A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 157 Encountering Judy

Maria took the fresh brewed coffee and sat down opposite the woman. As the owner of the coffee shop, she decided to greet her. "Hello there. Welcome to my shop."

The woman removed her sunglasses. Maria's hunch was right. She knew exactly who it was. The woman wasn't frowning, but definitely not smiling, either.

She rudely stared at Maria.

Today, Maria wore a long black dress, hugging her in all the right places, which made her even more charming and enchanting. She sat there, a cup of coffee in hand. She was confident and mature. Compared with how she used to be, Maria had changed a lot. Gone was the simple, naive girl who married into the Xi family.

Maria smiled. "Mrs. Xi, long time no see."

Looking at the smile on Maria's face, Judy's bravado fled her. Without changing her expression, she asked, "I thought you left. When did you get back in H City?"

"About three months ago." It seemed like just yesterday. Yet she'd been here for a while now.

"Three months..." Judy echoed her words. "Only three months and you're already back in James' bed. You're more capable than I thought."

Maria smiled, took a sip of coffee, and answered casually, "Men are animals that think with what's inside their pants. A pretty face is their downfall. Stroke their ego a little bit and they're trapped. James is no exception."

The look in Judy's eyes changed. She wondered if that was how James fell for her.

The coffee was served. The shop assistant put it in front of Judy and said, "Excuse me, ma'am. Here's some coffee for you."

Judy didn't move, ignoring the assistant. Her eyes were fixed on Maria. After the shop assistant left, she asked tentatively, "Don't you hate James for what he did to you six years ago?"

"Hate him?" asked Maria. Then she gave her an unfathomable smile. "Of course I hate him, but it doesn't prevent me from hooking up with him. After all, he's rich and handsome. I'm a shallow woman, and I ea men like him for lunch. As long as he gives me enough money, hatred is nothing."

"Is that why you're always trying to get between James and Alina?"

"Of course, everyone wants to be with a great guy like James. I couldn't do that six years ago, but now things are different. I'm different."

Judy was relieved to know she did it for the money. She said, "I want you to leave James alone. Name your price."

'Price?' Maria's smile widened. There was a hint of the wild child there. "Three hundred million?"

A hint of panic flashed across Judy's eyes when she heard the number, but it quickly disappeared. She picked up the coffee and took a sip to hide it. "Let's make it four hundred mil. But you have to leave the city.

"Now I know what you're up to. That's a different price. Someone once promised me a billion, asking me to leave the city, but I said no. You're low-balling me here."

Judy suddenly couldn't replace her tongue to reply. She didn't expect Maria to be so greedy. "Aren't you afraid James might replace out?" "What about you? Aren't you afraid of him?" Maria asked her instead of answering, her reply full of hidden meaning.

Judy knew what she meant, but pretended to be confused. She asked again, "Leave the city. How much do you want? Maria, you know, you don't belong here. The Song family abandoned you and the Xi family kicked you out. Why did you come back?"

"I came back to look for my true love. I love James. Where else would I go if he's here?"

"Even if you make things difficult, he's engaged to Alina. Apparently he doesn't feel the same way about you."

Maria put down the coffee mug, rested her chin on one hand, and leaned forward, looking pitiful. "So, Aunt Judy, can you help me? Help me get back to the Xi family."

Staring at the woman in front of her, Judy didn't know what tricks Maria was playing now. She looked her in the eye, but saw nothing. It took a lot to kick Maria out of the Xi family. Maria knew that she wouldn't help her. Why did she even ask?

"James loves Alina. I really can't help you," Judy answered her.

Pretending to be disappointed, Maria murmured, "Then I have to ask Cooper for help."

Hearing her mention Cooper, Judy shook her head. "Cooper's in the US. He's not coming back anytime soon. A slow remedy cannot meet an urgent need. I'm afraid he can't help you either." "Oh, I see." Maria sighed in disappointment.

Judy showed her left wrist and shook the bracelet on it to Maria. "Alina bought this for me."

Maria looked at the tanzanite bracelet and nodded. James had bought it for Alina, and now it was on Judy's wrist. Alina must have given it to her.

"You know Alina was going to give it to me as a gift, so why did you take it away from her?" Judy asked her sharply.

A faint smile appeared on Maria's face. Alina lied about her again. Maria didn't explain. Why bother?

It was useless to even try. No matter what she did, Judy would not let her back into the Xi family or change her opinion about her.

Maria sat up straight and said, "I want to take James back, let alone a bracelet. Mrs. Xi, if you can't help me get back into the Xi family, I'll do it on my own."

"Don't waste your time. They're engaged. To put it bluntly, you're his mistress now. Why get in their way?" Judy wouldn't go against Charlotte. As for Maria, Judy thought the rumors oversold her. She wasn't as tough as Judy had heard.

Maria smiled. In a helpless tone, she said, "How doesn't matter. It's the result that's important."

Judy thought she was trying to convince herself. She picked up her handbag and stood up, throwing a few harsh words to Maria. "Alina will definitely marry into the Xi family. If you don't want to make the same mistakes, leave the city."

'The same mistakes?' Maria echoed her words inwardly. She picked up the coffee and lowered her eyelids to hide the mockery in her eyes. "See you around, Mrs. Xi."

Judy put on her sunglasses and left haughtily, just as she did when she came in.

Maria chuckled and thought to herself, 'I haven't get rid of one enemy, and yet another's waiting around the corner. I'm too slow.

But everything takes time. I can't do much about it.

Maria, don't panic. Take it easy.'

After leaving the coffee shop, Judy went to HL Group across the street.

No one stopped her as she made her way there. She arrived at the floor of the CEO's office without a hitch. When she saw Lorenzo, she knew James was not there. He had been invited to a car show. Judy stayed there, chatting with Lorenzo. She could wait.

On the other side of town, James was ready to leave the exhibition center. The event was over.

On his way to the exit, he heard several models talking amongst themselves. Of course, he was not interested in their gossip. He was going to leave through the side door quietly.

When he stepped out, he could hear Maria's name mentioned. He paused.

"Do you know Maria Song? She's so pretty!"

"I saw Maria at a fundraiser. She wore the loveliest perfume." "I know it! It was the latest release in the series made for bad girls. She looks like a temptress. I guess if the shoe fits..." Hearing the comments, the man's eyes darkened, and he backtracked.