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Chapter 1604: A War Without Victors (Fifty-Four)
Chapter 1604: A War Without Victors (Fifty-Four)
France, Wizarding Alley.
On a bustling street, pedestrians strolling by a sidewalk cafe unconsciously slowed their steps, their gazes drifting towards a group of lovely ladies chatting and indulging in sweet treats under the shade of a sun umbrella.
"You two are certainly popular." Louise, uncomfortable with the attention they were drawing, forced a smile as she addressed the two "honey-gatherers": "What brings you to France all of a sudden?"
"We're about to open a branch of Witch Beauty in the UK," Valerie replied.
"We've been invited to the UK," added Catherine.
"Let's go to my place. It's not appropriate to discuss this here," Louise suggested, unable to ignore the surrounding stares any longer.
"I quite like the chocolate ice cream here," Valerie said, setting down her half-eaten ice cream and reaching for Catherine's outstretched hand. Amidst the onlookers' gazes, they vanished from the spot.
After the departure of the three beauties, the crowd outside the cafe dispersed. There was little point in lingering once the main attraction had left.
Some considered claiming the trio's half-finished ice creams, but social propriety won out, and they refrained.
After all, such behavior would be shameful.
Once Louise had escorted Catherine and Valerie back to her place, she could finally let down her guard. Flopping onto a soft sofa, she inquired, "Don't tell me you just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought you'd drop by?"
"We're planning to invite you to come with us to the UK," Catherine revealed, not bothering to hide their intentions.
"This is a great opportunity," Valerie chimed in, waving her wand to conjure a dozen bottles of champagne. With a mischievous grin, she continued, "I hope you don't mind if we stay here for the night?"
"I doubt Isabelle will welcome you with open arms," Louise remarked.
"Have you given up?" Catherine gazed out the window at the garden, her voice soft. "You've made quite a fortune."
"It's an exclusive business. Of course, it's lucrative," Louise acknowledged, picking up a bottle of champagne and studying the clear French text on the label. Her expression turned peculiar.
"French champagne is delightful," Valerie agreed, using her wand to pop the cork. She took a large gulp, abandoning the elegance she had displayed at the cafe.
"Valerie lets loose when no outsiders are around," Catherine remarked, gently patting a stunned Louise's shoulder as if this were a common occurrence.
Louise's mouth twitched, and she regretted inviting them over. "You don't stand a chance."
"It's been a while since you've been in touch with Albert, hasn't it?" Catherine asked abruptly.
Louise's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
"I'd wager Louise still has feelings for him; otherwise, she wouldn't still be single," Valerie deduced, having scrutinized the house upon entering and finding no traces of any male presence.
"I just haven't found a suitable... partner yet," Louise admitted. Since her success with Witch Beauty in France, she had no shortage of suitors, especially young men seeking both love and financial gain.
However, after meeting Albert, her standards had risen considerably, and with her newfound wealth, she had little interest in those admirers.
"That's because Albert has set the bar impossibly high," Catherine commiserated. "Even if you wanted to settle for someone slightly inferior, you wouldn't find anyone suitable."
Louise didn't deny it, tacitly confirming Catherine's words.
"There's no shame in that," Catherine reassured her. "You should believe in your own charm, and I recall this place being more open-minded."
"No woman would allow another to encroach on her husband," Louise stated, skeptical of Catherine and Valerie's chances.
She had met and come to know Isabelle, and while the other woman might not possess Louise's beauty, she was undoubtedly a sophisticated and intelligent beauty.
"How about a bet?" Catherine proposed, lifting Louise's delicate face and kissing her lips, leaving Louise stunned. "If we lose, we'll be at your mercy tonight."
"You...?" Louise, still dazed, wiped her mouth and stared at the two stunning women before her, unable to conceal her astonishment.
"Is it so strange? Everyone has their needs, and if a suitable man can't be found, a woman can always seek comfort in another's arms," Catherine stated matter-of-factly.
"You're missing the point," Valerie interjected. "The fact that Catherine is willing to bet means we have certain... clues."
Intrigued, Louise asked, "Care to share?" If there was a chance, she didn't want to give up on Albert.
Louise didn't really care about affairs of the heart. Ever since Witch Beauty had brought her immense wealth, her priorities had shifted.
Men changed when they had money, and women were no different. If they didn't change for the worse, it was because they wanted more.
"Katrina still lives with Albert and Isabelle," Catherine hinted.
"You mean...?"
Louise's eyes widened as she realized something.
"The situation is more or less as you suspect," Valerie said excitedly. "Our opportunity has arrived."
If Albert only loved Isabelle, they would have no chance at all. The bond between the two was unbreakable. But with Katrina as a precedent, a window of opportunity had opened.
Valerie believed that Isabelle, having allowed her sister into Albert's bed, must have prepared herself mentally for other possibilities.
After all, if it happened once, it could happen again. And again.
Moreover, they had never intended to possess Isabelle's husband exclusively. Given their long-distance arrangement, they rarely saw each other, and even if they all bore Albert's children, there would be no concern over property disputes.
It was more of a mutual benefit arrangement.
Ultimately, the source of their current wealth was the formulas provided by Albert.
While it may sound self-deprecating, the reality was cruel. Catherine, a genius in her own right, had tried creating beauty potions multiple times, but none were as popular as the formulas Albert casually handed over.
This realization had made her aware of the need for a stronger bond to secure her interests. Only by ensuring mutual benefits for all parties could she obtain what she truly desired.
In this regard, Catherine had absolute faith in Albert.
Some people were meant to transcend the boundaries of conventional understanding.
Furthermore, she didn't feel she was at a disadvantage in this arrangement. No, everyone involved stood to gain, and they were all winners.
This was the primary reason for their long journey to France—to include Louise and thereby increase their leverage.
(End of Chapter)
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