Chapter 15
Lancelot fought back the urge to see Calista. He set his phone down, trying to ignore her voice memo that popped up again not long after she noticed he hadn't replied.
[Babe, why aren't you answering? Do I look pretty or not?]
[My dearest husband, aren't you gonna say something nice about your wife?]
As he listened, Lancelot's sharp, cool expression softened just a little.
Even he didn't realize how far he'd gone in indulging her. Maybe it was those eyes... exactly like hers back then.
"Boss Bennett."
One of his subordinates stepped into the office, only to see him holding his phone, the edges of his lips slightly curved-half-smile, half-tease, undeniably gentle. It scared her stiff.
[I'm waiting, hubby. Say it, I'm the prettiest woman in the world.]
Ping.
Calista's flirty voice echoed from the phone just as the papers White Ice was holding slipped right from her fingers.
"Hubby"? What the hell...?
Was Boss Bennett really doing that cheesy couple stuff with someone? And judging by his reaction... he wasn't even mad? That sent chills down her spine.
Lancelot's face darkened immediately. He glanced up at the nervous White, his tone cold as ice. "What? Want to keep listening?"
"N-No, sir. I didn't hear a thing, I swear!"
White's legs practically turned to jelly. She stammered something, dropped the documents on his desk, and bolted.
[You still there, hubby? I wanna hear your-]
[If you don't drop that cringey baby-talk, don't even think about coming home tonight.]
With a snap, the pen in Lancelot's hand broke as he hit send on a voice message.
Calista had done it on purpose anyway, trying to mess with him for fun.
She opened the audio, and after hearing his furious tone laced with threat, she pouted.
[What's so gross about it? Don't most guys like that playful, sweet kind of voice?]
[Lucas totally eats it up whenever Felicity does it. Wouldn't even be dating her otherwise.]
Grumbling under her breath, Calista's words made Lancelot frown. A chill flickered in his vision as he said coolly, [Enough. I don't like it, period.]
Click.
He hung up without a second thought.
Beeep. Calista's eyes stared silently at her phone, still displaying the call ended screen. She was fuming.
That jerk really hung up on her?
"Miss Monroe, are you ready? It's almost your turn to play."
She was still swearing at Lancelot in her head when a servant's voice came from the door.
With a deep breath, Calista clenched her fists.
"Yeah, I'm coming now."
She snapped her phone shut and forced down her frustration as she stepped out.
Just wait till I get home, old man. You think I can't handle you?
*****
More than a few people had shown up at the café just to hear her perform.
As Calista walked in, soft whispers rippled through the audience.
"I heard the second Monroe daughter and Lucas have been secretly in love for a while... that's why they got engaged behind the eldest sister's back. She stormed off after finding out."
"Please. I heard she straight-up stole her sister's fiancé. Love had nothing to do with it-it was just scheming and betrayal."
"No way, right? Felicity is always so delicate and sweet. How could she possibly pull something like this?"
"I heard Calista rushed off to marry some male escort just because Felicity got engaged to Lucas."
"For real? Can we even trust this kind of gossip?"
Calista's fingers froze for half a second on the piano keys. A chill crept onto her flawless face.
Male escort? Seriously?
Felicity, you're really going there with this kind of smear?
Riiip.
"Oh my god, is Calista seriously about to flash us or something?"
Right when Calista was already in a foul mood, her dress strap slipped. A disgusting gasp echoed from the crowd-one of the men practically drooled.
"Is she trying to sell sex out in the open?"
"Can you believe the Monroe family's eldest daughter would stoop this low...?"
"What a shameless woman."
Felicity had packed the café with trolls, all aiming to destroy Calista's reputation and ruin her chance to play.
More and more people started throwing verbal punches at Calista.
Felicity watched her sister clutching her chest, head lowered, and a satisfied grin slowly spread on her lips.
Just when Felicity was savoring what she thought was her victory, Calista calmly dropped her hand and stood up straight in front of everyone.
Surprisingly, the slipped strap had stopped right at her collarbone, turning her gown into an elegant off-shoulder piece. And at the center of her back, a stunning blue butterfly emerged-so vivid it looked real.
That, combined with her makeup today? She looked nothing short of stunning.
"Well, looks like Miss Monroe had something up her sleeve. That was basically magic!"
Someone in the audience stood up, clapping for her.
Calista lifted her skirt slightly and smiled with a nod.
"Just a little trick I've been practicing-some new makeup techniques. Hope it didn't disappoint."
"Not only can she play piano like a pro, she's got insane makeup skills too? That was straight-up illusion work!"
"No wonder she's from a top-tier family. Totally on another level."
The crowd, who a second ago was trying to rip into her, now broke into praise. They were stunned by how effortlessly Calista had flipped the script with her 'magic trick' of a makeover.
Felicity looked on, seething, as the haters turned into admirers. She clenched the fabric at her side so hard her knuckles turned white-practically shaking with rage.
Since when did Calista learn such crazy makeup skills?
Did she see right through the trap from the start and turn it around?
"That blue butterfly... it's... beautiful."
Lucas had been fuming when he thought Calista was stripping for attention. But now, as the tables turned, his eyes locked onto that blue butterfly near her shoulder blades, lighting up with a hungry spark.
They'd been together for a while, but besides holding hands... nothing. Not even a kiss.
Honestly? When it came to looks, Felicity didn't even come close.
Calista was easily one of the most stunning women in high society.
"You've fallen for her, haven't you... Lucas?"
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