Chapter 71 Emerald Earrings
"I said the earrings suit you. You don''t look old wearing them. If you don''t believe me, ask James."
Ethan always walked the talk. True to form, he took out his cell phone and called James.
When Maria was about divest herself of the earrings, she was stopped by Ethan''s hand. "James will
be here soon. Don''t take them off now."
James Xi? Maria stopped taking them off. For James'' sake, Maria just sat there and waited, wearing
the emerald earrings.
"Okay Ethan, what''s going on? Why do you want me to wear these?" She stared at the young man
in front of her.
As expected, Ethan''s expression changed. He murmured in embarrassment, "I want to buy them for
my mom."
Seeing that Maria was about to smack his head, he quickly added, "My mom is as domineering and
unreasonable as you. So, if you look good in them, she will too." Dodging Maria''s attack, he ran off.
"James! James! Help!"
Maria was astonished by hisment-domineering and unreasonable? She had already caught up
with Ethan and grabbed his arm, but she reluctantly let go when she saw James approaching.
And of course, Maria couldn''t fail to notice the woman with James. Alina always stood behind him,
worried that other women would steal this man away.
N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.
When Alina saw Maria with those brilliant green earrings, jealousy shed in her eyes. She asked
sourly, "Those look expensive, Maria. Where did you get that kind of cash, anyway?"
Ignoring her, Ethan yanked James to the side and put him face to face with Maria. "Hey James,
check this out. You like?"
James nced at the woman. She always emanated an aggressive beauty. Her fair skin together
with the costly emerald earrings made her look naturally graceful and in charge. James had to
agree with Ethan, and nodded his assent.
Seeing that James liked them, Ethan was even happier. He asked easily, "You could foot the bill,
right James?"
Alina was stunned. "Mr. Nan, are you going to buy them for Maria?"
"Why? What''s wrong?" Ethan looked at her, puzzled.
Alina smiled awkwardly. "Nothing. Just wondering why you want to give such an expensive gift to
Maria." In fact, what she wanted to ask most was why James had to pay for it.
Plus, it was a gift for Maria. Alina was overwhelmed by the jealousy and anger in her heart.
"Do I need a reason? Because it''s my pleasure!" Ethan didn''t want to waste any more words on it,
waving his hand as if he were shooing a fly.
He just looked at James expectantly, waiting for him to write the check.
Without saying a word, James took out a check book from his pocket and wrote a check for ten
million dors to Ethan. Alina was stunned.
Maria looked suspiciously at the two men. She noticed that because of tonight''s dinner party, Ethan
had eschewed his casual clothes in favor of an expensive pink suit.
As for James, he was d in ck as he ever was.
Maria recalled some of Ethan''s previousments about James. One time he said anyone would
be lucky to have a man like him. Now she couldn''t help wondering if they were gay.
"What''s that look in your eyes?" A cold voice interrupted her wild imaginings, bringing her back to
reality.
Maria saw that Ethan had gone to pay for the earrings, while James stared at her coldly. But
curiosity was killing her. She couldn''t help but ask, "James, are you bisexual?"
Startled, Alina choked on her own saliva. "Ahem! Ahem! Excuse me!" Realizing her gaffe, she
apologized to James in a hurry.
''No way! It couldn''t be. But James did send me messages saying he was into guys when he was in
T Country. So it''s true? And he likes Ethan Nan? Has everyone gone crazy?'' Alina screamed
inwardly.
Ethan was just a college student. He had a part-time job as a vet in a pet hospital run by HL Group.
They weren''t family at all. But Alina had seem James giving Ethan money more than a few times.
asionally, Ethan would stay overnight at James'' vi.
Ethan was a good looking young man with innocent, puppy-dog eyes, and fair skin. The more Alina
thought about it, the more convinced she became. James liked men.
Hearing Maria''s silly question, James'' eyes darkened as he looked at her. Icy hatred came off him in
waves. "You get one chance to take that back."
Maria just ignored him. This was too fun. She really wanted to piss him off. "Oh, I''m sorry. Were you
keeping the affair between you and Mr. Nan a secret?" Seeing her like this, Alina couldn''t stand
anymore. "Maria Song, stop! Don''t get close to James!"
Maria was close to James now, and the outfits they wore made them look like a couple. Alina
seethed in anger.
Frowning deeply, James was thinking about how to deal with this audacious woman. "You''re
doomed this time, Maria Song!" She would be fired from that coffee shop for sure!
"Oh really, Mr. Xi? How many men will you try to rent me out to this time? Or maybe you want me
cuffed and stuffed by the cops, or make the coffee shop fire me, or you''ll try to have me killed, huh?"
Maria recited a litany of all his tricks he''d tried before.
James realized that he tried to get rid of this woman so many times, but she still stood in front of
him, safe and sound. He racked his brain trying to figure it out. What could he say to break her? "Or
do you want me to prevent you from going to the cemetery for the rest of your life?"
His words really made Maria''s face change dramatically. Anger burst from within her. She warned
him with a growl, stressing each syble, "Try it. Maybe I can''t do anything to you, but think of Alina.
You want something to happen to her?"
Alina was speechless. Why did Maria drag her into it? She was innocent! But she was much
happier than anyone else to see them fighting. Hearing the threat, she moved closer to James,
pretending to be scared. "Maria, we''re cousins. I''ve done nothing — "
"Shut up!" Without giving her cousin a chance to finish, Maria continued to threaten the CEO. "If you
don''t want your engagement ceremony to be a funeral, leave me alone!"
"Are you seriously threatening me?"
"I don''t believe I stuttered, James Xi. Yes I want to remarry you, but that doesn''t mean you can''t
push me too far! If you continue to treat me like a whore, I''ll make sure even worse happens to
Alina!"
"Maria Song!" Alina gaped in disbelief. "Are you crazy?" She just kept digging, threatening her and
James. What was she thinking?
Fortunately, even though other people did care what they were talking about, no one dared to
eavesdropping.
James shook off Alina''s grip on his arm. He grabbed Maria''s wrist and dragged her aside.
Everyone noticed what he did, and they exchanged excited nces with each other.
The whole banquet hall went quiet.
People were wondering what was going on. Had James abandoned his new girlfriend and gone
back to his ex? At this moment, Ethan''s voice rang out behind them. "Wait a minute, you two. My
earrings!"
He watched them walk away and heard James say, "They don''t suit your mom."
Ethan scratched his head. It didn''t matter if the earrings weren''t right for his mother, but they should
give them back, right?
At this moment, Ethan thought about that old saying again —"One kingdom shouldn''t have two
kings." But this one had a king and a queen. So far, the king and the queen hadn''t dered a
ceasefire. He could smell the gunpowder from afar!
Alina, who was left behind, became the most embarrassed person in the hall. At first, Ste didn''t
n to intervene, but when she saw Alina standing there, awkward and alone, she felt sorry for her.
Also, she was afraid Alina would use her of not caring about her if she didn''t try tofort her.
Keeping this in mind, Ste took a deep breath and approached Alina, "Alina..." she called out
tentatively. She was afraid Alina would blow up on her.