Book 1: She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement Annulment

Chapter 4

Chapter 10: See You At Eight In The Evening!

Cherry and Chesty had known each other for over half a year. They got along very well and were already good friends.

They had already planned to meet when she got back to the States, so she agreed as soon as Chester said that.

Chester asked eagerly, “Which room are you in?”

Cherry was about to tell him the room number when she suddenly thought of something. Instead, she said, “Not tonight, my mom is asleep. Let’s do it tomorrow instead.”

Chesty suddenly laughed. “Everyone says that you sound like a little girl only because you’re using a voice changer and that you’re, in fact, a dirty middle-aged man. Can you tell me whether you’re male or female?”

Cherry grinned. “It’s a secret.”

California was in the west of the States, and the humidity in the air was just right. It was mild in winter and dry in summer. With the curtains in the room closed, the room was completely dark, which made it very suitable for sleeping.

It was already in the middle of the day when Nora finally slowly opened her eyes. She checked the time—it was already past one o’clock in the afternoon. Cherry and Mrs. Lewis had already had lunch, so she simply called for takeout.

At the same time at the hotel entrance.

With a complicated look, Angela watched Anthony hurriedly enter the lobby. She clenched her fists.

During the past few days, Anthony’s attitude toward her whenever she called had been very perfunctory, and all he asked about was Idealian Pharmaceuticals each time.

A woman’s sixth sense told her that something must be wrong.

Thus, she had trailed Anthony early this morning. Little did she expect that she would be here.

Hotel Finest was one of the most expensive and upscale places in California.

Angela quietly followed Anthony in and saw him turning into the bar on the first floor.

He took out a wad of cash, handed it to several waiters, and instructed softly, “…You know what you’re supposed to do, right? Act according to my signals tonight!”

“Yes, sir.”

After they dispersed, Anthony took a deep breath nervously. Then, he lowered his head and started to draft a text message.

‘Hello, Miss Anderson. Sorry if this is a little sudden, but I got your number from the bar on the first floor. I’d like to invite you to the bar downstairs at 8 pm.’

After sending the text message, he raised his head and looked at the setup in front of him with satisfaction.

He didn’t know how he had offended the pretty woman last time, but she would definitely fall for him tonight. After all, no woman would be able to resist a romantic move like this.

Seeing that she didn’t respond even after a long while after he sent the message, Anthony thought for a while and sent another text message to his friends: “Eight o’clock tonight at Hotel Finest’s bar in the lobby. Be there or be square.”

He had reserved the whole place and was asking his friends to come over and cheer for him. However, he didn’t realize that he had accidentally also selected Angela’s name when he mass-sent the message.

After he left, the waiters whispered among themselves.

“What’s Mr. Gray intending to do?”

“He’s prepared such a huge surprise. He must be intending to propose to his fiancée, right?”

“His fiancée is so lucky…”

An excited Angela’s cheeks turned a little warm as she listened to their soft speculations. A warm current also surged up from the bottom of her heart.

How could she suspect that Anthony was being unfaithful? She really shouldn’t have!

Buzz…

She received a text message sound notification on her cell phone. She looked down—it was a message from Anthony: “Eight o’clock tonight at Hotel Finest’s bar in the lobby. Be there or be square.”

Angela couldn’t help laughing.

His tone was exactly the same as whenever he asked her out for a date in the past. If she hadn’t secretly seen all these, she would never have imagined that Anthony had prepared such a huge surprise for her.

Angela was in a good mood and walked out slowly.

When she looked up again, she just so happened to see Nora, who was dressed in her pajamas and slippers, coming out to pick up her takeout order.

Her eyes were downcast, and her smooth and silky hair draped behind her. She was fair-skinned, and her facial features were impeccably refined. Her sleepy appearance made her seem a little as if she was taking a leisurely stroll.

Despite being dressed like that, the air around her still attracted people’s attention, nevertheless.

Angela’s hands balled up slightly. She couldn’t curb her jealousy.

How could that woman possibly afford to stay in Hotel Finest?

She was definitely just pretending to be rich.

She quickly took a couple of steps toward her and reprimanded her. “You don’t even have any clothes anymore, yet you still insist on staying in this hotel. Are you planning to seduce some rich guy here, Nora? How about taking a good look at yourself first?

Do you really think you can trick people into paying for you just by using that face of yours?”

Nora, who was carrying her takeout in one hand and reading a text message on her cell phone in the other, looked confused.

She casually tapped twice on her cell phone and deleted the spam text messages sent by Anthony.

Then, she said indifferently, “Uh-huh. At least I have a face to be proud of.”

Her cat-like eyes swept across Angela’s face casually. Those few words of hers were very insulting.

Angela was infuriated.

Was she saying that she was shameless? Or was she implying that she was ugly? Or perhaps… She meant both?

She narrowed her eyes. Then, she suddenly smiled. “Nora, do you want to know where that abandoned child of yours is? If you do, then I’ll see you at the bar at 8 pm.”

So what even if she was pretty?

Didn’t Anthony dump her all the same anyway?!

She wanted Nora to see with her very own eyes how Anthony was going to propose to her!

Angela turned and left after leaving these words.

A slightly chilly look entered Nora’s eyes as she looked at her from the back.

8 pm at the bar again.

Hah, she would see what her precious little sister and ex-fiancé have prepared for her!

She retracted her gaze and went upstairs with the takeout.

Although the presidential suite they were staying in wasn’t the best of the best, it still had a kitchen. Cherry was still growing; they mustn’t eat out all the time. The meals that they ate every day were all made by Mrs. Lewis.

At dinner, Mrs. Lewis prepared a healthy meal with both meat and vegetables.

Nora had been busy all afternoon. When she sat down to eat, she noticed that Cherry had a troubled look on her face.

She propped Cherry’s chin up with her chubby hands and sighed deeply. “Mommy, I’m bored.”

Nora pinched her face lazily. In a slightly hoarse voice, she said, “Why aren’t you playing your games, baby?”

“It’s the weekend.” Cherry said disdainfully, “All the school kids are on holiday.”

“…”

The corners of Nora’s lips spasmed a little. She felt that Cherry might possibly have forgotten that she was just a kindergartener.

She passed Cherry her food and asked, “What do you want to do? I’ll spend some time with you.”

“It’s fine. Mommy’s busy.” Cherry put on a very sensible expression while her round eyes darted about here and there. “Can you get Mrs. Lewis to take a walk around the hotel with me at eight tonight?”

Nora pretended not to notice her sneaky thoughts and chuckled softly. “Sure.”

Her daughter was very cheeky and always came up with all sorts of eccentric ideas. She had also always been a smart and sensible child and had never let others take advantage of her. She didn’t need to worry about letting Mrs. Lewis go out with her.

After they ate, the trio split up at the door.

Nora went to the first floor for her appointment. When she saw that her mother had entered the elevator, Cherry took out her cell phone and sent a voice message: “Chesty, I’m out! Where are you?”

Chester’s reply came very quickly: “Table 28 at the cafe on the first floor. I’ll be waiting for you here!”

Cherry grinned. “Okie Dokie! I’ll be there right away!”

Chapter 11: Eating Her Words!

The bar on the first floor was already bubbling with people’s voices by now.

Anthony was quite well-known in California. Under the power of his summons, his friends brought more friends along and filled up the place.

The lights in the entire bar were blurry, and men and women were twisting their bodies fervently on the dance floor.

Angela, who wore a long red gown, was sitting in the corner with a drink in her hand and her cheeks rosy. Next to her, her group of fair-weather friends was complimenting her.

“Hotel Finest’s not cheap, Angela. Anthony must have big plans in mind, right? Is he… going to propose?”

“He must be proposing! I’m sure of it! Isn’t your sister back? I heard that even the marriage certificate has been torn into pieces. With that, their engagement can officially be considered annulled!”

“It’s all that damned fatt… damned woman’s fault! If it hadn’t been for her hiding abroad for so many years and refusing to come back and annul the engagement, Angela and Anthony would have been married long ago!”

“Hey, why is that woman here?!”

With these words, Angela also looked at the entrance.

Nora was still dressed just as casually today. Jeans and a black T-shirt set off the skin around her neck, making it look so fair that it was glowing white.

She was expressionless, her eyes were slightly lidded, and she gave off a world-weary feeling, yet her looks were eye-catching and beautiful. As soon as she entered, she immediately attracted the attention of everyone around her.

The moment she walked in, a waiter rushed to the back. “Mr. Gray, she’s here!”

Anthony stood up immediately and walked forward. “Get ready!”

The loud music in the bar gave Nora a headache, and overwhelming irritation filled her.

She looked up. When her indifferent gaze located Angela, she walked over to her.

Before she had even gotten near, she heard a pretentious Angela say, “Why are you here, Nora? Anthony will never agree to meet you.”

As soon as she said that, her unsavory friends also spoke.

“Nora, are you here to make a scene because you caught wind that Anthony’s going to propose?”

“You were the one with immoral conduct, sleeping with some guy and getting yourself pregnant before marriage. That’s why Mr. Gray dumped you. Yet you’re here to harass him now? Where’s your sense of shame?!”

“Even if you’ve become pretty, it won’t change the fact that you’re saddled with extra baggage! Why would Mr. Gray ever pay any attention to you? Is there any point in pestering him so persistently?”

“…”

Due to the deafening music, the commotion here didn’t reach far.

Nora didn’t care what others said about her.

She looked at Angela. “Tell me, where is that child?”

Angela approached her with a sardonic smile. She pointed to the sofa next to her and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear. “Nora, sit down obediently,watch tonight’s exciting show in its entirety, and give Anthony and I your blessings after that. If you do that, I’ll tell you.”

Nora understood now.

She wanted to use the marriage proposal scene to humiliate her. However, the private investigators didn’t have any leads at all. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, she was unwilling to give it up.

Nora sat on the sofa and leaned back. She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks as she uttered, “You sure have nothing better to do.”

Angela stared at her fiercely. Things had already reached this stage, yet her sister was still so calm. It made her look like some kind of clown.

She clenched her fists. Suddenly, she started to mock Nora. “Say, Nora, if you hadn’t been fat and had always been this pretty, would Anthony have broken off the engagement?”

Nora’s eyes suddenly flew open, and a sharp glint appeared in her cat-like eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

Her obesity had been due to the mistaken use of hormonal injections.

Even though she had worked so hard to lose weight and suffered so much, it was useless. Her body needed to slowly repair its bodily functions.

Judging from what Angela said, could it be that…

Seeing that her expression had finally changed, Angela laughed arrogantly. With a venomous look in her eyes, she said maliciously, “We’re both Smith's, so why should you be the one to marry into the Gray's? But what if you were a fatty? Take a look at what’s happening now—sure enough, Anthony has fallen in love with me!”

“So what even if you’ve slimmed down? It’s too late! What a waste of that face of yours. If you weren’t saddled with extra baggage, you might have been able to find another man… But now? Tsk, tsk.”

Anger roiled in Nora’s eyes.

To think her stepmother had been so vicious just for the sake of an engagement! She was only five when she was injected with hormones!

She was just about to lose her temper when…

All the lights in the bar suddenly went out, and the music came to an abrupt stop!

Two seconds later, a white spotlight shone at the center of the dance floor!

Anthony was wearing a white suit and he looked handsome and elegant. He held a guitar in his hands. The moment he appeared, the audience screamed.

“Anthony! Anthony!”

Regardless of whether they were male or female, everyone cooperated and shouted his name.

Anthony smiled. He stretched out a finger and gestured for the audience to keep quiet. The place instantly became completely quiet.

He strummed the guitar a few times and a melody formed smoothly. Meanwhile, he also hummed the most popular love songs. Although it wasn’t a celebrity-class performance, it was bearable.

Angela stood up excitedly, her tears flowing with emotion.

Anthony was so handsome!

After finishing a song, Anthony put down the guitar. Then, he held the microphone and said, “I booked this whole place and got so many friends over today because I would like to tell a certain girl something. From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I’ve thought that you are a very extraordinary girl.”

“Wow! Anthony! Anthony!” Everyone cheered again, livening up the atmosphere to a climax.

Anthony gave a wave. Immediately, a few “pops” sounded, and the balloons on the ceiling burst, scattering a shower of roses from above!

This is so romantic!

Angela covered her mouth. Her eyes were filled with surprise.

She turned to the side excitedly and said sarcastically to Nora, “Did you see that? Anthony was so dismissive toward you back then, but he’s putting in so much effort for me today!

“Even ten of you can’t compare to a single toe of mine!”

Angela felt invigorated.

Especially when she saw the envy in the eyes of the girls around her. Her heart felt like it was going to burst from happiness!

Then, she saw Anthony slowly walking step by step toward her with a bouquet of roses in his hands…

The surrounding crowd voluntarily stepped aside, as if building a bridge between them.

Angela straightened her back. She couldn’t help but take a few steps toward him. She felt like this day was the highlight of her life!

She didn’t notice that there was only one person in Anthony’s eyes at the moment.

Even in this dimly lit bar, the woman sitting on the sofa was dazzling and eye-catching. There was no one else—including Angela—in his eyes at all.

The only thought on his mind was that this was dramatic enough even for a proposal, so the beauty would probably give him a chance again, right?

Angela stopped after taking a few steps forward. Seeing Anthony coming nearer and nearer, her smile blossomed uncontrollably.

Anthony would probably get down on one knee in front of her next, right?

But unexpectedly…

Chapter 12: I’m Alone, I Didn’t Gather Anyone

Angela watched Anthony pass her by to finally stop in front of Nora.

He bent down and offered her the roses in a gentlemanly manner. “Miss Anderson, may I have the honor of becoming friends with you?”

“…”

Angela’s eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at the scene in disbelief.

The light in the bar was a bit dim, which made her feel as if she was dreaming. Why had Anthony gone up to the damned fatty?

Nora didn’t expect such a dramatic twist, either. She had only met Anthony twice, yet he had dumped his prospective fiancée to woo her?

But when she saw how surprised and furious Angela looked—to the extent that it made her look rather savage—her anger from just now calmed a little. The corners of her lips curled upward with great interest into a mischievous smile.

Her smile, which was as bright and dazzling as a blooming sunflower, made Anthony’s eyes light up.

He was about to say something, but Angela couldn’t control herself anymore. She screamed, “Anthony!”

It was only when he heard her voice that Anthony finally noticed Angela standing beside him. He frowned and asked, “Why are you here?”

Angela was still fantasizing that perhaps Anthony had mistaken someone else for her because of the darkness, but his question had shattered her last vestiges of hope.

She glared at Nora angrily. “You b***h! You’re so shameless!”

After she shouted, she raised her hand to Nora.

Anthony immediately stopped her. With a sullen look, he snapped, “What are you doing, Angela? Don’t make a scene here like a shrew.”

Angela’s eyes flushed angrily. “Are you actually defending her? Do you know—”

“Enough!” Anthony interrupted her. “Take a look at yourself now, Angela. Can’t you take a leaf out of Miss Anderson’s book and pick up some of her lady-like air and charisma?”

Angela was stunned. “W-who did you say she was? Don’t you know who she is?”

Anthony was taken aback by her question. “She’s Isabel Anderson…”

He turned to the side to see Nora seated leisurely on the sofa. With her lips curled into a smile, she said lazily, “Isabel is my middle name. I also have another name—Nora. Smith.”

“…”

The whole bar suddenly fell quiet for a moment. The situation had confused everyone.

Anthony stared at her in disbelief. “Y-you…”

He was so shocked that he couldn’t say anything even after stuttering for a long time.

Angela managed to react, however. “She’s tricked you, Anthony! She’s tricked us both! She did it on purpose just to take revenge on us and make us a joke!”

That damned fatty had ruined her proposal. She hated Nora’s guts now.

Angela shouted to everyone around her, “What are all of you still in a daze for? Beat her up! Beat that woman to death!”

Everyone in the bar was friends of Anthony and Angela. Upon hearing her shout, everyone surrounded Nora.

At the sight of so many people throwing their lives away, Nora stretched and loosened her muscles to warm up.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the lobby.

Justin entered the lobby. He was about to go to the elevator when he suddenly heard the noise in the bar.

Through the glass walls, he immediately spotted the woman on the sofa. There was a little more frostiness on her usually distant expression.

There was malice on the faces of everyone around her. From the looks of things, it seemed like she was about to be assaulted by the group of them?

Seeing that they were about to start, Justin suddenly turned and entered the bar.

“Stop!”

His deep, cold, and fierce shout made Nora, who was about to jump into action, pause. Then, a group of well-trained bodyguards swarmed in. In no time, they had surrounded the bar.

The elegant man at the entrance wore a luxurious bespoke hand-tailored suit. The mole at the corner of his eye exuded a sense of chilliness. His cold eyes swept across the place and he slowly said, “Group fights are prohibited in Hotel Finest!”

“…”

Nora, who had only just gotten into the mood to fight, lost interest in an instant.

Gee.

That man sure had a lot of rules. It was affecting her performance

Intimidated by the aura around him, everyone else also stopped moving. Anthony, the one calling the shots, braced himself and asked, “Who are you?”

Lawrence, who was following closely behind Justin, answered, “This is Mr. Hunt.”

Mr. Hunt from Hotel Finest… Justin Hunt? That man at the top of the golden pyramid?!

Anthony had heard that he was here in California on a business trip. His family had given him a thousand and one warnings and told him not to mess with him.

Everyone’s expressions changed drastically.

Lawrence didn’t understand why his boss was suddenly being nosy, but since he had set the rules, they had to implement them.

He cleared his throat, raised his chin, and ordered, “How dare you fight at Hotel Finest? Are you sick of living? Get out!”

Everyone hurried out as if they were fleeing.

When Nora saw that Angela was also preparing to leave with the crowd, a sharp look flashed across Nora’s eyes. She grabbed Angela’s arm. “Angela, there’s something you haven’t said yet.”

Angela was already in a panic and at a loss at this point. She glanced at Justin fearfully, wishing only to leave quickly. She lowered her voice and retorted, “What are you going crazy for? Let go!”

“Okay.” Nora obediently let go of her arm.

Angela heaved a sigh of relief. Just as she turned away and was about to leave, a huge force suddenly struck her from behind and kicked her into the air.

Bam!

Angela hit the table in front and fell to the ground. She felt as if all her internal organs were aching.

After kicking her, Nora walked over and grabbed her by the hair. In a fervent tone, she said, “Do you remember what you wanted to tell me now?”

Angela’s eyes widened. With her eyes red, she shouted, “She’s being violent, Mr. Hunt!”

Justin frowned. That woman’s kick just now was unexpectedly forceful. She seemed to have some pretty good moves, which made him seem as if he had been too much of a busybody.

Before he even spoke, Lawrence reprimanded her. “Group fights are prohibited in Hotel Finest, Miss Smith. Do you have no regard for Mr. Hunt’s rules?”

Nora looked up slightly. Her looks made her look well-behaved and sensible. She replied softly, “I’m alone. I’m not in a group.”

“…”

Her words shut Lawrence up.

When one thought about it, there indeed wasn’t anything wrong with what she said.

Stunned, Angela screamed, “Help!”

Seeing that someone was about to come over, Nora glanced over coldly and asked, “Are you trying to gather a group of people?”

“…”

Seeing that no one dared to come over anymore, she looked down at Angela whom she was pressing down on.

Originally, on account of how they were sisters, after all, she had only wanted to know the whereabouts of her son and hadn’t intended to make things so ugly. But injecting hormones into her when she was only five? Such a grudge had removed all of her restraint.

Smack!

She slapped Angela ruthlessly across her cheek. When she saw her cheek visibly swelling, she slowly said, “If you continue to keep silent, I’ll beat you up so bad you won’t even recognize yourself anymore.”

A trembling Angela couldn’t hold it in anymore. She burst into tears and said, “I’ll talk, I’ll talk! That child—”