Meanwhile, Leona pulled her car over to the side of the road, got out, and shouted at Bryan, “Get out.”

Bryan got out of the car timidly. “Heiress, you can’t blame me. You saw how Mr. Beltran kicked me, and the Patri- arch is so imposing. I had no choice but to tell the truth.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kick you?”

As Leona spoke, she kicked Bryan.

Bryan yelped, “Ouch!” and moved a little farther away from Leona.

But Leona didn’t kick him again. She just scowled and said, “If you saw Josephine’s shoes, then it was Josephine. Why did you have to be so specific? Couldn’t you have just said it was her?”

Bryan shot back, “I was just worried Isabella might have an identical pair.”

“As if it could be that much of a coincidence.”

“You can get lost now.”

After saying that, Leona got in her car and drove off.

Bryan watched the car drive away, sneered, took his phone out of his pocket, and sent a text.

[I just left the Beltran’s mansion. I acted out the script for the Patriarch. No idea if he bought it or not.]

A moment later, the other person replied: [What was Xavier’s reaction?]

Bryan: [Mr. Beltran was pissed. He kicked me a few times.]

The other person: [Did the Patriarch question Xavier about hiding things from him?]

Bryan: [The Patriarch kicked me and the Heiress out.]

[I’m afraid Mr. Beltran will come after me.]

The other person: [He won’t. He believes Aveline lied to him, so he won’t bother with a nobody like you.]

Around lunchtime, Xavier was still on his way to Mount Ardwood. He picked up his phone and sent Aveline a mes-

sage,

[Having lunch?]

Aveline entered the buffet and sat down to eat, glanced at the message, and didn’t reply.

A moment later, Xavier texted, [Don’t you have anything to ask me?]

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[You don’t care at all that Leona took Bryan to tell the Patriarch something?

Aveline replied, [Who the hell is Bryan?

If you’re that bored, go bang your head against a wall. Stop texting me.]

Xavier stared at the message for a long moment, chuckled softly, and put his phone down.

Because she knew Leona was taking Bryan to see Rupert today, Josephine had no desire to go to the set and film.

She told Marjorie first thing in the morning that she was taking another day off.

Marjorie replied, “Director, the two lead actors are going to have a problem with that.”

Josephine said impatiently, “I’m not feeling well, I can’t film. What’s their problem? Do they want to make a terrible movie?”

“Tell them I’ll increase their pay.”

Anyway, she could spend the billion Xavier invested however she wanted. If it wasn’t enough, she’d just ask him for

more.

Marjorie said, “No, Director, we’re already paying them more than enough. It’s not about the money. It’s that they have another project after this one. They can’t spend all their time on our film.”

Josephine was just a new director, not some big name that good actors would be happy to take things slow for. Josephine replied, “If they have a problem, just tell them I’ll raise their pay. I refuse to believe they don’t like money.”

“It’s just one more day off. Tell them I’m sick.”

She hung up without waiting for Marjorie to reply.

Josephine was extremely anxious and wanted to call or text Leona to ask what was going on, but Courtney stopped her.

“If you act this desperate, Leona will think you care too much.”

“Calm down. She’ll contact you.”

After saying that, Courtney calmly ate her apple.

Near noon, Leona finally called Josephine, saying she was at her door and had something to ask her.

Courtney said, “Your dad’s not here. Let her in. I want to hear what’s going on, too.”

So, Josephine went out to invite Leona in.

Leona walked into the living room and saw that Courtney’s belly was already quite large. She thought to herself that Courtney’s pregnancy was a sure thing.

Once this child was born, Jacob would have an heir, and the Sutton family fortune would definitely not have a share

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Chapter 397

for Aveline.

288 Wouchers

Courtney warmly invited Leona to sit down, then told the butler to prepare tea and bring out some snacks and fruit.

Leona hadn’t eaten breakfast, and it was almost lunchtime. She was starving, so she didn’t hold back.

Josephine was anxious to know the situation, but seeing her mother so calm, she could only force herself to be calm as well.

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