Chapter 461


    After a brief silence, the woman''s demeanor softened considerably as she addressed Cecilia. "Ms.


    Yates, what happened between your man and me was an ident. He probably doesn''t even


    remember what I look like because he was stered that night."


    "I came to talk to you because I want to discuss the situation. I''m pretty sure you folks don''t want


    the baby I''m carrying. It''s tough to raise a kid on my own, so here''s what I propose. You give me a


    lump sum to cover the termination at the clinic, plus a little extra for my trouble, and then we go our


    separate ways. You won''t hear from me again."


    Her n hadn''t gone as smoothly as she''d hoped, and she wasn''t sure if she could get the rest of


    the money. It seemed smarter to try and get something from Cecilia while she could.


    After all, she wasn''t really pregnant. The test results she showed Cecilia were given to her by the


    man who had hired her to con Cecilia.


    She thought this would be an easy job, but Cecilia wasn''t ying into her hands, leaving her at a


    loss.


    Cecilia stared at her for a full minute, making her increasingly nervous while she tried to maintain an


    air of righteousness. It was quite the performance.


    "Miss, you haven''t told me yourst name yet."


    "Myst name is West."


    Of course, that wasn''t her realst name. It was just another lie to deceive Cecilia.


    Cecilia didn''t believe she would reveal her true identity. If she imed her name was West, then


    that''s what Cecilia would go with.


    "Ms. West, if it turns out the child you''re carrying is my man''s, and you don''t want to keep it but just


    want the money, you''ll get it. But not from me. It''lle from your child''s father, provided you can


    prove the baby is indeed his. You can''t just expect us to take your word for it. He''s not short on


    cash, but he''s not a charity either. You im that it was a drunken mistake, but just how drunk was


    he?"


    Ms. West replied, "So drunk he cked out, which is why he doesn''t remember my face."


    Cecilia chuckled, "Are you sure about that?"


    Her question made Ms. West hesitate.


    But she insisted, "Yes, he was stinking drunk, could barely stand."


    "If he was that wasted, how could anything have happened between you two? Was he even able to


    have an erection?"


    Ms. West was at a loss for words.


    If Owen was truly incapacitated by alcohol, he wouldn''t be able to perform.


    This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Those kind of drunken escapades usually involved people who were not that far gone; it was the


    alcohol driving their impulsivity.


    But someonepletely knocked out? They wouldn''t be able to stir up any trouble.


    "I misspoke. He wasn''t that drunk. He could walk on his own."


    Cecilia smirked, "If he was sober enough to walk, he''d be even less likely to get involved with you.


    Do you even know who you''re trying to pin this on? Who put you up to this to sabotage my


    rtionship with my man?"


    Ms. West''splexion shifted as she tried to remain calm. "Ms. Yates, like I said, I don''t know his


    name, but I recognize him. Nobody sent me to destroy your marriage. I just thought the child was


    his and felt you both should know so you can decide what to do about it."


    "Youe here without doing your homework. I''m not married. He isn''t my husband, so there''s no


    spousal rtionship to speak of."


    Cecilia methodically punctured Ms. West''s falsehoods.


    "I might as well tell you that the man you''re trying to trap is the CEO of the Ike Group, Owen


    Martinez. You''ve heard of Owen, right? He''s quite famous around Pinehurst. He''s been madly in


    love with Miss Ruby Scott for over a decade, remaining faithful to her, not even entertaining the


    company of other women. Even his secretary is male. A man like that, how could he possibly have


    a fling with you when he''s sober? And when he''s not, how could he? How could you be carrying his


    child?"


    Ms. West''s face turned ashen.


    Owen!


    The man she was trying to trap was Owen!


    Just like Cecilia said, Owen was a big deal in Pinehurst, and she had heard about his unrequited


    love for the Scott family heiress, envying Ruby for not appreciating the devotion of such an


    outstanding man.


    "Ms. West, I suggest youe clean. Who sent you here?"


    Whoever put her up to this wasn''t very clever.


    They hadn''t done their homework before sending Ms. West on this errand, full of ws.


    Not even bothering to dig into the background of the Serendipity Cafe.


    Ms. West suddenly stood up, grabbing her purse, ready to leave.


    Cecilia swiftly grasped her wrist.


    Ms. West tried to shake off Cecilia''s grip, but couldn''t, so she started hitting Cecilia with her purse.


    Cecilia was trained in self-defense and, although she typically disliked physical confrontation,


    especially with other women, she wouldn''t hesitate to retaliate if provoked.


    As Ms. West swung her purse, Cecilia''s temper red.


    She grabbed the purse, yanked it forcefully, and with a flick of her wrist, sent it flying into a corner.


    Then she pulled Ms. West back, firmly seating her down, and sternlymanded, "Sit down!"


    Cecilia''s series of moves were fluid like a practiced dance, leaving Ms. West frightened and staring


    at her in shock, too scared to move again.


    Stammering, she said, "Ms. Yates. I don''t want the money anymore. I''ll take care of the baby


    myself. Please, just let me go."


    Cecilia scoffed. "The man you''ve used isn''t even here yet. What''s the rush? You said you


    weren''t afraid of a face-to-face confrontation. Let''s wait until he arrives; you can sort it out with him.


    Don''t worry, if the child is his, he''ll definitely pay you."


    Ms. West sat there in silence, realizing there was no escape with the two burly bouncers guarding


    the door.


    What should she do?


    If only she hadn''t been so greedy for a few thousand dors. Little did she know she''d be walking


    into a trap—a trap that was now closing in on her.


    And to think, she had underestimated Cecilia.


    "Here, drink some water. Oh, it''s gone cold. I''ll have someone bring you a fresh warm cup," Cecilia


    said, her tone slightly softened but Ms. West was already petrified.


    Cecilia didn''t care whether she was frightened or not and had a waitress bring another cup of water.


    Ms. West gripped her mug of warm tap water, gulping down half of it in one fierce go, then held onto


    the cup, clearly at a loss.


    Across the table, Cecilia settled into her chair, her bright, wide eyes fixed on her.


    Feeling the weight of Cecilia''s gaze, Ms. West''s anxiety mounted, her mind racing with thoughts.


    She knew exactly why Cecilia was eyeing her like that.


    After a moment of careful consideration, Ms. West ventured cautiously, "Ms. Yates, if Iy it all out,


    the whole truth, will you let me go? Maybe put in a good word for me with Mr. Martinez? I really


    don''t want to be on his bad side—he could ruin me as easily as swatting a fly."


    Given Owen''s standing, seeking revenge on her would be as simple as that.


    "You''re free to tell the truth; I''m not holding you captive. And why should I vouch for you with Mr.


    Martinez? You should''ve thought of the consequences before you decided to go through with this,"


    Cecilia retorted, her voice cool and measured.