"What are you— " before Su Xieren could finish his sentence Laney's loud voice echoed inside the whole restaurant. The speaker was loud enough to reach the other guests sitting far away from them.
["You are acting like I just gave him to you, Miss Qin. Did you forget that you took him away from me? Do I need to remind you that you were the mistress, someone who knowingly seduced someone's husband."]
"What is happening!?" Laney immediately realized what was about to happen. "Turn that off!" she yelled and tried to approached Bella but Mo Li quickly stood in front of his wife.
"Miss Qin, General Lin is here to witness everything." He calmly reminded her but his gaze was glued towards Su Xieren's ugly expression. While Mo Li was talking, the recording continued playing.
["Why are you blaming my acting skills? Why don't you blame your lack of confidence and insecurities instead? Blame the fact that you are not as beautiful as me. And that I am better than you in bed. Blame the fact that you are weak and a terrible wife who can't even cook some food for her husband. Blame the fact that you hated dressing up and you look ten years older than your age. If you hated me so much, then you can only blame yourself for not being better. And if you think that just because you now know how to apply good mascara and eyebrows, you can easily take him away from me, then think again you b*tch. Xieren is mine."]
"Stop that!" Laney yelled again. "Stop that! Xieren…. " She looked at her husband. Seeing Su Xieren's expression immediately made her paled. The disgust on Su Xieren's face was just— "Bella stop that! Are you really going to ruin my life!?" she squealed and turned to the policemen. "This woman is recording— "
"In a public toilet." Mo Li interrupted her. "Is this restaurant your property, Miss Qin?" He only smiled at her before looking at the Mayor and his wife. Just like Su Xieren, the couple also had ugly expressions on their faces as they realized that Bella already planned all this beforehand. The mayor must have realized that Bella was really serious in her words earlier.
Sadly, the mayor couldn't really show his real anger in front of everyone.
"This recording is… private. Bella… I believe it would be better to handle this issue in a private setting," Anabelle uttered as she hid the horror in her eyes. "The laws are— "
"This is a private property." Mo Li uttered, her gaze turned towards the older woman. "As it is my property. What is mine is hers, therefore this restaurant is hers."
Anabelle's jaw dropped. She moved closer to her husband. "I— I wasn't aware that this is actually— " This restaurant had been here for about five years. The Mayor didn't tell her that this was actually owned by the Mo Family. And she didn't bother asking about it.
"We are not breaking any laws here as this is our restaurants and owners tend to protect their business and properties well." The smile on Mo Li's face never vanished.
["I don't want you to be happy. It's that simple. I don't need a reason to hate someone." ] Laney's voice echoed once again before they all heard how Bella said that she doesn't want to see her anymore. They all heard her leave the toilet before the scream echoed. By now, Laney was already clutching her chest. Her face was so pale as she staggered. She tried to see if her husband would catch her but Su Xieren just stood there, head lowered, hands clenched in a tight fist.
"Husband…."
"I see." Su Xieren nodded as he met Laney's gaze. "I understand now."
"Husband… I… I only did it because I love you." She started sobbing. "But you told me I was your first love, right? You— "
"Uncle," Su Xieren looked at the mayor. "Please take Laney home. I needed to leave first." He clenched his jaw before he shoved his hand into his pockets and left without sparing Laney another glance.
Of course, Laney called him out. She screamed for his name, her voice hoarse. She tried to run and followed him but quickly realized that she was actually wearing a stiletto. She stopped and removed her shoes before finally running after Su Xieren. Seeing Laney's disappearing back, Mo Li finally went back to his seat and smiled at the speechless mayor. Until now, the mayor didn't actually say a single word as he listened to the recording carefully.
The Mayor stared at Bella's calm face. He was never a man that would cause a scene in front of this many people and he never expected Bella to actually do something like this. However, a part of him also couldn't blame the woman that he had long disowned because of his political career.
He completely understood Bella's reasoning and the only reason he was upset right now is because of the fact that Laney actually fooled everyone else. Including him.
He believed Laney Qin and disowned his own daughter. He let Laney manipulate him into thinking that his daughter was the villain all along. The sad thing was, he never actually doubted Laney. Not even once.
"I will have my secretary contact you." Despite all of his emotions, this was the only thing that the mayor could say. Not an apology, not some assurance that Bella would get the justice that she deserve.
"No need." Bella only smiled at him. "I don't think we have a lot of things to talk about, Mayor. Have a wonderful night ahead." The coldness in her eyes coupled with her smiling face was enough to silence whatever it was that the Mayor wanted to say. He felt that Bella's face was beautiful yet emotionless. And it would be a lie if he would say that this didn't hurt him… and his ego.
Anabelle opened her mouth. She was about to say something when Laney's shrill voice echoed inside the whole second floor. Everyone turned their attention to the woman who was holding her stilettos and walking towards Bella.
"This is your fault!" Laney uttered. "You really wanted to ruin my life! Since we were kids… you always wanted to ruin me! That's because you were jealous!" she yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks, ruining her make-up. "You jealous b*tch! I will kill you!"