"Are you sure? That's incredulous!" someone exclaimed.
"Really? Everyone says he's a big shot in the city. Who would dare blackmail him? Does that person have a death wish?" another person said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yes, I think so," someone echoed.
"Do you see the woman he carried? Look at her belly! She's obviously pregnant," the receptionist added, trying to prove her point.
Overhearing their whispering, Doris turned to them and said, "Yes, I am pregnant. Not that it's any of your concern." The receptionist jerked in surprise after hearing her address them, and then continued with her whispering as if not hearing her. Jay’s arms tightened, preventing her from moving towards them. Doris’ nostrils flared as she continued to watch them whispering. ”1 see, you want to have a baby with him too?" she challenged, raising her voice at the receptionist.
The crowd surrounding them snickered, intrigued to see how the situation would unfold.
The receptionist scoffed at her brusqueness, at a loss for words. "Excuse me? You... you're pregnant with an illegitimate child of the Fang family. I don't understand how you can be so arrogant. What a shameless woman ! Who do you think you are?"
Nuzzling close to Jay, Doris batted her eyes and flashed him a coy smile. "My dear husband, did you hear her? She said I was pregnant with an illegitimate child and called me shameless. What do you think we should do about her?" "Whatever you think is best, honey. I’ll go along with it," he replied, rubbing her shoulder to calm her. It was rare for him to see Doris speak in such a soft tone. Seeing her delicate frame nestled close to him, he was flattered and suddenly felt a strong urge to protect her.
"Honey, I was thinking, how about we buy this bar?" Doris suggested, smiling sweetly at him.
Without hesitation he said, "Okay, honey."
"Did you hear her? She called Mr. Fang her husband. If you don't have any evidence, you shouldn't accuse others for no reason," a person from the crowd mocked at the receptionist.
"When did Mr. Fang get married? I didn't hear anything about it," someone said in surprise.
"I don’t think I heard anything about it either, but I’m sure I heard her call him her husband."
"A lot of women call him ‘husband’. I don’t think that’s the point," someone interjected. "The point is, she clearly called him those things and he didn’t seem to mind at all!"
"He does look happy and pleased with her," another person agreed.
Doris rolled her eyes at the whispers, and then turned to give the receptionist a spiteful look.
The receptionist's face colored in embarrassment as the whispers grew louder. She smiled sheepishly at Doris. "Well... Miss... Please don't blame me," she rambled.
Doris laughed, "Of course, I completely understand. I’m sure you’ll understand as well that this bar will belong to me shortly. I’m thinking of closing it for a month so I can have a chance to re-decorate.”
There were two reasons why Doris felt confident enough to make these declarations. The first was that the bar was relatively small, so it would be easy for Jay to buy.
The second was that Jay promised her. She knew he wouldn't break any promise he made to her.
"Then...Miss...we..." the receptionist fumbled, rubbing her hands together nervously.
"I think it would be best if you go home first. We'll update you if there’s any news," Jay said. The receptionist was stunned and left frozen in front of them. Jay turned to leave with Doris in his arms.
After the two left, the crowd's whispers continued. They blamed the receptionist for speaking out of turn and causing trouble. They all agreed that she was now being punished for it.
The receptionist winced as she watched the two leave. She wished she could go back in time and slap herself before she said anything she would soon regret, but what was the use of her regret? Time would not turn back.
Jay led Doris to the car.
Lounging against the seat, she looked at him sitting in the driver’s seat. "Jay, you've been drinking. I don’t think you should be driving. Are you planning on killing us?"
"So what? I'm fine," he slurred. After hearing his slurred voice, he agreed that it would be best if he didn’t drive.
Doris got out of the back seat and came around to the driver's seat. Opening the door, she motioned for him to get out of the car. "I'll drive under one condition. You need to buy this bar tomorrow and give it to me as a divorce property. I don't need anything else but this bar.
Jay blinked at her in confusion. How could the sweet Doris he held in his arms moments before change so
quickly?
"Divorce? What are you talking about Doris? You're thinking about all sorts of things."
"If you don't want to see your name in the headlines tomorrow, you'd better get in the car now. Let's go home first." Doris turned away from him and started the car.
"My name will be in the headlines whatever I do. What's there to be afraid of?" he challenged. His loud voice attracted the attention of the passersby's.
Doris lowered her head in embarrassment. Jay might be used to being on the headlines, but she certainly wasn't.
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