"Rachael, is that really you? What on earth are you doing here? And why are you here with a man... Wait, isn't that Mr. Mitchell?"
Rachael lifted her head and froze when she saw Jayde Spencer, Xander's mother, standing nearby with Milly at her side.
Milly was hooked tightly around Jayde's arm, her face full of exaggerated surprise. The two of them stood so close they looked exactly like a devoted mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Which, unfortunately, they truly were—at least on paper.
Jayde's expression hardened as she strode forward, her tone dripping with reproach. "So this is how you behave in public? Clinging to other men while Xander is out there working day and night? Do you have any shame at all? You've embarrassed our entire family!"
Milly let her gaze slowly rake over Rachael, a faintly mocking smile tugging at her lips as she deliberately raised her voice. "Rachael, I really don't want to misunderstand you. You're not still upset about yesterday and trying to get revenge on Xander, are you? He spent more than an hour video calling me last night. God, he really should've spent that time to comfort you. I'll totally remind him when we have lunch later. Please don't let emotions push you into doing something you'll regret."
Her tone sounded gentle, but every word was a carefully wrapped display of how close she was to Xander, even subtly hinting that Rachael was deliberately getting involved with Kellan just to get back at Xander.
Rachael instinctively glanced at Kellan beside her, only to find him standing there with his arms crossed, calmly watching the scene unfold, clearly having no intention of explaining anything on her behalf.
Of course, he and Xander were sworn rivals, and given such a perfect chance to provoke him, there was no reason for Kellan to step in and clarify matters.
Rachael could only let out a humorless laugh. She straightened her back, deliberately stepping away from the man, and then turned to Milly with a calm, knowing smile.
"What a dramatic imagination you have! I came out to buy Xander the tea he likes and happened to run into Mr. Mitchell. This is a public place, and nothing improper happened. And honestly, I'm surprise Xander still had the energy to chat with you last night after all. I, on the other hand, was exhausted and literally passed out the moment I lay down. His endurance really is admirable."
Her words were no less intimate or pointed than Milly's.
The moment Rachael finished speaking, Milly's expression stiffened, her smile barely holding together.
"You... you were together last night? Then why didn't I see you during the video call?"
Rachael tilted her head slightly. "Miss Clark, are you always this invested in other people's personal affairs?"
"You—" Milly nearly lost control, her temper flaring as she struggled not to explode on the spot.
Jayde clearly hadn't expected Rachael to respond so boldly either. After a brief pause, she sneered coldly. "Do you think Milly would ever behave so crudely? You're obsessed with meaningless nonsense. Milly, as the Clark family's precious daughter, is someone truly worthy of standing beside Xander. Unlike you—nothing more than a useless housewife. Married for all these years and still childless. Tell me, what value do you bring at all?"
Her eyes flicked suspiciously toward Kellan. "Meeting another guy behind Xander's back, no less! Have you finished this quarter's perfume formula yet? If production gets delayed, just wait and see how Xander deals with you."
Rachael responded without missing a beat, "Oh? If I'm so useless, shouldn't this responsibility go to Miss Clark instead, the one who's supposedly qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xander? Why keep pushing it onto me? Or could it be that the much-praised daughter of the Clark family isn't actually as capable as everyone claims?"
Jayde and Milly both turned red with fury.
Rachael, however, had already spun around and walked off with her head held high, completely disregarding the three of them.
Jayde stared after her in disbelief, pointing at Rachael's retreating back as she fumed. "Milly, has that woman lost her mind? How dare she speak to me in that tone?"
Before Milly could even open her mouth to answer, a lazy male voice drifted over from behind them. "Well, that was quite the show."
Jayde and Milly turned around to see Kellan standing there with a teasing smirk, looking like someone who had just enjoyed a free piece of entertainment.
Their expressions immediately darkened even further.
Yet neither of them had time to react. Kellan had already turned away, striding off just as casually as Rachael had, leaving the two women behind, seething and stamping their feet in rage.
Milly gritted her teeth in anger. "Mrs. Spencer, I'm sure they're having an affair. We can't touch Kellan for now, but just wait. Once the Spencer Group secures its partnership with the Shaw family, we'll make sure Xander handles both of them properly!"
Hearing this, Jayde was reminded of how crucial the cooperation between the Spencer Group and the Shaw family was, and her expression gradually softened.
"That's right. Let them have their moment while it lasts," she said coldly. "Milly, you're the most reliable one. Once Rachael has no more value, I'll make Xander divorce her immediately. Without the Spencer family backing her, her adoptive parents would never forgive her."
Meanwhile, Rachael realized she had left in too much of a hurry and forgotten her purse. She turned back to retrieve it and, just as she rounded the corner, overheard every word they said.
She didn't look shaken in the slightest—only a faint, mocking smile curved her lips.
The Shaw family would never give them that opportunity.
She avoided them and returned to the booth, picked up her purse, and quietly slipped out through the back exit.
Unexpectedly, the moment she reached the parking lot, a hand suddenly grabbed her. She let out a startled breath as she was yanked into a firm embrace.
Rachael lifted her eyes and saw that it was Kellan once again, standing right in front of her.
