A Vengeful Ex-Wife

"I'll have someone look into it." James didn't think Maria would be so laid-back about this. Maybe this was to get him to drop his defenses before she came in for the kill.

"No need. Just answer the question, please."

"None." The meteoric rise of Fosun Entertainment was largely an enigma. They had cooperated with HL Group on a few projects in the past, but James had never cared overmuch. Until now, anyway. If it weren't for the record profits they were raking in, he wouldn't even know who they were.

"Okay." That was the final message Maria sent him that day.

After her shower, Maria dressed herself. She was just admiring herself in the mirror when there was a knock on the door. "Room service," called a voice behind the door.

She opened the door, a quizzical look in her eyes. She took a look at the lavish meal and asked the waiter, "What's this?"

"Lunch, ma'am. Compliments of Mr. Xi," he replied. "Oh, thank you!" She walked over to the dresser, grabbed some cash from her purse and tipped him.

"Thanks, ma'am." The waiter bowed and left the room.

After lunch, Maria walked down the hallway to the exit. She wanted to keep as low a profile as possible.

The first thing she did when she came back to H City was heading to Miracle Cafe. Chandler was waiting for her there.

Her coffee shop was always busy. When she walked in, she saw Chandler sitting in an inconspicuous corner sipping his coffee.

Facing her so-called father, Maria sat opposite him and asked, "Mr. Song, does Mrs. Song know you're here?"

Chandler sighed. "No, Maria. She doesn't know. I didn't tell anyone this time."

Hearing his answer, Maria gave him a mocking smile. Her so-called father came to see her, his own daughter, and had to sneak around to do it.

She flipped her long hair and urged him coldly, " 'So what is it this time? And make it quick. I'm busy."

"Nothing special. I just dropped by to see how you're doing. I just found out you own this place," he said in a tender tone. Affection was reflected in his eyes.

Maria was not impressed at all. "Eh, it's not a bad life. There are worse jobs. Is that all you came to say?"

"Who bankrolled this place?" He didn't believe that Maria could make that kind of money in just six years.

"None of your business. Mr. Song, stop asking stupid questions, will you?" she snapped. Maria really didn't understand why Chandler was even here.

He pretended to be a loving father and showed how much he cared. She was puzzled.

Chandler didn't take offense at her attitude. He took a bank card from his suit pocket, pushed it in front of her, and said earnestly, "Your mom doesn't know about this. I know we cut ties, and I'm sorry. I had no choice. This should make things easier. If you need more, ask me."

If Maria were still seventeen years old, she would definitely cry bitterly, feeling touched.

But she was twenty-seven years old, going on twenty-eight. She had gone through a lot in her young life, experienced enough misadventure that she knew the dark side of human nature. She pushed the card back calmly and asked, "Money? I have plenty. Need my help? I can get you a hundred million easy."

Chandler could never have imagined she'd say something like that. The expression on his face was very complicated. "Maria, why do you have that kind of money?"

Maria sneered. "I've gotten back together with James. Why wouldn't I be rich?"

She made him think James was the source of her mysterious income.

Chandler had no reason to think otherwise.

After all, if her money came from James, it was more convincing than Maria earning a hundred million or more by herself.

"What? Really?" Chandler was shocked. "What about Alina?" He wondered why he hadn't heard.

"What about her? Why should I care?"

"She's your cousin! Maria, if you keep doing things like this, the Song family will become a laughingstock!" Chandler looked anxious.

"Doing things like what? So the Song family gets laughed at. How is that my problem?"

Chandler looked a little embarrassed. "Maria, you shouldn't become James' mistress. It's immoral!

His mistress? That was the second time that her family insulted her that way. Who did they think they were? Maria said in an extremely cold tone, "Mr. Song, so what were you doing when Mrs. Song was pregnant with me? What were you doing when I was born? Instead of pointing fingers at me, look in a mirror some time."

"How did you know that?" Chandler asked in a shocked voice. When Elaine was pregnant with Maria, she was not in H City. Chandler took advantage of this, and cheated on her.

"I know way more than you think. Mr. Song, do you want a detailed list of who you were with? I have enough time for that."

Chandler blushed out of embarrassment and anger. He wondered if Maria really was his daughter. When had she become so hard, so cruel?

If the family resemblance weren't there, he would have taken her to get a paternity test. Was this really his Maria?

Later, Chandler left in embarrassment, taking away the five hundred thousand that he had set aside for Maria.

After he was gone, Maria went back to her hotel.

Stella agreed to open three coffee shops to repay Maria, but she delayed opening them. But Maria was in no hurry. Qin Group was on the verge of bankruptcy. They were no threat now and Maria could shut them down easily.

The next day, Maria went to the offices of HL Group. Before the visit, she had sent James a message saying she wanted to talk to him, so she was able to meet him in person. It had to be said that James didn' believe she had anything important to say to him, but he still let her in.

When she got to the floor where James' office was, Maria took her sweet time there. She chatted with Summer a while and promised to go shopping with her someday soon. Then she walked to the CEO's office and came right in.

As usual, James had his nose buried in documents. Maria walked over and sat down opposite him. She propped her head up with a hand and asked, "Why don't you wear the other suit I bought for you?" The man raised his eyes and looked her in the eye. "I've been saving it for a special occasion."

Noticing the irony in his words, Maria raised her eyes and stared at him with great interest. "Tell me, which special occasion might that be? A banquet? Or an interview? Tell me when. I'll wear the matching outfit that day."

Speaking of banquet, James put down his pen and asked, "Are you interested in the charity auction YL Group is holding?"

He heard that there would be two sets of valuable jewelry up for auction. He wanted to show how happy he was, and intended to buy them as gifts for her.

"Of course I'm interested. But I've already got the invitation of the charity auction." How could she miss such a good opportunity? Hearing that, James gave her a cold look.

Naturally he believed the invitation was from

another man, either Norman or Colby. He asked in a cold tone, "You seem to be doing well for yourself. Why do you need me?"

Maria stood up from her chair, walked around him, and leaned against his desk. "Mr. Xi, are you interested in acquiring Qin Group?" "Not really!" James lowered his head and

continued to read the document in his hands.

He knew what she wanted as soon as she walked in. Why did this woman think that he would spend so much effort to acquire a company based on something she said?

Maria took down Qin Group with his help. If James was interested in it, he would have acquired it long ago.

True, he and Maria were made love. Twice. But the business was another story. He wouldn't sacrifice the business for her sake.

"All right! That's too bad. I'll ask Mr. Shen. I think Qin Group has a centennial fashion brand. That's right up his alley."

"Go ahead!"

Maria cursed the man in her heart. She still hadn't given up. She added, "I want to buy it myself, but I don't have the cash. Besides, I don't want to see Mr. Qin again. He's a pervy old man. I'm the same age as his daughter, and he still wants to knock boots with me. Talk about robbing the cradle!"

Ophelia bmimJ