday, our family celebrated for him. My mother asked me if I would marry Nelson when I grew up.”
Hearing their past again did not stir Callie as it once did; she remained expressionless and numb.
Marilyn closely watched her reaction and smiled slightly, “Do you know how he responded?”
Ahmad felt uneasy and waved his hand, “It’s not enough for just our Marilyn to agree. Nelson has to be willing too. He has always had his own ideas.”
Unexpectedly, Nelson said nonchalantly, “Sure.”
Marilyn blushed deeply and said shyly, “But I’m still young.”
Yet through countless long years afterward, she relied on Nelson’s casual “sure” to get by.
Even though he seemed not to have given it much thought because he had not yet met someone he liked and felt being with Marilyn was no big deal.
But then he met Callie, and he’d long forgotten his casual promise!