A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 272 Bitten By A Cat

But Maria couldn't tell him the truth. "Just eat something when you feel like smoking," she answered instead. "Is that how you gained some weight?"

Maria blinked, taken aback by Ethan's off-handed remark. She wanted to kick him out of the room. Although she knew that she had indeed gained weight, the fact remained that no woman ever wanted to hear such a thing.

Realizing his error, Ethan rushed to undo his careless comment. "I didn't mean that you've become fat or anything. I mean, well, you are a little plumper, but I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I personally replace you more attractive now."

She had given birth just a little over a month ago, and her figure had yet to recover. "You're such a sweettalker, Ethan," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I swear to God, it's not empty flattery. I'm just telling the truth." He had a serious expression.

Maria smiled. "I know."

"Well? Where have you been these months?" In truth, Ethan wasn't particularly interested about this, but he was raising the question for someone else's sake.

"I went on a trip. I ate and drank to my fill, slept and lazed around all day. That's how I gained all this weight, actually," Maria said helplessly.

"Wow, you must have had a grand time, you've been gone for nearly half a year! But how come you never got a tan?"

Once again, the desire to throw him out rose to the surface. Why couldn't he just stop asking his stupid questions? If he poked any more than this, he might arrive at the truth sooner or later. Maria took an exasperated breath and rolled her eyes again. "Because I can afford a thousand-dollar sunscreen with miraculous effects, as well as a trusty umbrella."

"I see. Will you be on another trip soon?"

"No, I'm tired. I've just returned and I want to just rest for a while." Being pregnant and giving birth were no joke after all. She needed her respite before dealing with her enemies.

They continued to chat leisurely, and the women sitting next to James started to squeeze themselves against his body. Still, his expression remained cold and indifferent.

The one of them asked out of the blue, "Mr. Xi, what's wrong with your arm?"

Her words gained most of the people's attention, Maria included, and they all turned toward the direction the woman was looking at. Maria could make out a faint bite mark on James' thick arm. The mark did not look recent, either. It was clear that it had been there for quite some time.

The man huffed at his cigarette and glanced at the scar. "I used to have a cat," he replied casually. "She did that to me."

Mari almost gaped at him.

She was the one who had bitten him at the hospital.

Did he see her as nothing more than a cat he once had?

The party dwindled, and just before it was over, Maria got to her feet. She bid the others farewell and walked out of Leopard Club.

Before she could get inside her car, however, a familiar voice stopped her. "Maria Song? Stop right there!"

She swiveled to replace Judy

striding angrily toward her.

Maria flashed her a mocking smile. "Oh. It's you, Mrs. Xi."

Judy had been looking for her for several months, but she never did replace Maria. Now that she was right in front of her, there was no way she was letting the bitch go.

She drew close to Maria and demanded with a glare, "Were you the one who exposed my affair?"

Maria subtly rummaged through her purse and took hold of a recording pen. She pressed on the record button and pretended to take out a small packet of tissues, pulling out a sheet and wiping her lips with it. "Did you steal the three hundred million dollars that was supposed to be my alimony?"

"Yes, I did. So what? What can you do to me?" Judy's eyes were wide, her nostrils flared.

Maria's smile deepened. "I can't do anything to you, of course, Mrs. Xi." But someone else definitely could.

Judy snorted haughtily. "Aren't you supposed to be in prison? How did you get out?"

"Hmm, what are you referring to, exactly? Do you mean my most recent arrest, or the time when you sent me to jail?" Maria's gaze sharpened and she looked straight into Judy's eyes.

Judy's expression instantly changed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

How could have Maria known that she was behind it? She had paid a good amount in hush money to everyone involved.

"Well, I'm sure you know best whether it's nonsense or not. Now, Mrs. Xi, if you there's nothing else, please excuse me."

"Stop!" Judy hadn't gotten even with her yet. She quickly pounced and grabbed Maria's arm.

Maria didn't bother facing her, but she did glance at her sideways. "Let go!"

"Never! Who do you think you are? How dare you order me around?" Judy was enraged with her. She had lost her best friend of twenty years, and Sebastian had given her the cold shoulder ever since the scandal had broken out. Her title as Mrs. Xi was now on the line.

Since Maria had been so gracious as to appear before her, she refused to let the opportunity pass without doing anything.

Maria finally turned around then, then said slowly, "You must know this better than anyone, Mrs. Xi. I have been in prison before, and I managed to get out safe and sound. Twice. I'm sure you can imagine all the things I've experienced in there."

Her tone was arctic and even, making Judy shiver despite herself. Her lips trembled, and she wasn't able to utter a retort in the end.

The hand gripping Maria's arm gradually loosened.

Maria stepped forward and leaned close to her. "Do you have any idea what it's like when you're on the death row? When they inject you with the deadly chemical? Would you like to try it? There's nothing to be afraid of, since it wouldn't hurt at all. The modern methods are much more dignified, you see."

Judy retreated with visible fear, and Maria followed. "The whole process itself wouldn't last more than sixty seconds. Once you get injected, you will first lose consciousness, and then—" "Stop it!" Judy interrupted, breaking down. "Shut up, shut your mouth!" She finally realized that Maria was nothing short of a demon.

Maria chuckled. "And then you will stop breathing. And then your heart will stop pumping. But you won't necessarily be aware of it. It won't hurt. I totally recommend that you try it."

"Ah!" Judy screamed, staggering on her feet and falling awkwardly on the ground.

At that moment, a man emerged from the club. "James! James! Come and help me!"

James came out with Ethan, and looked over after hearing Judy's desperate calls. He spotted the two women in the distance and walked toward them.

"What happened?" he asked as he helped Judy to her feet.

It looked like an ally had come for her. Judy pointed at Maria. "This woman wants to kill me! You have to help me!"

Maria sneered her eyes full of mockery. "Who would dare kill you?"

"It's her, I tell you! She keeps saying how she wants me on death row, she wants to kill me!"

James' eyes darkened. He turned to Maria and asked, "Did you say those things?"

"Yes, I did," Maria answered calmly.

There was a pause, then he ordered, "Apologize to her!"

"Apologize to her?" Maria laughed heartily, as if she had just heard a most amusing joke. "She deserves no such thing." "Maria Song!" His voice was laden with dangerous threat.

But Maria ignored them and headed to her car. She let herself into the driver seat and started the engine before rolling down the window. "Mrs. Xi, I suggest you be extra careful with your life from now on. Have a good night!"

Then she stepped on the gas and her car sped away.

It wasn't until she disappeared from sight that James turned to Judy. "I'll ask the driver to send you back."

"No, thanks, I have my driver with me. Listen, James, that woman wants to kill me! She-"

"She won't kill you," the man cut her off immediately.

"Well, even if she doesn't, I'm sure she'll replace ways to hurt me. James, I've taken care of you and Cooper all these years. You can't just stand by and do nothing!"