Behind the wall, Linford and Cody still could hear Diego’s sobbing voice, “No… It was not like that. What was wrong with me? Why would I marry that woman? You’re the one I love, Cristelle. You are the only one I love.”
Cody and Linford both decided to stop listening to Diego’s agony. If they kept listening, they probably would lose control and get out to beat Diego Barnett’s ass.
The father and the son entered the elevator at the same time.
They exchanged a look and narrated monotonously.
“Don’t tell Mom.”
“Don’t tell your Mom.” They didn’t want Cristelle to know they’d been listening to their confrontation.
When they returned, they both pretended they didn’t know what had happened a minute ago.
The group of people decided to have their dinner at the mall. Of course, everything was served perfectly, as Linford owned the mall.
But Cristelle urged Cody and Linford to shower as they had been playing too long. Cody didn’t seem reluctant, as he needed to take a shower with Linford. But being sweaty during dinner didn’t sound comfy. The boy could only agree in the end.
“Why were you following me when I left the course, though?” Linford was curious as he stood in his stall.
“Why don’t you ask me why I followed you to go bowling? Do you think I enjoyed playing with you?” The boy sounded sarcastic.
Linford knew the boy was being sarcastic, but he couldn’t help pissing him off more once he had the chance, “You didn’t? You were laughing when we played,” Linford played dumb.
“Linford Bradley!” The sound of the water running in Cody’s stall suddenly stopped, “I don’t care if Mom genuinely likes you or not, but she’s still Mrs. Bradley in the public eye. Those giggling girls were wagging their tails at you. What do you think would be the assumption of other people? They will think my Mom was a woman who didn’t have any pride or position in your house!”
Cody’s voice was quite serious. Linford had never thought about that.
The boy’s logic was immaculate. Linford felt complicated. He didn’t know if he should feel proud of his boy’s intelligence or ashamed of his neglect.
Linford opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Suddenly, a gentle female voice whined, “Mr. Bradley, I just brought new clothes for you so you can get changed later. Do you want me to bring them inside the bathroom?”
Cody laughed, “See what I’m saying?”
Linford was deeply annoyed as he snapped, “Put my clothes outside, and don’t let me see your sorry face!” He sounded like a devil.
That woman was clearly scared. She left instantly without making a sound.
When they got out of the bathroom, Cody noticed an exquisite card on Linford’s pile of fresh new clothes.
That woman even drew a heart behind her phone number.
Cody secretly decided that he would call his Mom. However, before he could say anything, Linford suddenly grabbed his phone and called Alfred, “Yes? There’s a girl waitressing at the 6th-floor French restaurant. I believe her name is Vicky. Yes, I want you to fire her. And fire her manager as well.”
Cody went dumbfounded.
What?
Linford hung up the phone and got changed, walking out of the bathroom without looking back.
The dinner was pretty nice. However, Cody and Linford couldn’t stop taunting each other as usual.
Candace was stuck in between, not knowing which side to take.
Cristelle stayed for a while and thought she was going to have a headache.
When could these two stop fighting?
Cristelle stood up from the chair, saying she wanted to go to the bathroom. When Cristelle entered the stall, however, she heard some people gossiping by the sink.
“Do you know Vicky? She’s fired today along with the manager.”
“Huh? Why? I thought she was doing great. They said she was gonna get a promotion soon. How did she get fired?”
“You don’t know the reason? Mr. Bradley brought his wife and babies to our mall to play bowling today. After that, he used the staff bathroom and was about to take a shower and go to the restaurant. He asked the manager to send him some new clothes after the shower. It was a male employee who was sent to do the task. But Vicky stopped the waiter halfway and sent those clothes to the bathroom herself. Mr. Bradley was so pissed off that he fired Vicky and the manager.”
“So you’re saying Vicky thought she was so pretty that Mr. Bradley would fall for her? Was she trying to seduce Mr. Bradley, yet it didn’t work?”
“Yep. She always thinks she’s better than anybody, and she tends to flirt shamelessly with every male she meets. Vicky should have known her limits. Her face is too fake. Did you see Mrs. Bradley? That is a natural goddess.”
“I agree.”
The women talked and laughed as they walked out of the bathroom.
Cristelle was still inside the stall and was extremely confused right now.
Linford Bradley just fired those people like that? And… what was with the “Mrs. Bradley” address? Were people really calling her that way?
Cristelle couldn’t wrap her head around it. She was so confused.
****
Diego went back to his mansion. Sam’s assistant came out to help him walk in, “Sir, what happened to you? You look so pale.”
Diego’s eyes were still swollen from crying, “Where’s my Mom?”
The assistant helped him in as he said, “Mrs. Barnett has been looking for you as if she went crazy. She actually just came back. Just come in first.”
Diego pushed the old man away, dashing into the house, “Mom!”
Mrs. Barnett was so worried this time. She came out immediately when she heard her son’s voice, “Diego! Where have you been?! You scared the hell out of me! Get your things ready. We’re leaving this country immediately.”
But Diego wouldn’t listen to her. He was so angry as he stepped forward, “Mom, tell me. Was Cristelle pregnant because you played dirty tricks on her? You found some men to rape her, didn’t you?”