The two started eating while talking about other random things. From some vacation plans that he already booked for them to the meeting that he was planning outside of the country for his plans in the upcoming election.

"You should stop looking at their booth," Mo Li said.

She looked at him and smiled. "Would you believe me if I tell you that I wanted to talk to my father?" she said without even thinking about it. She paused and wondered why her mouth seemed to say something before she could process all her thoughts. Most importantly, why was she explaining to him? She immediately cleared her throat and went back to her food. Mo Li responded with a light chuckle.

"I know." Mo Li said. "Embarrassing the Mayor is not a very good idea right now. I suggest you embarrass your cousin instead." He met her gaze before he gave her a mischievous wink. Then he ate his steak and drank some red wine as if he didn't just say something that was already on her mind. Bella just gave an awkward smile.

It was just a coincidence, right?

After a few minutes, Bella grabbed her handbag and decided to freshen up. Of course, Mo Li only gave her a knowing smile as he nodded. For some reason, Bella could sense that he already knew that she was planning to do something.

When Bella arrived on the toilet, she immediately started to reapply her makeup and some of her nude lipstick. Before she secretly turned on the record button of her phone. After a few seconds, she heard the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor.

"You look different."

Bella eyed Laney Qin from the mirror. She shrugged and started combing her hair, ignoring Laney's words.

"Bella… Mo." Laney said as she started applying her own makeup. "I would never have thought that you have the guts to marry into the rival family of the Mo Family. You even changed your surname. Did you think this would be enough to attract my husband's attention?"

"Laney Qin," Bella responded for the purpose of her record. "Do I know your husband?"

Laney snorted. "Acting like you haven't been stalking us?" she turned towards Bella. "I know that you are still in love with Xieren. I am telling you. He is mine now. You can't take him back from me."

"You are acting like I just gave him to you, Miss Qin." Bella smiled. "Did you forget that you took him away from me? Do I need to remind you that you were the mistress, someone who knowingly seduced someone's husband?"

Again, Laney snorted. "So? Does it matter? Mistress or not… he still thinks that you bullied me. He hated you and would never ever look at you the same way as he looked at you before you got married."

Bella turned silent as she put all of her make up in her handbag. Finally, he turned towards Laney. "Of course, you were so good at acting like I was the one who bullied you back then. When in fact, you staged everything. You know Laney? I was wondering why you didn't choose acting as your career. You were so good at it." Bella recalled that this Laney was a jealous woman who took away everything that she had.

In their previous confrontation, Laney already told her that she doesn't deserve good things because she was basically an orphan. Her mother died during childbirth, while her father never had any attention for her. Why does she deserve to marry into a good family and have a man who loved her dearly?

Why can't Laney have all those things too? Laney was a straight-A student. She was pampered by her mother and father. So why can't she marry Su Xieren? She loved him! Why can't he love her back? In Laney's mind, she deserved to have good things simply because she wanted it.

"Why are you blaming my acting skills? Why don't you blame your lack of confidence and insecurities instead?" Laney said as she used her finger to twirl a few strands of her long ash-blond hair. "Blame the fact that you are not as beautiful as me. And that I am better than you in bed. Blame the fact that you are weak and a terrible wife who can't even cook some food for her husband. Blame the fact that you hated dressing up and you look ten years older than your age. If you hated me so much, then you can only blame yourself for not being better." Laney snorted. "And if you think that just because you now know how to apply a good mascara and eyebrows, you can easily take him away from me, then think again, you b*tch. Xieren is mine."

"Please… Miss Qin. Did you see my husband?" Bella lifted her chin and met the woman's glare. "Did you think, I married someone more good looking than my ex-husband so I could attract his attention? My husband is an upgrade. Why would I go back to the trash that I already throw away when I can have a buffet for myself?"

"You— You call my husband a trash?"

"Isn't he?" Bella smirked. "Cheating on his wife because she doesn't dress up or wear make-up at home. Isn't that too shallow? What do you think would happen if he saw someone more beautiful than his current wife?"

"You— "

"I don't know about you, Laney, but if I were you. I would definitely watch him all the time. Maybe follow him every day, check his contacts and appointments, and make sure that he wouldn't meet someone more beautiful than you. He already cheated once. Did you think…. He wouldn't cheat again?" Bella gave her a tight-lipped smile. "Take care, Laney. Stay safe out there. We don't really know when would he met someone younger and more beautiful than you. So you should prepare yourself."

…

Happy New Year Everyone!