CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: DRIVING HENRY PRESTON MAD

Are those two having a meal at the teahouse too? A hint of curiosity flashed in my mind.

But I quickly let it go. What they are doing here has nothing to do with me. In the near future, we’ll all go our separate ways, minding our own business.

As we were eating, Leah Lane suddenly announced some good news, "Oh, ladies, just a heads up, Connor Hawthorne and I have decided to get married!"

I almost choked on my food and started coughing.

Crystal Dawson and Tiana O’Connell both widened their eyes, "Wow, are you really going to enter this so-called marriage grave?"

"For others, it’s a grave, but for me and Connor Hawthorne, it’s a castle of love," Leah Lane seemed confident about Connor, and they looked good together. Family-wise, the Hawthorne Family couldn’t match up to the Lane Family, so it’s unlikely they would treat her poorly.

"Men can’t be relied on. Yara, don’t let love cloud your judgment!" Crystal Dawson was the most anxious, grabbing Leah Lane by the shoulders, "Wake up, how about thinking it over for another six months?"

Leah Lane knew we were all just worried about her and wasn’t angry. She just smiled and pushed Crystal Dawson’s hand away, "Oh, you all think of marriage as too terrifying. I will make you believe in love again!"

Crystal Dawson wanted to continue persuading, but I signaled her with a look, and she wisely shut her mouth.

Even among good sisters, we shouldn’t interfere too much; just a nudge is enough.

"I need to go to the restroom." After the meal, the others continued drinking tea to settle their stomachs, while I felt a bit uncomfortable in my lower abdomen, so I got up and said.

Leaving the private room, I walked continuously to the right. As I passed by a door, I heard Silas Lockwood’s voice, "Brother Henry, have you found true love?"

I stopped and continued to listen.

Jason Forrest jeered, "What a pity, the young lady isn’t interested in you at all. Even Mr. Preston’s charm sometimes fails."

"She already has a boyfriend, just let it go. There are plenty of fish in the sea."

"It’s just a female university student, they’re everywhere!"

This is the essence of sketchy social circles: rather than stopping you when you go astray, they’ll cheer you on.

I realized that in the eyes of Silas Lockwood and the others, I am simply not considered Henry Preston’s wife.

They all assume Henry Preston is a married bachelor.

Then, Ivan Underwood’s serious and cold voice sounded, "What about Zoe Hathaway? Your marriage to her is legally protected."

Suddenly, I felt that putting the lipstick in his thermos the last time was a bit excessive.

The private room fell silent, until a lazy voice from Henry Preston echoed after a while, "True love, my foot. It’s just a game. Haven’t you heard the saying? It’s what you can’t have that you desire."

I didn’t hear what else Henry Preston said because my lower abdomen started to hurt more and more, and I needed to get to the restroom.

Unexpectedly, two months late, my period decided to pay a visit today?!

I guessed it must be because I’ve been eating well, sleeping well, and with the adjustment of Chinese medicine, I was less anemic, so my period returned to normal.

I lifted the back of my skirt to take a look, and there they were, spots of maroon roses blooming.

After pondering for a minute, I dialed Henry Preston’s number.

I got rejected!

Too busy discussing with his friends how to pursue Azure Vaughn to even spare a minute for me? My period made me a bit more irritable, so I carried a bellyful of frustration to Henry Preston’s private room and swung the door open.

Everyone was a bit taken aback by my appearance, especially Silas Lockwood, who had been the most excited in the conversation; he visibly deflated a little.

Henry Preston was sitting directly facing the door, wearing a simple yet mature black polo shirt. The slight smile on his face faded instantly upon seeing me and turned into displeasure.

"What are you doing here?" His eyebrows furrowed.

I ignored him, instead motioning to Ivan Underwood with a shy smile, "Dr. Underwood, I have a favor to ask, can you help me?"

Ivan Underwood exchanged a glance with Henry Preston, clearly reluctant to help me, but after being gazed at by my coy eyes for a while, he got up anyway.

Henry Preston watched the two of us, his expression peculiar.

Once outside, Ivan Underwood asked, "What do you need?"

"A favor to purchase something," I said with what I thought was a sweet smile. I could easily ask Crystal Dawson and the others for help, but I just wouldn’t.

"What is it?" Ivan Underwood was puzzled.

"Lower your head," I tiptoed up, and seeing Ivan Underwood actually lower his head to listen, I quickly said, "Sanitary pads and a skirt!"

I saw Ivan Underwood’s face change colors. He might not understand why I sought him for help with this.

Ivan Underwood refused outright, "No way!"

"You can help Henry plan how to woo other women, but can’t help his pitiful wife buy a pack of sanitary pads? You’re a doctor, don’t you have some moral sense?" I righteously criticized Ivan Underwood.

Ivan Underwood looked at me with a gaze that grew more complex. He was probably the only man in Henry Preston’s circle with normal values, although later on, to compete for Azure Vaughn, he did some crazy things too, but he was single! Pursuing a woman was too normal!

Far better than Henry Preston, who lacks any moral boundaries.

Sure enough, Ivan Underwood didn’t argue further, pressing his thin lips together as he turned and walked toward the staircase.

I waited at the door, sending a message to reassure Crystal Dawson and the others, so they wouldn’t think I’d fallen into the toilet.

While waiting, the door to the private room opened again, and Henry Preston stepped out. Seeing me alone at the door, he asked, "Where’s Ivan Underwood?"

I pointed to the staircase, "Over there."

Ivan Underwood held a black bag, his fair and handsome face slightly red, a tall man over six feet with an air of shame about him.

He handed me the bag, his tone unnatural, "Take it!"

I gratefully accepted the bag, completely ignoring Henry Preston beside me, and bashfully thanked Ivan Underwood, "Thank you, Dr. Underwood! I’ll treat you to a meal next time."

"Wait, what is this?" Henry Preston jerked and grabbed my wrist, and I couldn’t leave.

He looked at the black bag in my hand, his eyes dangerous.

Inside, I felt delighted. Henry Preston is a hypocrite, afraid of others knowing that I’ve been cheating on him. Now I even brazenly hit on his best friend just to provoke him.

I let him snatch the bag away, observing his face turning grimmer.

"What the hell..." Henry Preston, lacking any refinement, burst out angrily, "You had Ivan Underwood buy this kind of thing for you?"

"Huh? What’s wrong with him buying sanitary pads? Is that illegal?" I feigned confusion.

"And this!" Henry Preston was just short of not taking out the pink panties and throwing them at my face, his face black as a pot bottom, seething with anger.

Ivan Underwood also looked at me, seemingly contemplating something.

Actually, even I didn’t expect Ivan Underwood to be so attentive. I only needed sanitary pads and a skirt, but he considered that my underwear would also be soiled. What a refined and considerate man with both money and looks, how did he ever lose to Henry Preston in the past life?