The True Heiress's Return

Once the handmade items were shaped, Lillian put them in the oven to dry. After that, it was time to add color and glue the structures together.

While waiting. Xanthe chatted with Shakira and suddenly remembered. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. When Norpa Technology hurriedly moved out, didn't everyone think Berry had some commections?" Shakira raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, so what?"

"Haha. I heard when the Norpa Technology folks got back to the office, they shut the door and gave Berry a real scolding. The lady boss almost lost control and nearly tore Berry apart."

Xanthe recounted enthusiastically. "I heard when Berry escaped, her clothes were all tattered-worse than a street beggar- and her face was swollen. Norpa Technology even sent her back, so her internship credit is zero." Thinking about Berry's downfall brought Xanthe immense satisfaction.

Shakira wasn't too surprised. Berry had been bold at Norpa Technology to keep them wrapped around her finger. She should've expected the consequences once everything came to light.

She cut down the support system Norpa Technology was counting on. If they didn't take her down, that was already quite forgiving.

After applying a final coat of gloss, the handmade item was completed. Lillian brought over a gift box and wrapped it up them, smiling while saying, "Would you be interested in joining our store's check-in event for Couples Day?

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"Just snap a photo and post it online to enter a raffle. Lucky winners will get a set of personalized hand-painted dinnerware based on their couple image."

Walter spoke up. "How do we post it?"

Shakira was surprised. "You want to join?"

Walter said, "We could try it."

Shakira said, "We don't need more dinnerware, do we?"

Walter was brief. "We do need couple-themed ones."

"Okay..." Shakira couldn't refuse him and asked Lillian how to proceed. She took a photo with the couple mugs and posted it on her Instagram and then turned off her phone without further thought. "Alright. We'll notify you if you win," said Lillian.

Shakira replied, "Okay, thanks."

They picked up their things and left the craft store. Xanthe looked up at the sky. "Wow, it's already this late without us realizing it."

Shakira glanced at the time. "It's almost seven. I have to go prepare the presentation for tomorrow's meeting." As she spoke, she turned to Sean, "Could you take Xanthe home?"

Sean, who was a bit lost in thought, responded absently. "Sure."

"We had a great time today. Let's hang out again sometime." Xanthe waved enthusiastically as she said goodbye to Shakira and Walter.

Once they were out of sight, she turned to Sean, only to find him staring at her. His intense gaze startled her. Xanthe

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instinctively took a step back, eyeing him cautiously. "What was with that look?"

"What the heck? I wasn't looking at you." Caught off guard, Sean hade up an excuse and quickly headed for the door. 'My car's outside. I'm leaving."

Xanthe frowned, sensing something was off, but couldn't tell what. She jogged a few steps to catch up. "Why are you in such a rush?"

"You're the one who's slow." Though his words sounded critical, Be slowed down his pace a bit.

Walking beside him, Xanthe swayed her head from side to side. So, how was this afternoon? Did you make any progress?"

Sean was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Seeing Shakira and Mr. Lopez together, didn't you feel like a total third wheel, glowing like a bright light?"

Sean understood and suddenly stopped, with his charming eyes holding a deep and meaningful darkness. "Xanthe, so you dragged me along today just to show me how well they belong together?" Xanthe admitted, "Yes, you saw it too-the way Shakira and Mr. Lopez get along so well and are so close. Even if you don't want to admit it, Mr. Lopez is just that wonderful and is a great boyfriend. "So no matter how dissatisfied you are or how much you mock, you can't change anything. Don't even think about having any unrealistic ideas about Shakira." Xanthe couldn't finish that thought in time. Sean suddenly yelled in frustration. "Enough."

"If you want to impress Walter, go butter him up in person and don't tell me about it," yelled Sean.Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

Xanthe didn't expect him to be so stubborn that he could not listen to advice. Xanthe's patience wore thin. "Fine, if you don't want to talk, then don't."

She snatched her ceramic mug from his hands and said, "I don't need your gifts, goodbye." She turned and stomped away, each step heavy, wishing she could squash Sean under her feet and flatten him.

Watching her vanish into the crowd, Sean felt really annoyed. He couldn't understand why just hearing Xanthe's words set him off like that. Though Cathy had been bugging him about the same things lately, it hadn't bothered him this much. Soon, Sean came up with an excuse. He was closer to Cathy, but not to Xanthe. He was just worried Shakira might be a burden to Walter and kept an eye on her; he never thought it would turn into such a tangled mess. Annoyed, Sean waved his hand, "If you don't want a ride, that's fine. I didn't want to offer anyway." He walked off in the opposite direction, still upset.

Xanthe kicked a stone as she walked along the street. Feeling irritated, she wanted nothing more than to unleash chaos in her game. After hailing a ride, she couldn't wait to open her mobile game and start playing as she got into the vehicle. A car slowly pulled up, and without looking, she assumed it was the Uber she called and got in. It was only after sitting down that she realized someone was already in the backseat. "Sorry, I got in the wrong car," said Xanthe.

The person was obviously taken aback too, but as Xanthe was about to get out, he lunged at her, covering her mouth and nose with a cloth laced with drugs.

Before Xanthe lost consciousness, she heard a sinister voice. "First time someone hands herself over to me. Drive."

*****

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It was an abandoned building located a bit away from downtown and had been abandoned for a long time, with an eerie silence enveloping it at night. Berry carefully climbed the spiral staircase with no railing, hugging her arms. The higher she climbed, the colder it felt, but she forced herself to face her fears. Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness and roughly pulled her away.

"Ah..." Berry screamed in shock, her voice piercing the silence. The next moment, a hand clamped over her mouth, and a pair of wild, chilling eyes appeared right in front of her. Berry's heart nearly stopped. She sobbed away.

Xanthis Davis gave a wicked smile, his whole demeanor radiating arrogance. "Tsk tsk, it hasn't been long since we saw last time. Your face looks even younger," he said, as his fingers wandered over Berry's check, slowly sliding down toward her neck. Unwilling to be humiliated, Berry pushed him away with all her strength, holding herself tightly but unable to stop shaking.

"Lunatic. Why did you even come back to the country? What exactly are you trying to do?" asked Berry.

"My dear darling, I couldn't stand being out there anymore. Isn't it better to be back here, living it up and enjoying life?" Xanthis laughed loudly.

Berry looked at him, with her eyes filled with fear and disgust. "How can you live it up here? Your family is bankrupt, and those lenders are itching to track you down. How do you plan to survive staying here?"

He turned slowly and put on a twisted and sinister smile as he moved closer to Berry. "I have you to rely on, don't I, darling? We were married for three years. You've benefited from me, and now you can't just leave me, can you?"