Chapter 129: Whatever You Say

After her morning classes, Maggie received a call from Joseph. He and Vanessa had already arrived in Misk City and planned to visit designer Annie that afternoon.

"Maggie, join us this afternoon," Joseph said warmly. "I want to pick out some jewelry for Mom and Grandma. You know their tastes best, so your advice would be invaluable." He was confident Maggie wouldn't refuse, and he was right. Maggie had no intention of declining.

After dealing with Shawn, Joseph and Vanessa began searching for new designers for Luster Corporation. Although the Camerons already had designers, injecting fresh talent was necessary given their significant expansion. Recruiting renowned foreign designers was a crucial part of Ronald's plan.

"Sure," Maggie replied. "Send me the details."

Joseph was pleased by her agreement.

At 1:00 PM, a sleek Porsche pulled up in front of the hotel. Joseph was driving, and Vanessa sat in the passenger seat. Maggie raised an eyebrow as she observed them.

"Maggie, it's been a while!" Vanessa greeted cheerfully, as if any past issues were nonexistent. Maggie joined them in the car, settling into the backseat. Maggie admired Vanessa's seemingly effortless attitude.

Once seated, Vanessa offered, "Maggie, there's water, drinks, and fruit. Help yourself." Maggie found Vanessa's hostessing amusing.

Remaining relatively quiet, Maggie noticed Joseph's slight frown as he glanced at her in the rearview mirror.

Maggie wore a champagne-colored dress that flattered her fair skin and highlighted her natural glow. Her hair was casually tousled, and subtle makeup completed her relaxed yet elegant look. In contrast, Vanessa seemed to be trying too hard; her meticulously crafted appearance, while beautiful, felt rigid and somewhat boring.

Joseph's gaze lingered on Maggie's face, but she remained unconcerned, her expression cool and defiant.

"Maggie, feel free to share your thoughts at the designer's store," Vanessa said with a smile. "Although you might not know much about jewelry, an outsider's perspective can be valuable."

Maggie smirked. "I'll have to thank you in advance for soliciting my 'useless' input."

She felt their interaction was absurd. She had studied architecture and taught herself jewelry design—just as Vanessa had. However, Vanessa's skills were lacking, a fact Maggie preferred to ignore. She decided to let Vanessa showcase her "skills" at the Camerons.

Seeing Maggie's reaction, Vanessa smiled warmly. "No worries. I always thought I'd missed my chance for a college exchange program, but Joseph brought me here. What a twist of fate! Don't you agree, Maggie?"

Leaning back, Maggie replied casually, "You're not wrong. Considering your background, you might never have had the opportunity to travel abroad otherwise."

Vanessa's expression fell. She hadn't expected such a blunt response.

"You're right," Vanessa sighed, appearing hurt. "It's understandable that you'd look down on my family. I should thank Joseph. I wouldn't have had this opportunity without him."

Maggie smirked, glancing at the European-style buildings outside. "So, choose a better family next time."

Vanessa's face flushed with anger at Maggie's nonchalant demeanor. Sitting in the front seat, however, she couldn't easily turn to confront Maggie and her smile faltered under the weight of Maggie's insults.

Vanessa, near tears, addressed Joseph: "Joseph, do you mind my background? I can't compare to you, but I've always wanted to catch up. I can't change the family I was born into, but I"

Maggie interrupted, "He won't. He doesn't have high standards. Otherwise, he wouldn't have slept with you."

Her words deeply insulted both of them. Joseph slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt. His discomfort was evident; he wasn't accustomed to such directness. He couldn't assert his authority in the same way Nathael and Jimmy could, despite his connections to the Camerons. His reaction stemmed from a typical masculine response to women they couldn't easily control or dominate.

"Maggie, what do you mean?" Joseph asked, his voice cold, his expression sour.

Maggie chuckled, meeting his gaze with a sly smile. "I meant what I said. Do you have a problem with it?"

Joseph was speechless. He had simply made a mistake any man might make; he hadn't anticipated Maggie's strong reaction.

Maggie didn't care what he thought. The timing of their arrival, coinciding with her frustration with Nathael, seemed perfect. They could be my punching bags, she thought. This just proves that life is fair!

Vanessa seized the opportunity to speak, clutching Joseph's sleeve. "Maggie, don't be mad at Joseph. It was my fault. I've always loved him, so if you want to blame someone, blame me It's all my fault. I'm sorry for what I've done to you. I'll make it up to you; I'll do anything you say, as long as you don't blame Joseph."

Maggie let out a scornful laugh, her gaze distant and icy. "You know what? Why don't you get out of the car and jog to our destination? If you do that, I'll let bygones be bygones. I'll even wish you a bright future as a rich lady. How does that sound?"

Vanessa was stunned. I never thought Maggie would become this… Their plan was to visit designer Annie's boutique, a ninety-minute drive away. Does Maggie really expect me to jog there? She must be crazy!

"Maggie, what do you take me for? Don't you think that's crossing a line?" Vanessa asked slowly, her expression aggrieved.

Maggie smirked mischievously. "You said you'd do anything I said. I was just taking you up on it."