Book 1: She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement Annulment

Chapter 46

Chapter 136: Justin Steps Forward

Whoosh!

Tanya took the money and threw it at her face!

The impact caused Hillary’s head to turn to the side. She turned back to Tanya furiously, but Tanya instead grabbed her collar. The look in her eyes was very cold, and she carried some of the fierce and ruthless aura that was present only on Nora.

Tanya sneered, “That mayhave been very effective on me five years ago, Hillary, but I’ve already grown up after the last five years. Why are you still stuck at where you were?”

She released Hillary and pushed her away. After putting some distance between the two of them, Tanya stared hard at her and said, “You’d best keep this firmly in mind—don’t mess with me. I’m not that nice.”

After saying that, she took Pete’s hand again and led him forward.

Hillary stood where she was with money bills scattered all over the ground.. All the parents around her looked over. The look of disgust in their eyes made her especially embarrassed.Hillary stood where she was with money bills scattered all over the ground.. All the parents around her looked over. The look of disgust in their eyes made her especially embarrassed.

They were all from wealthy families. It was indeed too low-class to solve problems with money!

Hillary lowered her head and picked up the bills. Then, she hurriedly got into the car and left.

Her cheeks were still burning somewhat even after she got into the backseat of the car.

Tanya was already hard to deal with five years ago. She was feisty and wasn’t someone to be messed with. Little did she expect that she would become even harder to deal with five years later!

Was she just going to allow her to see Mia every day in the kindergarten though?

Absolutely not!

After a moment’s thought, Hillary suddenly cast her eyes down.

_

In the kindergarten, Tanya went to the dance studio after she sent Pete to the classroom.

She originally only had plans to do filming for a TV program when she came back to the States.However, the kindergarten had contacted her and said that Whitney Lowe was unable to continue teaching dancing there, so they invited her to be a dance teacher in the school.

Tanya had thought at the time that she would be able to spend more time with Cherry if she took it, so she agreed to it.

However, she would only be working there for a month because she didn’t want to stay in the States.

Her child had gone missing abroad, so she wanted to go back to continue looking for her child.

She had never expected that she would run into Joel here…

She heaved a sigh.

At this point, a few teachers came over and said, “Ms. Turner, you’re done for.”

Tanya was taken aback. “What?”

“The woman you offended just now is Mrs. Smith! We saw her going to the principal just now. The kindergarten is probably going to fire you!”

“Why don’t you go and apologize, Ms. Turner? The kindergarten can’t afford to offend the Smith's and the Hunts the most here. I heard that the Smith's are even shareholders of the kindergarten!”

“The Smith's are the reason why no one dares to bully Mia her, Smith despite how timid she is… It’ll be really terrible if this gets blown up, Ms. Turner. I heard that Mrs. Smith is a pretty nice person. Maybe everything will be fine if you give in…”

The teachers explained what had happened to her, but Tanya instead lowered her gaze.

Hillary really hadn’t learned any better.

Was lodging a complaint the only thing she knew how to do after being hit?

She had already allowed that woman to give her a warning the day before, but here she was again.

She said dispassionately, “It’s fine. I wasn’t planning on staying long in the States anyway.”

Back then, because of the Lowes, she had been forced to leave the country. After spending so many years abroad, she had now become a dance teacher that even foreign royal families would hire.

Her connections weren’t that simple anymore!

Sure enough, just as she was thinking about it, someone came over and said, “Ms. Turner, the principal is asking for you in his office.”

Tanya nodded and calmly headed to the principal’s office.

Along the way, Tanya noticed several teachers casting sympathetic glances at her, but she ignored them all. Soon, she arrived at the principal’s office.

The principal personally opened the door for her and poured her a cup of coffee. He said, “Ms. Turner, it’s the kindergarten’s honor to have you as our dance teacher for a month, but this is simply just…”

He sighed and said, “Mrs. Smith suddenly approached me just now. She said that she had thanked you out of kindness, but not only did you not appreciate her gesture, but you even injured her on her face, so she’s demanding an explanation from us. I used the excuse that you’re not yet an official teacher in the school to placate her for now…”

Tanya frowned. “Are the Joneses that powerful?”

The principal was also very troubled. He replied, “It’s not the Joneses; I’m not afraid of Mrs. Smith on her own at all. I also want to protect you if I can, Tanya. After all, you’ve done us a big favor by accepting our invitation after something happened to our dance teacher. However, the ones behind Mrs. Smith are the Smith's and Joel Smith himself. He has always been known as a wolf in sheep’s clothing in New York. Even though he seems mild-mannered, he’s actually very hard to deal with…”

The principal then said, “Tanya, I can keep you here despite the pressure, but life won’t be easy for you in the future either if you offend Mr. Smith. If that’s the case, why don’t you resign instead?”

Resign?

Tanya bit her lip. “Was it Mr. Smith’s idea to have me resign?”

“Yes, it is,” replied the principal with a nod.

Mrs. Smith had said that her husband didn’t want to see Tanya in the kindergarten, let alone have her come into contact with his daughter…

Tanya clenched her fists.

So, he actually hated her that much? They couldn’t even stay as friends after breaking up?

Her chest felt awfully tight. Compared to having to resign, this discovery saddened her even more.

She let out a cold laugh and stood up. “Fine, I quit.”

After saying that, she went out and strode toward the school gates.

Blinding sunlight shone upon her, making her eyes hurt. She raised her head and blocked the light with her hand. Dust floated in the air under the dappled light, and she could see the specks floating about.

She was just like one of those specks of dust. Her life was always being controlled by others.

She clenched her fists tightly.

She wanted to go to Joel and sort things out, yet she also felt that it would be her defeat if she were to really do so…

At the gates, Hillary got out of the car and slowly walked up to her. She said, “You are indeed hard to deal with, Tanya, but I’m no longer who I used to be, either. I’m Mrs. Smith now. I’m sure you’re aware of how powerful Joel is, right?”

Tanya ignored her.

Hillary said, “Somewhere other than the States would be more suitable for you. Leave, and never come back again!”

Your daughter and your boyfriend back then… I will take them all!

In the classroom.

“Ms. Turner has been fired!”

Brandon the loudmouth spread the news. Pete frowned when he heard it. He asked, “Why was she fired?”

Brandon replied, “Probably because she offended my aunt! That would mean that she’s offended my uncle~ Uncle Joel is very protective of his own! Apart from the Hunt's, no one in New York dares to offend him!”

‘Apart from the Hunt's’

Pete’s eyes lit up when he heard that.

This meant that he could ask the tyrant for help, right?

He’d just had a great idea!

He immediately took out his cell phone and drafted a text message to Cherry.

Ten minutes later…

On the top floor of the Smith Corporation’s office tower, Joel received a call from Justin. The moment he picked up, Justin confronted him and said, “Mr. Smith, surely it isn’t quite appropriate for you to do that to a weak and powerless woman?”

Joel, “?”

He frowned. “What do you mean, Mr. Hunt?”

“Don’t you think that forcing Ms. Tanya Turner to resign is a little too much?”

Joel narrowed his eyes. A cold look shot forth from them as he asked, “What?”

Chapter 137: Father And Daughter Claiming Credit

Justin, however, didn’t give him a chance to speak. He said coldly, “I’ll be speaking with the kindergarten. Ms. Turner will be under the Hunt's protection from now on.”

He hung up right after saying that.

Justin looked at Cherry tenderly and said, “There, I’ve made the call. Don’t worry, Pete.”

Just now, Cherry had suddenly run over and said that someone was bullying her godmother, so she wanted him to talk to the Smith's. He had been rather stunned when she said that.

However, he had very quickly reacted and knew that this was a great opportunity for him.

After all, one must never offend their woman’s best friend.

Thus, he had made the call. To him, it was nothing but just a matter of lifting his finger.

Cherry nodded and chirped, “Okie-Dokie!”

However, Justin was still staring at her.

Cherry blinked and asked, “What’s the matter, Daddy?”

Was little Cherry not cute today?

Just as she was wondering, Justin said, “You should give your Mommy a call and report this to her.”

How could he stay quiet about it after doing a good deed?

Cherry tilted her head and asked, “Why?”

Without batting even an eyelid, Justin replied, “Because your Mommy won’t need to worry anymore if you do that, right?”

After thinking for a while, Cherry agreed and said, “Okie-Dokie!”

Justin sat there and watched his adorable little baby take out her cell phone. Her little fingers swiped across the screen slickly and turned it on. Then, she dialed Nora’s number.

The young woman’s lazy voice rang out from the other end of the call the moment it connected.

“What’s the matter, Cherry?”

Cherry found herself missing Mommy a bit when she heard the familiar voice. Longing appeared in her big eyes as she said, “Mommy, the kindergarten fired God-mom!”

“What happened?”

The woman’s voice instantly turned sharp. Then, Cherry heard rustling sounds from the other end of the call—she was likely… getting out of bed?

However, Cherry went on and said, “But you don’t have to worry, Mommy~ I’ve already settled it for you~”

Justin, “??”

Cherry said triumphantly, “I coaxed Daddy to call the Smith's after I heard the news, so God-mom should be fine soon~ Aren’t I super awesome, Mommy?!”

The woman on the other end relaxed and likely laid back down on the bed. She said, “Uh-huh, Cherry’s the best. I’ll get God-mom to thank you when she comes back. Mwah~”

Then, she yawned again and said, “Mm, I’m going to bed.”

And then, she hung up.

Justin, “????”

He was obviously the one who resolved the issue, so why was all the credit Cherry’s in the end?!

His expression darkened right away.

However, Cherry turned to him right after that. She broke into a grin and said, “There, I’ve made the call, Daddy! Isn’t Cherry… Pit super awesome?!”

Although he was gnashing his teeth, Justin nevertheless forced a small smile and replied, “… Yes, you are.”

Satisfied, Cherry ran off to play in the study.

Justin heaved a silent sigh as he gazed at that tiny little figure.

Were she Pete, his big hand would already have made intimate contact with his little butt. But if it was Cherry… Never mind.

Girls were delicate creatures. She was his daughter after all. The only thing he could do was pamper her, he supposed!

Now that he couldn’t count on his daughter anymore, Justin could only do something about it himself.

He picked up his cell phone and called Nora.

The other party picked up very quickly. The voice on the other end sounded very annoyed as she asked, “What is it now?”

Justin paused slightly and asked, “Aren’t you going to treat me to dinner after I helped you out today, Ms. Smith?”

“… Oh, I see.”

Justin, “?”

“Text me where and when,” said Nora.

Justin breathed a sigh of relief. He picked a restaurant and sent the address to her.

Then, he stood up and got ready to set off. When he passed the study, he saw Cherry playing in there. Were she Pete, he would never take him along and have him be the third wheel.

But if it was Cherry… He’d better take her along, he supposed. Otherwise, what if she started crying at home?

Justin smiled and beckoned to her. “Let’s go out for dinner, Pete.”

“Okie-Dokie!”

_

At the Smith Corporation.

In the office, Joel clenched his fists tightly after Justin hung up. The look in his eyes, as he stared ahead of him, was volatile and unreadable.

Even his expression, which was always amicable, had become a little sharp. An unusual gleam appeared in his deep eyes. He pressed

the button that summoned his personal assistant. Thirty seconds later, his assistant knocked on the door and entered. “Is there something you need me for, Mr. Smith?”

Joel’s voice was awfully cold as he ordered, “Find out what happened at the Golden Sunshine Kindergarten!”

The assistant was stunned for a moment.

Joel was well-known for being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had always been mild-mannered and treated everyone amicably. During all these years as his personal assistant, Joel had been relatively forgiving toward him even when he made the occasional mistake.

This was the first time he had ever seen such a cold and ruthless look on Joel’s face.

The assistant hastily nodded and replied respectfully, “Yes, sir.”

After the assistant left, Joel thought for a while and nevertheless got up and walked out of his office. When the assistant noticed him, he said in surprise, “Mr. Smith?”

Joel instructed, “Cancel all my meetings today. Call me when you find out what happened.”

“Yes, sir.”

Joel took the CEO-exclusive lift down to the underground car park and drove out by himself.

To be honest, he didn’t know where he wanted to go, but he simply felt so irritable. He drove around aimlessly in New York.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the university where he used to study at.

He stopped the car. He was about to walk in when he spotted a familiar figure right away.

The young woman, who seemed a little sad, was sitting on a bench under the tree. Her thin and frail figure gradually blended with the one from a few years ago.

All the noise around him seemed to disappear and time quietly rewound to a few years ago…

Back in high school, they had made a promise to each other that they would attend the New York University together.

However, when they were seniors, she suddenly began to pursue dancing before the entrance exams. She wanted to go professional, so she gave up on enrolling at the New York University and instead made plans to go abroad. He was very sad when she told him, but he didn’t want to hold her back, so he had agreed.

The two of them seldom spoke to each other after that. After the college entrance exams, the two of them didn’t contact each other for a whole summer.

When school finally started all Joel could feel was dejection as he walked down the path with his luggage without her. It seemed like the world only became bright and colorful when she was around.

But as he walked, he suddenly heard someone calling his name.

He looked up and saw her standing at the New York University’s reception counter for freshmen with a suitcase. With a big smile on her face, she had called out, “Joel Smith! I’m staying here all for your sake! Don’t you dare bully me in the future, you hear me?”

Even after so many years, he could still clearly remember that she had worn a pale blue dress that day. Her calves were fair and her figure tall and slender.

When she smiled, it was as if everything around her had lit up.

In the midst of Joel’s thoughts, the sound of a cell phone ringing suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

Had his assistant already found out what happened at the kindergarten?

Chapter 138: Assistance Has Come~

Joel was using Happiness, a song by one of his and Tanya’s favorite singers back then, as his cell phone ringtone.

However, when he was about to take out his phone, he instead saw Tanya taking out her own cell phone and picking up a call.

It was then that he realized that Tanya was also using Happiness as her ringtone.

If so, then did that mean that she, like him, also couldn’t forget the other party even after so many years?

But as soon as he started indulging in his wishful thinking, in front, Tanya’s eyes lit up and she said excitedly, “Darling! So it was you who helped me out!

“Of course, I’ll reward you. Shall I give you a kiss? Or perhaps, I’ll give myself to you and sleep with you for a few nights?”

“Oh, don’t be shy! Here, I’ll give you a big kiss! Mwah~!”

“… Dinner? No problem, of course! Text me the location!”

Tanya hung up after that. Then, she immediately got up, turned around, and walked away excitedly.

After she left, Joel walked out from behind the big pillar at the school gates. He stared at the direction in which she had driven away, his upturned eyes flickering dimly.

‘Darling’… ‘Give myself to you’… ‘A big kiss’…

The phrases made him feel uncomfortable all over. It was as if there was a time bomb ticking away in his body, ready to explode.

He didn’t even know what he was doing, but without even a second thought, the man, who had always been calm and self-disciplined, suddenly got into his car and followed behind her.

He was going to see… just where she was going!

_

Tanya drove the jeep leisurely to Club Prism.

After parking, she looked up and gazed at the familiar place.

This was a club that the wealthy and prestigious often visited to have some fun, and had been around for many years.

When she was still a child, she was the baggage that her mother had brought with her when she married into a wealthy family. What Hillary loved doing the most was bringing her here to have some fun—

Because she couldn’t go in.

She wasn’t of high social status and didn’t own a VIP card. Thus, all she could do was stand at the door anxiously and wait for Hillary to remember that she was there.

Later, she stopped coming.

While she was staring at the place, inside Club Prism, Hillary was also coincidentally there for dinner. She had already parked her car and was about to enter the main hall.

When she turned her head and noticed Tanya, she bit her lip at once.

To think Tanya had actually followed her here! Was she haunting her or what?

She narrowed her eyes and beckoned the lobby manager over. Then, she pointed at Tanya outside and said, “Don’t let that woman in!”

The lobby manager glanced at Hillary and retorted, “Ms. Jones, I have no right to refuse her entry if she’s a legit customer.”

Seeing that her words weren’t working on the lobby manager, a look of displeasure came over her countenance and she said, “You may not care about my identity as Ms. Jones, but what about my identity as Mrs. Smith?”

The lobby manager was taken aback.

Hillary cast her eyes down and said, “Although Joel and I aren’t married yet, I’ve already moved into the Smith's residence. You should know that, right?

The lobby manager frowned.

A smirking Hillary said, “Or perhaps you aren’t afraid of Mrs. Smith, either. In that case, what about Joel?”

The lobby manager was stunned.

Hillary pointed to the area outside and said, “That woman is a dance teacher at the kindergarten who injured Joel’s and my daughter. She followed me here because she wants to apologize. I don’t want to see her, and neither do I think Joel would want to, either. Understand?”

The lobby manager frowned.

Although Club Prism wasn’t afraid of anyone, they nevertheless still had to show Joel some respect. Thus, he nodded and said, “Alright, Ms. Jones.”

Resentment welled up in Hillary when she heard the words ‘Ms. Jones’.

This was all Mia’s fault. Had she been a boy instead, she would’ve been married to Joel a long time ago! Speaking of which, it was all because Tanya’s womb was so useless to actually give birth to a little wench instead!

She took a deep breath and entered a private room.

At the entrance.

Tanya was about to enter when someone stopped her.

“Excuse me, miss. Do you have an appointment?”

Club Prism’s customers were all either rich or prestigious. The diners here were either guests who owned their VIP cards like Hillary, or people with high social status like Justin or Joel. Even though they hadn’t applied for VIP cards, they were tacitly recognized as gold card VIPs. There was also one last type of customer—guests of the above-mentioned.

Tanya replied, “Yes, the room number is—”

But before she could finish, the lobby manager’s voice reached her.

“I’m sorry, miss, but I can’t let you in.”

Tanya, “?”

The polite lobby manager said apologetically, “Ms. Jones said just now that Mr. Smith has refused to let you in.”

Ms. Jones and Mr. Smith…

Tanya felt an ache in her heart at the mention of the names.

She narrowed her eyes and said, “I’m not here for them. I have an appointment with someone else here.”

The lobby manager sighed and said, “By right, we shouldn’t be denying you entry, miss, but Ms. Jones said that Mr. Smith has instructed that you’re not allowed to be anywhere that she is. If I let you in, I’ll end up offending Mr. Smith…”

The lobby manager wasn’t a social climber, but for the sake of his own livelihood, he could only say, “How about this? Is it alright if I get someone to bring a chair here for you and let you wait outside?”

Tanya narrowed her eyes as her chest tightened.

She could give Nora a call and ask her to come out and pick her up, of course, but if this was really an order from Joel, then wouldn’t that mean Nora would end up offending him because of her?

Although she had resolved the issue at the kindergarten for her, Tanya was unwilling to keep giving others trouble.

She clenched her fists, utterly humiliated.

Many years ago, she hadn’t been able to enter the club.

Later, it was Joel who had taken her inside.

Many years later, she still couldn’t enter the club, but she didn’t have Joel with her anymore.

Sorrow filled her heart, but she could only lower her head and smile wryly as she said, “No, it’s fine. I’ll leave.”

She would have to leave the treat for another day instead.

When she turned to leave, she happened to see another car stopping at the entrance. Joel opened the door at the driver’s seat and got out.

Tanya paused in her tracks.

Then, she immediately broke into a wry smile. No wonder they didn’t let her in…

She lowered her head and looked straight in front of her as if she didn’t see Joel. She walked straight past him to the side and said to the parking valet, “Please get my car, thanks.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Although Joel didn’t look at Tanya, he watched her out of the corner of his eye the whole time.

At the sight of her leaving, he was instead relieved.

However, since he was already here, he decided to enter the lobby. Just as he was wondering why she hadn’t met her darling for dinner, the lobby manager came forward and said, “You’re really here, Mr. Smith! As per your instructions, we’ve prevented that lady from coming in. Rest assured that we definitely won’t allow her to bother you.”