The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!-Chapter 237: Is He Your Old Friend?

Monica felt a tightness in her chest, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart. She stepped in front of Maya Monroe.

Tristan Rowe raised an eyebrow in slight surprise: "Does Mrs. Monroe really have to be so guarded against me?"

Monica’s eyes were calm and resolute: "Our Monroe Family has nothing to do with you."

Tristan held a smile at the corner of his mouth but said nothing more.

After Tristan left, Monica’s uneasy heart still hadn’t settled.

Her palm was soaked in sweat, yet she firmly held Maya’s hand.

Maya felt the dampness in her palm and asked worriedly, "Mom, are you okay?"

Monica reached out her other hand to pat Maya’s hand, and with lingering trepidation, she said, "Luckily, nothing happened. How did we just run into him..."

Maya pondered slightly but said nothing.

Maya and Monica sat down on the sofa, and only then did Maya notice that Jasper Monroe also had a relieved expression.

Why were Jasper and Monica so fearful of Tristan? Saying "fear" isn’t quite accurate, because Monica’s attitude towards Tristan wasn’t the least bit timid. It’s more cautiousness than fear.

So, what exactly were they being cautious about?

Maya noticed Monica’s pale face and her still tense nerves, and couldn’t help but ask, "Not feeling well?"

Monica shook her head, showing a comforting smile to Maya: "Mom’s fine."

Maya asked Mrs. Zhang to get Monica a cup of hot tea.

Maya suddenly became so considerate that Mrs. Zhang was astonished and pleased.

Mrs. Zhang practically watched Maya grow up. Maya was the family’s only child when she was young, spoiled and willful because of Jasper and Monica’s doting. She wouldn’t even listen to them when she made a fuss. But now, Maya had suddenly become sensible, and Mrs. Zhang felt genuinely gratified.

Mrs. Zhang nodded repeatedly: "I’ll go right away."

Jasper’s heart calmed down, and he smiled: "Kiki’s finally here, Monica, don’t you have a lot you want to talk to her about?"

"Yes, yes..."

Not long after, Mrs. Zhang brought over flower tea.

Maya’s left hand was tightly held by Monica, and she used her right hand to take the teacup.

Monica twitched her eyelids, hastily taking over: "Is it hot? You should use a tray."

"It’s alright, it’s warm."

Monica carefully inspected Maya’s fingers, and only when she assured there were no red marks did she completely relax.

"Kiki, have you eaten yet?" Jasper asked.

It was already three in the afternoon.

Maya replied, "Dad, I already ate on the set."

Jasper nodded: "Kiki is still upstairs, right?" He looked towards Mrs. Zhang: "Bring Kiki down, she and Maya should have a good heart-to-heart talk."

Mrs. Zhang responded loudly.

"Maya, I’ve been idle lately and watched a lot of dramas. Look, are these the ones you acted in?"

Maya looked at the phone screen at Monica’s voice. The films listed all had her participation. The most recent broadcast was "Great Survival Challenge," which had reached its latest, seventh episode.

Maya nodded: "If you’re bored, you can watch these to pass the time."

Monica praised enthusiastically: "Maya did really well in the drama, I always knew you had talent."

Soon Mrs. Zhang came downstairs, but behind her, there was no sign of Kiki Monroe.

Monica couldn’t help but ask: "Where’s Kiki?"

Mrs. Zhang replied: "Miss Kiki said she’s studying the script, and time is tight, so she won’t be coming down."

Monica murmured: "This child..."

Jasper adjusted his glasses: "The kids have grown up, focusing on their careers is normal. If she’s busy, let her be."

Monica paused, instructing Mrs. Zhang: "Kiki hasn’t eaten lunch; it’s not good for her stomach to keep this up. Mrs. Zhang, prepare some food for her to take upstairs."

"Alright."

Maya reclined slightly on the sofa, her gaze indifferent.

Maya spent the afternoon at the Monroe Family, talking over many things with Monica.

"Being an actress is tiring. Mom doesn’t insist you must become some household name superstar. I just hope you rest when you need to and don’t exhaust yourself."

"I won’t."

When it comes to sleeping, she’s more proactive than anyone.

As evening approached, Monica wanted Maya to stay for dinner.

Maya declined because she had a night scene to shoot.

Monica instantly felt heartbroken: "Shooting at night? That’s too much hardship..."

Maya reassured her: "It’s not that exhausting, and there is plenty of time to rest."

Monica still sighed with heartache and asked Mrs. Zhang to prepare a food box for Maya to take to the set.

"Mom, it’s not necessary..."

Monica shook her head: "Didn’t you always love the food at home? The food at the set doesn’t seem as healthy as home-cooked meals. Maya, I’ve prepared lots of your favorite foods."

Mentioning Maya’s favorite foods, Monica couldn’t help but sigh at her changing tastes. The steaks and foie gras she once loved were now untouched, replaced by a fondness for braised pork and spicy crayfish.

Thinking of the possible amount of meat in the food box, Maya eventually couldn’t resist the temptation: "Then it would be hard on Mrs. Zhang."

Mrs. Zhang carried the food box, offering to help Maya put it in the car.

Maya took over and lifted it herself:

It’s quite heavy.

There should be a lot of meat; the vegetables shouldn’t be this heavy?

*

When dinner time arrived, Kiki Monroe finally came downstairs.

Monica looked at her: "Kiki, are you finally done with your work?"

Kiki pulled out a chair and sat in her place, nodding slightly: "Almost, mainly because I’m not very confident in that one scene. In our line of work, constant analysis and exploration are necessary."

Monica responded and then recalled that Maya seemed naturally talented at acting. She had never seen her anxious, always handling things with ease.

"Kiki, you can consult your sister. She should be a great help to you."

Without ulterior motives, words spoken hit a nerve.

Kiki put down the knife and fork, looking directly at Monica: "What should I learn from her?"

"When encountering things you don’t understand, you two sisters should discuss it together for better solutions."

Kiki lowered her head, responding sullenly after a while.

Indeed, everyone thinks I’m inferior to Maya...

With things on her mind, Kiki ate little. She blinked, casually asking, "By the way, who was the guest at our house today? Why haven’t I seen him before? Is he an old friend of Mom and Dad?"

Judging only by appearances, Tristan looked undeniably young.

Monica squeezed the fork in her hand, and it scraped the plate with a harsh sound.

She said displeased, "That person is no good, and his purpose for coming here is absolutely not simple. Kiki, remember to avoid him if you see him!"