A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 85 Miracle Cafe Was Smashed

Recently, Alina couldn't win against Maria at all. She couldn't even use her resources and social status to intimidate Maria. And every time Maria bullied her, she would come to James and cry pitifully. All she could do was complain. Just like right now. James stared at her tearful face. He couldn't help wondering if he had really made the right choice. Was this the kind of woman he was about to marry?

In his mind, the ideal woman he wanted to marry was like Maria. She was an obedient wife and a good mother in the past. And now she was also an independent and strong-willed woman.

Alina still tried to defend herself. "Yes, I do have lots of connections and resources in H City. But don't forget that there is also someone like Norman behind Maria. Besides, our relationship has not been made public, and we are not engaged yet. I can't use your name in anything I do. That's also one reason why Maria doesn't take me seriously."

In H City, the power of the Tang family was gradually weakening. Once Alina made a big mistake, it would only add insult to injury. She couldn't let her family down. Hence, before she took any action, she had a lot of things to consider first. But if she became James' wife, she could totally rely on him. Even if she killed Maria, he would definitely help her out.

Alina knew a lot of ruthless people. But they wouldn't dare to lay a hand on Maria because they knew that Norman was protecting her.

"We have already confirmed our engagement date," James said. That was the only answer he could give her.

But it made Alina feel confused. Did he mean that she could now do whatever she wanted using his name? Or did he mean that she could come to him anytime if Maria pestered her again? She found it hard to figure out the message he wanted to convey to her. Then she remembered that he had just said that he was not interested in the strife between women.

For a moment, there was pin-drop silence in the office. Eventually, Alina decided to change the topic. Although she was here to complain about Maria, as much as possible, she didn't want Maria to be the center of their conversation every time she was with James. "By the way, Dad bought a villa for us. He wants us to move there before our wedding," she said.

But much to her surprise, James refused, "No. We are not married yet. Living together under the same roof will only tarnish your reputation. We can wait until after our wedding."

Alina was rendered speechless. Her brows furrowed in confusion. She wasn't sure if James really cared about her image or he was just making an excuse. Since she didn't know what else to talk about, she decided to leave. "Well, James, I'd better be going now. I know that you are busy today, so I won't take much of your time." The truth was, Alina wanted to go back home, so she could have time alone to think of ways to fight back against Maria.

Upon hearing what she said, James glanced at her and said, "Okay. I'll ask Lorenzo to drive you home."

When Alina left, James put down the document in his hands and glanced at the paper bags on the table. He then took a stick of cigarette from his drawer, lit it, and stood in front of the French window, lost in thought.

A few days passed, and Maria didn't come to see James again. He felt like everything that happened in Fairview Villa that night was just a dream.

One morning, Maria was still sleeping when she received a phone call from one of her waitresses. "Maria, something happened here in Miracle Cafe."

She sobered up right away, sat down on her bed, and asked, "What happened?"

"Please quickly come here for you to see."

As soon as she hung up, Maria washed her face and got dressed.

Half an hour later, she was now standing in front of her coffee shop. With her arms crossed over her chest, deep lines formed on her forehead as her brows creased.

Her coffee shop was in a mess. The windows and the main door were smashed, and broken glasses scattered on the ground. She didn't see this coming. The Miracle Cafe was located in the central business district of H City, where surveillance cameras were installed everywhere. She had even installed an anti-theft alarm system to make her coffee shop more secure. But still, someone was bold enough to ruin her business.

Her anti-theft alarm system had actually worked. The store manager and the police rushed over when they heard the alarm. But they were too late.

There was no else there, but only shattered glasses on the ground. They were not even able to replace any tools that the criminals used or any traces left by them.

Maria had a lot of enemies in H City, but not so many people knew that she owned the Miracle Cafe. James, Lorenzo, and Alina were among those few who knew.

But she believed that James and Lorenzo were too busy to get bored and do such a thing to her.

It couldn't be Alina either. After all, she was the most famous celebrity in H City. Although she was too desperate to take her revenge and even wanted to kill Maria, she wouldn't do it this way. This kind of thing would only ruin her image.

However, Maria also thought of another possibility. Alina didn't necessarily need to do it by herself. She could easily ask others to do it if the price was right.

Across the road, James' Harkim had just pulled over in front of HL Group. He was about to get out of the car when Summer said in a low voice, "Mr. Xi, look at the other side of the road."

James cast a glance at her before turning to look in the direction of Miracle Cafe.

He saw that the entrance of the coffee shop was in a mess. There were also some onlookers trying to see what happened, and a police car was parked on the roadside. Maria, who was wearing a sky-blue suit was talking to a policeman. But because of the distance, he couldn't clearly see the expression on her face.

From the looks of it, James could tell that something unpleasant happened, but he didn't say anything. He just opened the door, get out of the car, and walked towards the HL Group building as if he didn't care. After talking to the police, Maria found out that her coffee shop was in a blind spot. The cameras installed on the roadside couldn't cover her building at all.

She couldn't help blaming herself as she didn't pay much attention to the security facilities during the construction.

There was nothing else she could do in the meantime, so she asked the waitress to put a "STORE CLOSED" sign and got in the police car. She had to go with them to the police station for police blotters. It was almost noon when Maria got out of the police station. She had wasted her whole morning dealing with the matter.

She had just left the police station when she received a call from Colby, inviting her to lunch. Since she was in a bad mood, she was about to refuse. But Colby said that he had something important to tell her, so she accepted his invitation.

Colby was already waiting in a private room that he reserved in a Japanese restaurant.

The moment he saw Maria coming in, he smiled warmly. Pointing at the chair opposite him, he said, "Maria, come and have a seat."

Maria smiled back at Colby, but she was secretly studying the expression on his face. She could tell that he was in a good mood, so she could roughly guess that the important thing he was referring to must be the charity project from James.

At the thought of it, she said half-jokingly, "Hello, Mr. Zheng. Finally, you can have the time to ask me out for lunch. I'm actually disappointed, thinking that this time won't come anymore." Colby stood up and sa on the chair next to her. He then said in a relaxed tone, "I particularly allot this time to keep you company."

As he leaned closer to her, he smelled the faint fragrance of tuberose from her body.

The tuberose was combined with the scent of angelica, and it created a smell of charm and innocence. It was so gentle in the nose. Her scent made Maria incomparably beautiful.

When he thought of his wife's rose fragrance, Colby felt that she was way too vulgar. He must admit that Maria had much better taste than her.

Maria rested her elbow on the table and cupped her chin in her hand. She slightly distanced herself from Colby and said with a smile, "In that case, I've forgiven you now. Let's eat?"

Colby ignored what she said. Instead, he stretched out his arm and held her waist. He pulled her closer to him and smelled the scent of her hair.

Maria was making him lose his control. In his mind, he preferred to have a taste of her than to have lunch. She must be more delicious than any food in this restaurant. Otherwise, how could she subdue a man like James?

When Colby was about to kiss her cheek, Maria covered her lips and said, "Mr. Zheng, do you know how I got the project from HL Group?"

Colby was slightly stunned, but shrewdness flashed across his eyes. He then shook his head, pretending not to know.

Maria flipped her long hair and said, "Fortunately,

I still remember what kind of person James is. He is a neat freak, both physically and mentally. So I told him that I've never slept with any other men except him, and I'm still in love with him. He bought it. He agreed to give the project to you but on one condition. I am not allowed to have an affair with another man. Mr. Zheng..."

Maria paused for a second and looked around. She then continued in a low voice, "The truth is, he arranged some men to follow me here today. But if you don't need to work with HL Group anymore, it's okay with me. I would love to move to that villa you have offered me anytime."