"Well, like you, he’s a dical genius. He’s been going on and on about how much he admires you. When he heard you were here, he said he’d co to cook for you himself."
"A dical genius? Interesting. But Chantelle, are you going to tell what his cooking is like?"
"It’s great!"
"Oh, thank God!" Philip let out a sigh of relief and sat back down, joining her in scrolling through Twitter.
He shot Daniel a wide grin as he moved closer to Chantelle.
He clearly provoked Daniel secretly with those mischievous grins— See? She doesn’t want to leave.
Daniel didn’t say a word and went straight upstairs.
"Do you think Daniel’s mad, Chantelle?" Philip asked after seeing Daniel leave them.
"Probably not? You’re his best friend. Why would he be upset with you?"
"But of course! He and I are like two peas in a pod!"
"Exactly. That’s all it is!"
"If you say so."
Philip finally felt at ease and went back to reading thread after thread of updates online.
That’s when a ssage ca in.
He glanced at it, annoyed—then froze.
The ssage clearly stated that this year’s research funding had been cut off because the researcher had been slacking.
"Daniel! Oh, my dearest Daniel! You know you’re my one true friend!"
Philip didn’t waste ti. He rushed upstairs to talk to Daniel, who was in the middle of changing.
"You know how focused I am on my research, Daniel. I barely go online. Don’t be like this..."
He pleaded.
"Oh, really? I just didn’t want to interrupt your special Twitter ti with your darling Chantie," Daniel said in a sarcastic tone.
He was shirtless, about to pull on his pants when Philip burst in and stopped him.
"No! My career always cos first. And Chantelle’s injured. She’s probably not feeling great. I was just trying to cheer her up—for your sake, Daniel!" Philip said with a straight face.
"I don’t believe you." Daniel’s voice was calm but firm.
"Co on! We grew up sharing one pair of pants!" Philip declared, then slipped his leg into Daniel’s half-worn pants to prove it.
Daniel was just about to kick him off when footsteps echoed up the stairs.
The door flew open before he could react.
Chantelle’s shocked reaction upon seeing them quickly turned into curiosity.
"What are you guys doing?"
"This is all just a misunderstanding, Chantelle! We’re not like that!" Philip blurted out, panicking.
"Oh, but I don’t believe you." Her voice was calm—and sounded just like Daniel’s.
My innocence... gone! Daniel scread inside his head.
"Let go of , you idiot!" Daniel shouted, yanking his pants back.
"No way. Not until you promise to restore my funding!" Philip held on to it tightly.
"I think fast, okay? Chantelle probably got the wrong idea. Who knows, maybe she will ship us!" Philip added.
He gripped the pants like his life depended on it, ready to tear them apart if he had to.
"I’ll leave you two to it. Co eat when you’re done!" Chantelle said, laughing as she walked away to spare them from embarrassnt.
Daniel looked like he wanted to strangle Philip.
"Fine. Your funding stays. I’ll even give you another billion. Now go explain this to Chantie!"
"Anything for you, my dearest sugar daddy!" Philip cheered, letting go and skipping off with a grin.
Daniel finally got to put his pants on, but his mood only got worse.
How had I managed to survive having Philip as my best friend all these years?
He started to reflect on everything.
****
Roman’s live interview had been turned into a video. It spread quickly online.
People who followed the topic closely began picking out the main points.
First, Roman Bently’s daughter was the young Mrs. Wilson.
Secondly, Roman and his daughter clearly didn’t get along.
Thirdly, the Bently family was about to go bankrupt. Mr. Bently ca to his daughter, hoping she would help.
These points were put together under Roman’s instructions.
As expected, the short story went viral.
Leon Network saw the people’s excitent to follow the story and signed a deal with him.
The contract said that for the next month, all updates involving Roman, the Wilson family, and Chantelle had to be reported by Leon Network.
Roman, of course, was more than happy to get paid.
He returned to the apartnt in high spirits after receiving the money.
Ruby was in the kitchen cooking when he walked in.
"Hah, you’re back? Where have you been all this ti?" he snapped.
He had been stuck in the apartnt for days with no one to serve him.
"Kate’s missing, Roman! I’ve been out looking for her. She ssed up, but she’s still our daughter!" Ruby finally lost her temper.
Tears filled Ruby’s eyes as she spoke with a trembling voice.
"I’ve been searching for Kate nonstop, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I was worried. I even dread about you this morning... that’s why I ca back."
"Quit whining. Kate will co ho when she’s done playing around. You still have your uses, so stop running off!"
"Roman!"
"Our daughter is back, Ruby. The real lady of the Wilson family. Our ti has finally co!"
"Really? Chantelle is still alive?"
Ruby had seen the news online and ca back to check if it was true.
She knew her husband well. If there was an opportunity to gain sothing, he wouldn’t let it slip away.
"Of course! I saw her with my own eyes. She’s doing just fine, but where’s her conscience? Now that she has Mr. Wilson’s love, she won’t even recognize her own father! Look at —look at these injuries! She let the Wilson n do this to !"
The sha he suffered earlier still burned in his chest.
"She’s still a child. Stop blaming her!"
"A child? She gave birth to two sons for Daniel! She’s old enough to be a mother!"
"You’re always like this. You spoil her. You never discipline her. And now look at her!"
He shouted, making it clear he wouldn’t be happy until he dragged her down.
Ruby remained silent and started forming her own plans.
Why is that woman so lucky? She married into the Wilson family and beca the most respected woman in Easthan. That position should have belonged to Kate’s.
But never mind. Chantelle isn’t my real daughter—though she doesn’t know that. Only the Scotts know the truth.
So technically, I still have a daughter who married into the Wilsons.
That thought made her feel better.
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