Essie was slightly taken aback upon seeing Leila. She nodded politely to her and was about to go on
her way when the other woman shot out a hand to detain her. Leila said, "I heard what you said just
now."
Essie faced her. "Leila, don't you think it's beneath your dignity to eavesdrop on others' conversation?"
"I just want to know if your boyfriend whom she was referring to was Zac." Leila was not the sort of
person to beat around the bush, so she directly confronted Essie.
Leila's words made Essie's insides quiver like a plucked string. As expected, people in love were so
sensitive that they did not need any names mentioned to easily guess the relationship between them. If
she said yes, would that ice guy be angry and blame her for causing a misunderstanding and
sabotaging his relationship with Leila? They had been apart for too long, and it was not easy for them
to reunite. He definitely wanted to maintain their relationship. Essie, as the unnecessary burden,
shouldn't make trouble between them.
Unbidden, jealousy burned its way from her heart up her throat. She swallowed convulsively and
silently tried to calm herself down, "Miss Leila, you're thinking too much. If my boyfriend were Zac, do
you think you would be happy staying next to him?"
After hearing this, Leila pursed her lips and thought, 'Love is selfish, after all. No one would be able to
tolerate their lover being with someone else.'
"That's good. I don't want anyone to interfere between Zac and me. Please tell your friend to stop
dreaming. Zac is definitely not interested in her."
With a faint smile on her face, Essie replied, "Everyone has the right to pursue love. Maybe you and
she can compete fair and square. Let's see who will win in the end."
With eyebrows angrily arched, Leila said with a malicious gleam in her eyes, "You are shameless, after
all, flirting with two men and getting involved in other people's relationships. If Zac knew that you're
such a hypocritical bitch, he would definitely kick you out of the house."
An ironic smile remained on Essie's face. "Zac knows everything about me. Why don't you go and ask
him why he didn't kick me out?"
'How is that possible?'
Leila was extremely shocked. How could Zac bear living under the same roof with such a woman?
However, this was a good thing. If Zac knew exactly what this bitch was like, then there would be no
risk of him falling in love with her. In that case, she would be one less rival to worry about.
However, did Zac really know?
While she was thinking, an unusual expression flashed in her eyes.
Coming out of the exhibition hall, Essie suggested lunch, as her stomach was growling.
"You greedy cat, what do you want to eat?" asked Zac, stroking her hair affectionately.
Essie turned to her friend and asked, "Mandy, what do you feel like eating?"
Mandy smiled and replied in a gentle voice, "I'm okay with whatever Zac wants to eat."
Next to her, Leila rolled her eyes at Mandy. 'This woman is definitely my number one love rival in Yang
City,' she thought. The woman was a far greater competitor than Essie. Mandy had a peerlessly
beautiful face, a devilishly seductive figure, and an illustrious career as a TV anchor. In comparison,
Essie was a loser, pure and simple. It was very difficult for Essie to catch Zac's eyes, unless she
happened to save the whole universe in her past life.
Pushing such thoughts aside for the moment, Leila smiled up at Zac and said in a sweet voice, "Zac,
shall we go to the Landmark Bistro?"
Essie almost choked visibly. Was it really necessary for them to have lunch at such an expensive
place? The ice guy had just purchased a house and did not have that much spare money left. 'Why
doesn't she try to save him some money,' Essie mused.
"That place is too far away. How about eating somewhere nearby?" she remarked hurriedly.
"We have a car, anyway, so the distance doesn't matter. Let's go to Landmark Bistro." Zac had made
up his mind. After watching TV last night, Essie kept saying that she wanted to try French cuisine.
Today's lunch would fit the bill.
Of course, Essie had no idea of what was going on in Zac's head. She thought that he agreed to
Landmark Bistro in order to impress his girlfriend that he even disregarded the current state of his
wallet.
Landmark Bistro was headlined by a Michelin-starred chef.
As Essie cut a piece of foie gras and placed it into her mouth, all of her earlier dismay was magically
forgotten. Eyes closed, she reverently breathed out, "This is so good!"
Leila hid her mocking smile at Essie's uncultured reaction. She took up her knife and deliberately let a
small cry escape her mouth as she tried to slice into her steak.
"Does your wrist still hurt?" asked Zac with worry.
"Yes," she replied pitifully. She put on a miserable look and said, "Zac, can you cut the steak for me?"
Seeing this, Mandy hastily interrupted, "Let me help you."
"I appreciate your offer, Mandy, but we are not that familiar with each other yet. How dare I impose on
your kindness?" Leila smiled politely, her words euphemistic, but her refusal was direct.
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