Chapter 711 His Mother Flung An Ashtray
Meanwhile, Derrick, who had been photographed without his consent, was currently sitting in a restaurant with a frosty expression. He looked at the woman sitting across from him and asked, “Well, why did you ask me out?”
Crystal placidly put some food on his plate and smiled. “After I’ve got to know that you’re in Saspiuburg, I purposely invited you out to have a meal with you. Is there a problem with that? We’ve known each other for so many years, and yet you sounded as though I was scheming against you.”
Derrick didn’t even spare the food a glance as he warned in a cold tone, “Don’t ever appear in front of my mom again. You’re just an outsider; you can’t intervene in my marriage with Tiff. Also, I know you’re the one who caused Jayden to gamble and borrow money at the casino. Me not speaking up doesn’t mean I have no clue about it. Do you think everyone else is a fool?”
Crystal’s hand halted in mid-air. After a split second, she let out a chuckle, acting innocent. “Derrick, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Derrick scoffed, his lips curling into a disdainful smirk. “No, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Don’t provoke me, or I’ll go head-to-head against the Halliwell family.”
Smiling in amusement, Crystal gazed at him. “Derrick, it’s not my fault that Tiffany has a strained relationship with your mom. Ever since you guys sent my cousin back to Saspiuburg because he attempted to sexually harass her, my grandparents were so angry that they sent me abroad. If you don’t believe me, go and check it then. You can’t blame others for your unfortunate marriage.”
Derrick narrowed his eyes into slits, a hint of viciousness in his gaze.
However, the woman he was shooting daggers at seemed unfazed.
Crystal continued to enjoy her food as she said, “Derrick, try the food here. I purposely chose a restaurant that suits your taste.”
Not stopping her from piling food on his plate, Derrick merely stared at her with a cold look in his eyes. “Crystal Halliwell, what do you want? Spit it out. Stop doing those disgusting things behind other people’s back.”
Crystal put down her cutlery and sneered, “Derrick, it’s not kind of you to say that. You said I did disgusting things, and where is your evidence? I’d always been abroad recently. You can check the flights. It’s ridiculous that you accuse me of causing Tiffany’s brother to gamble. I look down on Tiffany. Why would I get myself involved with her brother? It’s true that I know who her brother is, but you can’t hold me accountable for his uselessness and failures in life. I’ve never heard such a funny joke.”
Derrick pressed his lips into a thin line, not saying a word.
After taking a deep breath, Crystal went on deliberately, “Derrick, since you know her brother is such a loser, does it ever cross your mind that she marries you for your money?”
“Shut your mouth,” Derrick barked in anger.
Crystal shrugged her shoulders, clamming up her mouth.
While she savored her food, he didn’t even touch the food. After she was done, she took a napkin to wipe her mouth and glanced at the untouched food with a smile plastered on her face. “Derrick, you really don’t see me as your friend, huh?”
“Are you done? Let’s go.” Derrick stood up and walked right out of the restaurant, not bothering to pay for the meal as a gentleman. Nevertheless, Crystal was not enraged either. She paid the bill before following him out of the restaurant.
“Do you want to visit the Halliwell residence?” she inquired. “My grandparents gladly went to Tayhaven previously, but they came back here with bitter expressions. Both of them were quite angry at that time. They even vented their anger on me. Perhaps you should pay them a visit and put in a good word for me.”
“I’m leaving. Don’t go out of your way to destroy my marriage with Tiff.” Derrick shot her a meaningful look before turning around and walking off without looking back.
As Crystal stared at his retreating figure, her lips curled up slightly. “Derrick, I wonder how long your so-called love for Tiffany will last while both of you live with the snobbish and mean Hisson family. I’m waiting for the day when your marriage falls apart. Even if I can’t get you, I’ll watch you suffer,” muttered Crystal coldly.
Naturally, Derrick didn’t know what she was thinking about. He went to the city center for a stroll, and when he saw goods that looked suitable for Tiffany, he bought them all. Within two to three hours, he brought back several shopping bags with him to the hotel.
Just as he was about to reach the presidential suite, Amelia walked out of the suite, and their gazes met. Amelia said, “Derrick, can we talk?”
He nodded.
“Place those things back inside first. I’ll wait for you outside.” With that said, Amelia walked off.
Derrick brought those items in and opened the door to the master bedroom. As he saw that Tiffany was fast asleep on the bed, his eyes dimmed. He then strode over and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek, whispering, “Tiff, you can tell me everything that troubles you. We are husband and wife. I’m waiting for you to tell me all your grievances.”
Tiffany murmured something incomprehensible in response, then rolled over, facing him with her back as she continued to sleep.
Shaking his head, Derrick tucked her in before walking out of the bedroom.
Derrick and Amelia walked toward the end of the hallway and stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the traffic underneath. Amelia began, “Derrick, did you not notice Tiff has lost some weight? On the night before your wedding, you promised me that you’d take good care of her, but now, she rather talks to me than tells you that she’s been wronged. Aren’t you curious about the reason?”
Pursing his lips, Derrick clenched his fists, and then released them. “I thought she enjoyed staying at the Hisson residence.”
Amelia gave him a strange look as she smiled bitterly. “I didn’t expect you’d say that. Did you seriously think that she got that bruise at the corner of her eye because she accidentally bumped into something?”
Derrick was silent for a while before he asked, “What did she say to you? My mom makes things difficult for her on purpose?”
Rage surged up within Amelia’s heart when she heard his response. He’s changed.
“Derrick, you’ve changed. You used to dote on Tiff. Both of you have just been married for a few months, and yet you’ve changed. Are you really the Derrick I know in the past?”
He heaved a silent sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m just a bit stressed out. Things are complicated in my family, and I’ll do my best to protect her, but I can’t protect her forever. She’s the only one by my side. Since the day I married her, I’ve never thought of letting her go. It’s just that life in a rich family is not easy. She’ll need to suffer for me, and she also needs to think of a way to let my mom accept her. I didn’t say anything just because I wanted to see how she would solve the problems.”
Amelia was taken aback.
I initially thought that he didn’t know about what Tiff was facing at his family house. It turns out he does know about it, but he chooses to keep mum, as he’s hoping that Tiffany could mature rapidly while living with his wealthy, snobbish family. His consideration for her proves that he truly loves her. Life after marrying into a rich family is full of adversity and struggle. If a woman only relies on her husband all the time, I’m afraid that this kind of relationship won’t last long.
“Why did you have a meal with Ms. Halliwell, Derrick? Didn’t you say you were going out to meet a business partner?” Amelia questioned.
“How did you know that?” Derrick cocked his brow.
“Someone took pictures of you having a meal with her and sent it to Tiff. At first, that person only sent one photograph, but after that, Tiff continued to receive many more consecutively. They were all pictures of Crystal putting food on your plate. The moments were captured nicely, by the way.”
“I was just warning her not to sabotage my marriage. I didn’t know that we’d be photographed.” Derrick clenched his fists again. “I hid it from Tiff because I didn’t want her to overthink the matter. I didn’t cheat on her.”
“Tiff and I believe in your character, but she is also under a lot of pressure after marrying you. You should comfort her. It’s not easy for her as well.”
Derrick nodded in response.
“Head inside and keep Tiff company. I still need to go to the hospital with Oscar. Remember to talk to her nicely. Don’t quarrel again.”
“I got it.”
As Amelia turned on her heel and left, Derrick clenched his fists so hard that his veins bulged.
