I'm Over You, My Billionaire Ex

Chapter 10 Alice's Magical Vegetables

Isabella was visibly startled by my sudden question. Her expression showed she was deep in thought, though she was still glaring at me. The hostility in her stance, however, had noticeably weakened.

I didn't waste any time trying to separate her from Olivia. "I overheard you cursing out Olivia's cousin, Kaitlyn. Has she hurt you, too? Kaitlyn really is a b***h. She stole my husband, ruined my family. Olivia's been brainwashed by her cousin and now hates me because of it... But you and I, we don't have any beef!"

As I mentioned Kaitlyn's wrongdoings, I deliberately raised my voice, making sure everyone around us could hear. I couldn't help but feel a bit of a thrill when I noticed curious glances coming our way.

"Are you really going to go through with this and hurt me? Make Ryan despise you? Do you want Olivia to steal Ryan from you just like Kaitlyn did?" I leaned in close, whispering the last words into Isabella's ear.

Her face turned pale in an instant. My words had struck a nerve.

I could see a flicker of panic in Isabella's eyes, and that was when I knew my plan was working.

"Kaitlyn... She seduced my father..." Isabella muttered, almost as if talking to herself.

'Her father? Isn't he the mayor? Kaitlyn and I were barely teenagers when we lived here. She couldn't have been older than eighteen back then. And yet she was already trying to seduce the mayor?'

I thought about my former friend Kaitlyn. Ever since I found out how she framed me and stole my husband, I admit I didn't know her well, and I wasn't surprised by anything she did anymore.

"Ryan's at the hospital. If you really want to win his favor, instead of fighting against an imaginary rival in love, why not show some effort yourself? The hospital is full of beautiful doctors and nurses working together all day. Who knows, they might be hitting the bar after hours." I said calmly as if stating a fact rather than giving advice.

My words were like a stone thrown into a pond, creating ripples in Isabella's mind. She glanced around, suddenly paranoid, as if she could already see her rivals in love circling around Ryan.

'I can't waste any more time here!'

Isabella bit her lip and forcefully let go of Olivia's hand.

"I... I have something else to do. I'm leaving!" she blurted out before dashing away, the sound of her heels echoing frantically against the pavement.

I flashed a triumphant smile at Olivia. She glanced at me and then at Isabella's rapidly fading figure, stomped her foot in frustration, and quickly chased after her.

Later that night, I got a call from Ryan. His voice boomed with excitement, almost too loud, through the receiver.

"Michael wasn't poisoned! In fact, his stomach ulcer healed up, just like Mary's mysterious sinus recovery! Alice, I think it's all because of your vegetables, Alice's magical vegetables!"

'Could my vegetables really be that miraculous?'

After I hung up, I pressed a hand to my own stomach, a wave of shock and joy washing over me. 'If my vegetables can cure diseases... does that mean my cancer won't come back? Could I finally win back custody of my three kids?'

The next day, I had barely set up my stand when I heard hurried footsteps rushing toward me. Michael bolted to my stall in an instant.

"Miss! One pound of everything!" he shouted eagerly.

I chuckled as I weighed out the vegetables and handed them over.

Michael didn't even wait. He grabbed a head of lettuce, rushed to the clinic's sink, rinsed off a few leaves, and started devouring them right then and there.

People around us began watching, puzzled by his unusual behavior.

"Michael, what on earth are you doing?" a middle-aged woman asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm eating lettuce! It's so good, I couldn't wait anymore!" Michael replied, his voice muffled by mouthfuls of the lettuces.

Michael had finished a whole pound of lettuce in less than five minutes. Then, without hesitation, he moved on to the cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach, devouring them with the same enthusiasm.

"My God, these veggies are incredible!" Michael exclaimed. "I feel so light, like a weight's been lifted off me. My back doesn't ache, my legs feel great. I've got endless energy!"

"Miss, I need ten pounds more! No, make it ten pounds of everything!" he called out, rushing back to pay.

The others, intrigued by Michael's enthusiasm, quickly joined the line, eager to buy the vegetables themselves.

That was when Olivia, who had been watching from the sidelines with a disdainful smirk, couldn't hold back any longer.

Reeking of perfume and strutting like she owned the place, she marched over to my stall, heels clicking sharply against the pavement. With her usual arrogant look, she shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! Are you all seriously this gullible? You're being scammed!" she shrieked, her tone dripping with disdain.

A few people hesitated, glancing around uncertainly, unsure whether to proceed.

Michael couldn't hold back before I could say a word and retorted, "Olivia, who's scamming anyone? It's not me! I ate these veggies yesterday, and today, I feel like a whole new person! Don't believe me? Just watch!"

With that, he bounced up and down a few times like a kid to show off his newfound energy.

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Someone joked. "Michael, you sure don't look like someone who was sick!"

Michael puffed out his chest proudly and shot a defiant look at Olivia. "See? I told you, I'm not lying."

Seeing Michael's change, others followed suit, buying the vegetables and casually washing and eating them right there.

That was when a thin man let out a sudden shout, clutching his stomach in pain, his face twisted in agony.

"Ouch, my stomach hurts! I must have been poisoned by these vegetables!" the man wailed dramatically. "I'm going to the hospital, calling the cops, and suing you!"

The crowd immediately erupted into chaos. Those who had been ready to buy the vegetables stepped back, fear written all over their faces.

"Oh my God, are these vegetables really poisonous?"

"This is terrifying! I won't buy them anymore. What if I get poisoned too?"

I had anticipated something like this, and without hesitation, I raised my voice and shouted loudly, "Everyone, don't believe these lies! My vegetables are perfectly safe! This man must've been paid off to cause trouble here! If you don't believe me, just call the police and take him to the hospital for a proper checkup!"