<b>Chapter </b><b>13</b>


    Earlier, outside the club, ra had gotten drenched. Now, feeling the chill, she instinctively wrapped her thin T–shirt tighter around herself.


    Cade <b>was </b>just about to offer his coat when ra cut him off.


    “Forget it. Just tell him I’ll visit his grave when he kicks the bucket,” said ra.


    “But Mr. Neal’s health is on the ropes. If you don’te back, what’s gonna happen to thepany and all that cash, hundreds of billions of dors?” Cade looked troubled. Tasked with driving fifteen hours from Lokerten to Zwingenrath, he worried about how he would report back to his master, Frank Neal, after receiving such a dismissive response from ra.


    ra replied coldly, “His dough? Got nothing to do with me. Show your face around me again, and I won’t even bother for his funeral.”


    Then, she just walked right past Cade, her slight figure vanishing into the storm.


    The rain was so heavy it almost blinded her as she sprinted back to her apartment, soaked to the bone.


    Jaylee Brooks, Marlie’s nanny, handed ra arge towel with concern. “Oh dear, soaked without an umbre? Go get a warm shower.”


    “Alright.” Wrapping the towel around herself, <b>ra </b>called out to the living room, “Marlie, mommy is home!”


    Sadly, Marlie sat on the living room carpet, lost in her toys, oblivious to her surroundings.


    “Well, Marlie has been in her own world all day.” Jaylee sighed.


    At that moment, ra felt a crushing wave of helplessness and defeat.


    She stumbled into the living room, copsing next to Marlie. Holding her close<b>, </b>ra was searching for any shred offort after enduring a humiliating night. Just one look from Marlie would have meant the world.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    But Marlie remained unreachable, immersed in her solitude.


    Tears streamed down ra’s face, a stark reminder of her vulnerability. Having left Lokerten at 18, ra had learned to suppress her tears, maintaining herposure even through her divorce. Now, with her tears mingling with rainwater, she couldn’t discern one from the other.


    Clutching Marlie, ra trembled<b>, </b>a sight so heart–wrenching that Jaylee <b>had </b>to look away and leave.


    “I’m off then since you‘ ‘re back. Marlie is fed and bathed, all set for bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” Jaylee whispered before exiting.


    Before she left<b>, </b>Jaylee sighed again, torn by unasked questions about the absent father. ‘How could he not care? Heartless. Juggling work and an autistic daughter would break anyone<b>,</b>‘ she thought.


    After Jaylee i


    e had left, ra got up.


    up after a while.


    She stepped into the shower, the warm water washing over her cold body. She scrubbed furiously, attempting to erase the day’s disgrace. She was appalled by Walter’s treatment and her degradation, climaxing in shame and clinging to him in desperation.


    ‘Am I really so low?” She scoffed inwardly at her reflection.


    Mid–shower, the doorbell echoed.


    Wondering if Jaylee had forgotten something, ra quickly wrapped a towel around her wet hair, approaching the door.


    曲