A Vengeful Ex-Wife

Chapter 125 Cunning Businessman

Summer was amazed. "That took some serious balls." No one had ever dared to do this to James!

"Yeah, and I paid the price for it." Maria looked at her wounds and smiled in self-derision.

Summer raised another question. "How did you escape?"

Maria smiled faintly. Those professional killers were really good at their jobs. If it weren't for the message she sent to Colby before emerging from the car, she would have died.

"Someone saved me, that's how," she answered indifferently.

She was pretty badly hurt. Those men weren't easy to deal with. But she didn't fight for her life. In fact, she held back.

Maria figured if she were really injured, Colby would take it as a sign she was on his side, and being punished for it. She also hoped James would feel bad for her.

"Let me guess: Mr. Shen?" Summer was really curious now.

"No, Colby Zheng," Maria answered honestly. She wouldn't hide anything from Summer.

Summer was surprised to hear that name. She was really in the dark. "What about you and Mr. Lu? Are you two an item?" Maria was forthcoming when it came to Summer. She knew the woman was her friend, and she wouldn't tell James anything.

"I wanted to ask Norman for his help, but he's a pretty private guy. If I told James that he and I were dating, James wouldn't believe it for a minute." She paused to scratch. Maria might be on the mend, but she itched like crazy under the bandages.

"Lawrence was the obvious choice. He's busy, so it wouldn't look weird if I wasn't around him 24/7. But James hangs out with him a lot. Just picture it—his ex-wife falls for his best friend. He'd probably be disgusted just thinking about it. He might stew about it every time he wants to call Lawrence. Revenge is sweet."

Summer didn't ask Maria for the dirty details. She knew this was part of Maria's plan. It might be more fun to sit back and watch the show.

But she had to admit that Maria might be getting in over her head. James just tried to kill her, and very nearly succeeded. The hospital ward was proof that arrogance had a price.

"You'll need help. What can I do?" Summer asked sincerely.

Maria smiled at her gratefully. "You helped out a lot already. Aren't you afraid he'll fire you?"

"Of course I am. But I've made up my mind. If Mr. Xi fires me, I'll come work in your coffee shop. But you have to match my salary, Maria!" Summer said with a smile.

"Deal!" said Maria.

The two women looked at each other, bursting into laughter. They chatted for a while. After cautioning her to take good care of herself again, Summer left the hospital. Maria was alone again. She had time to think about what her next steps would be.

After a long while, she took out her phone and dialed a number. "Yeah, it's me. Spread the news that James gave the project, which was supposed to go to YL Group, to HM Group because of a woman."

The news traveled fast. Within twenty minutes, Jonathan Jiang, the CEO of YL Group, got wind of it.

Rubbing his chin, Jonathan nodded. 'So it is her!' he thought inwardly. He remembered the woman who attended his son's birthday party with Norman that evening. She was hard to forget. She was hot, and apparently loaded. She bid on two sets of jewelry at the charity auction, and they were high-ticket items. And he couldn't get over how stunning she looked.

Maria used those charms well. Not only could she get Norman to take her to parties, but James listened to her advice on business matters. Jonathan was extremely intrigued by this mystery woman. He thought if he cultivated a relationship with her, it could only buoy the fortunes of YL Group. He ordered a detachment of his bodyguards to keep an eye on the woman.

It was evening now. Maria sat up in bed, reading the news on her phone. She perked up her ears when she heard footsteps in the otherwise quiet corridor outside her room. They were getting closer.

Her ward was at the end of the corridor, and the mysterious people in the hallway would have to pass several rooms to get to her. They showed no signs of slowing down. They were coming to see her.

Maria switched to the game she'd paused, and lay down in bed. She wanted whoever her unknown visitors were to underestimate her.

The footsteps got closer and closer, and she turned up the volume on her phone.

Soon, someone pushed the door open. Two men came in; one of them was Colby.

Maria stopped what she was doing and looked at the man in surprise. "Hi, Mr. Zheng!"

Colby walked in with a big smile on his face. "Maria, I thought you'd be asleep."

Maria showed him her mobile phone screen and said helplessly, "I'm so bored here. I booted up a game."

Colby sat at the edge of her bed and locked the phone screen for her. "You're hurt. You should get as much rest as you can." 'She's so shallow. James Xi tried to kill her, and all she can do is play games?' he thought to himself.

The woman put her phone beside the pillow obediently and looked at him gratefully. "I know. Thank you, Mr. Zheng."

Colby seemed more caring than James. Her ex-husband ordered her killed, and all James could do when he got here was make her admit she was wrong. At least Colby was nice to her.

Colby didn't mince words with her. He got straight to the point. "What did you do to him? He tried to kill you."

He sent his men to rescue Maria. When they got there, Maria was surrounded by a dozen professional assassins. She had been stabbed two or three times already. If his men hadn't arrived in time, one of the killers would have probably slit her throat.

Judging from the bandages on Maria's body, Colby didn't think she was faking it.

"I have a grudge against Mr. Qin's daughter. I used Mr. Xi to acquire Qin Group. I also helped HM Group get the project. He realized I wasn't loyal to him." The woman sadly pressed her cheek against the pillow, her hands tightly grasping Colby's. Her beautiful eyes reflected complex emotions.

Colby patted the back of her hand to comfort her and almost believed her. But he knew she was calculating, too. James was not an ordinary man. He didn't get fooled very often, and if he did, he turned the tables quickly. He could tell if someone was using him, and Maria ran afoul of that, apparently.

"I see. Take good care of yourself. Here's a bank card, in case you need it. If you run out of money, just let me know." He wouldn't mistreat anyone who helped him.

Much to his surprise, Maria didn't take the card this time. She hesitated. "I can't do it anymore. I'm scared."

'She is scared? I can't let this happen. She's still useful to me.' He shoved the card into her hands and said, "Don't worry. Take it. Call me if you need help."

"All right, Mr. Zheng. And thank you for rescuing me! If it weren't for you, I'd be a corpse."

"You're most welcome!"

The two didn't talk much. Before leaving, Colby suddenly asked, "Maria, Norman's working on a new product. I'm sure you know about it. Have any idea when it's supposed to be out?" Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The release date of Norman's product? That was such a small detail. Why did he care? Maria realized Colby was testing her. He was indeed a cunning businessman.

Maria hesitated for a while and answered, "I'll check if Norman has blocked me or not." She meant she would contact Norman and get the details.

Colby nodded with satisfaction. "Okay, have a good rest. I'm gone. Good night." "Be careful driving. Good night," Maria answered with a charming smile.

After confirming that he left, Maria found Norman's ID on WeChat and asked, "Norman, what new product is your company working on?"

Norman answered, "Nothing right now."

His company had been tinkering new products, but they were still in development, and it was way too early for a release.

Maria was a little confused. She asked again, "Then why did Colby ask me about the release date for your new product?"

After thinking a while, Norman typed, "To test you. He's trying to see if you deceived him. And he wants to know how important you are to me."

If Maria had given Colby an answer she thought sounded good, he would know she was lying.

If Maria was honest with him, at least it meant she asked Norman. Since Norman bothered to give her an answer at all, it also meant the two were in contact.

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