Thea finally admitted why she gave Chantelle a cut. From the moment she entered the house, her eyes were already checking the place, hoping to catch a glimpse of her favorite couple.
Chantelle felt like she had just made things worse for herself.
"Thea, we’re both women. But you should really keep your thoughts to yourself. When you meet Daniel and Philip, don’t stare. Don’t make it obvious. I’m begging you."
"Relax. Do I look like someone who drools? I’ve seen plenty of hot-looking men. I won’t scream even if they walk up wearing the same pants!"
"You better mean that!"
"OMG, Chantelle! T-That soft-looking guy—he’s the one who stripped Daniel, right? He’s so hot!"
"We had a deal. What happened to not screaming?"
"Okay, okay. I’ll stay calm."
"You’re drooling? That soft-looking guy might think you’re planning to devour him..."
At the end of the long dining table, Dr. Philip Collins was staring at a rare celadon vase Russell had brought. The colors were rich, and the details were fine. As a collector of antiques, Philip couldn’t take his eyes off it.
"Russell, this is stunning!" Philip said. "The glaze and the craftsmanship are amazing!"
"Dr. Collins, it’s yours if you want it. We’re both in the same field, and we work for the same people. I’m sure I’ll need your help someday," Russell said honestly.
Philip loved the vase, but he wasn’t someone who made friends easily or gave favors without reason. Still, Russell had a point. They worked for the same circle. Philip was close to Daniel. Russell worked for Chantelle. And Daniel and Chantelle were almost family.
There was no real reason to turn down the gift.
"You’re too kind, Russell! Like you said, we’re almost family. I’ll accept it as a sign of friendship. Come visit my lab anytime!" Philip said.
"Sure thing!" Russell grinned. "Anyone close to Chantelle is a friend of mine. You’re welcome to visit my hospital anytime, buddy!"
"Of course, of course!" Philip replied with a smile, gently placing the vase back in its case. The two doctors began chatting about recent medical news and breakthroughs.
While they were talking, Philip suddenly felt a strange chill, like someone was watching him. When he turned around, he found himself face to face with Thea. It gave him the shock of his life.
"You... what kind of magic is this?!" Philip clutched his chest.
"Oh, just a mix of mugwort and salt," Thea joked, resting one leg on the chair next to him like a bold conqueror.
"Oh? Then is it alright if I call for help?" Philip laughed, now amused by her playful energy.
"Sure, but I don’t think anyone would come to help you even if you screamed your lungs out..." Thea said with a smirk.
"Mr. Wilson, save me!" Philip shouted, pretending to be scared. His voice echoed through the dining room. He even took a sip of water before yelling again. But Daniel Wilson was nowhere to be found.
"Looks like no one’s coming," Philip sighed. "I guess I’m your prisoner now. Where are you taking me? I might not look like it, but I’m really not built for long trips..." he added, trying to play along.
"Wa ha ha ha! Chantie, you were right! This guy is such a weirdo—I love it!" Thea laughed loudly, eyeing Philip with amusement. She stepped to the side, revealing Chantelle Bently behind her. Philip felt quite proud of himself for making Thea laugh.
"Chantie, I told you! There’s no way he’s the one wearing the pants in a relationship!" Thea said between laughs. Her voice wasn’t too loud, but Philip heard every word.
His smile faded as the words sank in, and his face turned pale.
Chantelle was stunned too. She didn’t expect things to turn out . She let out a sigh and looked around the room.
That’s when she saw Daniel walking in from the patio. His face was gloomy and serious.
Thea really didn’t know when to stop talking.
"Thea, I just remembered I left my phone in the restroom!" Chantelle said, trying to come up with a reason to leave.
"Oh? But your phone’s in your hand!" Thea replied, not realizing what was going on.
Chantelle didn’t answer. She turned and rushed toward the stairs, taking them two at a time.
"Daniel! These ladies are giving me a hard time!" Philip called out.
Daniel didn’t respond. He walked straight to the stairs. Right before going up, he shot Philip a deadly glare, warning him to stay put.
Philip wiped fake tears from his face and looked at Thea like she’d hurt him. Then, he turned and hugged Russell tightly, hoping for comfort.
"See how they’re bullying me, Russell? You can’t win with women..." he mumbled to a blushing Russell.
Upstairs, Chantelle thought she had avoided a disaster. She slipped into the restroom and locked the door behind her. She decided to hide there until dinner started, then send everyone home as soon as it ended.
Happy with her plan, she sat on the toilet and started scrolling through her phone.
Then her phone buzzed. It was a message from Daniel.
"How long do you plan to hide in there?"
He saw that she had read it, but she didn’t reply.
"If you don’t come out, I’m going in!" he said out loud from right outside the door.
Chantelle was trying to figure out if staying silent would work, but her heart skipped a beat when she heard the doorknob twist.
"Don’t!" she shouted. "I’m coming out!" She got up and opened the door.
No one was there. Instead, a small wooden box was hanging on the doorknob.
Curious about what’s inside the box she opened it and saw a tiny glass jar filled with some kind of cream. Under it, there was a folded strip of paper.
"It’s an anti-scar remedy. One of Philip’s prized treasures. Keep it to yourself," the note read.
It was a short message that felt firm but kind—something only Daniel could pull off. He even added a tiny smiley face at the end.
Chantelle was pretty sure that little rascal Kane had convinced him to do it!
Her heart felt warm as she opened the small container and lifted the lid. She sniffed the salve inside. The scent was familiar.
No way... Could this really be the rare and expensive anti-scar cream called Mermaid’s Tears?