CHAPTER 150 Laughingstock


    Joy


    “Hughes, Liam muttered through clenched teeth. “You’re thest person I expected toe. What are


    you doing here anyway?”


    Perfect. I didn’t need to stall Liam to buy Xavier more time.


    But Sarah Hughes at Cohen Mansion? Who would have thought?


    Sarah was wearing a ck long sleeved satin evening dress which fitted nicely on her willowy frame.


    Her long dark hair flowed freely down her back while her red lips were curled in a twisted smile. There


    was something off though… She couldn’t quite keep her bnce.


    “She’s drunk,” Cristos whispered in my ear. I nodded my head, my mouth silently forming an


    “Oh”.


    Yet, even in her drunken state, she reminded me of a wicked witch, all in ck, about to cast. one of


    her evil spells.


    “Noah, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” She asked, eyeing Link curiously. Link


    coughed ufortably, focusing his eyes on his shiny shoes, feigning indifference.


    You can ssh


    “Sarah, you’re drunk,” Noah mumbled. “How about we go to the washroom, so you some cold water on


    your face to sober up?”


    “I’m fine,” she sneered, the expression on her face unnerving. “I just want to meet your


    friends, that’s all.”


    I have to admit, she wasn’t the prettiest of girls, but that wasn’t what made her unattractive. It was her


    unpleasant attitude.


    Just like Liam and Lisa, Sarah lived a pampered life, but unlike the two, Sarah was such a snob. That


    was probably the reason why she got along so well with Pete in the first ce.


    Those two had that inmon.


    Sarah stood her ground, swaying ever so slightly,pletely unperturbed, taking advantage. of the


    situation… and judging by that smile on her lips, she was enjoying how much her


    presence made Liam squirm.


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    blush on his cheeks that he was embarrassed to have her on his arm.


    I’d empathize with him, if he wasn’t such a do uche.


    Around us, the people had quieted down, eager to watch the two rivals slug it out.


    Liam didn’t hide his shock nor his distaste learning that Sarah and Noah were apparently an item. His


    nose was scrunched up in disgust.


    “Hughes, why are you here? I don’t see your parents with you. At least your father had a working


    rtionship with mine,” Liam said calmly, although his eyes told a different story. “Or are you here to


    pick Noah up? You two are dating now? Really, Noah? After Nicole?” Liam smirked while he ced a


    possessive hand on my waist and pulled me to his side.


    Noah didn’t answer. He was looking at the ice in his ss, his whole face a scarlet shade of


    red.


    Sarah took one look at me and scoffed, like she was beingpared to a dumb blonde.


    “Mayor Cohen, I believe you invited everyone in New Salem toe pay theirst respects


    father. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve lived in New Salem all my life. We even went to school together.


    Right, Noah?” Sarah asked, smirking.


    to


    your


    Noah ignored her question and continued to stare absentmindedly at his now empty ss. I suspected


    he was thinking of a way to get himself out of this mess.


    Sarah waited for a response that never came. Realizing Noah wasn’t going to intervene on her behalf,


    she rolled her eyes and pouted. Technically, she was a lone soldier traipsing into enemy territory and


    she could either fight ’til the death, retreat or surrender.


    Judging by the wicked glint in her eyes, she was going to fight until the very end.


    you


    “Anyway, Mayor, I saw a video of the riot from this morning and it was such a shock to see


    there doing absolutely nothing to stop the townsfolk from hurting our men in uniform,” she said smugly.


    You see, if I be mayor, I will make sure the people follow thew to a T. None of this nonsense of


    men raping and kidnapping women. But of course, knowing you, you are probably duty-bound to


    protect your own kind.” She giggled, obviously pleased


    with herself.


    Liam, you


    “Watch your tongue, Hughes,” Liam muttered, his voice dangerously low. “You’re on my turf and I’m still


    the mayor of this town. I can sue you for nder.”


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    “Sue me for nder? You must be joking,” she replied, smirking at him. “Oh, I see now. You’re afraid.


    What? The beautiful fiancé doesn’t know?”


    Liam removed his arm around my waist and tapped Cristos on the arm, gesturing for him to lead me


    out of the room. Cristos quickly nodded his head and reached for me.


    “Come, Virtue. I’m starving. Let’s leave them to discuss whatever this is… privately.” Cristos ced a


    hand on the small of my back, leading me to the dining area, when Sarah called out


    my name.


    “Ms. Sullivan, how does it feel being engaged to the mayor? Honestly, now. You’ve only been. here


    what… for two… maybe three weeks. Is this sham of an engagement a ploy for Liam’s reelection? It


    seems convenient don’t you think?”


    “You seem to have made up your mind about our enganement. So why don’t you tell me what you


    think,” I answered vaguely.


    I think you two aren’t going to get married. After the election, both of you will announce the


    engagement is off and go your separate ways,” Sarah stated. “A sham.”


    “For your information, Ms. Hughes, Liam has already processed our marriage license and we’ll be


    getting married next week, during the Spring Honey Bee celebration,” I announced. I heard gasps and


    excited squeals escape from many of the people in the room.


    “A rich and powerful man marrying a beautiful woman who has no background whatsoever, just a store


    with her name,” she answered, insulting me. “Mayor Cohen, from what I know of you, it isn’t in your


    nature to do things so foolishly. I take that back. Foolish isn’t the right word… I would say it’s stu pidity.”


    “Stu pidity huh? I guess that’s why you’re still single. No one is st upid enough to fall for you,” I said


    scornfully. “Anyway, I’d invite you to our wedding, Ms. Hughes, but no one seems to


    like you. You are such-”


    “A bit ch, Cristos said, finishing my sentence for me. I was actually going to say a misanthrope, but bi


    tch was a good enough word to describe her.


    Sarah quickly released Noah from her grasp and closed the gap between her and Cristos in an instant.


    Noah, relieved she had finally left his side, grabbed her hand to pull her away from us.


    “Sarah, knock it off. Chip didn’t mean what he said, right Chip? It’s all a big-”


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    Sarah swatted his hand away and pointed a finger at him, warning him to shut up. Noah raised his


    hands in surrender and backed off.


    “And who are you to say something like that to me, Chip?” Sarah asked in a low voice, her eyes wide


    as saucers. “You might regret ever saying that. I can ruin you in this town, fairy.” It gasped. She was so


    vile.


    “With that little gossip page you have on social media? Be my guest. People will stille to the pub


    especially since I’m so charming,” Cristos remarked mboyantly, “and when they do, I am going to


    whisper in their ears and tell them not to vote for you.” He turned to head towards the dining hall, but


    abruptly stopped. “By the way, Sarah, tell your minions to stop putting posters of your ugly face up on


    my pub or I’ll sue for vandalism. My patrons find. your face disgusting to look at. And how do I know


    that? There’s always puke on your posters. Ugh, gross.”


    Liam howled withughter and so did everyone else. Sarah’s gloating expression from a moment ago


    had disappeared, her cheeks now a beet red from the humiliation. She red at Cristos, her hands


    shaking at her sides and for a second there, I thought she was going to


    p him for making her the currentughingstock of New Salem.


    I ced myself in between her and Cristos. If she pped me, Liam wille to my defense and throw


    her off his property.


    Noah, chuckling himself, ced an arm around her shoulders and pulled her away from us as


    the people continued tough.


    “Sarah, don’t do anything you might regret. You started this. Everyone was getting along until you


    came,” Noah warned her while maneuvering her towards the exit. “Why don’t we head on to the


    restroom so you can calm down and freshen up a bit? Come on, I’ll show you to the restroom.” He


    leaned over to Sebastian and whispered something in his ear. Sebastian nodded his head, then patted


    Noah on the shoulder before Noah turned to assist a red-faced


    and very furious Sarah.


    “Where are they going and why is everyoneughing?” Lisa asked, finally showing up. She began to


    giggle, then quicklyposed herself. Sorry, but theirughter is contagious.” I caught her


    surreptitiously ncing at Link who was chuckling behind Liam.


    Theughter was contagious. I myself had to stifle a giggle.


    “We’re allughing at Hughes… just like back in high school,” Liam said sighing. He nced. at his


    watch. “Link, I have some time left to discuss business. And Lisa, there’s a buffet table in the dining


    hall. Drinks are at the bar.” Liam kissed me on the cheek before gesturing to 4/6


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    Link to follow him.


    “What was that all about?” Lisa asked bewildered, following Link with her eyes as Liam led him to his


    office. “Sarah looks like she could kill someone.”


    “My fault,” Cristos said, tugging on the sleeve of my zer. “She came here to offend people, but she


    wasn’t prepared to be offended herself. Can we please get some food, Virtue?! I’m


    starving.”


    To our surprise, we found Xavier at the buffet table, helping himself to some roast beef and. some


    sandwiches. He looked happy to see us..


    “What did I miss? I heard peopleughing in the other room,” he said after swallowing a forkful of roast


    beef. “You guys have got to try this. It’s so tender, it practically melts in your


    mouth.”


    “Oh yes, please,” Cristos said, handing out tes and utensils.


    “I was wondering when you’d get here,” Xavier said. “What took you guys so long?”


    “I couldn’t find a sympathy basket,” Cristos answered, helping himself to slices of roast beef and some


    gravy. While we ate and drank, K iki finally showed up, wanting a refill of wine.


    “I was looking all over for you, Virtue,” Ki ki said, taking a ss from the tray at the end of the buffet


    table. “I thought you left me here. I was about to ask Jack to give me a ride home.”


    “Everyone this is Ki ki. K iki this is everyone,” I said, introducing her.


    “Hi everyone!” Ki ki eximed, smiling brightly.


    “You didn’t hear or see usughing a while ago? Sebastian asked.


    “I was preupied,” K iki answered. “Although I was wondering why everyone wasughing. Did


    someone tell a joke?”


    “Oh thank goodness… There’s someone else who’s as clueless as me. Hi, K iki. I’m Lisa.” Lisa’s eyes


    swept over Ki ki, looking at her from head to toe. “My gosh! Do they make all of you this beautiful in


    Nevada?”


    “My sentiments exactly,” Jack said, finally making his way through the crowd. “Go d must have heard


    my prayer this morning, because I think I’ve found the one.” He winked at Ki ki.


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    “As if you pray, Jack, Lisa said, giggling. “Where’s Dan by the way?”


    “He’s busy, so he just sent a funeral wreath.”


    “And the Sheriff?” Lisa asked, grabbing a ss of wine from the tray. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    “He has some important business to take care of in Bismarck,” Jack answered. “By the way, I need a


    word with you in private., Ki ki, I just need to talk to Lisa for a minute. We’ll be back.”


    “Sure, Jack,” Ki ki replied, grinning from ear to ear.


    Both of them left, heading back toward the grand living


    g room.


    “Jake, I need you to eavesdrop on Jack and Lisa for me,” Xavier instructed through hiss.


    “Sheriff’s at Bismarck. You don’t think?” Sebastian asked Xavier.


    “I do. Don’t worry. I sent Max-” Xavier suddenly paused. “Guys, Noah and Sarah Hughes are fighting


    outside.”


    Drama… drama… drama…


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