As Vanessa stepped out of the Reynolds Mansion, the sunlight could not maintain the luster on her face, which twisted into a scowl. The fickleness of human affection struck her with cruel rity. Once the beloved darling of the family, now she was reced, her ce in their hearts usurped by another within a mere span of three years.


    Phoebe was nothing more than a daughter of a housemaid, so how had she ensnared the hearts of the Reynolds n? The question gnawed at Vanessa as jealousy burned hotly in her veins. Her train of bitter thoughts was abruptly derailed by the insistent buzzing of her phone. Seeing Ruby''s name sh across the screen only fueled her irritation, and she flung the device onto the car''s center console in annoyance.


    The phone continued to ring, and finally, out of irritation, she grabbed it and answered, "Ruby, what is it?"


    Ruby, sensing something amiss in her voice, quickly asked, "Vanessa, what''s wrong? Did you get upset again? Did that wretch Phoebe make you suffer?"


    Vanessa sniffled, "It''s nothing; I''m really fine."


    "I knew it," Ruby dered with conviction. "Don''t worry, Vanessa, I''ll take care of her sooner orter." The things Vanessa couldn''t handle herself; Ruby would handle.


    Vanessa''s tears turned intoughter, "Ruby, thank you. It''s so good to have you as a friend."


    Ruby beamed with pleasure at Vanessa''s words, asking, "You sound upset. Do you want me toe over?" "Yeah."


    They arranged a ce to meet, and Vanessa hung up, her spirits lifted.


    Even if the whole world opposed her being with Theodore, she would persist. She would never give up!


    She drove into the estate of small blue and white vis, parked the car, and got out wearing a mask and a cap.


    Distracted by her phone, she didn''t notice someoneing her way and bumped into them. Her phone fell to the ground. Without bothering to pick it up, she immediately apologized to the person she had collided with. "I''m so sorry; did I hit you anywhere?"


    When she looked up, she froze. The person was a delicate-looking woman, probably around Mrs. Reynolds''s age, with well-maintained skin and fine lines around her eyes.


    What shocked her was the man supporting the woman-it was Brandon. They were in a pose that was intimate, resembling a couple.


    Brandon frowned at her, and Vanessa quickly lowered her head, the cap hiding most of her face. She wasn''t sure if Brandon had recognized her.


    "Are you alright?" Brandon asked the woman in his arms.


    "I''m fine; don''t be so nervous. You scared the poor girl," the woman''s voice was tender and carried a hint of reproach, indicating an extraordinary rtionship between the two.


    Brandon''s furrowed brow rxed as he said, "d you''re okay. Youngdy, you should watch where you''re going, not just your phone."


    Afraid of being recognized, Vanessa disguised her voice and apologized, "I''m really sorry; I''ll be more careful in the future."


    "Alright, let''s go," the woman nudged Brandon, who gave Vanessa onest nce before walking away with his arm around the woman.


    Once they were far enough away, Vanessa bent down to pick up her phone.


    The screen was shattered, but she wasn''t too upset about it. Instead, she looked thoughtfully at the receding figures.


    Brandon was keeping a mistress on the side! No, not a mistress. The woman seemed about the same age as Mrs. Reynolds, and a sessful man like Brandon wouldn''t keep an older woman as a lover. Besides, they looked more like a married couple.


    So, Brandon wasn''t keeping a mistress... he was having an affair!!!


    She had just left the Reynolds Mansion, and Mrs. Reynolds didn''t seem to be aware. So, she must still be in the dark?


    How ironic!