Chapter 6 The Jones Family's Past
Lily stayed quiet on the other end of the phone, not saying much.
Andrew, feeling bored, finally spoke up, "I'm done talking. Just make me more money and get out of my life."
Staring at her phone screen, Lily felt her heart sink.
She barely remembered leaving the dressing room, let alone noticing David's outstretched hand behind her, trying to greet her. David had no choice but to head home alone that night.
During dinner, David's grandfather, Aiden, let out a cold snort and put down his utensils. David's mother, Rhea, looked apologetically at Aiden and then turned to David, "David, say hi to your grandfather!"
After Rhea married into the Jones family, her sister died in a plane crash, leaving behind a four-year-old daughter. The Jones family adopted the child and renamed her Faye.
David's grandmother, Veda, gave birth to her son, Mason, at the age of thirty-eight and handed the company over to him and his wife, Rhea, to manage.
Faye married and had twins, while Mason and Rhea had a son named David.
Ten years ago, the Jones family was involved in a nationwide kidnapping case where one of the twins was killed. Mason, worried about David's safety, moved him to the Johnson Villa under a normal identity, but he was still concerned and eventually took David abroad.
Thinking about the lost family members, Rhea felt a pang of sadness.
"Forget it! If David wants to make me happy, he should just get married already," Aiden said, glancing at David. David was great in every aspect except for his love life, which had seen no progress.
Aiden had suspected several times that David might have some hidden issue; otherwise, why would his love life be so worrisome?
Aiden, now in his seventies, usually a laid-back old man, had a serious expression at this moment. "David, I arranged for you to meet Mia. Why didn't you go?"
"I don't like her," David replied flatly.
"What do you mean you don't like her?" Aiden rubbed his temples. "I've met Mia. She's very beautiful and works in the entertainment industry as a model. You should at least meet her and get to know her. Even if you don't like her, you should give it a chance... You're almost 30. Do you want the Jones family to end with you?"
David frowned, "I've met her, worked with her, and I'm not interested. But if you insist, I'll go."
"I'm leaving now," David said, standing up. Aiden watched David's back, clutching his chest in anger.
"I don't know who David takes after! He's almost thirty, and his peers are either getting married or already have kids. But David? His mind is always on making movies!" Aiden muttered.
"I think he's a lot like Mason," Faye laughed.
"Why are you making snide remarks? Look at your nephew. He spends all his time outside and rarely stays home for more than two hours before leaving without a word. Who would want to marry him?" Aiden began to lash out indiscriminately.
"Dad, why are you yelling at Faye?" Rhea said, rubbing her ears. "Maybe David has his own dreams to pursue."
Or maybe, David still had feelings for Emily?
Lily had no idea she was still on someone's mind. She opened her phone and searched the map.
Azure Palace Hotel.
Andrew had arranged to meet her at the hotel to discuss her career. What was he planning? Should she go or not? It could be a trap, or maybe not.
As Andrew said, it had been almost three years—enough time for a person to change. Maybe he wasn't as twisted as before.
Back then, he had violently yanked Lily's hair, not caring that her beautiful brow bone hit the corner of the table, causing blood to drip down her face.
The bruises and pain on her body didn't matter anymore; nothing hurt more than the pain in her heart.
"Do you still expect your family to save you? Your father now has a new family. Who cares what happens to someone like you?"
"Impossible!" She could do nothing but scream in despair.
Andrew would get excited every time he saw her struggle, pressing his foot on the chain around her neck, pulling her down to the ground.
Even in a sea of blood, she never gave up trying to lift her head and save herself.
Whenever she recalled those times, she couldn't help but tremble.
If she could earn money quickly, she could escape Andrew's control, which would be the best outcome for her.
Lily wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and gathered the courage to face Andrew again.
Andrew had left a deep psychological scar on Lily. Just seeing his name made her nauseous, and she never actively followed his news, always skipping past it.
Standing in front of the room number Andrew had given her, Lily felt a wave of fear.
"Does she even deserve to be a star? Is there no standard for celebrities? That woman is nothing. I just want her to know that only by working hard can she pay me back quickly."
Lily was used to Andrew's angry rants, but hearing them again still felt like sharp knives cutting into her. Her fingers trembled, and her chest felt heavy, making it hard to breathe. She took a deep breath, then pushed the door open, facing Andrew.
Inside, a sexy naked woman glanced at her in surprise. Realizing Lily had arrived, Andrew put down his phone, left the bathtub, and walked towards her, wearing slippers and a towel.
It had been years since she last saw him, a long time that felt like a lifetime.
The naked woman smiled at him, "Mr. Anderson, enjoy your time."
"Mr. Anderson, how do you want me to proceed?" Lily's tone remained calm.
"Sit down," Andrew pointed to the sofa opposite him and sat down, scrutinizing Lily before asking, "Want a drink?"
"No, I'm not thirsty, Mr. Anderson." Lily didn't sit or drink, standing a bit away, seemingly out of place.
Andrew laughed, "After all these years, you haven't changed a bit. Still not very smart. If only your face could stay the same as it was back then, but forget about your personality."