Chapter 7
Megan cracked a smile after glancing meaningfully at Nolan. "Maybe I should let you see the real world, after all."
Nolan didn't expect those words from her. He frowned, asking, "What does that mean?"
She shook her head and ordered her men to carry Chase. "I'll ask you out within the next two days. Show up if you dare. I won't do anything to you, though. Of course, if you're scared, you can choose to escape, too."
Without another word, Megan and the others left the place.
After sending Chase into the ambulance, Megan similarly brought Jeanne into the vehicle. There was no way she could feign ignorance about Chase's injury and keep it a secret from Olivia, who would turn this into a bigger deal.
"I'm sorry, Jeanne. This shouldn't have happened. I promise I'll compensate you."
Jeanne dared not receive her compensation. She was at fault, after all. Regardless, she struggled to let this matter go. "Are you letting Nolan off the hook just like that? Even if you are, Chase will just report the matter to Mr. Riley and let him finish Nolan.
"Also, you said you'd ask him out. Are you… regretting your decision?"
That was something Jeanne feared the most. She knew that Megan secretly harbored remorse and guilt toward Nolan despite being firm and determined on the surface.
However, she wasn't sure whether Megan had any feelings left for him. After all, he was unmistakably a great man to Megan and the Turners back then.
At her words, Megan shook her head calmly and displayed a cold look. "Regret? No. I just think he deserves something worse. I'll show him his place since he's unaware of the vast difference between us. Jeanne, do you know what makes a person most demoralized?"
Jeanne shook her head, asking, "What is it?"
Megan coldly said, "It's when two people who used to complement each other, albeit having some differences, suddenly became worlds apart.
"Whether it's their values or worldviews, their lifestyles or living environments, everything changed drastically between them. That's when they feel the most desperate.
"No matter how much he tries, he can never catch up to her. In the end, he can only blame his own mediocrity and incapability. Slowly, he'll lose all the confidence to even speak.
"I precisely want Nolan to see for himself how different he and I are. I want him to feel from the bottom of his heart that he's just a feeble, insignificant ant who can never catch up to me."
Jeanne's eyes lit up, and she nodded heavily, saying, "I get it now. You want to crush his ego and make him feel inferior to the point that he would never hold his head up high again. That's great. That's the only way you can destroy his confidence.
"From now on, he'll only live in pain, regret, inferiority, and despair. That's fantastic! You're amazing, Megan!"
At that, Megan revealed a smug smile. It was then a call came in.
Looking at the caller, she frowned but proceeded to answer the call. "Why are you calling, Audrey? I thought you were mad at me."
From the speaker, a soft female voice traveled into Megan's ear. "I am mad at you, Megan, but I'm not here to talk about that today. I wanted to ask if Nolan is out. Did you… actually divorce him?"
For some reason, Megan felt a sense of discomfort when she heard how gentle Audrey Weiss sounded talking about Nolan. It felt like someone was longing for her beloved toy.
"What does Nolan's release have to do with you? Besides, it's none of your business whether we're divorced. If my memory serves me right, you're an engaged woman, Audrey. Aren't you afraid to be called unfaithful when they find out you're missing another man?"
At the mention of her engagement, Audrey stayed silent briefly. Then, she gloomily said, "I know I'm in no place to ask that—never have and never would. But Megan, I don't want you to hurt Nolan. He's the best man you could ever ask for. If you lose him, you'll regret it your whole life.
"Listen to me while you still can, Megan. Don't do anything you'll regret. You'll cry over it in the future."
Hearing Audrey's advice and affection toward Nolan, Megan lost her temper. "You should mind your own business, Audrey. Also, how Nolan is as a man has nothing to do with you. Do you feel sorry for him? Go ahead and comfort him, then.
"We're divorced, anyway. I'll sit back and see whether you have the guts to do that while you risk being called a cheater. And don't forget the consequences when your family finds out. You know the Weiss family's current state.
"If Mr. Thompson finds out, you won't be the only one to suffer the aftermath!"
Almost as if out of spite, Megan sent Nolan's address and phone number to Audrey. She wanted to see if Audrey had the guts to comfort him. If she couldn't, who was she to stand on a moral high ground and condemn her decision?
…
On the other side of Bellington, a sweet and generous-looking lady in a white dress was staring at her phone absentmindedly. Amid her gaze were hints of pain and sorrow, almost like her life was undergoing tremendous changes.
"I've always envied you for receiving Nolan's love and attention, yet why won't you cherish it? While I, someone who's always wanted to be in your shoes, will never get the chance to love him. Perhaps, this is my life."
Audrey lowered her head slightly, a bead of tears rolling off her eye. She knew she couldn't approach Nolan for her safety's sake. Yet, she genuinely wanted to see how the man she had loved for so long was faring after being abandoned.
Was he deep in sorrow?