When Timothy saw Vince calling again, his eyes darkened; he tossed his phone aside in annoyance.


    After a while, he reached for the phone and finally answered.


    "Timothy, I got in touch with Jessica," Vince began.


    Timothy''s voice was cold and low. "Is she going to the party?"


    "She refused."


    "So you want me to help convince her?"


    "No, no, it''s not that," Vince hastily rified. "She texted me, said you two are getting divorced."


    Timothy''s knuckles whitened as he gripped the phone tighter.


    "She''s that close to you?" he asked.


    "Not at all. We only met once," Vince replied, his tone serious.


    Not close, yet she feltfortable enough to spill news about their divorce. Clearly, she wanted to make things awkward for him on purpose.


    "So," Timothy said, his voice steady but icy, "why are you actually calling me?"


    "It''s like this," Vince took a second, weighing his words. "My granddad really wants to meet her. But she said since you two are getting divorced, she doesn''t want to show up at the party with you. So... how about you just don''te the day after tomorrow? Pretend I never invited you, act like you never heard about Grandpa''s birthday. That way, I can try to talk her intoing."


    Vince did his best to sound diplomatic, even a little apologetic. After all, what he was suggesting was awkward, and he knew it.


    Timothy''s eyes were cial. "Vince, you''ve got some nerve."


    "Come on, Timothy, just this once. You know how picky my granddad is. It''s not easy to find an artist who does the kind of paper cutting he loves. I''m just asking you to give in a little, okay?"


    "So you call me in whenever you want, and toss me aside just as easily. And you want me to be okay with that?"


    Only Vince would dare talk to him this way.


    Honestly, Timothy had been far too tolerant of him, letting Vince get away with whatever he pleased. That was something Jessica had inmon with himtely.


    "Special circumstances call for special solutions," Vince pressed on. "She''s your wife, not someone else''s. A real man knows how to be patient and considerate. That''s how you keep your wife happy-otherwise, she''ll just leave you."


    Timothy felt like he could barely breathe.


    "I''m starting to think you''re just trying to piss me off. Is it because I didn''t snap at you two years ago? You think I''m a pushover now?"


    "Timothy, don''t be like that. I''m only looking out for you. What, you want you and Jessica to show up, both scowling at each other across the table? How about this —after the party, I''ll tell her you made such a big sacrifice by noting. Maybe she''ll be touched and change her mind about the divorce."


    Timothy gave a short, coldugh. "Vince, for a guy with your reputation, don''t you think you sound a little childish right now?"


    "That''s just because we''ve known each other since we were kids. I don''t have to put on a mask around you. Isn''t it rare, being this honest? Out there in business, everyone''s wearing a mask-you never know if the guy across the table is a friend or a snake."


    Vince was relentless, his words hitting Timothy right where it hurt.


    "Fine, call it honesty if you want," Timothy said after a pause, "but you''ve seeded-I''m mad now."


    "What? Really? I couldn''t even tell. Okay, how about this-I apologize. My bad, I should''ve checked with your wife first. Just give me a straight answer: you''re noting the day after tomorrow, right?"


    The call abruptly ended.


    Vince looked at his phone, raising an eyebrow in amusement.


    That stubborn Timothy he might act tough, but Vince knew him better than anyone.