Golden Canary in the palm Ch 8
8
Amelia threw a party at the Serenity Garden, inviting everyone who anyone. I was in my room reading when she came to find me.
“Ms. Hill, I’m hosting a party. You simply must come and grace us with your presence. Otherwise, people might think I’m the mistress here.”
“Of course!” Whatever she was planning, a top salesperson never complains about the environment.
I made my entrance in a backless halter dress, my makeup trendy and my jewels sparkling, the very picture of sophisticated allure.
Levias was playing mahjong with a few of his close friends. Amelia was sitting next to him, peeling a grape and holding it to his lips.
“Come here.”
Levias ignored the grape and called me over. I saw there was no place to sit, so I just sat on his lap.
“Darling, you rest. Let me play.”
lan teased, “We’re playing for high stakes. If you lose, who pays?”
Levias leaned back lazily, a smile on his face. “If she wins, it’s
“I’m going to win for sure,” I said confidently.
23.47
“ers. If she loses, it’s mine.”
I won the round and leaned back happily. “I won. Half of it is yours.”
Levias’s smile was indulgent. “Mm.”
His friends groaned. “We’re full. We just ate a ton of your public displays of affection.”
“It’s been five years, and you two are still all over each other. Just get married already.”
“Marriage is so boring.” I changed the subject. “Come on, let’s play another round. I’m on a winning streak.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. No one spoke.
Just then, Amelia answered a phone call. She looked at me with a malicious grin. “Let them in.”
“Pan’er!”
“Daughter–in–law!”
Wife!”
Three people entered: my father, Emanuelle Hill, and the Lowell father–and–son duo.
Amelia’s friends crowed with delight. “I can’t believe it! Lily Hill is a married woman!”
“Look, her husband is so ugly. And he’s an idiot.”
“They’re dressed like beggars, a bunch of paupers. No wonder Lily Hill had to run away from her husband… I bet she even has kids.”
I didn’t turn to look at Levias’s expression.
I had lied to him. I had told him my parents were dead.
Amelia was impressive. She had managed to dig up these people.
