Chapter 118


    Shirley seemed to be riled up by that guy''s words: "Carlos, I can''t believe you''ve got those ideas


    about Emma."


    "Why can''t I have feelings for her? I''ve known her since she was a kid. I''ve seen her growing up.


    Are you overreacting?"


    "You beast, I won''t allow you to harass Emma."


    "That''s up to you then." He sounded casual, like he was sure of himself, knowing that Shirley''s


    weakness was Emma.


    With a resolute tone, Shirley dered, "Dare to proceed, and not a cent shall you receive from me."


    The recording echoed with a resounding crash, akin to a hand''s fierce impact on a table. The man''s


    voice returned, "I couldn''t care less. If the money eludes me, we all tumble into the abyss. Choose


    wisely." An undercurrent of threatced his words, hinting at drastic measures should he be pushed


    to the edge.


    "Carlos, are you really going to make us both lose?"


    "I just want money, 3 million."


    "Fine, take your money and get out of A City, don''t disturb our lives again."


    There was silence for a moment, Shirley gritted her teeth.


    Ines seemed lost in thought, her brow furrowed.


    She knew Ines was pondering, so she didn''t interrupt, also starting to think.


    Ines knew there were many secrets hidden here, only known to the mother and daughter and this


    man. Even Hunter was kept in the dark.


    That guy''s tone suggested he was close with Shirley and Emma, even iming that he raised


    Emma. What was their rtionship?


    "Izzy, did you figure something out?" Phoebe asked.


    Ines shook her head, "I''m not very clear about the mother and daughter''s past. I can''t make sense


    of it. I''m not sure who''s ckmailing her?"


    Phoebe scoffed, "Whoever it is, seeing Shirley in such a state is satisfying. It''s worth spending so


    much time on her today."


    "Phoebe, thank you." Ines looked at Phoebe gratefully. She had no grudge against the mother and


    daughter. Her outrage was all because of her.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Phoebe thought for a few seconds, "ording to the usual drama, there are only two things that


    Shirley fears Hunter discovering. One is that she has a man outside. The other is that Emma is not


    his daughter."


    Ines shook her head decisively, "Emma is definitely his daughter. He''s not a fool. If he didn''t even


    check whether Emma was his daughter, that would be too much of a failure. And have you noticed?


    Emma''s eyes look a lot like mine, just like Hunter''s."


    Phoebe looked at Ines seriously, thought about Emma''s appearance, "I didn''t notice until you


    mentioned it, your eyes do look alike."


    "That man named Carlos clearly just got out of jail, and he''s obviously here for the money. They''re


    probably not in that kind of rtionship now. Their ents suggest they''re from the same ce. If


    I''m not wrong, that man might be Shirley''s hometown friend or ex-husband." A faint smile traced its


    way across Ines'' lips. The recovery of her memory remained a source of concern, yet a clue had


    been unexpectedly gifted to her. Perhaps Carlos would serve as the crucial turning point. After all, a


    covetous man without a job can easily be swayed, given the right temptation.


    She''s not good at this, better leave it to Ethan.


    "Izzy, why are youughing like this? Thinking about your hubby?" Phoebe waved a hand in front of


    Ines'' eyes.


    "No, I just thought that man might be a breakthrough."


    "That''s certainly possible."


    "When you go home, send me a copy of this recording. I''ll let Ethan listen to it." Ines said, not even


    realizing how much she relied on Ethan.


    "Izzy, you''re learning to depend on a man, that''s a good sign." Studies have shown that one reason


    for women staying single is their strong independent nature, not knowing how to rely on a man. This


    makes men feel unneeded, inferior, and even insecure. They feel less than a woman, and in the


    long run, it makes men back away.


    Hearing this, Ines smiled lightly, "Of course, I should rely on my husband."


    Phoebe originally wanted Ines to join her for dinner, but Ines got a call from Ethan saying that dinner


    was ready at home.


    "Izzy, did I hear that right? Ethan made dinner and is waiting for you?" Phoebe gaped at Ines in


    surprise.


    Ines shook her head, almost used to people''s surprise when they found out Ethan cooked at home,


    "Yes, he often cooks. I can''t."


    "So what do you do?" Phoebe was curious about their dynamic.


    "I usually just do the dishes and stuff like that." Ines thought for a moment and added: "Oh, and


    laundry." To be honest, she really didn''t do much.


    Phoebe joked, "With a washing machine, you''re probably just in charge of throwing the clothes in


    and hanging them up."


    "How did you know?"


    "I told you, I''ve known you since we were kids. How could I not know you?" Phoebe red at Ines.


    "Oh, and Ethan invited you over for dinner tonight."


    Phoebe pointed to her nose, "Ethan wants to invite me to dinner?" Ines nodded, "Yes, he just told


    me himself."