Chapter 180
Erin looked at Thea warily as she kept her hands folded in front of her chest.
After Thea sat down, she flashed Erin another smile. "Please don't worry. I'm not the one Zachary likes. I'm really just an ordinary friend of his."
It was only then Erin relaxed. The caution in her eyes turned into pride as she said, "Why have you come to me?"
Thea never thought that the other woman would be so direct. After a moment of contemplation, she uttered, "Nothing, actually. It's just that I had a chat with Zachary before and found out that you were overseas. That's why I was rather baffled when I heard your call earlier. So, I came over to find out if I've recognized the wrong person.
Erin listened to her dubiously. She had lived for many years, and she had come across numerous people. Although she could not say that she was good at reading other people, she would never believe that Thea was simply there to greet her.
At that moment, a thought popped into her head. "If you're friends with Zachary, then you should know who the woman who has been clinging to him is, right?"
"Uh... I do know, but..." Thea stammered, unsure what to reply to her.
"Who is it?" Erin questioned.
Thea then pursed her lips, not knowing what she should say.
"It isn't you, is it? You're stuttering."
Thea instantly shook her head. "No, it isn't me. I'm really just friends with him."
"Then who is it?" Erin questioned again as she stared intently at Thea.
Thea knitted her brows, acting as if she was a troubled, innocent woman. "I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you about her."
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about her," Erin reassured her with a smile.
"But..." Thea still seemed as if she was in a dilemma.
"Ms. Jarman, right?"
Thea nodded.
"If you're friends with Zachary, then I won't hide anything from you. Zachary has responsibilities to bear. He can't waste his time on her," Erin gravely told her.
Thea's brows furrowed again, but she soon slowly parted her lips. "You know, I actually tried to convince Zachary that the woman didn't deserve him before. With his character and status, he can definitely get someone better. I just don't understand why he has to go for a woman with children."
Erin immediately caught on to the keyword. "What? Children? What children?"
Thea deliberately tensed up before asking, "Do you not know about this?"
Erin's expression darkened even more.
It's one thing for him to get a woman and another to get one with children! He's embarrassing the entire Lynch family!
When that thought flashed across her mind, the look in Erin's eyes became colder.
Then, she turned to Thea and slapped a smile onto her face. "Ms. Jarman, to be honest, Zachary has been hiding this from me the entire time. However, he's already engaged to another woman. Now, for that woman, he's insisting on breaking off the engagement. That's why I have to find out more about this matter. Please tell me everything you know and help Zachary out!"
Finally, Thea said, "I see. So that woman's really just... hurting him. I thought she wouldn't ruin anyone else's lives other than mine, but it seems like she'll never change her nature."
"What do you mean?"
"I do know the one Zachary likes. She's an employee of Prosper Technologies, and her name is Natasha Watson. Her children are already about six to seven years old. She kept trying to seduce my boyfriend when I was still with my boyfriend, and in the end, we broke up because of her. I never thought that she would turn to Zachary in the blink of an eye... I tried advising Zachary on this, but he wouldn't listen to me. He's sure that she's a good woman, and because of that woman, he started ignoring me..." At that, a helpless look appeared on her face.
The more Erin heard, the deeper the grimace on her face became. "It seems like this woman's quite scheming."
"That's right. Moreover, she's pretty. Many men fall for that, and she has them all twirled around her pinky," Thea muttered.
A pause later, she seemed to recall something and continued, "Please don't tell anyone that I said this. Otherwise, it'll seem like I'm a horrible person! I really think of Zachary as a friend, and that's why I told you about it!"
Erin gave her a small smile. "Don't worry. I told you that I won't tell anyone about it, so II. n
wont.
It was only then Thea nodded in relief. "Thank you!" "Why are you thanking me? I should be the one thanking you. You've done me a favor!"
"No way. It's all for Zachary's sake. I just don't wish that his life is ruined because of that woman."
Just then, Erin waved to the server and ordered some food. "Ms. Jarman, I've just come back from overseas, and I still don't know much about the things in the country. Why don't we chat and eat at the same time so that you can tell me more?"
Hearing that, Thea nodded fervently. "Of course. As long as you don't find me annoying."
"There's no way I'd feel that," Erin told her. The two then chatted away when the food arrived.
Erin said that she wanted to find out more about the local affairs, but the truth was, she wanted to find out more about Natasha Watson.
Thea did not delve too much into Natasha's background during their chat.
However, when Erin found out that Natasha was not someone with a privileged background, her lips curled.
Nearing the end of the meal, Erin knew much more about Natasha than before. While Thea had gone to the restroom, Erin summoned the server and gave the server her card.
The server smiled at her. "Ms. Jarman has already paid for the meal."
Erin was stunned.
Right then, Thea returned from the restroom. Upon seeing the server and Erin, she was dumbfounded. "What's the matter?"
Erin turned to her and said, "Ms. Jarman, how could I let you foot the bill? I should be the one buying you a meal."
"You've just returned to the country, so think of this as a welcoming party from me. Moreover, I'm always meeting friends here, so I know the owner quite well and I have discounts. Don't worry," Thea said to her, beaming.
Erin returned the smile. "All right. I'll treat you to a meal next time then."
Thea bobbed her head.
"I still have other things to attend to, so I have to take my leave first. Let's meet another day," Erin said.
"Sure!"
Erin then rose to her feet and elegantly took her bag. After an inclination of her head, she said nothing else and left the place. Every step she took made her seem like a noble walking down the street. Thea's smile slowly faded as she watched Erin disappear from her line of sight.
Zachary, since you refuse to work with me, don't blame me for using your mother.
Thea did not even need to think to decipher what was going to happen next.
This was essentially like an opportunity of a lifetime.
With that thought in mind, a smile appeared on Thea's face, and she merrily left after grabbing her bag.