Chapter 6

This afternoon, James had stood there beside Susie, questioning her without hesitation.

But now, he was taking her side?

Talk about volatile.

As Edith avoided his touch with a clear glare of resistance, James naturally sensed her change in attitude.

If it were before, she would have already thrown herself into his arms, aggrieved, listing out every person who had wronged her.

There was that time when Nora agreed to go shopping with her but stood her up because of Quinn.

Edith had stormed home, fuming, complaining that Nora valued romance over friendship, and tried to drag him out shopping instead.

He was in his study, busy holding a teleconference with his international branch managers, and had no time for her.

So he wired her a million and told her to take the maid with her.

She complained about him not really caring, but she was beaming as she gave him a kiss and left.

Now, that lively, mischievous Edith seemed to have suddenly disappeared.

As James kept staring at Edith's cool visage with a frown, Bart felt embarrassed and explained, "It's all just a misunderstanding—she had a bump. Can someone bring Edith some ice to ease the swelling already?"

"Yes, Mr. Conrad," a maid quickly replied and left.

At the same time, Bart quickly pulled James along to distract him. "Come on. There are things we must discuss—let's go to my study."

James glanced at Edith, and seeing that she wasn't complaining, he quietly followed Bart to his study.

Edith could not be bothered to follow—Bart's business must be having trouble again, or he was just asking for more money.

She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, pressing an ice pack to her cheek, when Wanda quietly appeared beside her.

"Does it hurt? See, you deserve it," she hissed at her softly, venting her rage at a pitch only the two of them could hear. "I hate you just remembering how kind I've been to you, but Melody is even worse, coming up with such a twisted plan.

"Oh, my dear daughter, forced to fend for herself all alone… so know your place and never show up here again, because I don't want to see your face!"

Edith had never liked Wanda. It had barely been a month since Melody's passing when Wanda virtually glided into this house.

Edith even had a big fight with Bart because of that and never played nice with Wanda since.

And now, she hated Wanda all the more when she learned the truth.

Snorting, she said, "Then convince your husband—tell him to never ever call me home again. What, do you think I crave status like you?"

"What did you say…?!"

Edith really touched a nerve, and Wanda raised her palm, ready to strike.

However, Edith lowered the ice pack and leaned her face toward Wanda. "I really don't mind another… but if James presses me for the truth, I wonder if he'll pull his investments out of Bart's businesses?"

"You little…!!!" Wanda trembled with anger, but she hesitated.

Over the past two years, James had indeed invested heavily in Bart's business because of the marriage.

Still, while she lowered her hand reluctantly, she soon grinned smugly as she remembered, "By the way, we will have news on our real daughter soon. Bart will then present her to the public, and you'll have nothing! All of Melody's schemes will fall apart, while my daughter claims everything that this family has!"

Edith was actually surprised at how quickly the Conrads worked, which clearly showed how much Bart cared about his real daughter.

But that was the Conrads' business, not hers.

Still, seeing that Edith wasn't really reacting, Wanda was going to keep provoking her when she saw Bart and James leaving the study.

Her expression changed instantly. She grabbed Edith’s hand, her tone turning warm and affectionate. “Silly girl, this will always be your home. Nothing’s changed. The Conrads will always be your support.”

Edith shot her a look—this broad really knew how to put up a show, huh?

Still, she couldn't even be bothered to expose Wanda's lies, but she pulled her hands out of Wanda's grasp as she went to sit at the dining table.

As the four of them ate together, their thoughts could not be more different.

Then, after dinner was over and seeing that Bart wasn't hounding James about work, Edith knew that Bart had gotten whatever he wanted from James.

Stepping out of the house, she didn't say a word to James and went straight for her car.

She had just put on her seatbelt when the door next to hers opened, and a towering figure got in, making the car interior look cramped.

She frowned at James, clearly not willing to give him a ride.

James shrugged and calmly said, "I let my chauffeur off for the day."

Having no choice, Edith started the car and drove back to Jazz Abode.

Along the way, James was resting her eyes while she focused on driving, neither of them speaking a word.

As she stopped the car an hour later, James seemed to hear it and opened his eyes.

Edith didn't even look his way and turned off the ignition, getting out and heading back inside the house.

James followed and entered the living room. Seeing that she was heading straight for the guest room, he strode up to cut her off, catching her wrist. "Let's talk."

Edith looked up at him but stopped, waiting for him to talk.

James lowered his gaze to her left cheek, where the swelling eased. "Why did your father hit you?"

Edith turned away. "It's nothing."

Noticing once again that her attitude was different, James frowned. "What's got you so upset?"

Edith shook his hand off and calmly replied, "I'm not upset."

Since he wanted to talk, she decided to make things clear. "Also, if my dad asks you for capital or investments, turn him down."

"Why?"

"We'll be divorcing eventually. No reason to have so much stuff tying us together."

Edith thought she was being calm and stating a fact, but James was still convinced she was upset about what had happened in the afternoon. "Are you upset that I didn't bring you with me to the gathering, or that I stopped you from hurting Susie?"

At that point, Edith had no idea if she should laugh at herself or get upset.

She used to cling to him, insisting on following him wherever he went, so he couldn't be blamed for presuming that to be the case.

James studied her face, patient for once as he explained, "No one else brought their spouses along. And I didn't bring Susie—the others invited her."

Edith scoffed. "If I recall, she isn't even from your year."

James kept quiet about that, so Edith continued, "So you had her tag along, she got chummy with the rest of them, and they all presumed you're both interested in each other. That's why they're so eager for you two to get together, right?"

As James remained impassive, Edith argued, "You accused us of bullying Susie, but why didn't you ask what she did to Nora? As for me, I intend to divorce you, and to step aside and let her have you. Why would I bother her?"

James' face finally twitched at the mention of the divorce again. "Do you really have to keep mentioning the divorce all day every day?"

Edith smirked, impassive. "I'm just giving you what you always wanted."

"I told you—never mention it again."

And with those words, he turned and headed upstairs without looking back.

Seeing that he seemed a little angry this time only confused Edith.

What was his problem? With the divorce, he could be with Susie, and it was just signing a piece of paper at best. Why insist on clinging to this marriage because of his father's promise?

Still, what could an orphan like her who had no influence do, when the Conrads, the Shatners, and even James himself refused to approve of a divorce?

Even the lawyer made it clear that it wasn't happening soon if James refused, what with the monetary interests tying their two families together.

And after thinking for the whole night, Edith decided to use the time and empower herself instead of continuing to fight for a divorce.

-

Over the next week, Edith never saw James, with Levi saying that James had gone on a business trip.

Unlike before, Edith didn't try to probe Levi for James' whereabouts, but his absence meant there was nothing important for her to do.

That suited her just fine—she was being afforded time to plan for the future.

Ruby's studio was collaborating with a TV channel for a fashion series through which outstanding fashion designers would be chosen.

Edith was keen to take part, so she worked herself to the bone for a week before emailing her draft to Ruby.

Soon after she sent it, Ruby replied: [Finally came round, have we?]

Edith felt tears in her eyes just reading that simple line, remembering how Ruby had mentored her and groomed her as a motherly figure, only for her to let Ruby down.

She finally had the courage to add Ruby on WhatsApp, and that was when she suddenly received a voice message from Nora.

"Ed? Is James looking into Susie too?"