Chapter 85 Miracle Cafe Was Smashed


    Recently, Alina couldn''t win against Maria at all. She couldn''t even use her resources and social


    status to intimidate Maria. And every time Maria bullied her, she woulde to James and cry


    pitifully. All she could do wasin. Just like right now. James stared at her tearful face. He


    couldn''t help wondering if he had really made the right choice. Was this the kind of woman he was


    about to marry?


    In his mind, the ideal woman he wanted to marry was like Maria. She was an obedient wife and a


    good mother in the past. And now she was also an independent and strong-willed woman.


    Alina still tried to defend herself. "Yes, I do have lots of connections and resources in H City. But


    don''t forget that there is also someone like Norman behind Maria. Besides, our rtionship has not


    been made public, and we are not engaged yet. I can''t use your name in anything I do. That''s also


    one reason why Maria doesn''t take me seriously."


    In H City, the power of the Tang family was gradually weakening. Once Alina made a big mistake, it


    would only add insult to injury. She couldn''t let her family down. Hence, before she took any action,


    she had a lot of things to consider first. But if she became James'' wife, she could totally rely on him.


    Even if she killed Maria, he would definitely help her out.


    Alina knew a lot of ruthless people. But they wouldn''t dare toy a hand on Maria because they


    knew that Norman was protecting her.


    "We have already confirmed our engagement date," James said. That was the only answer he could


    give her.


    But it made Alina feel confused. Did he mean that she could now do whatever she wanted using his


    name? Or did he mean that she coulde to him anytime if Maria pestered her again? She found


    it hard to figure out the message he wanted to convey to her. Then she remembered that he had


    just said that he was not interested in the strife between women.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    For a moment, there was pin-drop silence in the office. Eventually, Alina decided to change the


    topic. Although she was here toin about Maria, as much as possible, she didn''t want Maria


    to be the center of their conversation every time she was with James. "By the way, Dad bought a


    vi for us. He wants us to move there before our wedding," she said.


    But much to her surprise, James refused, "No. We are not married yet. Living together under the


    same roof will only tarnish your reputation. We can wait until after our wedding."


    Alina was rendered speechless. Her brows furrowed in confusion. She wasn''t sure if James really


    cared about her image or he was just making an excuse. Since she didn''t know what else to talk


    about, she decided to leave. "Well, James, I''d better be going now. I know that you are busy today,


    so I won''t take much of your time." The truth was, Alina wanted to go back home, so she could have


    time alone to think of ways to fight back against Maria.


    Upon hearing what she said, James nced at her and said, "Okay. I''ll ask Lorenzo to drive you


    home."


    When Alina left, James put down the document in his hands and nced at the paper bags on the


    table. He then took a stick of cigarette from his drawer, lit it, and stood in front of the French window,


    lost in thought.


    A few days passed, and Maria didn''te to see James again. He felt like everything that


    happened in Fairview Vi that night was just a dream.


    One morning, Maria was still sleeping when she received a phone call from one of her waitresses.


    "Maria, something happened here in Miracle Cafe."


    She sobered up right away, sat down on her bed, and asked, "What happened?"


    "Please quicklye here for you to see."


    As soon as she hung up, Maria washed her face and got dressed.


    Half an hourter, she was now standing in front of her coffee shop. With her arms crossed over her


    chest, deep lines formed on her forehead as her brows creased.


    Her coffee shop was in a mess. The windows and the main door were smashed, and broken


    sses scattered on the ground. She didn''t see thising. The Miracle Cafe was located in the


    central business district of H City, where surveince cameras were installed everywhere. She had


    even installed an anti-theft rm system to make her coffee shop more secure. But still, someone


    was bold enough to ruin her business.


    Her anti-theft rm system had actually worked. The store manager and the police rushed over


    when they heard the rm. But they were toote.


    There was no else there, but only shattered sses on the ground. They were not even able to find


    any tools that the criminals used or any traces left by them.


    Maria had a lot of enemies in H City, but not so many people knew that she owned the Miracle Cafe.


    James, Lorenzo, and Alina were among those few who knew.


    But she believed that James and Lorenzo were too busy to get bored and do such a thing to her.


    It couldn''t be Alina either. After all, she was the most famous celebrity in H City. Although she was


    too desperate to take her revenge and even wanted to kill Maria, she wouldn''t do it this way. This


    kind of thing would only ruin her image.


    However, Maria also thought of another possibility. Alina didn''t necessarily need to do it by herself.


    She could easily ask others to do it if the price was right.


    Across the road, James'' Harkim had just pulled over in front of HL Group. He was about to get out


    of the car when Summer said in a low voice, "Mr. Xi, look at the other side of the road."


    James cast a nce at her before turning to look in the direction of Miracle Cafe.


    He saw that the entrance of the coffee shop was in a mess. There were also some onlookers trying


    to see what happened, and a police car was parked on the roadside. Maria, who was wearing a


    sky-blue suit, was talking to a policeman. But because of the distance, he couldn''t clearly see the


    expression on her face.


    From the looks of it, James could tell that something unpleasant happened, but he didn''t say


    anything. He just opened the door, get out of the car, and walked towards the HL Group building as


    if he didn''t care.


    After talking to the police, Maria found out that her coffee shop was in a blind spot. The cameras


    installed on the roadside couldn''t cover her building at all.


    She couldn''t help ming herself as she didn''t pay much attention to the security facilities during


    the construction.


    There was nothing else she could do in the meantime, so she asked the waitress to put a "STORE


    CLOSED" sign and got in the police car. She had to go with them to the police station for police


    blotters.


    It was almost noon when Maria got out of the police station. She had wasted her whole morning


    dealing with the matter.


    She had just left the police station when she received a call from Colby, inviting her to lunch. Since


    she was in a bad mood, she was about to refuse. But Colby said that he had something important to


    tell her, so she epted his invitation.


    Colby was already waiting in a private room that he reserved in a Japanese restaurant.


    The moment he saw Mariaing in, he smiled warmly. Pointing at the chair opposite him, he said,


    "Maria,e and have a seat."


    Maria smiled back at Colby, but she was secretly studying the expression on his face. She could tell


    that he was in a good mood, so she could roughly guess that the important thing he was referring to


    must be the charity project from James.


    At the thought of it, she said half-jokingly, "Hello, Mr. Zheng. Finally, you can have the time to ask


    me out for lunch. I''m actually disappointed, thinking that this time won''te anymore." Colby


    stood up and sat on the chair next to her. He then said in a rxed tone, "I particrly allot this time


    to keep youpany."


    As he leaned closer to her, he smelled the faint fragrance of tuberose from her body.


    The tuberose wasbined with the scent of angelica, and it created a smell of charm and


    innocence. It was so gentle in the nose. Her scent made Maria iparably beautiful.


    When he thought of his wife''s rose fragrance, Colby felt that she was way too vulgar. He must admit


    that Maria had much better taste than her.


    Maria rested her elbow on the table and cupped her chin in her hand. She slightly distanced herself


    from Colby and said with a smile, "In that case, I''ve forgiven you now. Let''s eat?"


    Colby ignored what she said. Instead, he stretched out his arm and held her waist. He pulled her


    closer to him and smelled the scent of her hair.


    Maria was making him lose his control. In his mind, he preferred to have a taste of her than to have


    lunch. She must be more delicious than any food in this restaurant. Otherwise, how could she


    subdue a man like James?


    When Colby was about to kiss her cheek, Maria covered her lips and said, "Mr. Zheng, do you know


    how I got the project from HL Group?"


    Colby was slightly stunned, but shrewdness shed across his eyes. He then shook his head,


    pretending not to know.


    Maria flipped her long hair and said, "Fortunately,


    I still remember what kind of person James is. He is a neat freak, both physically and mentally. So I


    told him that I''ve never slept with any other men except him, and I''m still in love with him. He bought


    it. He agreed to give the project to you but on one condition. I am not allowed to have an affair with


    another man. Mr. Zheng..."


    Maria paused for a second and looked around. She then continued in a low voice, "The truth is, he


    arranged some men to follow me here today. But if you don''t need to work with HL Group anymore,


    it''s okay with me. I would love to move to that vi you have offered me anytime."