"HAHAHA! Haha! Hahaha!"
"Hey! Stop laughing! You're driving now."
Lariette smacked Madeline's arm, trying to get her friend to focus on driving but, her attempt was futile. Madeline's laughter only became louder.
"Hahaha! Did you see her face? Like a corpse! Ah! I should've recorded her! Serves her right! Oh gosh. Hahaha! She made a fool of herself."
"Yeah, yeah, I saw."
Exhaling a sigh, Lariette recounted the event that made Madeline laugh like a maniac. Everything was related to her confrontation with Stephanie earlier.
A sense of satisfaction overtook Lariette's heart as she remembered the way Stephanie looked minutes ago.
"Let your beloved Matthias bed one of his admirers. After all, sleeping once with another woman doesn't mean he cheats on you, right?"
Stephanie was too speechless to retort Lariette. Colors rapidly drained from her face. Her paleness was clearly visible beneath the red blusher on her cheeks.
Lariette knew Stephanie never expected such a feisty remark from her. After all, she was too used to bending over backward just to please the fake yet beloved heiress.
Lariette wanted to speak more but, she didn't want to waste any more time on Stephanie. Ruediger might already be on his way to their meeting place – Suit & Tie, the butler cafe.
In the end, Lariette gestured at Madeline to leave. Her friend cackled loudly before sticking her tongue out to Stephanie. The latter remained frozen on her spot.
But...
Even though Lariette wanted to end the useless confrontation right there and then, it didn't mean Stephanie felt the same.
"H-how could you say such a thing? You want your brother-in-law... your sister's fiance to sleep with another woman?"
Lariette was already aware of Stephanie's tendency to fake her tears, especially when other people were around. Fortunately, only the receptionists were nearby as they manned the counter.
"Don't suggest something you don't want to backfire on you."
"Lari... I never mean..."
Ignoring Stephanie's tearful voice, Lariette quickened her pace. She was lucky her superficial injuries were gradually healing, leaving only her head throb occasionally.
"Hahaha! I bet she's all mad now."
Madeline's voice pulled Lariette out of her trance. Glancing at her friend by her side, she drew her lips into a mocking smile.
"She'll surely whine to our mom. I've silenced my phone. I don't need her nagging at me."
Lariette hadn't replied to any of Samantha's calls and texts. She didn't mind making her mother anxious for her responses.
Before, Lariette would do anything not to upset Samantha and Stephanie, including her father and three brothers. She let her feelings be shredded by their mistreatment.
Now, Lariette no longer made the Elsher family her priority. She wanted to focus on self-love more after neglecting herself for around ten years.
"You'll go to your family dinner next week, right?" asked Madeline, recalling what Lariette had told her before, "If you end up marrying my cousin, you'll bring him along, won't you?"
"That's the plan. My father will be so angry. He has always hated the Alvord family," replied Lariette quietly.
"Hah! I also hate them!" exclaimed Madeline. Annoyed, she tightened her grasp on the steering wheel, "I'd already change my surname if my mom allows it."
Lariette smiled weakly, understanding Madeline's loath toward her paternal family. Her friend had a complicated relationship with her father due to his constant infidelity.
Both of them were the same, having shitty fathers.
At least, Madeline's mother genuinely loved her. The elegant socialite put her daughter's well-being as her topmost priority.
'Nah. I have Granny and Grandpa. They love me.'
Despite learning that Lariette was not blood-related to her, Mrs. Evans still cherished her.
Chairman Delaney didn't let his affection for Stephanie blind his feelings for Lariette. He valued them as his beloved granddaughters.
Stopping at the red light, Madeline stole a glance at Lariette. Seeing her friend being deep in her thoughts made Madeline hesitant.
The question only slipped out of her mouth after a period of silence.
"Lari, must you really register your marriage with my cousin? Can't you just bring Rudy to meet your parents and claim he's your husband?"
Lariette tore her gaze away from the view outside. Smiling, she playfully teased Madeline, "Why? Are you afraid I'll do something to your cousin?"
Even though Lariette rarely heard Madeline talking about Ruediger, she knew her friend treated her cousin like a brother.
Madeline made a face, "Nah, I won't care even if you keep ordering him around. I'm worrying about you. Your status will be a divorcee once your contract marriage ends."
"I don't care about such thing anymore, Maddie," Lariette sighed, lamenting her previous stupidity, "Just take it as me rebelling. The more real the act, the better. Mr. Alvord can be a shield for me too."
Understanding what Lariette meant, Madeline smiled in helplessness. She slowly drove once the light turned green before picking up the speed.
"Have fun, Lari. I'm not saying this because Rudy is my cousin but, he's really the best candidate for you. You can count on him for everything."
Lariette let out a chuckle, amused by Madeline's attempt to convince her, "That's reassuring to hear, Maddie."
Madeline grinned. Her eyes sparkled as she imagined Lariette meeting Ruediger for the second time soon.
In ten minutes, Madeline and Lariette finally arrived at Suit & Tie. The renowned butler cafe was quite busy despite being the morning of a weekday.
The two-story building of Suit & Tie exuded a regal and opulent charm, standing in the middle of a perfectly manicured garden. The soft cream paint of the cafe contrasted with the earthy tones of the wooden accents.
This cafe was opened two years ago and had been steadily receiving customers, especially among young ladies.
The exquisite wooden doors were opened from the inside once Madeline and Lariette stood opposite them. The familiar greeting echoed from the inside, coming from two dapper gentlemen in swallowtail suits.
"Welcome home, miladies."
"Well, I'm here again," said Lariette jokingly. She recognized the two men, "Morning, William and Joshua."
Walking alongside Lariette, Madeline asked her staff, "Where's Rudy?"
"Lord Ruediger is in the Tulip Room, Lady Madeline," replied William, keeping up the required way to speak to the customers even with his employer, "Shall I escort you there, miladies?"
"It's fine," Madeline waved one hand, "Bring tea and desserts there. Lari, come."
"Okay. Oh! Is Joshua here?"
Lariette paused, recalling one of Madeline's staff.
Joshua witnessed the accident when he was on his way to the cafe. He was the one who called Madeline upon recognizing the victim was Lariette.
"I gave him some days-off," Madeline chuckled, knowing why Lariette looking for Joshua, "If you want to thank him personally, you can do it later."
"Hehe, okay."
Lariette was indeed thankful for Joshua's actions. If not for the young man, she might wake up alone in the hospital.
Clasping the handle of her handbag, Lariette quietly followed Madeline toward the corridor where private rooms were. Her initial confidence wavered slightly as she thought of meeting her eyes with Ruediger again.
"We're here," announced Madeline once they reached the room, "Are you okay, Lari?"
"I'm okay," replied Lariette without looking at Madeline. Her eyes were focused on the door as if her gaze could see past the wooden panel.
Creak...
Lariette unconsciously held her breath at the sight beyond the door. To be exact, on the young man standing opposite a table.
Ruediger held a few stalks of red tulips and yellow roses, facing the delicate porcelain vase before him. With his chin lowered, he arranged the flowers in the vase. His calm and poised movements spelled his experience.
As the wind blew through the open windows, his luxurious crimson strands caught the summer breeze. The beaming sunlight cast a golden glow on his towering frame.
Once he peeled his gaze from the flowers to the door, his vivid emerald eyes met her sapphire ones.