Tanya originally intended to return the same way and take the elevator down. But unfortunately, just as she reached the elevator door, it went down. Next to it was a spiral staircase made of solid wood, guilded with a layer of gold foil, which was a sight to behold. Since it was only three floors, Tanya simply took the stairs down. But as she reached the stairway on the second floor, she ran straight into Rhys Lucas who was coming from the other side of the passage. Rhys naturally saw Tanya as well. He had come up to the second floor to use the restroom, but lingered on purpose, strolling through the lobby, hoping to see Tanya looking lost as she failed to find Vincent. However, after circling around the hall, he didn’t catch a glimpse of Tanya. The spot where Vincent and Cody had lunch was already occupied by newcomers. Rhys was initially puzzled as to where Tanya had gone, never expecting her to come down from the third floor. The third floor had a few private rooms that could not be reserved, and even if there weren’t any waitstaff at the staircase, there would be surveillance. If any unauthorized guest ventured there, someone would be dispatched immediately to handle it. And Tanya had taken the stairs down... Rhys squinted slightly, instantly understanding. Surely, Tanya, unable to find Vincent on the second floor, wrongly assumed he was on the third floor. She probably sneaked up while the manager wasn’t looking, and then got kicked out! Rhys couldn’t help but find it amusing. This woman was really making a fool of herself everywhere she went. They met head-on; as long as Tanya wasn’t blind, she would definitely see him. Rhys slowed his pace, leisurely waiting for Tanya to come over and beseech him to know Vincent’s whereabouts. However, to Rhys’s surprise, Tanya treated him like thin air, walking past him without even glancing as she headed downstairs. Rhys couldn’t help but lose his composure, quickly stepping forward to block Tanya’s path. "Tanya, are you pretending not to see me on purpose? Do you think doing so will make you appear cool, making Vincent more interested in you?" he taunted. With the upbringing that Rhys had since childhood, he could maintain basic manners and politeness even to people he looked down on, but Tanya, she simply wasn’t worth it! Tanya raised her eyelids coldly, looking directly at Rhys’s condescending face, her expression indifferent, "Finished talking? A good dog doesn’t block the way, move aside if you’re done." Five years ago, it had been her own foolishness, adoring everything about Vincent’s circle, trying her best to appease his gang of friends to fit in. And given Rhys was one of Vincent’s closest childhood friends, he was often by Vincent’s side. So Tanya met Rhys the most, each time lowering herself in front of him. Back then, she didn’t understand what she had done wrong for Rhys, who hardly knew her, to despise her so much. The better she treated him, the more he seemed to disdain her. In those days, Tanya kept reflecting on what could be wrong with her; now she understood. —She gave Rhys far too much face! Rhys never expected there would be a day when Tanya would talk back to him, immediately furrowing his brows, his face turned cold. "Are you calling me a dog?" Tanya had no time to bicker with Rhys; she was in a hurry to pick up the keys from Principal Preston and now wanted nothing more than to head to his institute quickly. She sidestepped Rhys to leave, but how could Rhys, who had never been ignored , especially by someone who had always humbled herself before him as Tanya had? "Tanya, stand still!" Tanya saw through the black marble wall in front of her, Rhys’s hand reaching out, and her patience hit its limit. She turned back and swatted Rhys’s arm aside. She put so much force into it that a red mark formed on Rhys’s wrist. Official source is novel·fire·net Just as Rhys was about to lose his temper, Tanya’s mocking voice came first. "Rhys, sometimes I think you are quite pathetic." Her gaze towards him was indeed as if looking at a pitiful clown. Rhys paused for a moment, then furrowed his brow tightly, anger washing over his face. He retorted mockingly, "A woman like you has the nerve to call someone else pathetic?" Tanya bluntly pointed out his hidden thoughts, "You’ve secretly had a crush on Cindy Lynn for so many years, helplessly yearning but afraid to pursue and be rejected. So all you dare to do is, like a coward, continue to make trouble for me behind her back! Rhys, do you really see yourself as Cindy’s knight in shining armor?" As she finished speaking, Tanya laughed coldly in mockery. All these years, Rhys’s disdain for her wasn’t because she had done anything wrong, but his ultimate goal from the start was solely to bully her to vent for Cindy! Rhys’s hand by his side clenched tighter and tighter, his face instantly turning terrifyingly dark as he leaned in, gritting his teeth, "Tanya Sinclair, shut up!" Tanya wasn’t afraid of him in the least. Looking at Rhys’s now pallid face, she only found it amusing. "What, does Boss Lucas plan to hit a woman?" There was surveillance overhead; if Rhys dared to lay a hand on her, she would call the police immediately. Tanya had seen it all clearly now. She was someone who had nothing to lose, her highest title these days being Mrs. Hawthorne, and if she embarrassed the Hawthornes, it would feel like a relief. But Rhys was different. He was prominent, the sole heir of The Lucas Family—a man who commanded respect both in legitimate and illegitimate circles—and if he got locked up for hitting a woman, it would be headline news for three days. Rhys never thought, in his lifetime, he would be overshadowed by Tanya! His chest heaved heavily with rage that had nowhere to go. Tanya said coolly, "Since Boss Lucas doesn’t plan to take physical action, I won’t bother sticking around." With that, Tanya swung her head and left decisively. It felt as if all the grievances she’d suffered under Rhys over the years found an outlet, lightening her heart considerably. Among Vincent’s gang of friends, anyone who dared to provoke her in the future would find her anything but accommodating. "Tanya." Rhys’s voice, cold and dripping with sarcasm, bore down from above, with a touch of desperation, "Do you think using those dirty tricks back then to force Vincent to marry you, would make him love you? Ha, let me tell you, in his heart, you’re not even worth a single finger of Cindy’s!" Tanya completely ignored him, not even pausing her footsteps, and continued her way downstairs. Ha, either Cindy’s been slandering her behind her back, spreading rumors; or... it’s Rhys himself, who sees everyone as filthy! Whatever the reason, Rhys was unworthy of her explanations or clarifications. Tanya had just crossed through the lobby, heading toward the exit, when suddenly she heard a familiar male voice. She paused slightly and turned her face to see Vincent striding briskly towards her, with Cody by his side, giving her a cheeky smile and wave.