Amanda's gentle and understanding nature gradually made Tailsa accept her presence. The two women became close, almost like sisters.
However, even between sisters, jealousy was unavoidable when it came to James.
"Amanda, look! This is the video of my brother proposing to me!"
Tailsa proudly handed her phone to Amanda, her face brimming with smugness.
Amanda, who was tidying up the living room, stopped what she was doing and curiously took the phone.
On the screen, James was kneeling on one knee, delivering a heartfelt speech:
"I like you, at all times. But I also like certain others..."
The words felt eerily familiar to Amanda, as though she'd heard them just the day before.
She glanced toward the study, where James was playing video games, then smiled faintly and said,
"How romantic. I'm so envious."
"I cried from how touched I was. I never thought my brother would say something like that!"
"He must really like you," Amanda said, her tone calm but teasing.
The two women weren't far from the study, and they weren't exactly trying to keep their voices down. Even a normal person could have overheard their conversation.
James, inside the study, started sweating bullets.
He deeply regretted reusing the same romantic lines for both women, thinking it would save him trouble. Now, being exposed like this, he felt so awkward he could hardly sit still.
"Yeah, that rascal really knows how to make girls happy," Tailsa continued, clearly enjoying herself.
She held out her hand, showcasing the diamond ring on her finger, and admired it under the light with a radiant smile.
"I told him not to buy a diamond ring, but he wouldn't listen! Can you believe this little rock cost over a million?"
"Wow, you're so lucky, Tailsa," Amanda replied, her tone carrying a trace of melancholy.
"I'm so envious. In all my years, no man has ever given me a ring."
"What? No way! Amanda, you're so gorgeousâhow could no one have ever given you a ring?"
Making sure James could hear, Tailsa added in a deliberately loud voice,
"Didn't your husband give you one when you got married?"
Amanda wasn't bothered by Tailsa's intentional mention of her past in front of James.
She had a calm demeanor and no desire to compete with Tailsa for status.
As long as James loved her as well, she didn't care whom he ended up marrying.
"No, I wasn't as lucky as you," Amanda replied with a gentle smile.
"Back then, I ran away from home and eloped with a man."
"What? Tell me more!" Tailsa's eyes sparkled with gossip-fueled curiosity.
"There's not much to say," Amanda said simply.
"My parents didn't approve, but I was stubborn and chose him anyway. We didn't get married. He said he'd marry me when he returned with success, but... I never got to see that day."
Amanda's straightforward words made Tailsa feel a pang of sadness.
She hadn't expected Amanda's husband to have died before they could even marry.
It was a little heartbreaking to think of a woman never having the chance to wear a wedding dress in her lifetime.
Tailsa's playful jealousy instantly vanished. She held Amanda's arm and comforted her,
"It's all in the past, Sis. Don't worry about it. Why don't you ask my brother to buy you a ring too?"
Amanda smiled softly and said teasingly,
"Aren't you worried I'll steal your man?"
"Steal what? I have my house, my carâif he runs off, I'll just find another one," Tailsa said with mock disdain.
"I'm living in his house, spending his money, and keeping a little boy toy on the side. As long as he's okay with it, I'd be thrilled!"
"Ah-hem!" James coughed twice from the study and shot her a glare.
Tailsa, catching James's warning look, felt a little guilty but maintained a bold front.
"What are you looking at? If you dare dump me, I'll find someone else to show you!"
Knowing he was in the wrong, James decided not to argue with her. He averted his eyes and went back to his game.
But as he played, he casually said,
"Don't worry. I'm not leaving either of you in this lifetime."
Tailsa snorted, tilting her chin up in mock arrogance.
"That's the most shameless promise I've ever heard."
She glanced at Amanda with twinkling eyes, suddenly curious.
James had given her cars and a house. What had he given Amanda?
"Sis, what did my brother give you to win you over?"
Amanda noticed the curiosity in Tailsa's gaze and chuckled.
"Nothing much. Just a rundown bar he bought and had me manage."
"A bar? The one we went to the other day?"
"Yeah."
"How much did it cost?"
"Several million, I think."
"And he just gave it to you?"
"Yep."
Tailsa fell silent.
Compared to a multi-million-dollar business, her expensive diamond ring suddenly didn't seem so special anymore.
She had thought James had given her the most. Turns out, she was the clown all along.
She sat on the sofa, sulking.
This woman was not only beautiful but also more accomplished and gracious than her.
To make matters worse, her personality was so likable that it was impossible to hate her.
If she were a man, she'd definitely fall for someone like Amanda too.
Tailsa didn't know who to blame, so she angrily grabbed a broom.
"Amanda, stop cleaning. This is my houseâI'll do it."
"It's fine. I can't just sit around doing nothing," Amanda replied casually.
"No, you can't clean."
James, hearing the two women fighting over the broom in the living room, started feeling inexplicably nervous.
He abandoned his 14-1-5 score in the game, got up, and awkwardly walked out of the study to change the subject.
"Tailsa, Sis, stop cleaning. I already asked Ms. Morgan to hire a housekeeper."
Amanda, seeing James get up, immediately put down the broom and ran to support him.
"Don't move around! Resting injuries take time, and you'll only make it worse," Amanda scolded gently.
"It's fine. I'm feeling much better," James said, enjoying Amanda's tender care. He smiled and reassured her.
"I'll help you back to bed. Just tell me what you need," Amanda said as she helped James back to his room.
Tailsa gritted her teeth, gripping the broom so hard her knuckles turned white.
She realized that her ability to maintain a sweet facade had regressed ever since meeting this man.
In the past, she could have faked it just as well!
At around four in the afternoon, Amanda left to pick up Timmy.
She recommended a nanny who had previously helped her raise her childâMrs. Wu.
Mrs. Wu was known for her excellent cooking and caregiving skills, and Amanda vouched for her character.
She had recently taken a break to focus on her daughter's final year of high school, but now that her daughter had graduated, she was ready to return to work.
James agreed to meet her.
Mrs. Wu was a woman in her forties with a kind, dependable demeanor and a warm smile. She looked neat and cheerful.
Her cooking and cleaning skills were exceptional. She didn't care whether James hired her or notâshe immediately started deep cleaning the villa, tackling three floors in one day.
James admired housekeepers with such a strong work ethic and hired her on the spot, offering her a generous salary of $3,000 a month to care for him and Tailsa full-time.
Mrs. Wu was stunned.
A $3,000 monthly salary was at the top of her field.
She promised to work hard and live up to James's expectations.
For her time off, she only requested two days of leave when her daughter came home on school breaks; otherwise, she didn't need any rest days.
James appreciated her dedication and promised to double her salary next year if she performed well.
Mrs. Wu's eyes lit up.
An annual salary of $70,000? She never even dreamed of such a thing.
Two years of work, and she'd have enough to buy a house outright.
She immediately declared, "I don't need days off. If I die, I'll die in your service!"
James arranged a room for her on the first floor and gave her a credit card for groceries and household expenses.