The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 25
“Are you… serious?” His voice was tight.
Leilani nodded. “In three days, I’ll go to the sanatorium to treat Yvonne again. If you’re worried, you can watch the entire process.”
Milford fell silent. For the first time, his conviction wavered. Was it possible that Leilani really hadn’t pushed Yvonne? But if not her, who else could it be?
Yet, if Leilani truly wanted to hurt Yvonne, why go to this trouble?
As for what happened back then…
Just as he hesitated, a sickly sweet voice suddenly cut in.
“Milford! So you’re here!”
Tamara trotted over, lifting the hem of her dress. She affectionately linked her arm through-Milford’s and looked at Leilani with feigned surprise. “Oh my, Leilani is here too? What are you guys talking about?”
Milford frowned. Before he could speak, Tamara jumped in. “Milford, on my way over, I saw a Mr. Cheney looking for you. He said he has a collaboration to discuss! He looked pretty urgent. Maybe you two can talk later?”
As she spoke, she silently exerted force to pull Milford away from Leilani.
Tamara was terrified that Leilani would spill the truth. Ever since Leilani got out of prison, she wasn’t as much of a pushover as she used to be. She had become impenetrable, like a hard, foul stone.
Tamara was already Milford’s fiancée. It wouldn’t be long before she could marry into the Sherwood family. She couldn’t let Leilani ruin it!
Milford looked at Leilani hesitantly. Seeing this, Tamara immediately added, her voice dripping with artificial innocence. “Leilani, I know you’ve always misunderstood me, but… you shouldn’t talk bad about me to Milford behind my back…”
Her eyes reddened, looking aggrieved.
Milford’s frown deepened. He patted her hand instinctively. “Tamara, don’t overthink it.”
Leilani watched Tamara’s performance coldly. It was a pity Tamara hadn’t entered the entertainment industry with acting skills like that. Clive should have taken lessons from her; otherwise, he wouldn’t constantly be mocked as a rich kid trying to be a variety star.
Leilani chuckled softly, watching Tamara like she was watching a monkey show. “Tamara, you’re interrupting us in such a hurry. Are you afraid I’ll say something?”
Tamara’s thoughts were exposed, and her face stiffened. She immediately looked on the verge of tears. “Leilani, how can you misunderstand me like that…”
She tugged on Milford’s sleeve, her voice trembling. “Milford, let’s go… I don’t want to argue with Leilani.”
11:23
7
Milford, unable to resist her pulling and afraid of hurting her feelings, allowed himself to be half-dragged away by Tamara. Before leaving, he gave Leilani a deep look.
Leilani watched their retreating figures, her eyes growing colder. Tamara’s fear was obvious, yet Milford and Gloria trusted her implicitly.
Tamara’s behavior made Leilani even more curious about what that secret leverage was.
Tamara walked away holding onto Milford’s arm. Once Leilani was out of sight, her pace finally
slowed. Her fingers gently rubbed his cuff as she asked, seemingly casually, “Milford, what were you and Leilani talking about just now? She wasn’t really badmouthing me, was she?”
Tamara’s voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of grievance. It sounded like a casual
question, yet it revealed a cautious probing.
Milford glanced down at her. The girl looked up, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her eyes still rimmed with red. She looked pitiful and innocent.
212
11:23
admin