Filed To Story: The Scarlet Vengeance: Justice of a Framed Beauty Novel (Grace & Jason)
However, Camille Strickland’s worries shattered when she heard what her best friend said next.
“No thanks. I already have a boyfriend,” said Valda Theller.
“What?” The startled voice exploded on the phone. Going out of tune, Camille Strickland shouted, “What did you say? You have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah.”
‘I guess I have a boyfriend.
“Really? What does he do for a living? How did you know each other? Why haven’t you mentioned him before?” Camille Strickland asked a series of questions.
Valda Theller then realized she seemed to have no idea what he did for a living. However, the man was dressed in a suit and tie. Maybe he had to wear a suit for his job.
“I’ve only met him twice… Uh… I forgot to ask what he does for a living,” Valda Theller said lamely. Camille Strickland was speechless. “You agreed to date him without even knowing what he does for a living? Do you not know your boyfriend’s name and where he lives?”
Valda Theller was even speechless. She seemed to really…
have no idea!
She was too shocked and confused. She only heard him say, “Okay, that’s settled then.” After that, the man left the small restaurant, and she followed suit.
B Gifts When Camille Strickland came to Valda Theller’s studio the next day, she could not help taunting, “You must’ve been pranked!”
When she heard about what happened in the restaurant from her best friend, the first thing that came to her mind was that her best friend had met a fraudster!
“He doesn’t look much like a fraudster,” Valda Theller explained in a low voice.
Camille Strickland said, “Do fraudsters have the word ‘fraud’ engraved on their faces? He would have at least told you his contact information if he was serious. You don’t even have his contact information right now. Tell me, how are you going to date each other?”
Well, Valda Theller could not argue about this point.
‘Was that man only pranking me? But I somehow think his tone and eyes at the time were serious.
‘But… I have no idea if we’ll ever see each other again if I don’t have his contact information.’ “By the way, why did you agree to date him?” Camille Strickland asked.
“It’s probably… because he has good looks,” Valda Theller said a little guiltily. However, there were other reasons too.
There was this sense of dead silence about the man. It was as if he would fall into the abyss if someone did not help him.
She was the same too. She still remembered the feeling of falling into an abyss when she realized that her feelings were just a game to someone else.
If Camille had not helped her, perhaps her life would have turned out differently.
“But if that guy is only pranking me, maybe he doesn’t have to find a girlfriend to solve his problems.
That would be good too,” Valda Theller said after breathing a sigh of relief.
“Don’t be naive. If that man is as good-looking as you said, would he have trouble finding a girlfriend?
You’re just too gullible that that bastard Raymond Bowman…” Camille Strickland suddenly stopped talking as an apologetic look appeared on her face. “I’m sorry. I…”
“Why are you apologizing? You’re right. Raymond Bowman is indeed a bastard.” Valda Theller faked a relaxed smile before raising her hands to hug her best friend. “Camille, thank you for helping me and stopping me from giving up on myself.”
“What are you talking about? Alright, accompany me to the blind date tonight. Maybe the friend he brought is a nice man!” Camille Strickland said with a smile.
At night, Camille Strickland took Valda Theller to the restaurant where she had agreed to meet her date. However, Valda Theller’s expression instantly changed when they reached the dining table.
There were already two men sitting on one side of the dining table. One of them was wearing a white shirt. This man with the handsome face was once a prince to many women!
It was… Raymond Bowman.
Valda Theller did not expect to meet him here. Camille Strickland was also dumbfounded as she exclaimed, “Raymond Bowman, what are you doing here?”
“Huh, do you know each other?” Keith Sharp, Camille Strickland’s blind date today, asked.
“Yes, we do. We studied in the same university but were in different courses,” answered Raymond Bowman.
“What coincidence. Here, have a seat. You can order anything you want.” Keith Sharp warmly asked them to sit down. Valda Theller knew Camille had a good impression of her blind date. The two had been chatting online for almost two weeks, and it was only now that they were meeting for the first time.
B Gifts “Valda, why don’t we…” Camille Strickland wanted to propose that they ditched the blind date and go home first.
After all, she had witnessed how Raymond Bowman had hurt Valda. She would be hurting Valda if she let her sit down for a meal.
However, before Camille Strickland could finish, Valda Theller said, “Camille, let’s have a seat first.”
“But…”
Valda Theller gave her best friend an assuring look as she quietly squeezed her hand, implying that it was fine. She also pulled her best friend and sat down.
After ordering the food, Camille Strickland pulled Valda Theller away from the dining table with the excuse of going to the washroom.
“Valda, you don’t have to worry about me. I didn’t know that Keith Sharp was friends with Raymond Bowman. If I had known…”
Valda Theller interposed, “You wouldn’t have asked me to come. But it doesn’t matter. Raymond Bowman hurt me, but won’t it mean that I still care about the past if I keep avoiding him? Camille, I don’t want to avoid him. Besides, Raymond Bowman isn’t worth me running away from, is he?”
Camille Strickland suddenly realized that her best friend was stronger than she imagined. Her eyes were clear and honest. It seemed that Valda had really gotten over the man.
“Yeah, he’s not worth it.” Camille Strickland smiled..
On the other side, at the dining table, Keith Sharp looked at Raymond Bowman and said hesitantly, “Mr. Bowman, did you already know that they were the ones coming today?”
Keith Sharp somehow had that feeling.
Raymond Bowman was not his friend but a CEO his company had suddenly sent over. It was said that he was going to join the headquarters’ board of directors, and the branch was only a stepping stone for him.
Raymond Bowman had seen a photo of Camille Strickland on his phone by chance and chatted with him. Then, he asked him to ask her to bring another friend after the chat.
He was confused at the time, but he dared not refuse due to the man’s identity.
The scene earlier made him think that Raymond Bowman had already guessed that Valda Theller would be the one Camille Strickland would bring. It was as if he had anticipated everything.
Raymond Bowman smiled. “Regardless, I’m your friend. I’m only here to accompany you on your blind date, aren’t I?”
He glanced in the direction of the washroom as he said this.
After so many years, he finally saw Valda again, but… he thought that perhaps she would turn to leave without saying anything after seeing him. However, she sat down calmly without the fascination she used to have when she looked at him…
After dinner, Keith Sharp tried hard to lighten the mood in the process, but it was still weird.
“Camille told me that you’re a comic artist. I wonder what kind of comics you draw? I’d like to read them if I have the chance,” said Keith Sharp.
“They’re romance comics. You can ask Camille for the details. She’s in charge of my editing and knows my comics best. But such comics might not be your cup of tea,” Valda Theller said with a smile.
Keith Sharp laughed dryly. “Do comic artists like you you come up with the plot?”
“There are comic artists who work with writers, but I come up with the plots for my comics,” said Valda Theller.
“Is it hard to come up with the plot?”
“It depends on your inspiration. Sometimes, it’s not that hard when you’re inspired.”
“If you’re uninspired, is it easier to get inspired by dating?” Keith Sharp asked.
“Not really. I just watch more films. Other people’s comics and novels can also inspire me.”
“Camille said you’re thinking of a new comic theme right now?”
“Yes, we were discussing it for a long time today but haven’t reached a conclusion,” said Valda Theller.
Camille Strickland also complained, “I know, right? Oh, everything’s difficult at the beginning. I’m miserable every time we have to decide on a theme and outline.”
“Miss Theller, will you get inspired if you have a boyfriend?” Keith Sharp glanced at Raymond Bowman out of the corner of his eye when he said this.