The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!-Chapter 235: Aren’t You Going to Serve the Guest Some Tea?
"Sir, there’s a gentleman outside who claims to have the last name Rowe."
The guard reported.
Jasper Monroe set down the teacup in his hand, his previously relaxed gaze suddenly freezing: "Mr. Rowe?"
Monica Jacobs, sitting opposite him, also paused her actions: "Is it Ian Rowe? That child has come to visit?"
"No." Jasper slowly knitted his eyebrows: "The last time Ian came, there’s no way the guard wouldn’t recognize him."
Monica looked slightly surprised: "Then who is it? Which Rowe..."
She had only just said half of the sentence, when she abruptly stopped. An incredible speculation crossed her mind, and Monica furrowed her brows: "Could it be..."
Jasper’s expression turned grave. He pressed a few buttons on the remote, and the large screen immediately showed the scene at the front gate.
A black luxury car was quietly parked at the entrance. As if sensing something, the window slowly rolled down, revealing a handsome man’s face.
The man seemed to be aware of something, he looked up towards the camera and lightly smiled, radiating pure malice.
"Thud!"
The remote fell to the wooden floor with a dull sound.
Jasper’s face changed in an instant.
Monica’s face also turned pale in an instant, she subconsciously twisted her skirt: "This... why would he come... wasn’t he always abroad? How could he suddenly come over?"
"What is he here for? Isn’t the commercial targeting enough...?"
Jasper forced himself to remain calm, he gave Monica a reassuring look: "Monica, don’t worry so much."
Monica slightly curbed her emotions: "What should we do... if he comes, should we let him in?"
Jasper held his face taut, his nerves highly tense: "Of course we should let him in, there’s no reason to turn a ’guest’ away at the door."
Jasper picked up the intercom and said something to the guard.
The wait was truly agonizing.
Monica suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, Kiki is still upstairs! We absolutely can’t let him see Kiki, with his vengeful nature, he might not even spare Kiki!"
Jasper wearily rubbed his temples and placed the intercom on the table: "I don’t know what Tristan is here for, but it’s safer to let Kiki stay upstairs."
Monica dialed Kiki Monroe: "Kiki, it’s mom."
Kiki’s voice held a bit of confusion, but sounded as obedient as ever: "What’s wrong, mom? I’m reading the script for tomorrow’s filming!"
Monica’s heart ached with a mixture of sourness and pity: "Oh Kiki, there’s a bit of a situation downstairs that needs to be handled. Just remember to stay in your room and don’t come out, okay?"
Kiki’s tone shifted: "Is something happening?"
"It’s nothing, just an old friend coming to visit. You, a child, shouldn’t come down."
Kiki paused for a few seconds, then replied: "...Alright."
With the sound of the wind came a voice laced with laughter, mixed with a mocking tone.
"I didn’t expect to get in so easily. I thought Mr. Monroe would turn me away at the door."
"I guess I was too narrow-minded. Who doesn’t know our Mr. Monroe is a renowned ’philanthropist’."
Tristan Rowe strolled in with a leisurely gait, followed by a middle-aged man dressed like a secretary.
Jasper stood up, his expression a bit complicated: "You only brought one person?"
"What else? Should I have brought a line of bodyguards?" Tristan shook his head with a chuckle: "That would be too rude; I’m specifically here to visit the two of you."
Tristan stepped forward slowly, extending his hand to Jasper: "Brother..." He slightly turned his head, nodding to Monica Jacobs: "Sister-in-law, long time no see."
Jasper’s expression was stiff and cold.
Monica rebuked: "Who’s your brother and sister-in-law? You, Tristan Rowe, have nothing to do with The Monroe Family! Our family is small; we can’t match up to a big entrepreneur like you."
"You can’t say it like that, I’m quite a nostalgic person."
Tristan withdrew his hand casually. Before anyone else could speak, he had already found a sofa to sit on.
"We almost became family once, there’s no need to act so distant just because I’ve been abroad for a few years. Don’t you think, brother, sister-in-law?"
Hearing Tristan’s words, Jasper’s face grew more complex: "What are you here for?"
"What am I here for? Of course, I’m here as a guest." Tristan’s hair was a bit long, and with his somewhat indifferent expression, it added a touch of chilly beauty. His overly beautiful almond eyes hid their sharp edge, with a somewhat androgynous quality.
"A guest arrives, but isn’t offered a cup of tea?"
His gaze shifted, resting on Jasper. Though not exactly pressuring, it nonetheless increased the weight on Jasper.
Jasper instructed a servant, then held Monica’s hand to indicate for her to sit down.
Tristan took the tea, thanking politely.
The servant paused, slightly surprised.
Tristan sipped lightly, slowly lifting his eyelids: "The taste is exactly the same as twenty-four years ago, and my opinion hasn’t changed. Too bitter, too astringent."
He placed the blue-and-white porcelain cup on the table, smiling lightly: "For those you dislike, you can’t even maintain pleasantries. The same as before."
Though Tristan had said many words, not a single one addressed the main issue, prompting Monica to speak: "Tristan, what exactly is your purpose in coming here? Isn’t the malice in business circles enough? Are you now coming here personally to accuse us? What are you trying to test?"
Tristan’s smile froze, then returned to normal: "Sister-in-law seems to have a great prejudice against me. I’ve emphasized many times that I’m just here as a guest. See, didn’t I bring gifts?"
In the distance lay the gifts Tristan had brought—various precious medicines.
Yet Jasper and Monica remained tense, unchanged in the least.
Jasper’s expression was solemn, and he slowly spoke: "Stop speaking in riddles; there’s no reason for such a visit between us. What’s your actual purpose here?"
"Seems like I’m truly unwelcome..." Tristan waved his hand lazily: "What other reason could I have for coming? Maybe because I’ve been abroad for so long, causing our relationship to become so estranged. Don’t be so hostile towards me; I’ve always seen you as my brother and sister-in-law."
Monica clenched her fingers.
Underhandedly applying pressure, while outwardly posing as close; she truly wanted to scorn his shamelessness. But just remembering that past incident made her feel that The Monroe Family had treated him unfairly, leaving her with a simmering, unvented anger in her heart.
"Don’t call us brother and sister-in-law; we can’t afford such titles!"
