Chapter 137
"Maeve, don't be angry," Bonnie said, looking vexed. "Alex probably did that because he didn't want you to have second thoughts. When I told him you moved out, he thought you had suffered some grievance."
Maeve smiled at Bonnie's nervous expression. "I'm not angry. I know he has my best interests at heart. Otherwise, he could have just asked me to stay for free. Why would he go through so much trouble?" Maeve was shrewd.
"Don't tell Alex I told you, okay?" Bonnie pleaded.
"Don't worry, I won't," Maeve assured her.
Bonnie hugged Maeve happily. "You're the best! Will you still move next door to Alex?"
Maeve paused. "Alex gave me a discount out of goodwill, but I can't take advantage of him. I plan to find another house soon, and I'll talk to him to ease the tension. I'm not particularly interested in that high-end neighborhood anyway. Now that I know Alex sacrificed his own interests to rent the house to me, I won't stay. Otherwise, it might look like I'm taking advantage of him through my relationship with Bonnie." Bonnie felt deeply apologetic towards Alex. She sighed, thinking that if not for her, Alex might have had a chance with Maeve.
At the Noble Ladies Coffee Club meeting, the wealthy women of Kleymond's elite families gathered. It was a prime social event, with Alexis as the focal point. Her status demanded respect.
"Betty isn't here today," someone whispered. "I heard Mr. Chatterly was hospitalized yesterday."
"Don't say that out loud," another woman cautioned. "Betty and Alexis don't get along. Don't mention Betty if she's not here."
"True. We can't afford to offend either of them." The Chatterlys were a reputable noble family, only slightly lower in status than the McDaniels, and frequent collaborators. However, Alexis and Betty, both arrogant and unconcerned with others' feelings, clashed constantly. Tension always hung between them.
As the ladies chatted, an elegant woman in a smoke-green dress and white shawl entered. Smiling faintly, she approached Alexis, carrying a gift.
"Alexis, I'm here to thank you on behalf of my father."
Alexis, usually cold, was taken aback by Betty's gratitude. She wondered what the Chatterlys were up to.
"Thank me?" Alexis set down her coffee cup elegantly, remaining indifferent. "For what?"
The other ladies tactfully moved aside, giving them space. Betty sat beside Alexis and smiled. "Alexis, your daughter-in-law is Maeve Reese, right?"
Alexis hesitated. Initially, she'd despised Maeve due to her background and perceived lack of ability. However, after a recent exhibition, Maeve's refusal to be subservient to Alexis had changed her impression. Alexis and Betty rarely acknowledged each other. Now, Alexis wondered if Maeve had offended Betty and she was here to complain. Maintaining a calm expression, Alexis said, "Maeve is my daughter-in-law. Our family is happy to have her. What do you want to say?"
Betty realized Alexis had misunderstood, thinking she'd come to cause trouble. "Alexis, you've misunderstood. I'm truly here to thank you," Betty explained. "My father attended a banquet at the Crystal Jade Club last night and almost died from food poisoning. Maeve saved him. The doctor said a few more seconds and he wouldn't have survived."
Betty shuddered. Charles was the Chatterly family's pillar, and his death would have thrown them into chaos. Knowing Maeve's identity, Betty, disregarding the McDaniels' secrecy, rushed to offer thanks. Alexis was shocked. She couldn't imagine Maeve saving Charles' life. "Isn't she a designer? How could she save someone?"
"Are you sure?" Alexis asked.
"This concerns the Chatterly family's savior. How could I be wrong?" Betty smiled. "I don't have your daughter-in-law's contact information, so I'm asking you to pass this gift to her. If possible, we'd like to thank her personally." Alexis's feelings were complex, seeing this gentler side of Betty. Their long-standing animosity, fueled by similar personalities, remained, despite the families' collaborations. This act of goodwill from Betty, initiated by Maeve, was unexpected and contradicted Karen's previous statements.
In the Eternal Hope Building, Maeve photographed and scanned her design drafts, sending them to Fiora for feedback. Fiora's long, nitpicking response left Maeve speechless; it fell short of demanding a rainbow of colors. Maeve wondered how she'd offended Fiora, who hadn't been so demanding before. Following Fiora's suggestions would ruin the designs.
Another message arrived: Fiora: [Don't tell me you can't do it. Is this all the designers in Serigal can do?]
Maeve sighed. Earning a living wasn't easy. She resigned herself to her fate and resumed working.
At noon, a real estate agent called. Maeve left work to view houses. She found a suitable place and signed the lease quickly. Returning to her apartment, she instructed movers to transport her furniture from a warehouse, including the pieces Byron had bought. Realizing her new place might not accommodate everything, she planned to discard unwanted items and compensate Byron. Searching for the furniture's logo, she received a shock. The bed was custom-made by a famous designer, costing over $4 million. The sofa exceeded $2 million, and the desk over $1 million. The total value was around $12 million. "Are these furniture or gold?" she wondered. Leaving them in her old apartment would invite theft. Quickly stopping the movers, she pleaded, "Please be gentle. Thank you."