The Queen's Back

Chapter 36

"Then let's go. Help me downstairs," Mona said as she stood up.

Old Mrs. Hattic assisted Mona down the stairs and then quietly went to prepare tea. Mona took a seat opposite Barbara, exuding the air of a hostess.

"What brings you here, cousin?" Mona asked casually.

Barbara's lips curled into a slight smile as she looked at Mona with feigned concern. "I heard you were robbed abroad and had to stay in the hospital for a long time. It scared me! Are you alright?" Mona truly had a stroke of luck; encountering a robbery abroad yet emerging without serious harm was remarkable.

'If something had happened to her-like a scar on her face-Maxwell would surely divorce her. After all, how could the CEO of Carter Group want someone with a flaw in their appearance? Barbara thought. Facing Barbara Burton's insincere concern, Mona felt a wave of nausea. She didn't even want to continue the charade. "Your sources are quite up-to-date, cousin," she replied coolly.

Aside from Teddy, who knew about the incident, Mona hadn't even informed her grandparents.

Barbara laughed awkwardly. "I was just worried about you. I heard you took a couple more days off after returning, so I kept an eye on the news from Arkenvale."

After Old Mrs. Hattie served the tea, she quietly left the room.

Mona picked up her tea and took a delicate sip. "Thank you for your concern, Barbara, but as you can see, I'm perfectly fine."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. When Mona didn't mention anything about designing for Artemis Rain, Barbara couldn't resist asking, "By the way, did you get to meet the celebrity Artemis Rain?" Mona shook her head honestly. "No, I didn't."

Hearing this, Barbara felt a surge of satisfaction. If Mona hadn't met Artemis, it meant her design hadn't been seen, suggesting that Mona's trip to Arkenvale was in vain.

internally, Barbara maintained a facade of sympathy. "I see. Well, no worries, Mona. I should get going; I have work to do at the

Barbara misunderstood, thinking she hadn't been chosen by Artemis Rain. Mona decided not to correct her, planning to surprise her

now that Barbara had gotten what she wanted, Mona was content to

company would hear about her supposed failure. However, Mona wasn't concerned about clarifying things immediately. She felt there was no rush to set the record

smile, feeling as if even the summer sun

Maxwell returned home, he noticed someone leaving the house from a distance. Initially, he thought he might have mistaken the place, but as he got closer, he recognized it was Mona's cousin, Barbara. Without acknowledging her,

him ignore her, she stomped her foot

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Group and her status as the Clem family's heiress. Without those,

determined to prove her superiority over Mona through the gown design for Artemis Rain. She wanted everyone to see that she was better, with Mona left in her

after acquiring Mona's shares through Teddy, Maxwell would be eager to marry her. Anything Mona valued, whether possessions or people, Barbara wanted for herself,

he found Mona sitting alone on the sofa, lost in thought.

"Pretty good. I feel much better today than yesterday. I should be able to go back to work the day

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it. "Alright, I'll take you to

at the company. He watched her walk confidently before

eyes of many colleagues on her, their gazes filled with mockery and amusement, as if they were

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provoking her wrath. Instead, they observed her from a distance, their curiosity piqued as they exchanged whispers and glances. Mona noticed their stares and smirked

accident? It seems like traveling abroad isn't as safe as staying