Chapter 87 Playing Hard–To–Get
Nikolette tried to avoid answering him. She did not want to show weakness in front of Calista
However, the woman beside her opened her mouth. She was the waitress at the cafe.
*I’ll talk! Ms. Everhart …”
She tried to approach Calista, but one of the bodyguards pulled her back.
“I sent the audio recording to a friend by mistake, and then,” she pointed at Nikolette furiously,”
she came to me and forced me to sell her the recording. She said she’s your sister, and the
recording was damaging your reputation. I thought she seemed trustworthy, so I sold it to her. I
didn’t know she would be so evil and leak it to the press!”
Not everything she said was true, but Nikolette did not refute any of it. She held her head high
and looked at Calista haughtily.
“So what if I leaked it to the press? It’s the truth anyway, isn’t it, Calista? I didn’t just leak the
recording to the press, I also leaked the photos of you with Mr. Northwood. Otherwise, you
wouldn’t be able to marry him, given your status!”
Three seconds after she had released the recording online, the scandal of Calista and Lucian
meeting in a hotel had made it to the trending news online.
Nikolette scoffed.
“You’re double–timing Mr. Baker and Mr. Northwood. There’s no use trying to act innocent now.”
Calista went up to her.
“You were the one who leaked the audio recording?”
“Yes.”
“And you took the photos of Lucian and me when we were at the hotel?”
As far as Calista recalled, Zachary had brought Nikolette and her mother aboard at the time the
photo was taken. How was it possible for her to do that, then?
Nikolette’s expression did not change.
“Yes, I did.”
Calista nodded. Then, she raised her hand and slapped Nikolette.
+15 BONUS
She did not hold back at all. Nikolette was stunned by the slap. Her ears rang, and she saw stars swimming before her.
It took her about ten seconds to register what had happened. When she came back to her senses, she threw herself at Calista like a madwoman.
“Calista Everhart, how dare you hit me!”
Before she could get to Calista, the bodyguards caught and restrained her. Nikolette could do nothing more than glare ferociously at Calista. Calista laughed coldly.
“You deserve it.”
She stared at her hand, which was red with the force of the slap, then rubbed it on Lucian’s shirt.
“Ugh, you dirtied my hand.”
Nokilette was shocked. Lucian was speechless.
Having annoyed two people with one move, Calista felt her mood brighten a little. She gave Lucian a snort, then turned and left.
In the car, Lucian looked at her and asked casually, “Is that it?”
“What else can I do? Kill her?”
It wasn’t it for Calista, but Nikolette wasn’t the kind to back off just because she slapped her. It would just waste her time and efforts if she continued like this.
Lucian’s eyes drifted down to her hands.
“Does your hand still hurt?”
Calista hid her hands behind her back. She was convinced that Lucian was up to something. He wouldn’t ask about her hands otherwise; she refused to believe that it was just out of concern.
“What are you up to?”
Lucian gave her a disdainful look.
“I’m worried that you might try and scam me.”
Calista thought it was a wonder he hadn’t been beaten up by how crude his words were!
+15 BONUS
When they arrived at Calista’s apartment, Calista was trying to think of excuses to not have to
invite him up.
However, he said, “You’re here. Get out. Or are you expecting me to walk you up? You’re playing
hard–to–get.”
Calista took off her seatbelt angrily. She grabbed a cushion and threw it at Lucian’s face.
“I’ll show you fucking hard–to–get! You’re worse than an incel!”
Lucian did not expect her to resort to violence. The cushion hit him in the face.
“Calista Everhart, you …” he began through gritted teeth, but Calista slammed the door behind her
before he could finish.
She left without a backward glance.
The news that Lucian had defended Lily and that she was under his protection spread quickly the
next day. It didn’t take long for Selena to hear about it.
That afternoon, Calista received a call from Selena. She invited her and Lucian to have dinner at
Stansend Manor.
Calista wanted to refuse the invitation, but before she could find an appropriate excuse, Selena
decided for them.
“That’s confirmed, then. I’ve told the cook to make your favorite dishes. Get Lucian to pick you up
later.”
“Mom, there’s no need…
”
She could find her way there. However, before she could finish, Selena hung up.
Since there was no way she could get out of this, Calista decided to drive to Stansend Manor
herself. She’d gotten her car a few days ago.
Just as she picked up her keys and got ready to head out, Lucian called her.
“Come down.”
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+15 BONUS
Calista was annoyed.
Outside her building, she saw the familiar Bentley parked by the road. The car window was
lowered partially, revealing Lucian’s side profile.
“Get in.”
“No thanks, I’m driving myself.”
“Mom asked me to pick you up.”
Lucian looked at the car keys Calista was holding.
“Where did you get the money to buy a car?”
Calista frowned. What had that got to do with him?
Lucian did not have the patience to make small talk with her. He got out of the car and dragged
her in by force. Then, he started the car and left the neighborhood, heading toward Stansend
Manor.
Staring straight ahead, he said, “Mom will probably want to talk about what happened yesterday.
You should know how to answer her if she asks.”
Calista snorted. No wonder he was so willing to pick her up. He needed her help.
She looked over at Lucian. His face was as handsome as ever. Calista had always known that he
was good–looking.
He was eye–catching even in the entertainment industry, where there was no shortage of
beautiful people. More importantly, he was a loyal lover–that was the cherry on top of the cake.
Unfortunately, he didn’t love her.
Calista said offhandedly, “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything bad about Lily in front of Selena.”
She just wanted to get divorced from Lucian. If she tried to stop him and Lily from getting
together, Lucian would just drag out the divorce proceedings in revenge.
She’d rather they just get together quickly so that she could escape.
Lucian turned and stared at her coldly.
Calista felt his stare.
+15 BONUS
She thought that he didn’t trust her, so she raised her hand and swore, “I promise you, I’ll make
sure to praise Lily when we meet Selena later. I’ll make sure she blesses your fated union so that
you can be together in peace.”
Once Lucian and Lily were together, it would be much easier for her to divorce Lucian.
The more she thought about it, the better it sounded.
“Why isn’t Selena happy about your relationship with Lily?” she asked.
