Chapter 7 Here Comes the Love Rival

• Amanda stormed away from the Winters Manor onto the deep, dark road. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Elias did not deserve to know about her child because he would never be a good father.
• Suddenly, a sense of chill enveloped her. She looked around, and not a single soul was present. This was Imperia's known wealthy corner, so there were rarely any cabs since the city center was far away. She would have to walk until dawn to get there.
• As such, she fished out her phone to call for help when she was interrupted by the honk from a car behind her, followed by the blinding car lights.
• A black Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped before her. The window rolled down, revealing Elias' handsome but shameless face. "Get in."
• Without sparing him a glance, Amanda continued forward. "I don't need your help. Someone will come to get me."
• He stopped the car and pushed the door open before approaching her. Then, he carried her on his shoulder and returned to his car.
• Feeling her body in midair, she was taken aback and subconsciously grabbed onto his suit. "Elias! Put me down! Why do you even care about me? Don't you remember we're divorced?" She kept slamming her fists on his body.
• Unfazed, Elias placed her onto the passenger seat and leaned forward to buckle the seatbelt for her. At that moment, they were so close that Amanda could see the man's thick eyelashes. "I brought you here, so I should bring you home safely. You'd better be good, or else I might move your mother's ashes." After that threat, he closed the door and went to the driver's seat.
• Her eyes widened in disbelief, baffled that he was using her mother to threaten her again. She looked at the man beside her and chastised, "Elias! I'll never forgive you if you move my mother's ashes!"
• However, the unperturbed man merely glanced at her. "That depends on your behavior."
• When her mother passed away, Amanda could not afford to give her mother a burial. It was Elias who arranged everything and helped her mother rest in peace. Thus, it was outrageous how he used a dead person against her for his convenience. What a sc*mbag.
• Buzz— Buzz—
• Elias' phone displayed Grace's incoming call on the screen.
• Noticing the name, Amanda felt a pang in her heart. This is the woman Elias has in his heart…
• He did not hesitate and answered the call. Then, he heard Grace's gentle voice from the other end. "Elias, I had dinner with the film crew tonight and drank some wine, so I can't drive home. Can you pick me up?"
• "I'm not available right now. I can get someone to send you home, though."
• "I don't want that. I want you. I'm drunk. How could you feel assured to let someone else take me away…"
• He stayed silent before instructing her, "Send me your address and wait for me there."
• "Sure. I'll wait for you."
• After the call ended, Elias continued to drive. Since it was dead silent inside the car that one might even hear a pin drop, Amanda naturally deduced the caller's voice belonged to Grace. Her voice was gentle and sweet, like a woman in a happy relationship.
• Huh. I guess this is the stark difference between being loved and tolerated. He makes it so clear with his patience with Grace, but he barely made an effort to return home during our one-year marriage.
• Just thinking about it depressed her. She looked out the window and bit her lower lip, letting her thoughts go wild.
• The man behind the wheel suddenly asked, "Whose existence were you referring to earlier? Who is 'he'?"
• "What?" Amanda was momentarily stunned and looked at the man's perfect, chiseled side profile.
• "You said I will never get to know his existence. So, who is he?"
• She fixed her gaze on the fleeting scenery outside. "No one."
• Curiosity did not get the best of him, so he halted his follow-up questions. Fine. I don't care.
• At that moment, Amanda's phone rang. She looked at it and saw it was from Helean. She answered without hesitation but soon regretted it when she heard Aiden's voice coming from her phone. "Mommy! When are you coming to get me? Did you forget about me?"
• She reflexively covered the phone's speaker and glanced at the man, afraid he would overhear the child's voice. OK. No fluctuations. Eyes still on the road. Phew. She turned her back to him and whispered into the phone, "I'm coming to you now. See you later."
• Once done, she decisively hung up, not giving the child any chance to speak. That action piqued the interest of the man in the driver's seat. Is she seeing someone?
• "Was it a man or woman?" he asked.
• With a cold expression, she retorted, "What does it have to do with you?" Then, she received a message from Helean. It was an address for a restaurant, probably where he was having dinner with Aiden. "Sorry to trouble you, but please send me to Nycinth."
• I wonder if my baby has been good tonight.
• Meanwhile, Elias was intrigued. Nycinth? The address Grace sent me was also this restaurant. What a coincidence.
• …
• Half an hour later, the two arrived outside a restaurant named Nycinth. Amanda half-heartedly thanked him. "Thank you." She unlatched her seatbelt and alighted from the car before heading into the restaurant without turning back.
• The man could not help but scoff as he found her to be more arrogant after the divorce. She used to be nice and never pulled a long face at me.
• After parking his car, he made his way toward the restaurant as well. When Amanda entered, she began looking for her baby, but before she could find Helean and Aiden, she noticed Elias in the same space as her. "Why are you following me?" she questioned in a panic.
• Oh my, oh my. Why is he here?! Did I make a slip-up earlier? Did he catch anything suspicious?
• He was displeased. "Me? I'm here to pick someone up."
• It was then a voice rang out. "Elias, you're finally here!"
• Like a butterfly fluttering its wings, Grace threw herself into the man's embrace and wrapped her arms around him. However, Elias did not have much of a reaction and calmly hummed in response.
• When she noticed Amanda out of the corner of her eye, her smile instantly disappeared. "Elias, you… Why are you here… with your ex-wife?" Tears immediately welled up inside her puppy eyes.
• When Amanda saw that, all she wanted to do was burst into laughter. So, she knew about my existence long ago, but I was the only one late on the memo.
• Elias immediately felt a headache coming because he hated explaining things the most. "It was just a coincidence. We met each other at the entrance."
• That white lie relaxed Grace a little. "I see. I'm sorry I misunderstood you. You almost scared me to death. I thought you guys were contacting each other again."
• So… How was that not implying that Amanda was trying to seduce her man?