Chapter 206
It’s Cecilia, yet she didn’t quite seem like Cecilia.
The girl who used to rock a bun all the time has suddenly let her hair down and ditched the cute curls for long, flowing locks. She even had her sweet and adorable fashion sense do a complete 180, by sporting a mature–looking suit set.
Her lipstick shade has deepened a couple of notches too, from the previous tender pink to a bolder red.
Even those almond–shaped eyes behind her shades seem to sparkle with a cunning light.
It’s like Cecilia has had a total makeover.
When she spotted me and Darren, she whipped off her sunglasses with a feigned surprise, “Wow, trust Xaviera to always be one step ahead, even when it comes to visiting an investor’s sick mom. No wonder I can’t seem to win Hilary over as much as you do.”
It was the same sweet tone, but the words that come out of Cecilia’s mouth were anything but polite.
It seemed like she’s dropped the act since Hogan wasn’t around.
But what really got my goat was that even Cecilia thought the reason I’m at the hospital was to check in on my “ex’s” sick mom.
Or as she put it, an investor’s mom.
She made sure to rub that in.
So how low do I have to be that visiting my own flesh and blood in the hospital earned me snide comments from these people?
The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I had my gaze fall on Cecilia, who had her chin up and carried car keys in hand, and said calmly, “You might be mistaken.”
“Oh? What have I misunderstood about Ms. March?”
“The reason I’m in Hilary’s good books is this,” I pointed to my forehead and said seriously, “If you’re envious, maybe you should hit the books a bit more.”
At that, Cecilia’s expression froze, and her face went through fifty shades of pale.
Not wanting to get into a tiff with her, I exchanged a look with Darren and turned to leave.
But then, I heard Cecilia say, “Yeah, I can’t match your emotional intelligence. With Professor Yearwood before and Mr. Temple now, maybe you could give me some pointers sometime.”
I can take Cecilia’s digs at me, but the way she brought the innocent Darren into it was just picking a fight for no reason.
Stopping in my tracks and turning. I looked at the girl who pretended to be all grown–up and
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Chapter 200
said, ‘I wouldn’t say pointers, but from what I know of the Zade family, they’re not too fond of decorative vases that just sit there looking pretty. Director Irwin, If you’ve got time, maybe you should hammer out some code. If you can’t graduate, it might be a tall order for you to get in with the Zade famib.”
Cecilia was taken aback: standing there dumbstruck, she had her lips move but no sound came
out.
I turned my back and left without a second glance.
I hadn’t gone far when Darren’s voice of admiration caught my ear, “It’s been a while, but there’s Xaviera, leaving someone speechless again.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, all surprised, and looked at Darren.
Our eyes met, and he immediately toned down his smile, nervously saying, “Did I say something wrong?”
*Did I use to put people in their place?”
“In our sophomore year during the debate, you stepped in last minute and left the literature department with no comeback.” Darren started excitedly. “Remember that debate about whether love or bread is more important?”
With Darren’s reminder, memories flooded back like a rush of water.
How could I forget? In that debate, with little preparation, I passionately argued that love was more important than bread, as if I was serenading Hogan with the most beautiful ode. In front of over a thousand people in the multimedia hall, I didn’t hold back my feelings.
Back then, I was bold and uninhibited.
But looking back now, it felt like a dream.
And that youthful me invested so much energy and beauty into one man.
I wonder if that’s lucky or not.
“Xaviera?*
Darren’s voice interrupted my reverie.
I looked at him, feeling puzzled, and then heard him say, “The old man called me just now. Aaron mentioned coming back to the estate this weekend for music, what are your thoughts?”
I looked at Darren calmly, but as I thought about Hogan’s warning from yesterday, I quickly averted my gaze.
