Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 130: The kind of person I thought you were

"Hm, someone seems to be talking about me," Max’s voice attracted their attention and they all turned to see him approaching with Valerie who had his coat on.

Her face was a bit dazed and that confirmed their suspicions as to what they had been up to.

"And my wife as well." He stopped in front of them, his eyes on Stephanie. "It seemed interesting. Is there something we’re a part of that we don’t know? Please, do tell."

Stephanie looked at him feeling his dangerous gaze and gulped. She might’ve slipped up a little bit this time around.

She gulped. How was she going to handle this?

"Well, I apologize." She suddenly said. "I shouldn’t have come to such conclusions and defame someone like that. Please, pretend you didn’t hear that. Please."

"Hm, I don’t think it’ll be easy to ’unhear’ such a thing said about my wife." Max said, his eyes brimming with contempt. "I’m not very generous with things that have to do with my wife."

Stephanie gulped and bowed her head. She clutched her hand. He was completely different from how he acted earlier when he introduced himself.

’What is this? How dare he treat me like this? Does he know who I am? I... I am Romaine.’ she thought, slowly trembling in anger.

No one dared to speak to her like that and her this man... And all because of that witch too.

They all noticed how Stephanie was acting and Mariam felt confused. She had never seen Stephanie act like that or accuse someone in that manner either.

It was like she was a completely different person.

Valerie knew this was her time to intervene.

’Let’s see how this little girl acts.’ she thought and stepped forward, pushing Max’s chest gently. "I think that’s enough from you, Max." She said, and Stephanie raised her head. "It’s not her fault. She just said what she saw on the surface. See, I told you it’s weird that you’re sending your sister to a hotel suite when the villa is perfectly fine. Now see how others perceive your actions."

Max threw his face away, clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction.

Valerie approached Stephanie and took her hand.

"It’s alright. I’ll talk him out of it. You can stay with us tonight, along with Mariam and mother. How about it?" She smiled.

Stephanie looked at the smile and the first thing that came to her mind was,

’This bitch... Now you’re trying to act nice. I’ll make sure to show Mariam your true colors.’

She thought this and smiled sweetly.

"Ah, that’s a relief. Thank you."

Valerie could tell what this girl had in mind but she kept it to herself, smiling brightly like a defenseless lady.

’Do not worry. You’ll lead us directly where we want to be so no haste.’

They all got in the car.

Mariam sat in the middle of her mother and Stephanie.

She was still stuck in thoughts as to why Stephanie would behave that way. She had known her for so long but she never knew that side of her.

She thought they were best friends but it turned out there were sides of her she did not know.

And... She glanced at her brother behind the wheel, Valerie, and then her mother. What were they hiding?

The moment they started acting, she caught on to the fact that something was wrong.

"Ah, I’m hungry." Stephanie said and Mariam nodded.

"Me too." Mariam said. "Brother, let’s stop at a restaurant and have something to eat."

"Okay. How about a seafood restaurant?" Tiana suggested. "I know a very good place."

"Ah, that’s right." Stephanie said. "You said it once that your mother used to attend our school. She probably knows all the popular places."

"I probably knew the popular places then but not the ones you kids know now." Tiana said. "Unless it’s still as bustling as it used to be."

"Were there kitters in your time, Mom?" Mariam asked.

"Oh, that’s still around?" Tiana laughed. "It used to be so popular then."

"It still is, ma’am." Stephanie said. "It’s always so packed."

They all laughed.

"Haha, you guys talk about things Valerie and I have no idea of." Max said. "Makes us jealous."

"It seemed we missed our chance to know these amazing places." Valerie added.

They kept talking till they got to the popular seafood restaurant.

It was not as packed as it would be on a daily basis but it was still bustling.

"Let’s get a table over there." Max said, pointing at some empty but Stephanie had other plans.

"I believe the rooftop would be fine." She said, and Mariam agreed with her.

"Yeah, it has the best views."

Stephanie was acting all nice now but it was clear she was trying to show off her knowledge to the two who never came to this part of the country.

But Valerie didn’t really care. Compared to Lucy’s antics, these acts were like a newborn.

She just viewed Stephanie like a child learning how to crawl.

"Wow, it seems you’re correct about the view." Valerie said, chuckling to herself. "Well done."

"Well, it’s just common knowledge."

Once again, Mariam felt strange around Stephanie. It was almost as if she was trying to compete but for what?

They are heartily and Max got to show off how much he adored his wife. He peeled the shrimp for her, fed her, and made sure to clean any stain that lingered around her lips with his thumb and licked it.

"Okay, that’s enough from both of you. Don’t teach the kids silly things." Tiana flared at them and they laughed.

Stephanie wasn’t pleased. She clicked her tongue and muttered,

"What’s so good about being fed? You’re just acting spoiled."

Her thoughts were meant to stay in her mind but they somehow found a way out through her mouth.

Seeing everyone stare at her, she finally realized it.

’Shit! Why do I keep slipping up and saying the things that should stay in my mind?’ she bit her lip.

"Oh well, I’m sorry if that’s how we make you feel. I can tell it’ll make anyone uncomfortable." Valerie said. "And I keep telling him to stop but he won’t stop so I just let him."

"Do you have a problem with the way I show love and affection to my wife?" Max asked, once again giving her cold and deadly eyes.

Stephanie felt it again. She knew, this time, what those eyes meant. It wasn’t like the way he greeted her, he had become hostile and on guard against her.

Did her words make him like that? Just how much does he adore that witch?

Valerie placed her hand on Max’s shoulder and said,

"Max just doesn’t know how to hold back." She said.

Stephanie gulped, feeling things would change.

’Yes, now she’ll just have to eat with her hands.’ she thought but Valerie said the contrary.

"But if it makes you feel any better, we can get a different table." She smiled and started getting up. "You guys can enjoy your time here. As you know, we newly Weds can’t keep our hands off each other."

They both got the table after theirs and sat down, happily chatting like nothing had happened, whereas, Stephanie’s table had grown awkward.

"Well, that’s..." She tried to make an excuse but the moment she turned to look at Mariam, she saw a look in her eyes that she had never really seen before.

Mariam was smart, arrogant, prideful, and looked down on a lot of people. Ignored them, even. She was one of those girls who walked with their heads up high but in front of her, she was as obedient as a dog and as calm as a sheep but what’s this?

What’s that look she has in her eyes while looking at her?

"Mariam, you... Why do you look like that?" Stephanie asked, sweat slowly dripping from the corner of her face.

"I thought it was strange." Mariam suddenly said. "But I wanted to believe I was just interpreting it wrongly. I’ve known you for so long but it seems I’ve been a fool by your side."

Stephanie flinched.

"W-what? What do you mean?"

"I don’t know your motive or why you kept me around you with a fake personality for so long, but I’m not dumb enough to not see a clear change in the kind of person I thought you were."

Her eyes went cold, staring at the girl she once liked.

"But I will not be a fool and go blind to your actions. Stephanie, get out."

As soon as she said that, Stephanie felt her heart quake. What... What did she just say?

What did...?

"Ma-Mariam." She called her hands slightly trembling and her pupils slightly shaking. "What... What are you saying? It’s me, Stephanie. You love, don’t you? I..."

"Yeah, I love you and you don’t." Mariam stated and then gave out a comical sigh. "And I sure as hell am thankful you don’t. I would’ve made such an awful mistake."

"What... What are you saying?" Stephanie asked, looking vexed. "Are you saying it was a mistake to love me?"

"It sure as hell was." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

’Oh my, my daughter’s actually swearing.’ Tiana thought with her hand over her mouth.

"Haha, it’s even crazy that you knew my feelings for so long but played me around your thumb just to keep me obedient. You’re cruel."

Her words cut Stephanie deep to the bone. This rejection was far harder to accept than she ever imagined.

But she never imagined a time would come when her loyal slave would turn away from her. This is...

"It seems the Stephanie I love has always been my imagination. Thank God for that." She slammed her fist on the table and said, "Now, can you give us some space? I think you’ve imposed enough on our family time. Go to the guards that have been tailing us this entire time."

"How did you...?"

The words hung on her throat as she saw the deadly gaze in Mariam’s eyes.

Where did it go wrong? She was sure Mariam was head over heels in love with her so why did she change so quickly?

Why?

She gritted her teeth and stood to her feet while slamming the table.

"You will definitely regret this. And when that time comes, don’t even think of begging me."

With that outburst, she ran out of there, thinking Mariam would go after her but Mariam stayed seated and let out a sigh of relief.

"I’m sure I won’t regret it." She muttered.