"Ouch, my butt hurts," Lea grimaced.
"Alex, don't be rude to women," Isabelle rose from her seat, intending to help Lea.
"Someone like her doesn't need any help; she had no shame."
The waiter came, carrying their orders and placing them in their table.
"Thank you," Layton said, ignoring his surroundings.
"Let me help you up," Isabelle said softly.
"No need, I can manage," Lea snapped and pushed Isabelle, causing her to stumble and almost fall if Alex hadn't caught her.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
"Yes, Alex, I'm fine."
Lea clapped her hands. "Wow, wow, could it be this lady here is turning you away from me and rejecting this arranged marriage?" she teased Isabelle.
"Watch your words; I'm not what you're implying, Alex and I have no connection whatsoever," she said and left without eating.
"ISABELLE..." Alex shouted and took his car keys. "Layton, you take a taxi; I'll borrow your car." Without waiting for Layton's response, he chased after Isabelle.
Alex ran after Isabelle and grabbed her hand, inviting her into the car.
Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Lea stayed behind watching all of that happening.
"Be careful, Alex; I'll tell your mother about this," Lea muttered, still audible to Layton.
"Hahaha, Lea... does Alex even care if you tell his mother? Even without his parent's help, he's successful. Even if they disinherit him, he won't become poor," he said and walked to the cashier to pay for their meal.
Lea's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She couldn't stand being humiliated in front of Layton like this. As he walked away, she clenched her fists, vowing to find a way to turn the tables on him.
"Damn... I have to get you, no matter what," she said, then stood up. Despite wincing in pain, she struggled to stand and went to her car.
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Isabelle was sitting in the curb, trying to regain her composure. The encounter had left had left her shaken, but she refused to show weakness. She knew that Alex was coming after her, and she needed to gather her thoughts.
Just as she was about to walk away and go get a taxi, Alex reached her. He grabbed her hand.
**********
-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-
"Who is it, knocking on the door so late at night?! Don't you know the time?!" Jenny said in annoyance.
"How are we supposed to know, darling? Wait a moment, let me open it," Zac said gently, stroking Jenny's head.
Zac walked to the door.
-CLICK-
"Mom, why are you here so late at night?" Surprise.
"Well, I'm not supposed to be here," she said curtly, walking right in and sitting on the sofa.
Tossing an envelope onto the table. "That's for you."
Zac take the envelope. "What is it, Mom?"
"Just see for yourself."
"I... Mom... this envelope is from the court, and the schedule is for tomorrow," he said, trembling.
"What?!" his mother got so surprised. This couldn't be left alone. She didn't want to become poor, that's what she said to herself.
"Mom, it would be better if Zac divorced that barren woman," she said cynically.
"Zac, ask for money and assets from your wife."
"Mom's right. I won't divorce her without getting anything."
"JENNY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Zac shouted when he saw Jenny just leaving.
"To bed," she said briefly, then continued to her room.
"Look, Zax, the one you love, has no manners toward your parents," his mother said sarcastically, looking at Jenny leaving.
"Mom... Didn't you also want this, so you could get grandchildren quickly?"
"Yes, that's my wish, but you're too foolish. You should have found a richer woman than Isabelle. Instead, you got a woman with nothing," she said, getting emotional. Her anger at her son made her breath heavily.
"What else can I don, Mom?" The rice has already turned into porridge," he said dejectedly and sat down on the sofa, staring at the court letter.
"Zac, I don't care. I just don't want to be poor again," she said, then left Zac's apartment.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MOM?!" Zac called after his mother.
"HOME."
"Mom, Why don't you spend the night here? It's already late."
"No, I want to go home," she left without listening to her son's words.
**********
TO BE CONTINUED...