‘‘The opportunistic shrew?!’’ Luke wondered, his face darkening.
"Luke?"
"Look, Mom.Don't say I never warned you.If Ryan hears you talk about Wendy like that, that'll be the last you see of him." Josie's face fell instantly.
Luke placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"Please.Just hear me out, okay?"
"Fine, say what you must."
"You know Ryan.Falling in love is really hard for him.You should be glad he finally found happiness.Besides, Wendy is amazing! Despite her profession, she is kind and honest and cares for others..."
Before Luke could even finish his sentence, Josie stopped him with a hard glare.
"Luke! I didn't ask you to come to sing Wendy's praises.She has everyone fooled, including you it seems."
Luke stared at his mother in shock.
She had always been a sensible woman.
When had she turned into this stubborn, mean creature standing in front of him? "Okay Mom.
How about you tell me why you hate Wendy so much? You two haven't even met.
Why don't you try getting to know her? You might change your mind about her."
"No need for that!"
"Mom..."
Luke insisted, wanting to talk some sense into his mother.
"I saw her...exploits in the news a few days ago,"
Josie interrupted him.
"How indecently she behaved backstage, how she got her role in the first place.
That woman is nothing but a slut..."
"Mother,"
Luke exclaimed, pulling her in a corner to avoid being overheard.
"Keep your voice down! You know the showbiz is brutal.Bruce has been involved in these circles for several years.Weren't there plenty of rumors that he was sleeping around? Yet none of it was true.You should know those things about Wendy are just lies.So why give them any credit?"
"There's no smoke without fire!"
Luke was completely dumbfounded, but he stood his ground.
all lies in the end.Carter is just the director of the show.He and Wendy just work together and that's
didn't look
"Mom..."
it about her that
to know that?’ Luke
my brother.If you want to
slapped
me, now!
treat Ryan like this. But with me, you
let that bitch seduce him.You should be looking out for
from trying so hard not to
any of this his fault? His brother's
"Mom!"
Josie
everyone.Precious went on a hunger strike for her and your brother refuses to meet any of the women I
said, but he could not
hell! Get out of
Luke was really frustrated.
and stood right
pointed at the bruise on his face and said, "Mom! I've been standing
purple, so it was hard to miss.But when his
her son
to guess, though, I'd say you screwed
words hit him like a physical blow.His thoughts were that of frustration
For you, Ryan can do no wrong and I am always the screw-up.Am I really
the house. It’s Chinese decor didn't match the
tall wooden bookcase was laden
time was carefully placed in the shelves and the air smelled faintly of
desk, motioning for Ryan
on one of the armchairs that stood in front of the
was silent for
just picked up a book and flipped its pages, as if
and on, until finally Anson
He cleared his throat.
slowly closed the book and look up at
beat around
mother isn't fond of
"Alright."
waited for a minute, but Ryan
to raise his
am fond of Wendy.Very much
as an
I know it's not every day you meet someone you like.Especially
slightly and add, "Well! I am happy for you! I am glad you found someone to love.I tried talking
trailed off,
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!