Chapter 232

Oliver's cries frustrated Thea. She liked children; otherwise, her temperament wouldn't have changed so drastically after her miscarriage. However, she couldn't stand Oliver's brattish behavior.

Suppressing her churning thoughts, prompted by Stefan's earlier words, Thea turned to leave. Nicolas's gentle voice still echoed in her ears: "Oliver, Thea is a very good person She will definitely treat you well in the future. She will treat you as her own child and raise you with me." Thea stopped. "Nicolas, don't flatter me. I'm not as good as you say. I can't give my love to a brat."

She even wondered if Oliver would betray her one day. Oliver cried again. "Dad, you heard everything! She doesn't like me at all. I want my mother!" He meant Stephanie.

Amidst the crying, Thea drove away, looking determined, but her eyes remained fixed on the rearview mirror. Nicolas didn't follow, still coaxing the inconsolable Oliver. She thought, With Nicolas's patience, who would believe Oliver isn't his son? She certainly didn't.

Returning to Silvercreek, she received numerous calls, answering only Joyce's. "Thea, I don't know what happened, but my family suddenly returned my credit card. You've been in a bad mood lately. Let's go to the bar tonight. I guarantee you'll forget your troubles!" Thea, hearing Joyce's excitement, felt even more determined to protect her. Joyce, unlike Thea, had grown up loved and cherished, her only setback being Kelly. Thea couldn't bear to see her fall into the Rowland family's trap. Most importantly, Joyce wouldn't be unwilling.

"Okay," Thea replied. "Wait for me."

"I'll order ten male models tonight to serve you. I guarantee you'll be satisfied," Joyce enthused. But seeing Thea's downcast look, her excitement dimmed. "Did you go back to Key Biscane? Did the Rowland family pressure you because of recent events?" Joyce, perceptive, guessed the reason. "Is it because of me?"

"No," Thea denied.

"Don't lie. The Rowlands are awful. Knowing you and Nicolas are divorcing, they'll try to squeeze every last bit of value out of you and the only person they can threaten you with is me," Joyce gritted her teeth. "My mother isn't being kind; she thinks I'm marrying Max!"

Chapter 232 (Continued)

Besides anger, she felt sadness. No one could remain calm facing the truth of a mother's lack of love.

"Who said that?" Thea's lips tightened. "I've already said I won't let you do anything you don't want to do. Joyce, I'll pay for everything tonight. Your mother can forget about blackmailing you."

Joyce, knowing Thea's kindness, cared deeply for her feelings. "Did Max force you to do something? Did he want to stop the divorce? Thea, don't compromise for me. I've thought it through My mother won't stop unless I do as she says. Even without Max, she'll force me to marry someone else. It's the same thing."

The forced smile on Joyce's lips betrayed her insincerity. Thea thought, Is Joyce planning to compromise for me? She wouldn't allow it. "At least other families don't have someone like Emmalie! Joyce, I won't let you suffer what I did It's resolved. Just be happy. Leave the rest to me, okay?"

Thea's sincerity almost moved Joyce to tears. She thought, Can I trust Thea?

"Thea, no matter what, tell me immediately. I'm not heartless enough to let you fight alone because of me!" She wasn't Emmalie. If she married Max, destroying Emmalie would be her first priority.

"Good!" Under Thea's reassurance, Joyce remembered their original purpose: relaxation and happiness.

Upstairs, Teri coldly watched the two women celebrating below. Despite the dim lighting, she recognized Thea's beautiful face. Displeasure flashed in her eyes before she smiled ingratiatingly at Duncan. "Thea is outrageous. A Rowland, already married, coming to a place like this! Look at the people around her—it's appalling!"

She was testing Duncan, subtly maligning Thea. Though Joyce had ordered ten male models, they flocked around her, ignoring Thea, who, having experienced the best, found them uninteresting.

Duncan's eyes, however, turned cold. "She's always been like this. Nothing like Emmalie."

Teri, emboldened, said, "It's time to teach her a lesson. Otherwise, if Mr. Hendrix finds out, the Rowlands and Emmalie's reputation will be ruined."

Duncan didn't care about the Rowlands, but he wouldn't allow Thea to negatively impact Emmalie. Leaning back, he said lazily, "You know Silvercreek better than I do. Handle it. Let her have some fun tonight. Just don't let anyone take pictures."

Teri never refused him, not even when it meant harming a woman she barely knew.

The dance floor was loud; Thea rarely visited such places, only twice with Joyce. Soon, the music grated on her nerves. She hid in the restroom when a blond man blocked her exit. "Beauty, are you here alone?"