“How dare you mock me?” Ysabel glared at Emmeline. “Just because you’re Mr. Abel’s wife, you think you’re so great? Don’t be so shameless. The only reason you got Mr. Abel in the first place is because he accidentally slept with you and got you pregnant. Otherwise, the first person that Mr. Abel sought when he returned would have been Ms. Sonia. Where would you fit in?”
Slap! Emmeline slapped her across the face. “You sure have a dirty mouth! You think life has that many ‘what ifs’?”
Ysabel was caught off guard and struck by the slap, feeling a little dizzy from the force. She stumbled backwards, gripping onto a chair to prevent herself from falling.
With reddened eyes, she covered her face in anger. “Emmeline Louise! How dare you slap me?”
“Why shouldn’t I slap you?” Emmeline rolled up her sleeves, ready to pounce.
If she wanted to give the bitch a beating, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
“Ms. Emmeline,” Sam burst out from behind the coffee counter. “There is no need to dirty your hands for something as simple as that. Leave it to me!”
“That’s enough!” Sonia stood in front of Ysabel, her expression cold. “I came here to talk. Can we please have a civilized conversation?”
“Then you better control that little goon of yours and talk to Ms. Emmeline properly!” Sam placed her hands on her and shouted. “Otherwise, I’ll kick you both out of here!”
Sonia was speechless.
She glanced around and saw that Emmeline had the numbers advantage. Moreover, this was Emmeline’s shop. If things turned physical, she would definitely not have the upper hand.
That being said, Sonia was still the privileged daughter of an influential family. She knew when to be flexible and when to assert herself.
“Emmeline, on behalf of Ms. Ysabel here, I apologize to both of you,” Sonia said.
“Sonia!” Ysabel covered her face and said begrudgingly.
“Shut it!” Sonia glared at her impatiently. “What’s the use of arguing?”
Ysabel had no choice but to relent, sending Emmeline a vicious glare.
With the tension slightly eased, Emmeline also took a step back and said coldly, “Have a seat!”
She then turned to Sam and instructed, “Bring two cups of coffee, extra sugar and milk. Consider it my treat!”
“Very generous indeed,” Sonia elegantly smoothed her dress and sat in front of Emmeline and Janie’s table.
Ysabel sat down beside her, sneaking a sideways glance at Janie.
Janie responded with a sharp gaze, causing Ysabel to shrink back.
“What do you want to say?” Emmeline smiled faintly as she looked at Sonia. “Speak!”
Sonia felt slightly overwhelmed by Emmeline’s arrogant and unyielding attitude.
But she wasn’t one to easily admit defeat. She straightened her neck and said, “The matter about the race.”
“I remember,” Emmeline narrowed her eyes. “What is the time and place?”
“Next Wednesday, at the Swan Lake racetrack on the outskirts of the city!”
“Agreed!” Emmeline said with a smirk.
“Let’s set the terms of the race,” Sonia said. “May the best racer win!”
“No problem!” Emmeline replied. “Tell me your terms!”
“I’ve already written them down!” Sonia took out a sheet of A4 paper from her handbag.
Emmeline took a quick glance at it, then tore the paper apart.
“Emmeline!” Sonia stood up abruptly, “What is the meaning of this?”
“You want me to place my husband as a betting stake?” Emmeline narrowed her eyes, “Firstly, it’s impossible for me to lose to you. Secondly, your terms are totally not viable!”
“If you lose, I want you to give Abel back to me!” Sonia said, “Are you too scared to bet?”
“The hell I am!” Emmeline gritted her teeth. “But Abel is my husband. No matter how much of an asshole I can be, I will not use him as a gambling stake. Don’t you think that’s disrespectful to him? Did you even get his consent?”
“Abel is MY lover. He was five years ago, and he will be five years from now. I haven’t changed. But because you came into the picture, we can never go back to the way things were. That’s why I’m going to win you and make you leave Abel!” Sonia said.
“Lady, you really must be sick in the head!” Emmeline was so angry she started laughing. “What gave you such confidence? Or perhaps you have been living in the past all this time?”
