Chapter 11 On What Grounds?

Lila Cross walked from the film set to the nearby fresh market. She hadn't forgotten she was cooking dinner for Lucian and Noah that evening. "Sir, Mrs. Cross has gone to buy groceries," said the man. The black Bentley came to a halt. Locke White glanced at the man in the back seat. "Shall we keep waiting, or…" Adrian Quinn set down his phone, rolled down the window, and watched Lila's retreating figure. By now, he had pieced together the relationship between her and those two. Boyfriend and best friend—carrying on an affair behind her back, flaunting it in her face. He had assumed that, judging from her utterly shattered state the night she got drunk, today's incident would leave her brokenhearted, in tears. But… He watched the woman walk briskly, humming a tune as she headed toward the fresh market. His dark brows furrowed slightly. After buying ingredients for the twins at the fresh market, Lila passed a fish stall. She recalled asking Walter Briggs before what Adrian Quinn liked to eat. Walter said he enjoyed fish. Lila had never cooked fish—Charles Jackson feared fish, so much so that he wouldn't even touch a cooked one. Over time, she had developed an instinctive aversion to live fish. But Adrian liked it. She carefully selected a fresh, plump fish, had the vendor clean and gut it, then took it home. With her shopping done, the woman walked out of the market, two heavy bags in hand. Just outside, Charles Jackson's assistant dragged her into a narrow alley. "So you're really here." Charles leaned against the car door, his gaze at Lila cold and indifferent. "Let me drive you home." Lila glanced at the car behind him and gave a faint smile. "No need. I live with my husband in the villa district in the west of the city now. Your cheap-looking car can't even get in." "Since you know I've married Mr. Quinn, you should understand that your wealth will never compare to his in your entire life." Charles's face darkened. He glared at Lila. "So you married Mr. Quinn just to climb the social ladder?" Lila laughed. "Yes." She looked at Charles, her eyes now empty of the obsession and passion she once held for him. This man now made her feel sick. "I despise you for being poor, for not being as rich as Mr. Quinn. Does that answer satisfy you?" "You're lying." Charles stared at Lila's face, then laughed after a long pause. "I know you. That's not who you are." He took a deep breath, speaking earnestly, "Lila, are you still upset about what happened earlier? Everyone was emotional. If I hurt you in any way, I apologize." "Since you don't want me to drive you home, I'll be brief." The man sighed. "Sylvia came to me in tears earlier. She generously offered triple pay for you to be her stand-in, yet you kept making mistakes on set, delaying the shoot, making the director resent her." Lila sneered. Why did the director resent Sylvia? Wasn't it because she kept demanding retakes of the beating scenes? Now it was her fault? "I hope you'll take your work seriously from now on, and keep personal feelings separate from professional duties." Charles pressed his lips together. "I know you can't accept that Sylvia and I are together. But we truly love each other. If you must blame someone, blame me. I was too conservative—I couldn't accept my lover giving birth to another man's child, so five years ago, when you gave birth, I went to bed with Sylvia." Lila froze. A roaring filled her ears; she could barely hear Charles's words. Five years ago, she'd been in a car accident. She'd spent a full day and night in surgery before finally delivering the stillborn child. The doctor said she was lucky—anyone with a weaker constitution would've died on the operating table. And now Charles was telling her that while she nearly died giving birth for him, he was sleeping with Sylvia? She laughed bitterly. "So you and Sylvia have been involved since five years ago." "Don't put it so crudely." Charles frowned. "What do you mean ‘involved'? You were the one who betrayed me first. No man can bear his girlfriend…" *Slap—!* Lila slapped him hard across the face. She put all her strength into it—Charles staggered back a step. "Five years ago, when you used the money I earned to clear your name, you never told me you looked down on me, that you were already with Sylvia!" She bit her lip hard. "You used my money to whitewash yourself, enjoyed the fame I brought you, and then looked down on me? Charles, how dare you?!" Charles clutched his cheek, his eyes icy. "You gave birth to another man's child and still dared to stay with me. What's a little money from you?" Lila's heart sank into an icy abyss. Five years of love, five years of selfless devotion—and all she'd raised was an ungrateful ingrate! Suddenly, she remembered the fish she'd just bought. Charles hated fish the most. Gritting her teeth, Lila hurled the blood-soaked fish straight at Charles! It landed squarely in his arms. "Here, a gift. You're welcome!" The man screamed in panic. "Lila Cross! You're insane! Assistant! Get this fish off me!" The woman strode out of the alley, groceries in hand, and hailed a taxi to leave. "Lila Cross, I won't forgive you…" His voice faded behind her. Leaning against the back seat of the taxi, Lila covered her eyes with her hands. But tears still slipped through her fingers. She was truly the greatest fool in the world! Fooled for five whole years by Charles and that lowlife Sylvia! Evening traffic was heavy. By the time the taxi stopped in front of the Quinn Estate, Lila had finished crying. She composed herself and got out. Under the flower arbor at the villa's entrance, Adrian Quinn was on the phone. His long legs were encased in white trousers. Leaning against the arbor, he held a cigarette, inhaling as he spoke to someone on the other end. The glow of the setting sun and the curling smoke made his silhouette even more slender and imposing, his features sharper, more coldly striking. The cold, masculine presence radiating from him made Lila's heart flutter. Carrying her groceries, she approached, careful to walk along the opposite side of the arbor, knowing he was busy. But as she passed by, he hung up and reached out to stop her. His gaze was cool as he looked her over. "What's in your hands?" "Dinner for Lucian and Noah." Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. He leaned down, his body close to hers. "Only for them? Nothing for me?" His overwhelming, cold presence made Lila uneasy. She lowered her head. "There is. I bought fish—you like it…" "Where?" She instinctively raised her right hand. It was empty. Only then did she remember—she'd thrown the fish she bought for Adrian at Charles. The woman gave an awkward smile. "Forgot to buy it. I'll make it up next time." "Good." He reached up, cupped her chin, his smile elegant and captivating. "Remember—you owe me one." Lila: "…" At a five-star hotel, Charles sat among producers and sponsors, still feeling the fishy smell clinging to him. Soon, the food arrived. Charles turned pale as he stared at the table full of fish dishes, but dared not show anger. The whole entertainment industry knew he hated fish! The producer chuckled nervously. "Sorry, Mr. Jackson. Someone specifically requested that you only eat fish tonight."