Meredith was stopped by Ruby, who looked unexpectedly pale. “Ruby, what are you doing here? You don’t look well, are you sick?” Meredith asked with concern.
Ruby appeared slightly panicked and replied, “No, no, I’m fine. I just had a stomachache and was having a rest there for a bit.”
Meredith sensed that Ruby was troubled about something, and was about to inquire further when Ruby quickly headed towards the elevator.
Odd.
Meredith nced at the pathway from which Ruby had emerged, detecting a faint smell of gasoline lingering in the air. She didn’t dwell on it, instead, she gathered her things and left thepany. Losing her job meant she would have to start the job hunt anew.
As Meredith exited the building, a car honked at her. She looked up to see a ck sedan parked by the curb. The window rolled down, revealing the person inside – Ste.
During her time at Sterling Corporation, Meredith had never met Terrence Sterling’s parents and had no idea what they looked like. But it was clear the woman in the car was here for her.
Meredith approached and politely asked, “Hello, may I help you?”
“I am Terrence’s mother,” Ste stated from inside the car, her tone lofty and distant, her appearance marked by sunsses and bright red lipstick. “Get in, we need to talk.”
Meredith instantly understood her purpose; the dreaded encounter she had feared was unfolding. She and Terrence had kept their rtionship low-key, yet his mother had still found her. Hesitantly, Meredith got into the car.
Half an hourter, they sat in a cafe. Ste, exuding an aura of affluence, faced Meredith with a stern expression that immediately pressured her.
A waiter approached, “Good morning, what can I get for you?”
Too nervous to order for herself, Meredith nced at Ste, who casually ordered a coffee without asking if Meredith wanted anything.
“What would you like, miss?” the waiter turned to Meredith.
“Atte, please, thank you,” Meredith responded.
“Very well, please give us a moment,” the waiter said, departing.
Ste scrutinized Meredith before asking, “How long have you been with my son?”
The atmosphere was palpable, reminiscent of a drama where wealthy mothers disdain their son’s girlfriends. Meredith knew what wasing next. It was a scene straight out of a TV show – an attempt to break them apart by offering money.
“Nearly a month,” Meredith replied honestly. Their rtionship hadsted just under a month.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.
Ste scoffed, “Miss Florrick, you are quite the schemer to have captured my son. You are no ordinary girl; girls your age, pretty and young, often dream of marrying into wealth. This isn’t unusual, but let me be clear, I will not allow someone like you into our family. My son is merely ying with you, and I hope you understand that.”
Despite being prepared, Meredith felt humiliated by Ste’s harsh words. Being with Terrence Sterling meant people would think this way.
Their difference in status was too great; if she imed it wasn’t for money, who would believe her?
Meredith clenched her fist, took a deep breath, and met Ste’s gaze. “Mrs. Sterling, I am aware that I do not match your son’s status, and rest assured, I harbor no illusions beyond what is appropriate.”
From the beginning, she had resolved not to expect forever, only to cherish the moments they had.
Ste’s coldugh cut through, “You do speak nicely, but then you cling to my son, never to leave. I’ve seen too many women like you, and this isn’t the first time I’ve had to pay off someone like you for my son. Name your price to leave him, and consider it payment for a toy he enjoyed.”
The insult was deeper, fueling Meredith’s anger, especially the implication that Terrence had been involved with other women before.
In any other scenario, Meredith might have jokingly asked for billions, mimicking heroines from novels who walk away with a fortune. But reality was different; any demand for money would be twisted into a charge of extortion.