NovelEnglishChapter 136 Looked in the Mirror Lately?
Hope didn’t hesitate at all. “I believe in you.”
“Good. I need you to listen to me. Just pretend you don’t know anything about this. You’re still drowning in the grief of losing your
mother, doing what you usually do.”
Maia urged her. “Once you’re back to work, you’ll work on television drama shoots and attend events as usual. Don’t do anything
differently or express any other emotion.”
Maia was deathly afraid that the culprit was observing her from the dark. She must not alert
him!
Hope promised. “Don’t worry, Maia. I’m an actress. I’ve got this!”
“I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“The murderer is relentless, Maia. You have to be careful.” Hope looked at her, worried. Maia nodded in reply.
Then, she and Buck helped Hope stuff everything into the storage box. He was taking the box out when several middle–aged
women rushed into the corridor.
They had heard that the big celebrity was back. They looked around in front of Hope’s place to catch a glimpse of her.
“Looking for someone?” Buck asked politely.
“Is Hope here? I’m talking about the actress who’s appeared in several shows! We’ve known. her since she was little!”
“Look at my grandchildren. They’re adorable. I wish Hope could help them to get on television!”
“Also, my son’s thirty years old. He’s an engineer and he’s single. I could introduce him to her!”
The middle–aged women made a racket. They were trying to speak louder than each other. Hope was tidying her stuff in her
house, but she came out to see what the fuss was about.
She had only taken a few steps when she saw them.
“Hi, Hope! Do you remember me? I’m Penny from next door!”
“I’m Debby, Hope!”
“Hope. Remember me? I was around when you were young!”
unwanted and mocked her because she did not have a father.
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They accused her mom of being a mistress because she worked in a nightclub. They claimed that she would turn out just like her
mom.
Hope pursed her lips. She went back into her house to get away from the middle–aged women. They started shouting the
moment she went in.
“Hey. Why is she acting like that? Is she pretending she doesn’t know us just because she became a big–shot celebrity? Does
she really think she’s better than us?”
“What the hell?! I can’t believe she didn’t even greet us. Why’d she straight out ignore us?”
“Looks like she’s all high and mighty now that she’s famous. Did she forget she’s just an actress? Actresses aren’t even worth
our time!”
“Ms. Hope
Buck thought they were being far too brutal, but he kept his decorum and said, ” doesn’t know you, ladies. Please leave the
premises. Thank you.”
The middle–aged ladies glanced at him and yelled rudely, “How’s that possible? We’re all neighbors and we’ve known her since
she was young!!
“Exactly. She cast us aside because she got rich! She should give us support and buy a house
for each of us!” 1
“Damn straight. She came out earlier, but she didn’t say anything to us. What does that mean?
Are W
invisible?”
These women were really insufferable. It was a good thing Buck was built like a linebacker. They couldn’t get in because he was
standing at the door. Otherwise, they’d already have surrounded Hope.
Maia was closing the storage box and saw Hope closing the bedroom door. She leaned on it, looking terrified. The air conditioner
was on, but Maia could see sweat on her forehead.
“What’s the matter?” Maia had heard the clamor too. “What happened out there? Who was it?” She was about to go outside and
check when Hope stopped her.
“Don’t go out there, Maia. Buck’s a big guy so they’re not going to do anything to him. I’m worried they’ll insult you if they see
you.”
Hope remembered very well the kind of people they were. They could crush a person with their
terrible words.
“Who are they? Are they your old neighbors?”
Hope nodded and said, “They berated me and my mom when we lived here. They said I’m a bastard, and that my mom raised
me to be a skank. T–They even said...”
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“What did they say?”
Hope pursed her lips and shook her head, “It’s nothing. It’s all in the past. You shouldn’t go out, Maia. They’ll leave when they
realize they can’t get to me. I don’t think they’ll be here for long.”
The clamor outside was still going strong. It didn’t sound like they were leaving any time soon. “Listen to them. Do you think
they’re going to leave?”
The apartment was old. The soundproofing was less than ideal. They could hear everything. Maia turned the doorknob and told
Hope, “Stay in here.”
Then, she closed the bedroom door and walked toward the cramped living room. The middle- aged women stopped their
hollering the moment they saw her.
“Ms. Maia.” Buck looked at her, pleading for help.
It was easier to deal with cunning businessmen than these women who did nothing all day but gossip and complain about their
lives. They were insufferable!
“Who are you supposed to be?”
“You look a little like Hope! How are you related to her?”
“Look at your outfit. You must be rich! Is Hope going to buy us houses, after all?”
Maia burst out laughing.
She looked at them and grinned. “Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean? What does that have to do with buying houses? Is there going to be a big mirror in it? That’s very good!”.
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