Chapter 31 This is what happens when you go against me


    Margaret never expected Irene to visit a luxurious restaurant like this, so she couldn''t help but give her


    an extra look. Irene had practically nothing to her name when she left Edric Myers back then. She even


    took back the wedding ring that she had given to Edric, and it wasn''t long before the ring turned up in a


    pawn shop. One could easily imagine how downtrodden she was to go after the mere few hundred


    dors that the ring could fetch.


    Margaret was previously involved in a car ident with Irene and had seen how shabby, and old-


    fashioned Irene''s clothes were. She could tell that Irene was obviously having a rough time and had


    looked upon her with great disdain.


    "Weren''t you so arrogant back then? Did you finally learn how tough the world could be after leaving


    the Myers Family?"


    In Margaret''s mind, Irene was now the embodiment of destitution, and thus, so she was rather taken


    aback by Irene''s current appearance.


    Irene seemedpletely different from before. Although what she was wearing was not a high-ss


    brand, her clothes were not cheap either. Most importantly, they were now in a fancy restaurant, which


    was not easily essible to anyone.


    "Irene Nelson couldn''t possibly be married to a rich man, could she? She''s certainly pretty enough to


    be appealing, but isn''t she barren?" Margaret wondered. As it was difficult for women with infertility


    problems to survive in rich families, the word ''mistress'' suddenly popped up in Margaret''s mind.


    It was the only reason Margaret could think of, and she suddenly felt quite pleased with the thought that


    Irene might be the lover to a potbellied man.


    "This is what you get for pitting against me. Serves you right, Irene!" Margaret thought.


    While Margaret was gloating, a tall, young man suddenly appeared and approached Irene. When the


    man sat down across from Irene, Margaret''s sense of joy instantly vanished.


    Margaret only managed to get a clearer look at the man''s face after he sat down and was taken aback


    when she realized that it was Jordan Reed—Edric''spetitor for an urban construction project.


    Jordan''s looks wereparable to Edric''s and he, too, came from a good family. However, he was a


    yboy.


    Margaret felt certain that Irene was one of his many lovers and the thoughtforted her.


    Just when her mood was lifted, Edric arrived at the restaurant and walked straight up to Margaret.


    "Mom, I was caught up by some matters," he exined.


    "I''ve just arrived as well." Margaret assured and subconsciously nced towards Irene before she


    remarked, "Did you see that? Irene Nelson''s dining here as well. Her future must be so promising now


    that she''s actually Jordan''s mistress!"


    Edric swept one nce at Irene and Jordan and when he saw the mesmerizing smile on Irene''s face,


    felt a stifling sensation in his chest.


    He quickly retracted his gaze indifferently and, as if he did not notice Irene at all, asked, "Mom, what do


    you want to eat?"


    Edric had doted on Irene dearly in the past and Margaret was inevitably thrilled when she noticed that


    he had be so cold towards her now. "My son could finally let go of the past! I''d soon be free from


    this too," she thought. Her voice cracked up with excitement as she replied, "Up to you. We could eat


    whatever you want."


    Jordan Reed did not sleep well that night. He couldn''t stop himself from feeling depressed over the fact


    that Irene had been cheated on and was a divorcee. He had never been a gossipmonger, but was very


    curious about the identity of Irene''s unfaithful partner.


    For the whole morning, Jordan had held back from probing about the identity of Irene''s ex-husband out


    of consideration of how personal the question was. As the Reed Family was also very particr about


    upholding silence during meal times, Jordan also formed the habit of eating in silence. Eventually, he


    couldn''t contain his curiosity any longer and burst out, "Irene, I''m very curious about the identity of your


    ex-husband. Is he also from San Fetillo?"


    Irene had already noticed that something was bothering Jordan long ago, but she never expected this


    to be his source of woe. "No," she replied casually.


    "Did you marry out of love?" he probed.


    "I guess so?"


    Feeling slightly jealous, Jordan asked, "Why did he cheat on you?"


    "Does a man need a reason to have an affair?" Irene sneered.


    "Why are you reluctant to talk about him? Did he leave a gaping wound in your heart that still hurts?"


    "It only hurts only when you love someone, but I no longer love him so why would I feel hurt?" Irene


    asked.


    Edric never expected Jordan and Irene to discuss this. As he could hear everything that Irene had said


    clearly, his expression instantly changed. "She actually said that she does not love me. She''s so cold


    and heartless!" he thought.


    "I''m very curious about that man''s name. Could you tell me?" Jordan pleaded.


    "No, I can''t," Irene rejected and ced her utensils down before she resumed, "He''s just a nobody. So


    why bother?"


    "I want to bash him up!" Jordan replied honestly. "I''ll beat up that heartless man every time I see him!"


    "You sound as if you''re actually infatuated with me," Irene sniggered.


    "I am indeed a womanizer, but only before I get married. I will definitely be good for my wife if I get


    married." Jordan vouched.


    However, Irene shook her head and said, "That''s what all men say before they get married."


    "I''m not that kind of person. I''m serious!" Jordan exined anxiously when he saw how doubtful she


    was. "I''ll prove it to you," he dered.


    From Edric''s perspective, Jordan''s deration was as good as a marriage proposal. Suddenly, he


    stood up and walked over to Jordan before he greeted, "Mr. Reed!"


    Jordan looked up and replied, "Mr. Myers, are you also here for dinner?" Jordan then noticed Margaret


    whom he had met once as a child. Out of politeness, he got up and walked over to her before he


    greeted, "Hello, Aunt Margaret!"


    Margaret nodded and smiled, but her eyes were fixed on Irene, who simply picked up her paper napkin


    slowly to wipe her mouth and took no notice of them. When Margaret saw how proud and haughty she


    was, she felt extremely upset and frustrated. "Jordan, who is this?" she asked.


    Jordan then looked at Irene and called out, "Irene,e here. Let me introduce you to them."


    Irene stood up and casually picked up her bag, but instead of walking over to Margaret, she walked


    toward the exit while replying, "Jordan, take your time catching up. I''ll wait for you outside!"


    Seeing how rude Irene was, Margaret and Edric''s expression immediately darkened. Jordan, too,


    realized how inappropriate Irene''s reaction was. He knew that Irene had always been very tolerant of


    others, and he couldn''t help but wonder why she would treat Margaret like this. Failing to think of an


    exnation for Irene''s bizarre behavior, he smiled at Margaret and apologized, "She''s quite shy. Aunt


    Margaret, don''t take it to heart!"


    Margaret was instantly stunned, for Irene wouldn''t have dared to throw her temper like this if Jordan


    wasn''t dating her seriously, and neither would Jordan bother to exin anything on her behalf.


    Margaret was suddenly annoyed and thought, "Irene, you asked for it. Don''t me me. "We haven''t


    been in touch for a long time, but as an elder, I have to offer you a few words of advice. She''s a


    divorcee, and a man of your status shouldn''t be dating her."


    "Thank you for your reminder, Aunt Margaret. But Irene is different from others. She''s gentle and kind.


    She merely met the wrong person."


    Edric''s face further darkened when he heard Jordan''s reply. Margaret never expected such a


    response from Jordan and despite her initial intentions to nder Irene, was forced to swallow her


    words.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    After exchanging a few more words with Edric and Margaret, Jordan left to chase after Irene. Margaret


    watched as he slowly disappeared from sight before she snorted coldly, "Did you see that? This is how


    ill-bred your ex-wife is. Jordan must be blind to fall for her."


    After criticizing Jordan, Margaret realized that she was also indirectly condemning her son, so she


    quickly changed her words and added, "Thankfully, you''ve realized your mistake. Otherwise, god


    knows how much longer you''ll have to put up with her."


    However, Edric merely remained silent. He had always believed that Jordan was merely toying with


    Irene, but he never expected Jordan to hold such a high opinion of her.


    As Jordan was not only handsome and free-spirited but also good at coaxing women, Edric suddenly


    felt extremely upset inside.


    However, Margaret did not know what her son was thinking and suggested, "Edric, you should visit the


    Cook family more often when you''re free."


    "Why?" Edric asked.


    "Shouldn''t you forge a better rtionship with Lily and Steven Cook?" Margaret exined earnestly.


    "Edric, I think it''s likely that Steven deliberately made things difficult for your current urban construction


    project because he''s unhappy with you. After all, your engagement to Lily has been postponed for


    three years, so it''s inevitable for him to have second thoughts about you."


    "Haven''t we already decided on the engagement date? What else is there to be unhappy about?" Edric


    snapped impatiently.


    Margaret could only shut up when she saw how irritable her son was.


    Meanwhile, Jordan managed to catch up with Irene at the elevator. "What''s going on?" he asked.


    "What''s going on?" Irene repeated although she clearly knew what he was asking about.


    "You embarrassed me so bad back there." heined grudgingly. "Irene, why did you do that? Let''s


    not talk about how Edric actually saved you that night. His mother is an elder and you shouldn''t have


    left like that. It''s very rude of you."


    "What kind of an elder is she?" Irene replied sarcastically and instantly recalled what Margaret had


    done to her in the past. A look of hatred surfaced in her eyes, and she replied, "I feel annoyed


    whenever I see that woman''s face. As for Edric Myers, did you really think that he wants to save me?"


    Upon seeing Irene''s sneer, Jordan suddenly recalled the rtionship between Edric and Lily. "Did Edric


    save you because he knew you were Mr. Cook''s daughter?" he asked.


    "How would I know? You''re the only one who knows of my rtionship with Steven Cook!"


    "I see," Jordan said and frowned. His mind shed back to the scene of their fight at After Dark and


    he vaguely recalled Edric hugging Irene in his arms that day. He questioned, "Irene, is it true that you


    don''t know Edric before?"


    "I know him, but he doesn''t know me!" Irene replied quickly. Jordan''s brows scrunched up into a frown,


    and he felt as if he had missed out on something.


    The first episode of the blind date reality show was aired on TV and well received by the audience,


    achieving up to seven points in the audience''s ratings on just the first day of the broadcast.


    Social media tforms were flooded with discussions about the program the next day. Thanks to


    efforts by the TV station''s strong public rtions team and the reposting of the program by big-shot


    celebrities, the topic trended on Twitter several times and soon became the talk of the town.


    As Deborah Jones had nothing to do at home, she watched the rey of the blind date reality show


    and was soon hooked by the program. While she was engrossed in the show, Lily came downstairs


    and sat down beside her before she whined, "Mom, I''m so bored."


    "Find someone to go shopping with you," Deborah suggested, and her eyes remained glued to the TV.


    "That''s boring. There are only that many ces in San Fetillo, and I''ve already shopped in all of them."


    "Why don''t you go to Spa then?"


    "Mom!" Lily grumbled unhappily when she saw how uncooperative her mother was. "Can''t you have a


    proper conversation with me? What''s so interested in that stupid TV show?"


    "This TV program is quite entertaining," Deborah defended.


    Lily then took one nce at the TV. At that moment, the camera was panning over the female guests in


    the reality show, and her eyes suddenly widened as she eximed, "Mom, is that Irene?"


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Deborah replied in surprise.


    "Back to that show! Quick!" Lily yelled and snatched the remote control from Deborah''s hand to press


    the button and then paused at the frame which featured Irene and eximed, "Mom, thisdy''s name is


    Irene Nelson!"


    Deborah, who wasn''t paying much attention before, was now focused on the fifth female guest in the


    reality show after she heard what Lily said. As none of the male participants paid attention to Irene,


    Deborah naturally overlooked her presence and only realized that she was Irene after Lily had pointed


    it out.


    "Irene Nelson actually went for a blind date?" Lily and Deborah thought and exchanged a look.


    Deborah was the first the recover from her shock and asked, "Perhaps they share the same name?"


    "She''s wearing a mask, so I can''t see her face clearly, but her figure and face shape is very simr to


    Irene."


    "It''s not Irene. Look, she''s wearing braces. Irene''s already so beautiful, so there''s no way she''ll need to


    wear such a disgusting thing," Deborah refuted.


    "Let''s take a look at her personal information first." Lily continued to turn it back to the part where the


    female guests introduced themselves.


    It was written in Irene''s information that she was twenty-eight years old and was an ordinary employee.


    She was divorced once and had a three-year-old child. As she had been hurt in the previous marriage,


    a criterion that her future spouse must fulfil was to be honest. It would also be a bonus if she needn''t


    deal with the inw rtionship.


    Most of what Irene had stated in her information was true, for she genuinely wanted to find a father for


    Eden. However, as she was worried that men would choose her for her appearances, she deliberately


    wore braces to make herself look a little ugly.


    She believed that if someone did choose her despite her current appearance, he would be a person


    who did not judge a book by its cover. Eden''s age was also falsely reported. However, the criteria that


    her future husband had to meet came from the buttom of her heart. As long as her spouse does not


    have a mother and would remain faithful, Irene would be contented. She had had enough of Margaret


    during the time when she was with Edric and had already developed a phobia for mother-inws.


    "She couldn''t be Irene. How could Irene have a three-year-old child?" Deborah, who was first to finish


    reading the information, said. Irene and Edric had only been divorced for three years, so it was


    impossible for her to have a three-year-old child.


    "But why do they look so simr?" Lily muttered. "She still resembles Irene even though she''s wearing


    braces. Perhaps she adopted the child?"


    "Alright now. Let''s stop thinking about this. Whether she''s Irene or not, it has nothing to do with us. If


    you are bored, I''ll go shopping with you."


    "Mom, I don''t want to go out. Could you get Dad to call Edric over for dinner tonight?"


    Deborah was well aware of her daughter''s intentions and sighed, "Alright! I''ll call your Dad and speak


    to him about this."