Chapter 1051: Chapter 1052: A Woman Who Says One Thing and Means Another
Mrs. Swift stayed with the film crew, but both mother and daughter were somewhat worried about Milne Swift causing more trouble.
After a few days of unease, miraculously Milne Swift didn’t show up again, allowing Bertha and her mother to relax and continue filming with the crew.
Although Mrs. Swift had lived comfortably for many years, she was an excellent cook. Knowing that Bertha had become physically weak after her miscarriage, Mrs. Swift borrowed the small kitchen at the hotel to prepare various blood-nourishing and energy-restoring herbal soups for Bertha every day.
Mary Scott found herself momentarily lost in a daze several times upon seeing Mrs. Swift, leading Bertha to think she was enticed by the aroma of her mother’s soup, so she invited her to drink together.
Mrs. Swift knew that Bertha was closest with Mary Scott on set and was exceptionally warm to her, grateful that Bertha had a friend she could talk to.
Mary was unable to refuse Mrs. Swift’s kindness and would often come to Bertha’s place for meals, her eyes unconsciously following Mrs. Swift’s figure.
David Locke noticed that Mary Scott would return unusually quiet after visiting Bertha a few times, and couldn’t help but ask, “Not happy? Don’t you really like the Swift mother and daughter?”
Mary Scott shook her head, “I’m not unhappy, just a little envious of Bertha, her mother is really good.”
David was taken aback, recalling Mary’s mother, and his heart ached lovingly. He reached out to stroke Mary’s soft hair, “Don’t overthink it.”
Mary looked up at David, “I know, I won’t overthink it, just a little envious is all.” Then she changed the subject, “Has Alfred contacted you recently?”
“No, hasn’t he contacted you either?” This made David feel strange. Alfred was usually quite clingy to his sister Mary, so why hadn’t he contacted her in such a long time?
“It’s been a while. I’ve been busy lately and didn’t really notice. I just realized today that the last time he contacted me was a month ago.” With that thought, Mary directly dialed Alfred’s number.
The phone rang for a long time with no answer, and Mary furrowed her brows and dialed again a few more times.
A few minutes later, the call was finally answered. Hearing her brother’s heavy breathing, Mary asked curiously, “Alfred, what have you been doing? Why did you take so long to answer the phone? Are you feeling unwell? You’re breathing heavily.”
“I was playing basketball with my dorm mates and just didn’t hear the phone,” Alfred replied, breathless.
Mary felt strange, sensing that her brother’s mood wasn’t quite right, “Really? Have you been too busy lately?”
“A bit busy, sis. I’m still playing basketball with classmates, they’re calling me back to the court, so I have to go.” With that, Alfred hung up the phone.
Listening to the beeping sound from the disconnected call, Mary furrowed her brows even tighter, “Something’s not right, it’s really not right.”
David was puzzled, “What’s not right? Isn’t it normal for college boys to play basketball with classmates?”
“Have you forgotten that after Alfred’s last surgery, the doctor advised him not to engage in strenuous activities for at least a year? Although Alfred can be hot-tempered sometimes, he’s cautious with his health because he doesn’t want me to worry. He wouldn’t ignore the doctor’s advice.”
Hearing that, David also found it concerning, “Why don’t you call again and ask?”
“No need, if Alfred has something he doesn’t want to tell me, he won’t tell me over the phone. I’ll just take a trip back to Swallow City tomorrow since I don’t have any scenes to film.”
David, knowing Mary’s filming schedule, nodded, “Alright, I’ll go back with you tomorrow.”
“You go back with me? How can you go back with me? The crew is so busy right now, what would happen if you leave? I can go by myself; there’s nothing too serious.” Mary quickly refused David, not wanting him to delay the filming schedule because of her.
“It’s fine, just one day,” David wasn’t too comfortable with Mary going back alone.
“No way, it’s the most intense time for filming right now. You said it’s just one day, I’ll be back promptly.” Mary insisted.
David wanted to say something but was firmly interrupted by Mary, “That’s the decision.”
“You woman…”
“What’s wrong with this woman?” Mary looked up, glaring at David.
“You’re a very good woman,” David chuckled, feeling he couldn’t do anything about her.
Mary shot David a triumphant look, “Then it’s settled, I’ll leave early tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, David suddenly approached her, “Since you don’t have filming tomorrow, why don’t we do something else tonight?”
Mary was stunned, looking at David, “Do something else?”
“Yeah, something else,” the man responded with a mischievous smile.
Mary immediately understood, looking at David disdainfully, “How can you be so… so…”
After struggling to find the right words for a while, Mary found herself being pulled closer by the man next to her, his long arm wrapped around her slim waist, “What’s wrong with me? I’ve been holding back all this time to take care of you while you film. Don’t you think you should make it up to me?”
“Am I the only one filming? You’re the busiest one here!” Mary retorted in a low voice.
David raised an eyebrow, “So, Mary, are you complaining that I’m not satisfying you?”
Mary’s cheeks flushed, “Who’s complaining about you? Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Really?” David asked with a raised brow and a teasing tone.
Mary blushed even more, but insisted, “Of course.”
But just after saying this, she bolted to the bathroom as if escaping, only to have David leisurely follow her, “Let’s do it together.”
Mary’s eyes widened in embarrassment, “How can you be so shameless?”
David didn’t care, pressing Mary against the sink, “You’re being dishonest. Isn’t there something you want?”
Mary shook her head vigorously, but David leaned down and kissed her lips. Before long, Mary melted into David’s arms.
David chuckled lightly, teasingly, “Your little mouth sure says a lot, but your body is very honest.”
Mary shot an annoyed glare at David, but he took the opportunity to turn on the shower and carry her into the bathtub.
The next day.
Mary had just come downstairs when she ran into Bertha Swift and Adam Piers, who were filming an early scene. Seeing David holding Mary’s suitcase, they asked curiously, “What are you guys doing?”
“Mary is going back to Swallow City for a bit,” David said casually.
Bertha felt a little strange, “Isn’t the shooting almost finished? Why are you going back to Swallow City now?”
“I have some personal matters to handle,” Mary replied with a smile. Bertha didn’t ask further, but her cheeks flushed when her gaze unintentionally landed on Mary’s neck.
Mary noticed and glared at David beside her, her cheeks also embarrassedly turning a bit pink.
The man beside her, however, showed no sign of shame, instead triumphantly giving Adam a look.
Adam looked disgruntled, thinking how having a sex life wasn’t such a big deal? He would have it eventually too! With that thought, Adam’s gaze eagerly turned to Bertha Swift.
Bertha Swift received Adam Piers’ eager gaze, and her cheeks, already a bit reddish from seeing Mary Scott’s kiss marks, turned even redder.
Finding it amusing, Adam couldn’t help but lean closer to Bertha, whispering in her ear, “Don’t envy her, don’t worry, I’m much better than that old guy Daniel James.”
David Locke was not far from them, and Adam’s words drifted straight into his ears, making him look disdainful, “You need a wife first before you can say who’s better.”
Adam, hit at his weak spot by David, wasn’t annoyed at all; instead, he eagerly looked at Bertha, “Is Bertha bullying me?”
Bertha, already flustered by the exchange between the two, was now embarrassed and furious when she saw Adam shamelessly acting cute with her, and over something like this. She glared at Adam with indignation, then waved at Mary Scott, “I’m heading to the crew now.”
After saying that, Bertha ran out, coincidentally bumping into Brian Joule, and the two decided to walk to the crew together.
Adam, watching this scene from behind, had his handsome face darken instantly, and David gleefully said, “Seems like you have a long way to go to prove yourself.”
Unhappy, Adam snapped, “None of your damn business,” and then jogged to catch up with Bertha.
Mary Scott found it amusing to see her childish man getting teased.
David Locke wrapped his long arms around Mary’s slender waist, “Are you happy to see your man at a disadvantage?”
Driven by a strong instinct for self-preservation, Mary hurriedly shook her head, professing her innocence, but David didn’t believe her. He lowered his head and gave her lips a fierce suck before saying, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the car.”
Mary, touching her swollen lips from the kiss, glanced around in a panic and gave David a glare before obediently following him out of the hotel.
Watching Mary get into the car, David gave the driver a few instructions and reluctantly rubbed Mary’s head, “Remember to contact me immediately if anything happens.”
Mary nodded, “Don’t worry, I’m just going for a walk around Swallow University, what could possibly happen? Plus, didn’t you have the driver accompany me?”
David sighed, “Alright then, go on.”
The driver finally started the car and drove away from the crew.
Over two hours later, Mary arrived at Swallow City. She didn’t return to Rose Valley but had the driver take her straight to Swallow University.
Mary knew the location of Alfred Scott’s dormitory. When she arrived, she didn’t call him but went directly to his dorm building to inform the doorman she was looking for Alfred.
However, after ten minutes, Alfred didn’t come down. Instead, one of his roommates emerged, looking curiously at the well-bundled Mary and asked, “Are you Alfred Scott’s sister Mary Scott?”
The boy was young and looked quite youthful, his eyes sparkling upon seeing the big star Mary.
Mary nodded gently, “Yes, I am Alfred’s sister. Where is Alfred? Why didn’t he come down?”
The roommate hesitated at her question, opening his mouth as if to say something but then stopped, awkwardly scratching his head.
Seeing his reaction, Mary’s unease grew stronger, “Did something happen to Alfred?”
The boy shook his head quickly, “No, no.”
Mary grew more puzzled, “If there’s nothing wrong, then why are you being so evasive?”
“Well… alright, I can tell you, but you must not let Alfred know that I was the one who told you.” The boy, faced with Mary’s excessively beautiful face and her penetrating gaze, found himself unable to lie and confessed honestly.
Mary nodded, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Alfred.”
Relieved, the boy continued, “He’s been working several jobs recently. I don’t know why he’s so short on cash and won’t let us tell anyone.”
Mary was baffled, “Working? Alfred shouldn’t be short on money. Is there something particularly expensive required at your school recently? Or did something happen with his friend’s startup the last time?”
The boy looked confused, “What startup? I don’t know anything about that. Could it be that guy is secretly starting a business outside? That shouldn’t be the case. If he were, we would definitely know about it in our dorm. Besides, there’s nothing at school costing extra money recently.”
After speaking, the boy unconsciously scratched his head again; he felt he might have said too much!
Mary’s face had turned very unpleasant, “Do you know where he’s working?”
“Well… one of our dorm mates should know. I’ll ask him for you.” The boy thought for a moment before answering.
“I’d appreciate it,” Mary said politely.
The boy awkwardly waved his hand, and in a short while, he had the address and enthusiastically offered to take Mary there himself, which Mary declined.
Leaving Swallow University, Mary gave the address to the driver, who followed it to find where Alfred was working.
At first glance, Mary almost didn’t recognize her brother. Seeing Alfred in filthy work clothes, Mary closed her eyes tightly and still couldn’t suppress her anger. She stormed over and grabbed him from washing cars, “Alfred Scott!”
Alfred was so startled. He hadn’t expected his sister to find him there and could only stammer after a long silence, “Sis…”
“Alfred Scott, if you don’t give me a reasonable explanation today, you’re going back to the M Kingdom on your own.” Mary was furious; she had worked hard to earn money to send him to Swallow University, and he was taking multiple jobs in a day, even washing cars?
“Sis, I… I just wanted to experience life.” Alfred finally uttered after squeezing out something to say.
Mary sneered, “Experiencing life means working three jobs a day? And what happened to the two hundred thousand you asked me for last time? Don’t tell me you used it for a friend’s startup. I’ve already checked; that was never a thing!”
She had never imagined her brother would lie to her. As she spoke, her voice was trembling with disbelief, unable to fathom that he of all people might deceive her.
Seeing his sister’s eyes redden after speaking, Alfred felt a pang of guilt, “Sis, listen, I…”
But after all his hemming and hawing, Alfred still couldn’t give a coherent explanation, and the atmosphere grew even more tense. The car shop’s owner, irritated, urged them, “Are you going to keep working or not?”
Alfred hastily replied, “Yes, yes, I am working!”
He was about to continue washing the car but was pulled by Mary, “No more!”
“Sis…” Alfred wanted to say something, but Mary forcefully dragged him away.
In her anger, Mary was so strong that Alfred almost stumbled several times.
They left the car shop.
Mary had many reproaches to hurl at her brother but seeing how he had lost so much weight in just the past two months, she swallowed all her words.
The ride was silent until they reached a decent private kitchen restaurant. After ordering the meal, Mary turned to her brother again, “Now tell me what’s really going on?”
Alfred opened his mouth to try and explain but eventually just lowered his head silently.
Seeing him like this infuriated Mary even more. She was just about to scold him when Alfred’s phone rang. Suddenly, her previously despondent brother became nervous, quickly glancing at the screen before hurriedly hanging up.
Mary’s suspicions grew immediately, “Whose call was that?”
She instinctively felt that her brother’s change was linked to this call.