《Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 An explosive piece of information hit the headlines in Enswood today. The wealthy and influential Mister and Missus Waldorf had arranged a marriage for their sons during their earlier days, and the woman concerned grew up in the countryside. The Waldorfs had five sons who were extremely outstanding and handsome, and they were going to pick one of their sons to be the fiance of the country girl. Everyone was bbergasted. The media found the girl¡¯s photo¡ªa tanned, plump country bumpkin. Netizensined that she did not deserve any of the Waldorf brothers. Three luxury cars stopped at the door of a simple self-built house in a shabby vige hundreds of kilometers away from Enswood. Five graceful and charming men got out of the cars. It was a magnificent sight to behold. Mobius Waldorf, the youngest Waldorf brother,ined the moment he stepped out of the car, ¡°Ugh, what a shabby ce! It¡¯s so hot and dirty.¡± Hugo Waldorf, the fourth Waldorf brother, chimed in in dissatisfaction, ¡°Exactly. I just can¡¯t even. Dad asked a bumpkin to pick one of us to be her fiance and even forced us toe here to take her to Enswood¡­¡± The Waldorf brothers were dissatisfied. Dustan Waldorf, their father, had high blood pressure and had threatened not to take his medicine if they turned him down. Otherwise, they never would havee here. ¡°Enough. Go knock on the door,¡± said Richard Waldorf, the eldest Waldorf brother, a tinge of annoyance on his face. Mobius went up to the door. A few minutester, the door slowly opened. He was stunned by the woman before him. She had delicate facial features and fair skin. Her wavy hair sat casually down her shoulders and the white T- shirt she had on made her look noble. ¡°Hi, umm, we¡¯re looking for Pearl Leighton. Is she around?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Pearl Leighton.¡± The woman nced at the five men with her twinkling eyes and added, ¡°Hang on. I¡¯ll go get my luggage.¡± She turned around and went back into the house. The brothers were shocked. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Damn. She¡¯s different from the photo Dad showed us.¡± Dustan had shown his sons a photo of Pearl when she was in her teens. Unexpectedly, she had changed so much over the years. ¡°Do you like her? Why don¡¯t we ask her to pick you as her fiance then?¡± Sean Waldorf, the second Waldorf brother, teased. Mobius turned around. ¡°No, thanks. What¡¯s the use of being pretty? She¡¯s just an uneducated bumpkin.¡± ¡°Is that so? Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t fall for a kid like you, either,¡± a cold female voice sounded from behind Mobius. Pearl ignored the red-faced Mobius, carried her luggage to the car, and got in a car. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Pearl got into the first car, and it was Richard who was the driver. There was no one else in the car besides them. Pearl silently stared out the window throughout the journey, various emotions flitting through her heart. Her mother had passed away when she was young, and she had lived in this vige with Max Leighton, her father, for many years. Two months ago, Max died out of illness, and his wish was to see Pearl marry into a good family that she could rely on. She was aware of the deal Max had made with Dustan regarding her marriage, but she had always resisted it. As this was her father¡¯s dying wish, she had no choice but to go to the Waldorf family. They soon arrived at Enswood, and the car stopped at the door of an Arosstic-style vi. Pearl stepped out and walked into the vi with the brothers. In the living room, she saw a sophisticated-looking woman sitting on the sofa. Mobius started looked toward her sons and smilingly asked a house helper to prepare some tea for them. Her gaze thennded on Pearl, who was walking at the back of the group. After looking Pearl up and down, she found that thetter was not as ugly and plump as in her photos. On the contrary, she was very pretty. Susan sneered and ridiculed, ¡°You¡¯re Pearl, correct? Looks like you even went for stic surgery to marry one of my sons. You sure went through a lot of pain.¡± Dustan had decided on that marriage back then, but the other Waldorfs were dissatisfied with Pearl. However, they could not dissuade him from his decision. ¡°Madam, I never got stic surgery.¡± Susan snorted in reply. She then saw the housekeeper carrying Pearl¡¯s luggage into the vi and said, ¡°Alex, open that luggage and check it.¡± Iciness rose in Pearl¡¯s eyes. ¡°Madam, that luggage is mine.¡± ¡°Yes, I know it¡¯s yours. That¡¯s why we have to check it. You came from the countryside. It¡¯d be bad if you came with something dirty or dangerous.¡± Susan gave Alex Smith amanding look. The Waldorf brothers sat on the sofa leisurely, showing no intention of helping Pearl. After all, they currently hated her. When Alex was about to do as instructed, Pearl snatched her luggage. She said coldly, ¡°This is mine. No one is allowed to open it.¡± Susan stood up angrily. ¡°Hmph! So you dide with something shameless. I have to find out what it is.¡± She then called for the vi¡¯s guards. Four or five guards came over. The Waldorf brothers put their phones down to watch. They expected Pearl to panic and bow down, but she did not. On the contrary, she remained calm. When the b*dyguards were about to snatch her luggage, a deep voice came from the door. ¡°Stop.¡± Dustan, who had just returned home, hurriedly walked toward Pearl and asked concernedly, ¡°Are you okay, Pea? I¡¯m sorry. I had a meeting at the office earlier so I got home a littlete.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mister Dustan.¡± Pearl shook her head. Dustan turned to look at Susan. ¡°What are you doing? Pea just got here, and this is the way you treat her?¡± ¡°Heh! I didn¡¯t do anything. I just wanted to see if she brought anything dirty.¡± Susan shot Pearl a disgusted re. She then ceased arguing and went upstairs. Dustan heaved a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pea. Susan probably has the wrong impression of you. I¡¯ll exin things to her.¡± Pearl shook her head to indicate that it was fine. After all, many people had harbored prejudices against her over the years. Dustan ordered the guards and house helpers, ¡°Pearl will be staying with us from now on. Make sure to show her the due respect.¡± He turned to look at his five sons sitting on the sofa. ¡°You lot too. Don¡¯t bully Pea, and don¡¯t let others bully her.¡± The brothers were silent, wondering why Dustan liked Pearl so much. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 After exchanging pleasantries, Dustan showed Pearl to her room. It was spacious and bright,plete with exquisite and gorgeous decorations. It was also well-equipped with various amenities. ¡°Are you satisfied with the decor, Pea? If not, I¡¯ll have it redecorated to your liking.¡± ¡°I like it very much, Mister Dustan. Thank you.¡± Complicated feelings rose inside Pearl as she looked at Dustan. She had met him several times when she was young, and he was always so kind to her. As she thought back to those times, she recalled herte father and her expression turned gloomy. ¡°You must be tired from the journey. Rest well. I¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± Pearl nodded and went into her room to arrange her belongings. After dinner, Dustan and Pearl sat on the sofa to chat. He then gave her a bank card. ¡°Take this, Pea. I¡¯ll get my sons to take you around Enswood tomorrow. Use this to buy whatever you want.¡± ¡°Mister Dustan, I appreciate it, but I don¡¯t need it.¡± Pearl noticed Susan¡¯s annoyed look. Thetter ridiculed, ¡°Tsk, stop pretending to be self-contained. It¡¯s clear that you came here for money.¡± ¡°Susan Plumbe!¡± Dustan snapped. ¡°Isn¡¯t it true? And why did you shout at me?¡± Pearl¡¯s l*ps twitched. She had no idea what she had done to offend Susan. As she refused the card repeatedly, Dustan finally gave up. At that time, Pearl¡¯s phone rang. [Miss Pearl, thepany made a profit of 53 million dors this season. The money has been banked into your ount.] Pearl smirked. She always had too much to spend. When she woke up the next morning, she learned from the housekeeper that Dustan went to work. The Waldorf brothers were having breakfast at the dining table. Last night, Dustan had instructed them to bring Pearl around Enswood. When Pearl took her seat, Richard said dully, ¡°I have a meeting at the office today. Ask my brother to show you around.¡± He put his cutlery down and left. The other four men said one after another, ¡°Sorry, Pearl. I have a shoot today and can¡¯t apany you.¡± ¡°I have two surgeries at the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going on a business trip.¡± ¡°I have sses to attend.¡± Pearl was rendered speechless. As the brothers all left, she silently rolled her eyes and ate her breakfast leisurely. She then stayed in her room till the afternoon. In the evening, her phone rang. An agitated voice asked from the other end, ¡°Are you in Enswood, Miss Pearl?¡± ¡°What about it?¡± Pearl asked back coldly. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me that you were here. How cruel of you! Come out and have dinner with me now.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay a visit to the Waldorf residence if you don¡¯te.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Half an hourter, Pearl told the housekeeper she was going out and headed out alone. After dinner with Wayne Sharp, he dragged her to a high-end bar. ¡°Miss Pearl, did any of the Waldorfs bully you?¡± ¡°Who could possibly do that?¡± Pearl sneered. Wayne smiled awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Recalling what Pearl had done before, he knew that no one could bully her. It would be good enough if she did not bully anyone. Pearl was a charming but cruel demon. ¡°Are you going to get engaged with one of the Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Waldorf brothers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Pearl said indifferently after taking a sip of her wine. If it was not for her father, she would never havee to live with the Waldorfs. However, she could just y it by ear now. Pearl and Wayne, seated on the first floor of the bar, were unaware of someone staring at them from a booth on the second floor. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The man staring at them was Richard. His friend had called him out for drinks after work. Not long after he took his seat, he saw Pearl walk in with a man. Richard¡¯s gaze was dark, and his friend noticed that. Following his eyes, the friend spotted a woman in a ck floral dress with wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face was cold, and the dim lights made her look gorgeous and mysterious. Justin Newton teased Richard by saying, ¡°Oh wow, Big Mister Richard has finally taken a fancy to someone. Have you fallen for that girl? She is quite pretty. Want me to get her number for you? Wait a second¡­ Is she sitting with Wayne Sharp?¡± Richard frowned and asked, ¡°Wayne Sharp?¡± Justin nodded. ¡°Yeah, Wayne is the vice president of the mysterious Cerubleu Corporation.¡± Cerubleu had always been a mysteriouspany. It was arge and powerful publicly listedpany, but very few knew the identity of its chairman. For many years, Wayne had been the face of thepany. ¡°But Rick, you¡¯re way better than Wayne. I bet you can win that girl¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°You talk too much,¡± Richardmented icily. He then looked back at Pearl with an inquisitive gaze. She had juste to Enswood, so how was she acquainted with Wayne? ¡°But it¡¯s true, Rick. That girl is very pretty, but Wayne is a known yboy. What a pity¡­¡± Richard did not respond. He picked up his wine and sipped it as he watched Wayne leave the bar counter. Soon, many people turned to look at Pearl. One lewd-looking man walked up to her with a ss in hand. ¡°Hey there, pretty. Wanna be friends and grab a drink together?¡± ¡°I have friends.¡± The man¡¯s face stiffened, and he smilingly said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s be friends. I¡¯ll pay for your drinks. How about it?¡± ¡°No.¡± The wine had gone to the man¡¯s head. When he saw Pearl¡¯s indifferent expression, he said, ¡°Stop being cheeky. Didn¡¯t you wear such revealing clothes to the bar to try and hook up with a rich guy? I¡¯m rich, so tell me, how much do you want?¡± As Richard observed the scene from upstairs, Justin said anxiously, ¡°F*ck! Rick, hurry up and go save the damsel in distress!¡± Richard frowned and decided to help Pearl. This was not because he was interested in her but because of his father¡¯s orders. When the two men stood up, they saw a dramatic scene unfold. The man reached out to touch Pearl, and she smashed a wine bottle on his head. Although it was too far away for Richard to hear what she said, he could vaguely read her l*ps. She said arrogantly, ¡°I have no need for money, but can I take your life instead?¡± At this moment, Wayne came back from the washroom. The man recognized Wanye, so he immediately apologized and left, lest Pearl would really kill him. Pearl was now in a sour mood and did not want to stay any longer. After saying goodbye to Wayne, she left the bar. She booked a cab through her phone and waited by the side of the road. Lighting a cigarette, she looked up at the sky. ¡®Dad, are you all right up there?¡¯ A ck car then stopped before her. Thinking it was the cab she had ordered, Pearl put out her cigarette on a dustbin. When she opened the car door, she spotted a man in a ck suit in the back seat. She had not asked for a carpool service. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I think I got the wrong car. Wait¡­ Why are you here?¡± Pearl finally realized that the man in the cab was Richard. He said, ¡°Get in.¡± After a brief pause, she got in and sat beside him. Somehow, she felt inexplicably guilty about bumping into him here. But on second thought, she realized she was being silly. ¡°What a coincidence! I came here with a friend. You too?¡± Richard nodded nonchntly. She then turned to look out the window. ¡®Was Richard in the bar too? Did he see me there or bump into me on N?velDrama.Org (C) content. the street?¡¯ Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The two remained silent throughout the journey and did not ask each other anything. When they got home and stepped into the house, they heard Susan¡¯s sarcasticment. ¡°It¡¯s only your second day here and you¡¯re alreadying home sote. Nob*dy even knows who you went out with. How could any of my sons marry a woman like you?¡± Dustan frowned. He trusted Pearl, but he had been worried about her safety. As he was about to call her, he saw here in with Richard. ¡°Oh, so you two went out together.¡± Richard kept silent and did not deny it. Dustan smiled. ¡°Pea, in regards to the marriage, Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. my n is to let you spend some time with my five sons in turn. Figure out which of them is to your liking before we decide on matters. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Okay, Mister Dustan.¡± Pearl nodded. Although Susan was dissatisfied, she knew that no one could change her husband¡¯s mind. The only thing she could do was nce at Pearl in annoyance. Early the next morning, Pearl was woken up by a knock on her bedroom door. She grumpily got up to open it and stared unhappily at Richard, who was standing outside in a ck suit. He said coldly, ¡°Get ready ande to the office with me.¡± Pearl wondered, ¡®But why? Oh yeah, Mister Dustan asked me to spend a day with each of his sons, and Richard¡¯s the first.¡¯ She then stretched and slowly walked into the bathroom. By the time she was done getting ready, half an hour had passed. She dispiritedly got into the car with Richard to head to hispany. Richard stated haughtily, ¡°Pearl, I only agreed to spend time with you because of my dad. I¡¯ll take good care of you while at thepany, but I will never like you. You don¡¯t have to get to know me either.¡± Pearl looked toward the man in the driver¡¯s seat. She smirked and became excited, answering mischievously, ¡°Really? But the one I like the most after much observation these two days is you. Oh, what should I do?¡± A tinge of frustration flitted across his eyes. He said gloomily, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time.¡± Pearl chuckled and stopped talking. When they arrived at the office building, they got out of the car. The employees who passed by stared at the pair. ¡°Damn! Who¡¯s the prettydy beside the president? She has legs for days!¡± ¡°That girl is so pretty. She¡¯s a perfect match for Mister Richard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Pearl Leighton. I saw her when I was delivering a document to Mister Richard¡¯s house yesterday.¡± Everyone was amazed when they heard that the woman was Pearl. She looked miles better than in her photos. They had assumed that she would be ugly and old-fashioned since she grew up in a small vige, but on the contrary, she looked like a rich youngdy. The employees started gossiping. Richard handed the car keys to the security guard at the security booth. When Pearl saw the guard, she said in pleasant surprise, ¡°Hey, Mister Oliver!¡± The uniformed guard looked up at her and smiled. ¡°Hey, Pea, what are you doing here?¡± Richard eyed the two suspiciously. Pearl then said to Richard, ¡°You go on ahead. I¡¯ll go park the car with Oliver.¡± She then got into the car. Everyone saw what Pearl did. They thought that the bumpkin would cling to Richard uponing to thepany. Unexpectedly, she chose to stay and chat with Oliver Lawson in the security booth the whole morning. Everyoneughed at her. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s definitely from the countryside. They¡¯re insignificant people, so it¡¯s no wonder they can idle the morning away with chit-chat.¡± ¡°Yeah, Oliver probablyes from the same vige as her.¡± ¡°So what even if she¡¯s pretty? She¡¯s stupid. I wonder why Dustan and Susan ever made such an arrangement.¡± Pearl was unaware of the gossip that was brewing. She waited until Oliver got off his shift before going to a nearby restaurant with him. When she sat down, she got a call from an unknown number. The person said icily, ¡°Come and eat at my office.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Pearl could tell that it was Richard¡¯s voice and immediately turned him down. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m already having lunch with Mister Oliver.¡± After she hung up the call, Oliver smiled. He was not a busyb*dy and had just learned this morning why she was at thepany. ¡°Pea, I¡¯ve met all the Waldorf brothers, and I think the most excellent among them is Richard. He became thepany president and secured many big projects these years. He¡¯s steady and exceptional, you should consider him.¡± After Pearl sipped on some water, a repulsed expression could be seen on her face. ¡°No way. Why would I ever consider marrying that cold man, Mister Oliver?¡± In her opinion, Richard was arrogant and indifferent. She had merely said she liked him this morning to infuriate him. Oliver burst intoughter and then proceeded to tell her about the other Waldorfs. Once they were done with lunch, they went back to the learned from his assistant where Pearl was and frowned. She had imed this morning that she liked him the most, but then she stayed at the security post the entire day. What was up her sleeve? Sitting at his office desk, Richard was silent for a few seconds before instructing, ¡°Look into Oliver¡¯s background and his rtionship with Pearl.¡± ¡°Right away, sir.¡± Right after the assistant turned around, Richard added, ¡°And get Pearl upstairs.¡± Before long, Pearl came up. She looked around his office before askingzily, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Dad won¡¯t be happy if he finds out you¡¯ve been at the security booth all day.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes when she heard his excuse. ¡°Fine. Remember that you¡¯re the one who called me up here. Don¡¯t me me if I distract you from your work.¡± She then sat down on the sofa leisurely. Richard ignored her and went back to his work. Meanwhile, Pearl took out her phone and started ying a game. She even put her phone volume on the loudest setting, which made Richard frown slightly. Eight minutester, he heard her scolding her teammates. ¡°Why are you guys so useless? ¡°Use your hands. Stop using your feet. ¡°You¡¯re just my backup.¡± Richard was speechless. Pearl had scolded people without profanities, but the people she scolded started cursing at her. At this moment, he really regretted asking her toe into his office. It was clear she hade just to torture him. He started thinking that maybe she hated him the most, but on second thought, she probably hated Mobius the most. Luckily, Richard finished his tasks when she ended a round of her game. He grabbed his coat and asked Pearl to leave. When they got to the door, his assistant came back. Richard nced at Pearl and said, ¡°Wait for me in the parking lot.¡± Pearl nodded and left. The assistant N?velDrama.Org (C) content. then reported his findings to Richard. ¡°Sir, Oliver¡¯s true identity is quite impressive. He actually owns a lot of houses and office buildings in the center of Enswood.¡± In short, Oliver was a rich man who had a security guard out of boredom. ¡°I have yet to uncover his rtion to Miss Pearl though.¡± Richard pondered, ¡®How does Pearl know such a person in Enswood? And she was out with Waynest night too. She¡¯s clearly not that simple.¡¯ However, he did not dwell on it since it was none of his concern. He only wanted to ensure that Oliver harbored no evil thoughts toward Pearl. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 When Pearl and Richard got home, they were greeted by a lively scene in the living room. The Waldorfs, including Susan, were seated together. There was also a woman who was about Pearl¡¯s age sitting on the sofa. She wore a suit dress and looked like a wealthy youngdy. ¡°You¡¯re home, Rick. Come, sit. Abby just got back from abroad. She came right after getting off the ne.¡± The woman stood up and greeted Richard, but she looked evidently disappointed when she received only a nonchnt reply. She then looked at Pearl and smiled broadly. ¡°Pearl, right? I¡¯m Abby Flores, and I grew up with Rick and his brothers. We¡¯ll be friends from now on and can hang out if you get bored.¡± Abby had learned from the conversation earlier that Pearl was very pretty, but she was not expecting her to be this beautiful. Pearl¡¯s makeup-free face was wless, eliciting jealousy from many women. Pearl, having long discerned Abby¡¯s thought, answered half-heartedly, ¡°Sure.¡± At this time, Dustan got home too. The Floreses and the Waldorfs had been family friends for decades, so he treated Abby warmly. Pearl went off to the side to wait for dinner as everyone chatted away cheerfully. Susan piped up, ¡°By the way, Abby, I bought some things for you since I knew you wereing home. Hang on. I¡¯ll go get them.¡± She went upstairs, but when she came back down, she asked Dustan unhappily, ¡°Where¡¯s the jewelry I recently bought that I ced in the drawer?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± Dustan asked back. Susan looked at her five sons. ¡°Did you guys take it?¡± They shook their heads. ¡°That¡¯s strange. Where did they go?¡± Abby asked cautiously, ¡°Missus Susan, did someone steal them perhaps?¡± ¡°Who would dare? Give them back to me now and get out of this house! If not, I¡¯ll put you in jail!¡± Since no one admitted to taking the jewelry, Susan instructed, ¡°Alex, check all the rooms.¡± Pearl, who was scrolling through her phone, became interested when she heard this. An hourter, the housekeeper failed to find the lost jewelry even after searching all the rooms with the helpers. Alex reported, ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯ve searched all the rooms aside from Miss Pearl¡¯s and the staff quarters.¡± One of the helpers then stepped forward and said, ¡°Madam, Miss Pearl did walk past us when we were discussing the broken surveince camera yesterday, and I also saw here out of your roomter that afternoon.¡± This statement imed that Pearl had gone into Dustan and Susan¡¯s room since she knew that the surveince camera was broken. This made her highly suspicious. Hearing this, Susan was enraged. ¡°I wondered why you refused to take Dustan¡¯s card yesterday. So you pretended to be all upright but didMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org. such a heinous thing in secret. Alex, search her room.¡± Dustan stepped forward and said, ¡°Nonsense! Pea isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± ¡°And why not, Dustan? How much do you know about her? She came from the countryside. Of course, she¡¯d do something like that. She was alone at home yesterday, and she¡¯s the most suspicious person here.¡± Pearl appeared calm as she said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mister Dustan. Let them search my room.¡± She had noticed that this was a scheme targeted at her the moment it happened, and she would soon figure out who the mastermind was. Alex went to Pearl¡¯s room with the helpers. The others remained on the sofa. Pearl looked at the helper who had bad-mouthed her and asked coldly, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She never went into Dustan and Susan¡¯s room, so why did this helper nder her? Chapter 8 Chapter 8 The helper was confused as to why Pearl would ask her such a question, but she answered anyway. ¡°Amy Young.¡± Soon, Alex came back down with a bag and reported, ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am, we found these in the lowest drawer of Miss Pearl¡¯s coat rack.¡± Inside the ck bag was a gold bangle, a bejeweled ne, and a charm bracelet. They were Susan¡¯s lost jewelry. Everyone was a little taken aback that they had found these in Pearl¡¯s room. Susan fumed with anger. ¡°What do you have to say, Dustan? What kind of woman have you found for our sons? Her being from the countryside is eptable, but she¡¯s a thief!¡± ¡°Pea would never do this,¡± Dustan said with all certainty. Abby said in fake concern, ¡°Could there have been some sort of mistake?¡± The atmosphere became heavy. Richard then stepped forward and suggested, ¡°How about we get Officer Jack here and see if he can get some fingerprints.¡± If Pearl had done it, her fingerprints would be on the jewelry. Dustan called Jack Grayson from the police department to help prove Pearl¡¯s innocence. Susan nced at Dustan. ¡°Fine. But if she¡¯s the one who did it, we¡¯re canceling the marriage and throwing her out.¡± Before Dustan could speak, Pearl answered calmly, ¡°Sure.¡± The investigation would take some time, so they went to the dining room to have dinner first. Dustan and Susan had yet toe to the table when the others already sat down. Mobius was gloating as he said, ¡°This may be yourst feast, Pearl. Enjoy it!¡± ¡°You should enjoy it too. If I¡¯m still here tomorrow, I¡¯ll ask Mister Dustan to throw you out.¡± ¡°Dream on!¡± Although Mobius said this, he was unsure. If Pearl was not the thief, Dustan would very likely agree to throw Mobius out given how he favored Pearl. After dinner, the investigation had been concluded. The officers found Pearl¡¯s fingerprints on the gold bangle and in Dustan and Susan¡¯s room. Dustan could not believe it. ¡°So it was you! No way to defend yourself now, can you? Alex, pack up this thief¡¯s things and throw her out!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Pearl said as she stood up without haste, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal them.¡± She had thought about it and realized that there had been a thin film on the doorknob yesterday that was gone today. The culprit must have gotten her fingerprints from there and pasted them onto the gold bangle. Susan sneered. ¡°Hmph! The evidence is irrefutable. How are you going to exin it away?¡± ¡°I have evidence to prove my innocence. Ma¡¯am, may I borrow that gold bangle for a bit?¡± She gingerly picked up the bangle on the table and put it on. Nob*dy understood what Pearl was trying to do. ¡°What are you trying to do, Pearl?¡± Pearl remained silent and simply extended her hand. Under the light, it was clear that her fair skin was bing red and swollen. Pain and itchiness engulfed her but she ignored it. She smiled and exined, ¡°Ma¡¯am, this gold bangle of yours is very pure. But I¡¯m allergic to gold, and my symptoms get worse the purer the gold is.¡± Dustan hurriedly said, ¡°Silly girl! Why are you touching the gold since you know you¡¯re allergic to it? Hurry up and take it off.¡± At that instant, Pearl¡¯s wrist was swollen and Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. her skin was starting to peel. The two fingers she had used to pick up the gold bracelet were also filled with rashes. After she took off the bangle, she smirked at Susan. ¡°These symptoms willst for at least three days. So, this proves that I didn¡¯t steal these.¡± ¡°You might¡¯ve taken them while wearing gloves.¡± Susan refused to give up. ¡°If I used gloves, why are my fingerprints on them?¡± Susan was rendered speechless. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Pearl would instantly get an allergic reaction whenever she touched gold, but she had shown no such symptoms previously. Anyone could tell that someone was trying to frame Pearl. She said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m now done exining myself. Missus Susan, I¡¯d now like to ask you why you transferred 27 thousand dors to Amy¡¯s bank ount yesterday.¡± Amy¡¯s and Susan¡¯s expressions turned solemn. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Pearl then produced her phone, showing the receipt of Susan transferring money to Amy. ¡°I asked around and learned that the helper¡¯s sry is 4 thousand dors, so why did you give Amy 27 thousand?¡± Pearl knew that a house helper had no reason to frame her, so someone must have bribed the helper. And as expected, she uncovered who had bribed Amy after asking for her name and investigating her bank transactions. It was all Susan¡¯s scheme. When the others saw the receipt, they were shocked, realizing what was going on. Richard though was suspicious. He wondered how Pearl had found out about the transaction. ¡°A-Amy¡¯s mother is sick, so she asked for a sry advance,¡± Susan stammered. She had not expected things to turn out this way. In wanting to kick Pearl out, she had made a mistake. No one expected Pearl to be allergic to gold. Dustan sighed. ¡°I was around when we hired Amy. I think she¡¯s an orphan. Don¡¯t worry, Pea. I¡¯ll give you a proper exnation for all this.¡± He turned toward Richard. ¡°Rick, bring Pea to the hospital to have her treated.¡± Pearl N?velDrama.Org (C) content. nodded and left with Richard. When she opened the car door, she heard his deep voice saying, ¡°Sorry about all this.¡± She was a little stunned and then realized that he was apologizing on Susan¡¯s behalf. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Pearl chuckled. ¡°You guys must be very disappointed. If this scheme had been sessful, I would¡¯ve left the house. By the way, did you think it was me?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re that stupid.¡± Pearl smirked. ¡°You¡¯re right. What are these insignificant thingspared to bing Missus Waldorf? I¡¯m not stupid.¡± Richard did not know how to reply. At the hospital, the doctor examined Pearl¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Miss, why did you touch gold if you knew that you were allergic? Your boyfriend was careless too. Thankfully, you¡¯re fine. I¡¯ll give you an ointment and your wounds should heal in a few days.¡± Richard pursed his l*ps and wanted to exin, but remained silent in the end. After he settled the bill, they went to the pharmacy to pick up her medicine. Pearl sat on a bench and waited for Richard. Before long, he came back. ¡°Hands.¡± She extended her arms and watched as he took out the ointment and applied it to her wounds. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± A cold, stinging feeling overwhelmed her. It hurt but she kept her smile. ¡°You usually look so cold, but you¡¯re quite considerate, aren¡¯t you, Richard? I think I like you even more now.¡± When he heard her teasing remarks, his face stiffened before he said solemnly, ¡°I told you I wouldn¡¯t fall for you.¡± ¡°How boring!¡± Pearl chuckled. She was just joking around. She had to slowly observe the five brothers anyway. However, a strange feeling rose inside Richard as he gazed at her back when she got up. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 As Richard and Pearl left the hospital, Dustan and Susan were having a heated argument in their room. ¡°Susan, Pearl just got here. Why are you bullying her? She¡¯s so young!¡± Susan sneered. ¡°It¡¯s because of you. Why did you bring her into our home, Dustan?¡± ¡°I already told you. Max and I made an arrangement.¡± ¡°An arrangement? That¡¯s clearly just an excuse. Isn¡¯t this all because you liked Lynn once?¡± Dustan¡¯s expression stiffened when she said that. He and Max were college mates. After they graduated, they enlisted in the army and met Lynn Schouwen, the army medic. Lynn became Pearl¡¯s mother. The two men fell in love with Lynn and chose to vie for her heart through fairpetition. In the This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. end, Lynn chose Max. Many years had passed since, and Lynn had passed too. Dustan had not expected Susan to know about what had happened. ¡°I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? You can¡¯t forget about Lynn after all these years, and that¡¯s you brought Pearl home and are being so nice to her.¡± Dustan sighed and took Susan¡¯s hand. ¡°No, my love. What happened with Lynn was a long time ago. The only one I care for now is you.¡± ¡°Then why are you so nice to Pearl?¡± ¡°There was one time when Max and I carried out a drug sweep mission. When we encountered danger, he jumped in front of a bullet for me. His left leg was ruined because of it¡­ And he and Pea have stayed in that vige for so many years.¡± As he talked about this, he grieved. ¡°He asked me to take care of Pearl before he passed away.¡± Susan was stunned. Dustan started thinking about the past. But in truth, Lynn was still alive. When Pearl and Richard got home, Dustan and Susan were the only ones sitting on the sofa. And surprisingly, Susan made a sincere apology. Pearl chose not to press the matter and went upstairs to rest. When she came out of her shower, Susan knocked on her door. ¡°What is it, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to have a chat with you.¡± Susan then walked into the room and sat down. ¡°Pearl, I¡¯ll ept you and agree to you marrying one of my sons, but you can¡¯t pick Rick.¡± Pearl was taken aback, but she asked calmly, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Rick is the most outstanding of my sons, and I already have another marriage candidate whom I¡¯m very satisfied with. So please keep him out of your consideration.¡± Susan was saying that Pearl was not worthy of Richard, and the person she was satisfied with was most probably Abby. ¡°Understood, ma¡¯am.¡± Susan said nothing else and left the room. When Pearl woke up the next day, she was to spend the day with Sean. Sean was the vice president of Waldorf Enterprises, but he was not on good terms with Richard. He made it a point to always challenge his brother. When Pearl got into the car, Sean asked, ¡°How was your day with Rick yesterday?¡± His tone indicated that he was hostile toward thetter. Pearl answered absent-mindedly, ¡°It was fine.¡± ¡°Rick¡¯s pretty cruel and inhumane. I suggest you don¡¯t pick him.¡± Pearl¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Should I pick you instead?¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Sean was caught off guard. He then smiled awkwardly. ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± When they got to the office, he dived into work while Pearl spent the whole day at the security booth again. On the third day, it was Hanzel Waldorf¡¯s turn. Hanzel was a mega-celebrity with millions of fans. Today happened to be his birthday and also the tenth anniversary of his debut. He was busy rehearsing for tonight¡¯s concert and had no time for Pearl. The Waldorfs would be attending the concert that night too. Abby arrived at the Waldorf residence in the afternoon. After waking up from her nap, Pearl went downstairs. Abby smiled and went up to her. ¡°Hey, we¡¯re heading to the mall to buy some clothes and a gift for Hanzel. Want to branded women¡¯s clothing store. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯d look stunning in a dress since you¡¯re so pretty, Pearl.¡± The guards were waiting for them at the entrance. Abby nced at them before picking out a dark green dress. ¡°This is nice. Why don¡¯t you try it on?¡± Pearl noticed that the dress would make her look old. Abby picked another dress when Pearl remained quiet. ¡°How about this one instead?¡± Pearl narrowed her eyes at the skimpy dress. She said straightforwardly, ¡°Abby, if you don¡¯t like me, you can just stop pretending. You don¡¯t have to use such methods. Although Ie from a vige, my taste in clothes is no worse than yours.¡± ¡°Pearl, I think you¡¯ve misunderstood me¡­¡± Abby¡¯s face became dark. She had assumed that Pearl knew nothing about fashion since she came from a vige. She thought Pearl only wore ordinary clothes. This was unexpected. Pearl ignored Abby and continued browsing the dresses in the store, asking the salesperson to pack up the clothes she liked. When it was time to pay, she took out her phone. Suddenly, a person handed the cashier a ck card. ¡°Swipe this.¡± It was Richard. His handsome face stunned the cashier. After a moment, she hurriedly epted the ck card. ¡°Thank you,¡± Pearl said. Richard said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m only doing what Dad told me to.¡± He turned and left, leaving Pearl speechless. Abby saw the exchange between them and clenched her fists in anger. As they left the mall, the b*dyguards behind them struggled with the shopping bags. Today¡¯s expenses were over 400 thousand dors. Mobius said calmly, ¡°Some people Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. are so impudent and spend money like water. As expected from those whoe from small ces. They just don¡¯t know how to behave themselves.¡± He wanted to take revenge on Pearl for calling him a kid the other day. Though he was the youngest Waldorf, he was already eighteen. Abby chimed in before Pearl could speak. ¡°Mobius, you can¡¯t say such things. Pearl was just doing some light shopping.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing light about this,¡± he replied. Pearl snorted and retorted calmly, ¡°Did I use your money?¡± Mobius became embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s my brother¡¯s money.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s your brother¡¯s. He¡¯s notining, so why are you?¡± She got into the car. A few people behind her chuckled. Pearl was unexpectedly so pushy and unforgiving. She really was interesting. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Mobius¡¯ face turned livid. He clutched Richard¡¯s arm andined, ¡°Listen to how righteous she tries to sound about spending other people¡¯s money. And all the stuff she bought is for her. She didn¡¯t buy a single thing for Hanz!¡± Pearl rolled her eyes at Mobius¡¯ints. Night fell. After dinner, Pearl put on a simple one-piece dress and went to the concert with everyone. Their seats were in the second row, and Abby upied the seat beside Richard. Unconcerned, Pearl sat beside Sean. Soon, the concert started and Hanzel stepped onto the stage dressed in a ck suit. As a top celebrity, he truly was handsome. The fans started cheering, and Pearl grimaced at the ring noises attacking her ears. For the next hour, Hanzel sang many songs. Following that was a special segment. The emcee came onto the stage and announced, ¡°Today is the tenth anniversary of Hanzel¡¯s debut, so we have a surprise for you. We¡¯re going to pick one lucky fan toe up here and sing with Hanzel!¡± The audience burst into thunderous apuse, and the fans screamed excitedly. The numbers on the big screen started shing and finally stopped at number twenty-six. The fans that did not get chosen sighed sadly but soon grew curious about who was sitting in seat twenty-six. Sean suddenly eximed, ¡°Holy cow! Pearl, you¡¯re twenty-six!¡± Pearl was stunned. The emcee said, ¡°Let¡¯s wee fan no. twenty-six onstage!¡± Pearl narrowed her eyes and knew there were no such coincidences. She nced at the people beside her and saw Abby¡¯s gloating expression. Pearl then understood that someone wanted to see her make a fool of herself. But having no choice, she slowly went to the stage. Hanzel was shocked when he saw Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. the chosen fan. It turned out to be Pearl. The emcee smiled and asked, ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so pretty, miss. May I know your name please?¡± ¡°Pearl Leighton,¡± she answered nonchntly. Her statement shocked the audience. Pearl? She was the one who had a marriage contract with the Waldorfs, right? And surprisingly, she was beautiful. More than half the audience were Hanzel¡¯s female fans who saw him as their boyfriend. They started discussing this and looked at Pearl enviously. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re going to cover Goodnight by Nancie. You¡¯ve heard of it, yes, Miss Pearl? You only need to sing the chorus with me.¡± Nancie was a famous but also mysterious female singer. No one knew what she looked like, but her music was popr all over the world. When the emcee handed Pearl a microphone, she pursed her l*ps and said, ¡°Yes, I know that song, but I¡¯m a poor singer. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The audience started jeering. ¡°Get off the stage! How embarrassing! Why do the Waldorfs fancy you when you can¡¯t even sing?¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t stand there with my prince charming. You¡¯re embarrassing.¡± ¡°Get the f*ck off the stage!¡± Pearl narrowed her eyes. She knew that the person who wanted to see her embarrass herself must be having a great time. And she just loved proving others wrong. She took the microphone from the emcee and said calmly while looking at Hanzel, ¡°I can¡¯t sing but I can y the apanying tune.¡± The apaniment for this song was yed on the piano. Hanzel looked at her doubtfully. ¡®She can¡¯t sing but wants to y the piano? Is she pulling my leg?¡¯ Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡°Okay, let¡¯s quiet down for Miss Pearl and Hanzel¡¯s Goodnight.¡± As Pearl made her way toward the piano, the audience fell silent. When she started ying, Hanzel was stunned. She really knew how to y. He became serious and sang the song with all his heart. They had never rehearsed or cooperated before but their performance showed a deep understanding between them. Hanzel gazed at Pearl as he held onto his microphone. Some fans even started to ship them. Abby smiled and said, ¡°I never expected Pearl to y the piano so well. I think she probably already passed Grade 8. Hanzel can sing and she can y the piano. Oh, what a perfect match!¡± Although she said this, she was secretly filled with hatred. This stadium belonged to her family¡¯s Flores Firms, so it was easy for her to manipte the lucky draw. She wanted to see Pearl publicly embarrass herself, but unexpectedly¡­ When Richard This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. heard this, he looked toward Pearl. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulder. As the light shined down on her, she looked mysterious and dazzling, making others yearn to know her more. For some unknown reason, he found Hanzel and Pearl performing together an eyesore. ¡®Are they really a perfect match? I don¡¯t think so¡­¡¯ When the song came to an end, the audience apuded. Pearl headed for the washroom after getting off stage. A woman in a brown dress was standing outside the door when she got out. The woman was wearing a mask, so Pearl could not see her face, but the former did have a graceful and noble air, marking her as a wealthy woman. ¡°Pearl, right? I loved your performance. Here, this is for you.¡± The woman handed a bouquet of delicate tul*ps to Pearl, who epted it despite her confusion. ¡°You know who I am?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t but I think you yed beautifully. Okay, bye now.¡± The woman turned around, her gaze full of unconceble sadness. As Pearl stared at the bouquet, a strange feeling engulfed her. Two hourster, the concert ended. Pearl, the Waldorf brothers, and Abby headed back to the Waldorf residence, where Dustan and Susan had prepared a celebratory dinner for Hanzel¡¯s birthday. After Hanzel blew out the candles on his cake, everyone brought out the gifts they had prepared for him. Although the Waldorfs were a wealthy family, they had a harmonious rtionship with one another. Pearl calmly took out the gift she had prepared. Hanzel thanked his family one after another as he unwrapped the gifts. There was a title deed for a vi, a custom designer watch, a cruise ship, and so on. All the gifts were valuable and expensive. Inparison, Pearl¡¯s box was average- sized. They were aware that Pearl had not bought anything for Hanzel today, so they assumed she had just casually grabbed something to pacify him. Hanzel enthusiastically opened the box and was absolutely floored. It was a Lare microphone¡ªthe only one in the whole world. This microphone had been auctioned off, and a mysterious person had bought it for 1 million and 300 thousand dors. He had missed the auction and had coveted this mic for a long time. He tried various means to get his hands on it but he could never find the owner. Mobius asked doubtfully, ¡°Is this a fake?¡± But Hanzel could tell at a nce that it was genuine. He said excitedly, ¡°Oh wow! Pearl, is this really for me?!¡± Pearl nodded. ¡®It¡¯s just a microphone. Does he really have to be so excited?¡¯ ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Hanzel asked in confusion. ¡°Well, I¡¯m good at the piano, and the person who bought the Lare mic at the auction came to know about me. They gifted me the mic, hoping I¡¯d make it in the music industry, but I can¡¯t sing. So, I¡¯m giving it to you instead.¡± Pearl then excused herself. ¡°All right, Happy Birthday, Hanzel. I¡¯m tired, so I¡¯m going to turn in for the night.¡± She managed to amaze everyone once again. It was evident that the gifts they had prepared for Hanzel had not pleased him as much as hers had. They began to see her in a new light. They assumed she was just a pretty face and an ignorant person, but after a few days, she was clearly different from their assumptions. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Pearl woke up early the next day. Today, she had to spend the day with Hugo, a doctor and the dean of Eldoris Hospital. The Waldorf brothers truly were exceptional. Despite being so young, Hugo had managed to be the dean. He appeared gentle and reserved and had not said much to Pearl after she came to live with his family. They went to the hospital together. ¡°I have two surgeries lined up today, so I¡¯ll be busy. You can stay in my office. Take the b*dyguards with you if you get bored and want to go out.¡± Pearl nodded. After ying her mobile games all morning, Hugo had yet to finish his surgeries. He was extremely busy, so she left the hospital and went out. When she got home at night, there was no sign of Hugo. The next day, it was Mobius¡¯ turn. Mobius was the youngest Waldorf and was still in university. The family driver had asked for the day off today, and since Richard would be passing by the university on his way to the office, he drove Mobius and Pearl there after breakfast. During the car ride, Mobius eximed from the front seat, ¡°F*ck, Rick! Someone broke your record at Death Valley!¡± Death Valley was a famous car racing route. Richard held the record of clearing it in under five minutes and thirty-two seconds, making Mobius admire him deeply. But someone had broken Richard¡¯s record. Hearing this, Richard frowned. ¡°And it was a woman! But I can¡¯t see her face since she was wearing a helmet.¡± Pearl was nodding off in the back seat as Mobius frantically tried to find out the woman¡¯s identity. In the end, he found nothing on her. When they were almost at the university, Mobius changed the topic as he looked at Pearl. ¡°Hey, vige girl, do you like Hanz?¡± Pearl This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. was slightly annoyed at how he addressed her. ¡°What makes you think that?¡± ¡°You gave him such an expensive microphone. Are you a fan of his? Tsk! As expected, all women like celebrities.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes. She had no intention of arguing with a fool and got out of the car. Richard¡¯s grasp on the steering wheel tightened. Did Pearl really like Hanzel? ¡°Bye, Rick. Oh, do help me find who that woman is since you¡¯re more capable.¡± Mobius loved car racing, and now his idol had changed. That woman must be high-ss and charming. How cool! Richard ignored him and ordered, ¡°Make sure to keep your eye on Pearl.¡± ¡°Who would bully her?¡± Mobiusined before getting out of the car too. The university was not strict on rules, so Pearl was allowed into the ssroom with Mobius and to listen to the lectures. She could feel eyes watching her everywhere she went. After all, she was the fiancee chosen by the Waldorfs, so of course, she would be in the limelight. Pearl, who was bored out of her mind, overheard a woman making a sarcastic remark after one of the lectures. ¡°She likes Mobius? Tsk! How shameless! Isn¡¯t she aware of how old she is?¡± Pearl was speechless as she was only twenty years old. She wondered who had spread the rumor that she liked Mobius. Pearl got up and went to the washroom. When she came out of the stall, a few women blocked her way. The leader nced at Pearl and ridiculed, ¡°You like Mobius?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Hmph! Hey Pearl, Mobius is the most handsome guy in the university. You don¡¯t deserve him.¡± Pearl became speechless. Did they not understand her when she said she did not like him? Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¡°Really? And who are you? Does Mobius even know you? Do you deserve him?¡± The woman¡¯s face stiffened before she sneered. ¡°How dare youe to the university with Mobius. We¡¯ll put you in your ce!¡± When Mobius learned that Pearl was being ambushed at the washroom, he reluctantly went there. If not for his father, he would ignore her. However, he was shocked when he arrived at the washroom. Melissa Kirk and her friends were known bullies. They loved bullying others by relying on their powerful family backgrounds. But at that moment, they were running out of the washroom, their faces bearing red p marks and their hair a wet mess. Mobius¡¯ frowned as Pearl came out calmly. Dressed in a ck T-shirt and sporting a high ponytail, she looked young and trendy. She looked unscathed too. ¡°Those girls¡­¡± Mobius nced at Melissa and the others who were running away. ¡°They wanted to beat me up, so I hit them.¡± Mobius knew that Melissa practiced boxing. Pearl said nonchntly, ¡°I never imagined you¡¯d have so many admirers when you¡¯re just so-so. Those admirers of yours are so dumb and vulgar.¡± Tongue-tied, Mobius decided to not argue with her. Afternoon came, and no one else hade to find trouble with Pearl. Thest period was physical education. She sat by the field and watched a few young men y basketball. After a while, she felt an ache in her abdomen. She frowned. ¡®Shoot! I forgot I¡¯m getting my period today.¡¯ Pearl was generally fearless, but Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. the one thing she feared was her period. Every time her period came, she would be in excruciating pain. Holding onto her stomach, she slowly got up and left the basketball court. She quickly went to a store at the entrance of the university. However, she did not notice someone following her. When Richard finished his work, his assistant entered the office. ¡°Sir, the person who broke your record at Death Valleyst night was Miss Pearl.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Richard looked up. ¡°Miss Pearl.¡± Richard had always been indifferent toward her, but now, he was amazed. ¡®Pearl? But wasn¡¯t she with Hugo yesterday?¡¯ Car racing was Richard¡¯s hobby, so he was curious about the person who broke the record that he held for over a year. Hence, he asked his assistant to investigate it after arriving at the office. ¡®Pearl sure is a miracle worker.¡¯ Richard smiled. At this moment, his phone rang. ¡°Rick, Pearl¡¯s missing!¡± Mobius realized that Pearl was gone after he finished ying basketball, and she was not picking up his calls. When called home and inquired with the helpers, they told him that Pearl had not gone home. Mobius did not dare to tell his father about this, so he called Richard. Hearing this, Richard¡¯s expression fell. Chapter 16 ¡°Mobius, call the police. Leave the rest to me.¡± Richard recalled the scene of Pearl smashing a wine bottle on that man¡¯s head the other day and soon calmed down. She surely would not let herself be easily hurt. ¡°Okay, Rick ¡± Mobius knew that Richard had always been swift and decisive. Although he med Pearl for worrying others, he nodded and did as instructed. Richard drove to Mobius¡¯s university and retrieved the surveince footage from around the back entrance of the university. At five in the evening, he finally found Pearl in the footage. She had entered a shop and came back out with a ck stic bag before heading toward a public restroom, and there was a figure in blue following her from behind. It meant that thest ce she had been was the restroom. Richard¡¯s eyes turned dull and rushed toward that ce with his men. It was now six, so there were very few passersby. When they approached, they could hear a woman¡¯s grimughter. ¡°Ha! Ha! Ha! Why didn¡¯t you resist? You were quite strong earlier and were hitting me over and over again. You shameless woman. How dare you seduce Hanzel! I¡¯ll p you!¡± When Richard heard Hanzel¡¯s name, he knew that the woman inside was one of Hanzel¡¯s fans. ¡°Mmph!¡± Richard heard a woman¡¯s muffled grunt. Based on the voices, he guessed that there were roughly three people, including men and a woman. He knew what to do. ¡°Get in there.¡± When the b*dyguards heard his order, they kicked open the door. The woman''sughter stopped. When she saw Richard, she became annoyed. "Who the hell are you? How dare you ruin my fun!"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. He nced at her with amanding presence. "How dare you touch someone under the Waldorf family''s care. When the Lackeys behind the woman felt Richard''smanding presence, they said in trembling voices, "Umm... That''s the eldest Waldorf brother, Richard Waldorf!" Anyone who watched the news would instantly recognize Richard as the man who was always talked about on the news, and he now had a group of sturdy b*dyguards with him. Inparison, the woman''s twockeys appeared weak and thin. Richard raised his hand. His assistant understood and instructed the b*dyguards to subdue the three people. When the crazy woman saw this scene, she immediately regained her wits. She had captured Pearl, never expecting to face such consequences. "I''m sorry, Mister Richard. I...I acted impulsively..." Richard said in an aloof and emotionless tone, "You will be hearing from ourwyers." Theckeys immediately got on their knees. "We''re sorry, Mister Richard. We did not see how important Miss Pearl is and offended her. Please let us go." "Save it for the police." Richard ignored their pleas and carried Pearl off. When the police sirens rang out, the three culprits epted their fate and copsed to the ground, their faces ghostly pale.. The officers took them away. Mobius rushed to the scene and saw Pearl in Richard''s arms. "She''s so troublesome. I''m pretty sure she did this on purpose. She wants to make our life difficult!" Mobius was angry because he knew that Dustan would scold him when he got home. "Enough, Mobius. Stop. Let''s get her to the hospital first." "You do it. I don''t want to go." Mobius left in a huff. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 1/2 Richard looked down at Pearl, who was in his arms. She looked to be in pain, covered all over in injuri es. He quickly rushed her to the hospital. And as they were family, he brought her straight to Hugo¡¯s offi ce. After Hugo attentively inspected Pearl, he frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? Is she severely hurt?¡± As Richard observed Pearl curl up in pain, his expression turned solemn. ¡°She sustained several heavy injuries and a slight concussion.¡± Hugo cleared his throat. ¡°But she¡¯s in th is much pain because she¡¯s on her period and is feeling weak.¡± Richard¡¯s ears turned red when he heard Pearl was on her period, but he maintained a neutral expressi on. ¡°Is there any way to relieve her pain?¡± Hugo put both hands in his pocket and shrugged. ¡°No, she just has to bear it. All right, I have a surgery to get to. You can stay and help her with the hospitalization procedures. Her injuries will take some tim e to heal.¡± He walked out, and a silence fell over the room. ¡°Water¡­¡± Pearl slowly opened her eyes and covered her aching belly. She said weakly, ¡°I want water.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Richard got her a ss of warm water. Seeing beads of sweat on her forehead, he handed her a tissue.¡± ¡°Thank you. I really do like you. You¡¯re quite attentive.¡± Even when in deep pain, Pearl did not forget to tease him. Richard frowned. ¡°Miss Pearl, I¡¯ve already made myself clear the other day. I hope you¡¯ll stop with thes e jokes.¡± ¡°Rx. You¡¯re such a dud.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like jokes.¡± Pearl pursed her l*ps and lowered her head to sip her water. Suddenly, Richard was called to an urgent meeting. He stood up and said, ¡°I have work to attend to. I¡¯ll have the hospitalization procedures der. Rest well.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After he left, Pearl¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Miss Pearl, are you okay? I heard you¡¯re in the hospital,¡± a worried Wayne said anxiously. Pearl was shocked. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you been reading the hot pages? The news of Hanzel¡¯s fan kidnapping you and Richard rescuing you is all over it. He even carried you to the hospital! The paparazzi got it all on camera. The whole Inte is talking about you and Richard.¡± Pearl quickly scrolled through the articles. As expected, the top three trending articles were discussing t his. [Mister Richard shows utmost concern for his fiancee, Miss Pearl.) [They¡¯re secretly in love with each other.] [Richard and Pearl¡¯s love blooms.] ¡°Help me get rid of the articles and manage thepany for a few days. Call me if any problem arises.¡± ¡°Okay, Miss Pearl,¡± Wayne then added scornfully, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve already dealt with that fangirl. She¡¯ll for the rest of her life.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chm.¡± Pearl felt that it was not that simple. ¡°And Waldorf Enterprises wishes to cooperate with us. They¡¯re offering great profits but there is a condition. They wish to meet Cerubleu¡¯s president.¡± Pearl frowned. ¡°They¡¯re insisting on meeting with me?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s inconvenient for you, so I turned it down. I told them we¡¯d work together if we get a chance in ¡°Okay.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Pearl hung up and smirked. ¡®You wish to meet me? Oh, Richie, we¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Richard arrived in the ward early the next morning. ¡°Wow, the workaholic Mister Richard took the day off toe and visit me. I¡¯m ttered¡± Pearl grinned as she peeled an orange. ¡°The fruits are really sweet. Want one?¡± She handed him a banana. Richard ignored her. He said nonchntly, ¡°Dad told me toe take care of you. Stop overthinking thi ngs.¡± ¡°Fine, forget I said anything.¡± ¡°I have a question for you.¡± Richard¡¯s mouth set into a hard line. After a brief pause, he asked, ¡°You bro ke the record at Death Valley, but you¡¯re from a vige. When did you ever practice car racing?¡± This woman was too mysterious. Her background was normal but everything she did was out of expec tations. Pearl burst intoughter. ¡°I did it just to kill time. Richard, why do you care so much about that?¡± Richard was stunned. When he saw her rxed look, he slowly calmed down. Pearl was friends with W ayne, she knew Oliver, who had an extraordinary identity, she was great at ying piano, and she even broke his Death Valley record which no one was able to do for a year. She was extraordinary though s he hailed from a vige. ¡°Pearl, I hope you don¡¯t harbor any evil intentions.¡± Richard sounded like he was warning her, but his h eart had been touched over and over again. Knock, knock, knock A rhythmic knock at the door disrupted Richard¡¯s thoughts. Abby walked into the ward. When she saw Richard was alone with Pearl, she became jealous. She smiled charmingly and went over to hold Pearl¡¯s hand. ¡°You look so pale. Are you badly hurt?¡± As Abby gripped Pearl¡¯s hand tightly, Pearl chuckled, then nced at Richard. She knew what was going on. A jealous woman was a dangerous woman. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Abby, don¡¯t hold my hand so tightly. Those who don¡¯t know will think you hate me.¡± Pearl pulle d her hand away and exposed Abby¡¯s inner thoughts. Abby¡¯s face turned livid but she forced out a smile. ¡°I was just worried about you. Mister Dustan will be upset if anything happens to you.¡± Pearl smirked. ¡°Wow, you care so much about Mister Dustan¡¯s opinion before you¡¯re even married into the family. Miss Abby, you¡¯re so thoughtful.¡± Of course, everyone could say hypocritical things. ¡°Pearl, you sound like you don¡¯t like me very much¡­ Abby¡¯s eyes started tearing. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Abby, just because I said a few harsh words, you think I dislike you? Aren¡¯t you being a little self¨C conscious?¡± Pearl rarely met such pretentious women. ¡°I just wanted toe visit you. I wasn¡¯t expecting you to be so overbearing. Maybe I¡¯m the obnoxious o Richard frowned and said coldly, ¡°Pearl, watch your tongue. Abby kindly came to see how you¡¯re doing. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. All right, I¡¯m unwell, so please don¡¯t disturb my rest.¡± Pearl shooed them away as Richard¡¯s eyes turned dark when he saw her angry expression. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Abby. Rest well, Pearl¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Abby yearned to separate the two, so when she heard this, she took Richard¡¯s arm and left. After they left, the ward became peaceful again. However, Pearl could not calm down. She suddenly re alized that she had missed an important clue. She had gone to Moblus¡® university with him, and not many peo ple should have known about it, so how did Hanzel¡¯s fan learn where she was and capture her at just th e right time? A bold idea struck Pearl. She made a call and asked the officers to interrogate the fan. A few moments l ater, her eyes turned ice -cold as she read the text on her phone. [Abby Flores.] As expected, Abby was the mastermind behind the incident. ¡®Abby, you¡¯ve tried to harm me again and again. Let¡¯s just wait and see.¡± A few dayster, Flores Firms inexplicably fell into a financial crisis. Some of thepany¡¯s executive s started selling their shares. The firm was incapable of dealing with the crisis, so they borrowed 270 m illion dors from the Waldorf family to save theirpany, Susan regarded Abby as her future daught er¨Cinw, so she asked Richard to help them until things were resolved. Abby was too busy to go to the hospital and behave like a hypocrite since her family fell into a crisis. Pe arl gained her peace. Hugo routinely came to inspect Pearl. After one of the inspections, he took off his stethoscope and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re all better now. You can be discharged t oday.¡± ¡°Okay, great.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Ricke to see you today? Richard was too busy toe and see Pearl these days because of the crisis at Flores Firm. Pearl did not mind this. As she ate her breakfast, she said casually, ¡°It¡¯s up to him whether he wants toe or n ot. You¡¯re asking the wrong person.¡± Hugo did not expect such an answer. He chuckled. ¡°Dad asked you to spend time with the five of us. S o, who are you most satisfied with?¡± Pearl raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Who do you want me to say?¡± Her answer was impable. It was indeed a difficult situation. Hugo smiled gently. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t ask. After all, I¡¯m not interested in you.¡± He then turned and left. Richard did note in the afternoon. Pearl handled the procedures on her own. She took the Waldorf s¡® family car home. But although she had recovered, she could not stay home all the time. Dustan sugg ested she work at Waldorf Enterprises. Everyone had a different reaction to this suggestion. Mobius¡® objection was the greatest. He peeked at Pearl disdainfully, who was sipping tea calmly on the sofa. ¡°She¡¯s just a woman from a vige. She doesn¡¯t know how to handlepany work. Dad, don¡¯t gi ve her more credit than she deserves.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t handle the work, and you can? Pearl was amused by his angry expression. ¡°I¡¯m better than you at everything!¡± Richard remained silent, quietly watching Pearl. He felt that she always surprised him. Dustan pulled a long face and shot Mobius a reproachful re. ¡°Though Peaes from a vige, you shouldn¡¯t mock her. You will go without dinner tonight. Go to your room and reflect on your mistakes.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Pearl had gifted Hanzel a microphone he coveted, so he had a good impression of her. He threw in som After a pause, Richard said, ¡°We¡¯ll give her an intern position. If she can¡¯t handle it, we¡¯ll find something her to do.¡± Once Richard had made a decision, it could no longer be changed. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 1/2 it was Richard who had founded Waldorf ¡°But Rick!¡± Mobius was filled with indignation, but he could not refute the matter as it was Enterprises. He could only clench his fists and bear it. Pearl smiled amiably while looking at Mobius angry expression. ¡°You seem very unhappy to see me wo rk at Waldorf Enterprises.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how you fooled Dad. You bring nothing but trouble. I don¡¯t know what trouble you¡¯ll stir up at thepany.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so eager to deny others.¡± Pearl could not be bothered to argue with a childish person, so she stopped. After all, it was decided th at she would work at thepany. Mobius could only ept it regardless of how upset he was. Richard acted swiftly. The next morning, he knocked on Pearl¡¯s bedroom door and told her to go to the office with him. Today was her first day, and he had arranged for her to be part of the design department Pearl smiled as she greeted her colleagues. When she sat down, someone mmed a Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. stack of documents onto her table. ¡°Here are your tasks. Settle these documents and email them to me before noon today. Don¡¯t even dream of cking off though you came out of nowhere after pulling som e strings¡­ Pearl?¡± The woman suddenly stopped her rambling. When Emily Harris saw the familiar, beautiful face before h er, she was stunned. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Emily.¡± Pearl naturally remembered Emily. This woman had bullied Pearl in the past by relying on her identity a s the principal¡¯s daughter. Emily bullied Pearl because the man she liked had a crush on Pearl. They ev en got into a fight because of it and Pearl was expelled. She went abroad and finished her double degr ee before returning to her homnd. Unexpectedly, enemies were bound to meet each other. Pearl was different now, but she was still as stubborn and strong as ever. She sneered and stared at E mily¡¯s hideous face.¡± What¡¯s wrong? Cat got your tongue?¡± Emily became confident as she was the department manager, ¡°Listen. I¡¯m your superior, so don¡¯t y a ny tricks. If you don¡¯t work hard, I can make you leave.¡± She started using her position to suppress Pea rl. ¡°Hold on to that position well,¡± Pearl said while smiling. Pearl¡¯s words infuriated Emily. She could not tolerate ridicule, so she exposed their past. ¡°Don¡¯t think so highly of yourself. How dare you tell me what to do. God knows where you went after you dropped out of middle school. Maybe you¡¯re an old man¡¯s mistress now. Otherwise, how did you get this job?¡± ¡°Mistress?¡± Emily thought she had poked Pearl¡¯s sore spot, so she refused to give up. ¡°I heard that you have a clos e rtionship with Oliver the security guard. He pulled some strings for you, didn¡¯t he? You¡¯re so disgus ting that you¡¯ll take any man. Pearl, it¡¯s been a long while since west met, and look at how you¡¯ve tur ned out.¡± Emily¡¯s words made the surrounding employees listen intently. Pearl did not care for Emily¡¯s nonsense, but her gaze turned fierce when she heard Oliver¡¯s name. ¡°Are you calling me a mistress?¡± Emily shuddered out of fear at Pearl¡¯s sudden fierceness, but she soon regained her confidence when s man¡¯s mistress. ¡°And what if I am? You did it, but I can¡¯t say anything about it?¡± Being one head taller than Emily, Pearl bent over the former and sneered. ¡°I wonder If Mister Dustan wil inw a mistress¡® ?? ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re the one who has an engagement with the Walford family that the news was talking about?¡± 2/2 Emily rarely watched the news but she had heard of the affair. As she had looked down on Pearl ever s to be the one engaged to the Waldorf family. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Emily could scold Pearl, but if it involved the Waldorfs¡­ When she thought of the Waldorfs¡® power, she shuddered in fear. Pearl did not want to dwell on the past with this old ssmate, so she lowered her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m d you understand. Now, you¡¯re disturbing my work, Miss Emily ¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. This statement was the final blow for Emily. Her face turned livid as she gaped, but she could not refute Pearl. She straightened up and said fiercely, ¡°Why you¡­ You may be engaged to the Waldorfs and ar e under their protection, but you¡¯ll still be fired sooner orter if you prove useless since this is a ce of work.¡± Pearl remained unconcerned. She smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Emily red at Pearl before she stomped away angrily, thinking of ways to vent her anger. At eleven o¡¯clock in the morning, Pearl emailed her proposal to Emily an hour in advance. Emily quickl y rejected it without anyments. There was only a vague order attached. [Redo it.] As expected, Emily always found ways to make things difficult for Pearl Pearl was confident in her proposal, so she emailed it to Emily again without any modifications. And as expected, Emily refu sed it again. Pearl could not be bothered to discuss this with Emily, so she immediately went to the pre sident¡¯s office with the proposal. Richard was working. When he saw Pearle in, he asked indifferently, ¡°What is it?¡± She ced the proposal before him and smiled. ¡°Richard, your department manager thinks my proposal isn¡¯t good enough. Wou ld you please take a look at it?¡± Pearl was wearing a professional suit with a rather low cor. When she bent over in front of him, her v aguely exposed bosom made it hard for him to look at her directly. Richard averted his gaze and looked at the proposal on the table. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll look at it.¡± He read it through briefly, and his eyes gradually lit up. Pearl¡¯s idea was unconventional and unexpecte d, making full use of many skills to achieve sess. It just so happened that he had the same views as her in some aspects. When he was done, he looked up and asked, ¡°Is this the task Emily assigned to you? ¡°Mm¨Chm.¡± Pearl nodded and smiled. Richard told his secretary to call Emily to his office. When Emily saw Pearl there, she red at thette r before asking cautiously, ¡°What can I do for you, Mister Richard?¡± Richard asked coldly, ¡°You gave this task to a new employee?¡± Emily trembled ¡°Mister Richard, I¡­..¡± ¡°This is the most important proposal of this season, and you gave it to a new employee. You¡¯re just mish Richard was not quick to anger, but today, Emily trembled in fear when she heard the chill in his voice. ¡°Deduct two months¡® sry from her pay.¡± Emily became furious but did not dare to express it. She cursed Pearl in her heart and yearned to p t After Emily left, Richard looked toward Pearl. ¡°You differentiate between reward and punishment well, Mister Richard.¡± Pearl was not fully satisfied with this result but at least she managed to teach Emily a lesson. Richard looked at her grinning face while his thoughts ran a mile an hour. As expected, she had not let h Chapter 22 Chapter 22 As Pearl had done a good job, Richard put her in charge of the project. The punished Emily scurried away dejectedly whenever she saw Pearl, her gaze gloomy as she stared at thetter. Pearl felt that Emily was thinking up a way to harm her Pearl bumped into Sean at the coffee machine. He blinked at her and raised his brows at her. ¡°I heard Rich dealt with Emily on your be half. Seems like you¡¯re really important.¡± Hearing his sarcasm, she felt uneasy but maintained herposure. ¡°And what about it? Are you jealo us, Mister Sean? Did I snatch away your brother¡¯s love toward you?¡± Sean¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°You sure like malding jokes, Miss Pearl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who started this, Mister Sean. I¡¯m just giving you a taste of your own medicine.¡± Pearl c almly poured herself a cup of coffee. No one could outwit her in terms of sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re interesting, Miss Pearl. No wonder that workaholic Richard has a new outlook on you.¡± Sean kept his smile but his words filled people with uneasiness. ¡°Thank you, but you talk too much.¡± Pearl was the first person toment that he talked too much. No one had ever humiliated him as suc h. Feeling embarrassed, his expression fell. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll leave you to enjoy your coffee in peace.¡± fell into th As Sean stormed away with his coffee in hand, Pearl fell into thought as she watched him leave. Pearl¡¯s proposal gained the admiration of thepany¡¯s partners. It raked in quite a bit of profit for the season, so thepany decided to hold a party to celebrate thepany¡¯s achievements. Although P earl had proven she was not a vige Idiot as they had imagined her to be, Richard decided to take her to buy a gown to protect the Waldorfs¡® reputation. In light of what happened previously, Pearl picked a dress she liked and asked Richard to pay for it. ¡°I li ke this one, Richard. Please buy it for me.¡± Richard looked at the long dark green dress adorned with turquoise. Its style was bright and lively, but he shook his head. ¡°This one would suit you better.¡± He took a long wine¨Cred dress off the rack. There were rose patterns on the hem, and there were sparkling diamonds set diagonally on one side. ¡°Richard, be honest. Do you hate me? Why do you want me to wear such a vulgar dress?¡± Pearl never wore such bright colors. Her clothes had always been simple and neat. When Richard heard her doubt his taste, his eyes turned gloomy. ¡°If I hated you, would I have brought y Pearl felt much better upon hearing this. She became curious when she saw his serious expression. ¡°So in love with me? Otherwise, why do you care so much about me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Richard shoved the dress into her arms. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re so unromantic.¡± Pearl shrugged and walked into the changing room. A few minutester, the door opened with a creak, and a figure dressed in red slowly stepped out. Pearl had tied her hair up. exposing her slender neck. Her extreme falmess c ¡°Have I bewitched you?¡± Pearl waved in Richard¡¯s face as she smiled cheekily. He calmly averted his gaze and mocked, ¡°I just find it baffling that the one who came up with thepa ¡°Why do you and your brother say such nasty words?¡± Pearl rolled her eyes. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Richard turned back to her and asked suspiciously, ¡°Why? Did Sean approach you?¡± ¡°No, we just happened to bump into each other and chatted for a bit. But your family always speaks fie rcely as if they¡¯re trying to poke others with needles.¡± This description was inexplicably amusing. Richard looked at her helpless expression and exined, ¡° Sean¡¯s always been like that. Just get used to it and don¡¯t pay it any mind.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wear this dress. The party¡¯s starting in half an hour. We shouldn¡¯t bete.¡± ¡°Okay¡± When they got back to the office, the entrance was swarming with journalists. When they saw Richard and Pearl attend the party together, they quickly surrounded them. ¡°May I ask if the secret love between you two is real?¡± ¡°Is Richard and Pearl¡¯s love real? ¡°Can you answer our questions?¡± Richard gave them an icy stare, and everyone fell silent. During the brief pause, he quickly brought Pea rl into the building. The party was just a small business gathering, but Richard was evidently in the limelight wherever he went and would always be surrounded by people asking him for a dvice. Pearl sneaked to the rest area and started eating the desserts on the table. When she sat down, Emily swaggered over. ¡°Why if it isn¡¯t Pearl, our great heroine? Why aren¡¯t you wit h Mister Richard?¡± Although Emily was mocking Pearl, she could not hide the jealousy in her eyes. This bumpkin who cam e out of nowhere had the chance to be the president¡¯s fiancee. Of course, Emily felt that she should ha ve the chance too. ¡°Have you been having a great time recently without your sry, Emily?¡± Pearl casually raised this que stion, ignoring Emily¡¯s words. Emily¡¯s face turned livid when she recalled that incident. Stop acting so smug. Abby, Richard¡¯s sweethe art, is the fiancee acknowledged by the Waldorfs. You¡¯re just an orphan. You have no right to marry the outstanding president.¡± Pearl smiled and shook her head. ¡°I never said I¡¯d marry Richard. Also, do you deserve him if I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Why you!¡± ¡°All the Waldorfs are outstanding people. So Emily, are you saying that the other Waldorfs aren¡¯t excell ent?¡± Pearl found the loophole in Emily¡¯s words and rebuked thetter until thetter was tongue¨C tied. Emily knew that Pearl had a way with words, so she was bothered to refute Pearl. She simply sne Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ered as she thought of her uing n. ¡°Stop sowing discord. You¡¯ll be driven out of thepany sooner orter.¡± ¡°I stand by what I said. Go ahead and try me.¡± Pearl smiled. Unable to outspeak Pearl, Emily left dejectedly. It was then time for today¡¯s highlight. Richard walked up to the stage and started announcing the achiev Suddenly, a disharmoniousment came from aer. ¡°I find that there¡¯s something wrong with the b season. Richard looked to the corner calmly. He asked in a deep voice, ¡°What do you have to say about it?¡± When Emily heard his question, she immediately stood up. proposal.¡± ¡°I want to report against Pearl. She giarized others in her Chapter 24 "You''re saying she giarized others, but do you have any evidence?" Emily gritted her teeth and handed over the evidence she drafted. Pearl narrowed her eyes. So, this was Emily''s scheme. "This design was taken from Anny''s work. Anny''s a student from a famous foreign university. This bumpkin giarized her work!" Anny was from a famous university while Pearl was a bumpkin, so everyone knew what the right choice was. "Pearl is so audacious." "It''s fine if she can''te up with a proposal, but why did she giarize others?" "Such a person has no right to stay in ourpany." The crowd was discussing non-stop. Richard avoided their gazes and looked at Pearl. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?" He inexplicably felt at ease as he looked at her. It was as if he was sure Pearl was not at fault. Still, he wanted to listen to her side of the story... Pearl smiled and nodded. "Yes, I borrowed some of Anny''s work. You''re rather attentive." Belleving victory was in her grasp, Emily began to speak recklessly, "Mister Richard, look at this bumpkin. She''s ignorant and ipetent. She even stole someone else''s work. Such a person doesn''t deserve Richard frowned and waited for Pearl to speak. "But what if...I''m Anny?" Emily burst into a roar ofughter. "You''re Anny? Pearl, stop making jokes. If you''re Anny, I''ll resign and leave right now. I''ll even give my position to you!" Anny was a young female genius who achieved a double major early. Why would she return to her homnd and condescend to be a mere employee of apany? "You promise?" Pearl asked indifferently. Emily was determined to win. She raised her chin and replied proudly, "Yes, I promise." Pearl went up the stage and took out her phone, connecting it to the screen. She then made a video call. A few secondster, a kind-looking old foreign man appeared on the screen. It was Andrew Cox, a two- time Noble prize winner. How did Pearl know such a person? "Hello, Professor Andrew. I''m so sorry to disturb you," Pearl apologized as she smiled. Andrew did not seem upset in the slightest and instead smiled broadly when he saw Pearl. "Anny, it''s been a long time since youst contacted me. I''m very happy you called. I don''t even feel like working on n "Professor Andrew, you have to work hard on your experiments." They chatted happily in the Ealdasynguage. The others kept quiet and did not dare to speak. All the employees of thepany graduated from famous universities, so they understood Pearl and Andrew''s conversation. The hardest thing to understand was not Ealdasy, but how Pearl knew such a person. On top of that, they learned from Andrew that Pearl was Indeed Anny. Emily''s mood plummeted. She stared at the screen, then looked toward Pearl. She was having a mental breakdown. This was an utter defeat for her. After hanging up the call, Pearl looked at Emily, who had turned as white as a sheet. She chuckled. "Emily, I was using my own creativity, so is it considered giarism? Emily was at a loss for words, while Richard was beyond shocked. As expected, she always brought him surprises.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. "Emily, pick up your sry from the finance department before you leave tonight." Richard could not stand to keep such arrogant people in hispany, so he ended Emily''s fate with a statement. After that farce ended, he offered Pearl a ride home. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Pearl turned him down as she had something important to do. She left the party and got into a car, whe re Wanye was waiting. ¡°Are you all better now, Miss Pearl?¡± Pearlughed. ¡°I¡¯ve long recovered. Let¡¯s go. Step on or it¡¯ll be over before we get there.¡± Wayne nodded and stepped on the gas. They headed to an underground market. There was an auction for an advancedputer there tonight . It was said that it was aputer once owned by the world¡¯s top hacker, and there was only one suc hputer in the whole world. Pearl liked fiddling around with these kinds of things, so had to get her hands on thisputer. When they arrived at the scene, they were just in time for the climax of the auction. Theputer was thest item to be auctioned. The starting price was 1 million and 3 hundred thousand dors. Every one was taken aback. Pearl remained quiet. When the voices subsided, she started to bid for thep uter. ¡°16 million dors. Any other offers?¡± Wayne slowly raised his paddle, ¡°17 million.¡± ¡°Any other offers? 17 million dors going once. 17 million going twice¡­¡± ¡°27 million.¡± Pearl¡¯s face stiffened. She looked around and spotted a familiar figure. Unfortunately, many people here were wearing sses, so it was hard to tell a person¡¯ s real identity. ¡°41 million.¡± Wayne continued to increase the price. 41 million dors was a high price for aputer. No one else offered a higher price except that strang e man in sses. He raised his paddle and said, ¡°54 million.¡± 54 million dors? Wayne tilted his head and asked Pearl if she wanted to keep going. She shook her head and said helpl essly, ¡°Let him have it.¡± After she made up her mind, Wayne stopped raising his paddle. Atst, the man walked away with the Wayne was about to send Pearl home after the auction was over, but a group of people blocked their w ay when they reached the entrance. The leading man was a blonde man with blue eyes and sses. H is domineering aura was evident at first nce. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Pearl.¡± Though he was wearing sses, Pearl recognized who he was. She said in surprise, ¡°Dimi? Why are y ou here?¡± Dimitri York and Pearl had learned the same trade together, and he was her senior. Besides, their hacki ng skills were some of the best. He chuckled. ¡°I came to get theputer. Did you forget that it¡¯s your birthday in two days? I knew you¡¯ d like it, so I came here to Caplein to buy it.¡± ¡°How long are you going to be here?¡± ¡°Not long. I¡¯m leaving tomorrow. I was nning to deliver this to you, but now I can just give it to you dir ectly.¡± Pearl became annoyed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t havepeted with you if I knew it was you. You paid the organizer Dimitri ruffled her hair. ¡°It¡¯s fine as long as you¡¯re happy. It¡¯s just 54 million.¡± A light flickered in a corner before quickly disappearing. They talked about their lives before Dimitri left to catch his flight. Pearl returned to the Waldorf residence Mobius snorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be a top student.¡± Pearl sat down and ignored his ridicule. ¡°Okay, stop talking¡± Dustan red at Mobius before he cleared his throat. ¡°Since it¡¯s the weekend today, Pift! Everyone gaped in shock. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Hiking¡­ That sounds tiring and hot, and the family was not interested in the slightest. ¡°Dad, I have a few surgeries today. I¡¯m busy¡­¡± Hugo stood up to leave but Dustan stopped him. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re the only doctor in your hospital.¡± Hugo smiled awkwardly. Hanzel and Mobius, who had wanted to excuse themselves too, kept quiet. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll leave in a bit.¡± No one could refute Dustan¡¯s order. They changed into sports attire and headed to a famous local scen ic spot. When they arrived, Pearl immediately spotted Abby. Thetter was wearing a long dress and s miling tenderly. Susan grinned when she saw Abby, ¡°You came, Abby. I thought you wouldn¡¯te.¡± ¡°You called me along, Missus Susan, so of course, I came.¡± Abby took Susan¡¯s hand. Mobius, who always spoke his mind, pursed his l*ps when he saw Abby¡¯s outfit. ¡°Who goes hiking in a l ong dress? Will you be able to hiketer?¡± Pearl smiled, finding Mobius rather interesting. Abby paled and bit her l*p. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t often hike, so I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± Pearl felt a headacheing on when she saw Abby¡¯s pitiful look as if she was about to shed tears. Sh e felt that Abby would try to pull some tricks. She would not havee if she knew Abby would be here too. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business what she wears.¡± Susan rolled her eyes at Mobius and led Abby up the mountain. ¡°Come on, Abby. Let¡¯s go.¡± Abby smiled through her tears. ¡°Okay.¡± They started uphill, and Pearl walked behind with the brothers. Dustan was thest in the grou group. Richard remained silent while hilding. Pearl raised her brows when she noticed this. ¡°Richard, you¡¯re as stiff as your name.¡± He looked at the scenery ahead and ignored her teasing. Suddenly, Pearl identally stepped on a rock and twisted her ankle. Ww!¡± she frowned and grabbed her ankle. Richard looked down and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I think I twisted my ankle.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t walk?¡± Pearl broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. Richard saw this and picked her up. Having almost fainte Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. d from her period pains the other day, she had felt nothing while in his arms. Now, she could feel his strong heartbeat and smell the light peppermint fragrance on him, ¡°Let me down. I can ¡°Your ankle is swollen, yet you¡¯re still so stubborn.¡± Richard¡¯s face remained cold as he ignored her obj ection. ¡°There¡¯s a clinic atop the mountain. We¡¯ll get Hugo to treat your ankleter.¡± Pearl snuggled into his arms obediently when she heard this. Sean saw their interaction. He smiled wickedly. ¡°Rick, I never expected you to care for a woman. Has th It turned out that there was a woman Richard cared about. Richard said icily, ¡°Shut up.¡± 212 Mobius rolled his eyes. ¡°How pretentious.¡± Hugo was busy handling his hospital¡¯s affairs and Hanzel was on the phone with his agent. They were to Susan noticed her gloominess and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Abby? You seem a little upset.¡± ¡°Does Rick¡­ like Pearl?¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Susan quickly turned around and saw Pearl in Richard¡¯s arms. Her face sank. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Abby. I¡¯ll giv e you an exnation When they reached the top of the mountain, Pearl was sent to the clinic for treatment. When she was alone, Susan entered her room. ¡°Pearl, I have something to discuss with you.¡± After they had made peace with each other, Pearl had not had much contact with Susan. When she sa w Susane in, she wondered if there was a problem between them. Pearl smiled. ¡°What is it, Missus Susan?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been getting very close to Rick recently,¡± Susanmented, and Pearl was instantly enlighten ed. ¡°No, I don¡¯t talk to him much.¡± Susan had a serious expression. ¡°I told you that I hope to see Abby as Rick¡¯s wife. I don¡¯t care how you feel about Rick or how your rtio nship with him is, but remember that I will never agree to let you be with him. Don¡¯t even fancy such th oughts.¡± Susan hade with the intention to suppress Pearl with words. Pearl smiled tenderly. ¡°Madam, don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t have any feelings toward Richard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± After Susan heard Pearl¡¯s guarantee, she was at ease. She smiled in satisfaction. ¡°My four other sons are outstanding too. You can pick any one of them. Pearl, you¡¯re a smart girl. You should know what to do.¡± That incident did not affect Pearl¡¯s mood. She sat in bed and turned on herptop to message Wayne. [You there?] [What¡¯s wrong, Miss Pearl?] [Deliver to me some ointment, the one I store in the lowest drawer in the storeroom.] [You¡¯re hurt again? Miss Pearl, why have you been so unlucky recently?] Pearl became gloomy and wondered why he said such unpleasant things. At this moment, Sean came in. ¡°Pearl, are you feeling better?¡± He naturally sat down beside her as if they were very close. Pearl kept a calm expression. ¡°What can I do for you, Mister Sean?¡± ¡°I just came to ask how you are, Pearl.¡± He smiled. It was unknown if it was sincere or not. Pearl recalled that she had not had much contact with Sean, so he must be up to no good in showing hi s concem. ¡°Spill it. What are you hiding?¡± Sean smirked. ¡°What if I tell you I¡¯m interested in you?¡± When Pearl heard this, her l*ps twitched. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe that?¡± Sean bent over slightly as his smile widened. ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me? You make me so sad.¡± Adverse to his approach, she leaned back to avoid physical contact with him. ¡°Please behave yourself. Sean ignored her. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± When Richard came in, he immediately saw them in this intimate position. His eyes turned dull. ¡°Am I disturbing you guys?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The s scene was rather unpleasant for him. Sean secretly rejoiced at Richard¡¯s expression. ¡°No, I¡¯m just here to see how Pea¡¯s doing.¡± He addresse to show that their rtionship was extraordinary. He even used a mncholic and yearning tone when s Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°Is Pearl interested in Sean? Richard¡¯s gaze was filled with gloominess. He gave a slight nod and turne d to leave. Having sessfully annoyed Richard, Sean was in a great mood. Before leaving, he asked Pearl to ta ke care. He even tried to pat her head but she dodged his hand. Everyone had their thoughts. Atst, Dustan waved and decided it was time to go home given that the situation was awkward and Pearl was injured. Pearl was sent to Hugo¡¯s hospital because of her injury. Dustan knocked on the door and walked into Pearl¡¯s ward, which was rare. When he saw her face, he started reminiscing about his ex¨C you feeling better? My disappointing sons failed to take good care of you and got you injured.¡± hing to do with them.¡± Pearl felt a warmth in her heart. ¡°It was my fault, Mister Dustan. I was careless. It had nothing ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Pea. I¡¯ll give whoever marries you twenty percent shares of Walford Enterprises and twent y vis in Bodgow. No one will treat you unfairly.¡± Dustan promised. Pearl¡¯s heart softened when she heard this. She e was touched. Hugo was at the door and about to enter the ward. When he raised his hand, he was struck dumb as h e was attracted by what he had heard. One would surely gain a lot of benefits by marrying Pearl. All the brothers had only five percent shares. If they married Pearl, they would gain another twenty percent. Dustan gave Pearl some more advice until he got a call and left in a hurry. Hugo found it hard to suppress his excitement. Standing at the door, he took a deep breath to calm him self before entering the ward. When he looked at Pearl, his gaze immediately turned gentle. He walked toward her and pinched her ankle. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Pearl knew that he was inspecting her injury, but she inexplicably felt uneasy. She retreated and resisted his approach. Forcing out a smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better. It doesn¡¯t hurt as much a nymore.¡± Hugo smiled tenderly. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Call me if anything happens.¡± Pearl was stunned as she was unused to Hugo¡¯s attentive care. She could not figure out why he cared so much about her given how much he was bothered by her previously. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine alone.¡± Hugo smiled dotingly and rubbed her head. ¡°I told you not to struggle on your own. You¡¯re a girl and sh ould learn to rely on others.¡± Pearl was struck dumb as if she had been electrified. A few days ago, he imed that he was uninterested in her. Why was he showing so much concern for her now? ~ tuo left. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. She e falled topose herself even after Hugo Richard did note to the hospital to see her over the days Pearl was hospitalized. Thepany was on a rising trend. recently, so he should have s ¡°You¡¯re so nice, Richard, so I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t mind me riding in your car, would you?¡± Pearl got into the Richard¡¯s gaze was filled with emotions. He asked coldly, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you riding with Sean?¡± Pearl chuckled. ¡°I like your car better. Hurry up and get in or we¡¯ll bete.¡± He failed to outspeak her, so he helplessly gave her a ride to work. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Along the way, Pearl stared out the window. There was a vague charm about her as the breeze blew u p her hair. Richard asked casually, ¡°How¡¯s your rtionship with Sean?¡± Pearl turned around and blinked at him. ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on between us.¡± But that day. ¡°Richard, listening to only one side of the story doesn¡¯t seem like something you¡¯d do. You¡¯re smart.¡± Enjoying the breeze, Pearl closed her eyes. Richard was stunned, then he smiled. ¡°You look happy. Richard, you care so much about my rtionship with others. Are you in love with me ?¡± She teased him. curiously when she caught his smile. Richard immediately put on a solemn expression. ¡°You talk so much.¡± Pearl burst intoughter. ¡°Richard, you¡¯re blushing. How cute!¡± He floored the gas and rushed to thepany at the fastest speed to prevent her from saying anything more that he could not reply to. When Pearl arrived at thepany, she found an uninvited guest. Abby was in her office, sitting at the manager¡¯s desk. When Abby saw Pearl, she smiled and asked, ¡°There you are, Pearl. Are you feeling better?¡± She said t hese words, but she yearned to see Pearl never recover. Thanks for your concern, Abby, I¡¯m fine now.¡± Pearl could not be bothered to chat with Abby and was annoyed by having to say too many insincere w ords. Abby thought of something. She smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s great. By the way, Rick said that he¡¯s in need of a director. I volunteered myself. You won¡¯t resist me, will you?¡± Pearl chuckled. ¡°Of course not. Abby, you¡¯re going to be the president¡¯s wife. You¡¯re just the director. It¡¯s nothing ¡± Abby paled. ¡°Pearl, why did you say that about me? I¡¯m just afraid that you¡¯ll be dissatisfied. After all, I became the director right away while you are just an employee. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s hard for you to ept.¡± What if Pearl was a top student? Richard cared about Abby. Abby¡¯s position was superior to Pearl¡¯s. ¡°Can you read minds? Why do you think I can¡¯t ept it?¡± Pearl scoffed. ¡°Abby, your time and effort is better spent on Abby was infuriated. She had no way to outspeak Pearl, and they parted on bad terms. Pearl got in her to Richard¡¯s office to discuss the next step of the proposal, but she found Abby in the office, holding Rich coquettishly with him. ¡°Rick, it¡¯s noon. Let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± Pearl stood at the door. She was about to turn and leave but Richard stopped her. ¡°Come in, Pearl.¡± Pearl pursed her l*ps. Her gaze was intense. ¡°Am I disturbing you guys?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Richard withdrew his hand from Abby¡¯s grasp and took his seat. ¡°Come. Let¡¯s discuss this proposal ¡± His direct refusal made Abby helpless. She had not expected Richard to ignore her for Pearl given that h She became very upset and shed some tears while looking at him. ¡°Rick, I¡¯m the one who asked you ou Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Richard¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°I have to prioritizepany matters. Is there a problem with that?¡± Abby was refused again. She bit her l*ps and fell silent. Pearl watched Abby¡¯s back as thetter left the office. She found this amusing. ¡°Are you sure you wan t to hurt your childhood sweetheart this way? She seemed so miserable.¡± Richard nced at Pearl. ¡°Focus on the proposal.¡® ¡± Pearl smiled. ¡°Sean was right. You¡¯re a workaholic who doesn¡¯t care for women.¡± Richard did not respond to her. He lowered his head and read the proposal seriously. The sunlight shon e on his face, casting a light shadow. Pearl noticed the unfathomable light in his eyes. By the time they finished modifying the proposal, it was already three in the afternoon. Suddenly, Pearl¡¯ s stomach growled. Richard raised an eyebrow. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll take you to get something to eat.¡± After they packed up, they headed out of the office. They bumped into Abby who was justing back. Pearl smiled at her. Abby¡¯s red and swollen eyes became even redder. She wiped away her tears and ran into the building. This interlude did not affect their mood though. Richard took her to a restaurant that he liked and order ed two tes of pasta. Pearl smiled as she bit on her fork. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you like this kind of food, Richard.¡± Richard was elegant even if he was merely eating pasta. He took a bite and said indifferently, ¡°What do you think I should eat? Steak? Truffle?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you to like such ordinary food.¡± Pearl smiled widely. Her gaze turned intense as she said seriously, ¡°But¡­¡­ like this too. I always ate pasta when I was young. I think the best pasta I¡¯ve ever ha d was the one my father made.¡± Unfortunately, things had changed. She could no longer return to the way things were. Richard kept quiet and continued eating. Secretly, he was moved. This was the first time he had heard Pearl talk about her family. Although it was just a passing mention, he was still deeply moved. Upon returning to the office, Pearl¡¯s colleague patted her shoulder when she was about to sit down to work ¡°Pearl, you have to check X now! You¡¯re in trouble!¡± Pearl¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. opened up the app and looked through the trending posts. There were some attention- grabbing words. [Pearl has intimate contact with a foreigner even though she¡¯s engaged to the Waldorf family.] [Pearl looks obedient but is a ygirl. She¡¯s pulling a fast one on the Waldorf brothers.] [Pearl is surrounded by so many men. Who willnd the prize in the end?] There was a blurry photo in the post. It was the scene from the underground auction the other day from Pearl narrowed her eyes as a coldness permeated her. She immediately knew who was the mastermind behind this. She called Wayne to ask thetter to remove th She bumped into Richard as she was exiting thepany. He was going home too, but he just nced When Pearl got home, all Waldorfs were there. Susan immediately started scolding her fiercely. ¡°Pearl, Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Knitting her brows, Pearl whispered, ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± Susan erupted in anger. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t fancy any of my sons, but why did you secretly go out dati ng with other men after you agreed to spend some time with them? Pearl, you¡¯ve let Dustan down.¡± Pearl knew that Dustan would be disappointed if she did not make things clear. ¡°Given the evidence, it¡¯s better if you just admit to it.¡± Mobius, having long despised Pearl¡¯s indifference, cracked a sneer. I¡¯ll forgive you if you get the hell out of here now.¡± Pearl shook her head in denial ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. That man was my senior.¡± Senior? Who was she trying to fool? Moblus gave Pearl an icy stare. ¡°But you two seemed so close. Stop denying it.¡± Dustan frowned. He asked Pearl calmly, ¡°Pea, is this true? Did you really go on a date with Pearl interrupted, ¡°Mister Dustan, that man is just my senior. I can call him if you don¡¯t trust me.¡± Her suggestion made Susan smile. ¡°What can you prove with a call? You can make up stories with him to fool us,¡± Pearl found the issue hard to resolve since they would not believe her. Suddenly, Hanzel eximed in surprise as he scrolled through his social media feed, ¡°Look Someone p osted an article.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. It was posted by an Aflusian Crieque that looked just like the man in the photograph. [I have a fiancee and am engaged to marry her this June. Pearl Leighton is my junior, and my teacher a sked me to take care of her. Ladies and gentlemen, please don¡¯t make a big issue out of this, and watc h your tongue. Stop making things difficult for her.] As a famous person who won a lot of awards abroad, no one dared to refute Dimitri¡¯s words. Hence, th e trend of the event changed, and some started making guesses about who snapped the photograph and wanted to plot against Pearl. Susan¡¯s anger subsided. She nced at Pearl. ¡°Pearl, L¡­¡± Dustan shed Pearl a satisfactory smile. ¡°I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you. Pea, I¡¯m sorry for the troub le.¡± Nodding, Pearl smiled. ¡°Thank you for believing in me, Mister Dustan ¡± The embarrassed Mobius muttered stubbornly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I still dislike you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to like me but please don¡¯t nder me ever again,¡± Pearl said firmly as she looked at Clenching his fists, he retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± ¡°All right, it¡¯s over. Stop talking about this.¡± Dustan waved to stop Mobius from saying more. As the others left, Richard stayed put. He had felt mixed feelings as he watched Pearl handle the issue c Noticing his gaze, Pearl smiled at him with her head tilted. ¡°Did you think I went on a date with that guy t Richard did not reply. Even if he was bothered by it, he could not confirm she had done it. His reaction made Pearl fake a smile. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 After that little hup, Pearl instructed Wayne to find the culprit. As expected, Abby was the one who bribed a reporter to get that photograph and post it on the Inte. Pearl realized that she had been too lenient with Flores Firms since Abby could still scheme against her. ¡°Wayne, cancel all contracts between Cerubleu and Flores Firms, including the ongoing ones. Pay off t hepensation for the breach of contracts.¡± With an icy expression, Wayne remarked, ¡°I knew it was Abby. Don¡¯t worry, Miss Pearl. I won¡¯t let her of f the hook¡± Flores Firms was set to lose hundreds of millions of dors without Cerubleu. Richard became suspicious when Cerubleu announced they would cease cooperating with Flores Firms. Thepany seemed to always encounte r a crisis whenever something happened to Pearl. He wondered if Wayne was avenging Pearl. Pearl was about to leave after confirming the final proposal with Richard when thetter stopped her. ¡°I have a question for you.¡± Pearl did not feel like talking to him about anything other than business after he had doubted her. ¡°If it¡¯s something p ersonal, I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Are you the mastermind behind Flores Firms¡® crises?¡± After a moment of shock, Pearl burst intoughter. ¡°Do you really think I have the power to ruin arge Richard¡¯s face sank. ¡°You don¡¯t, but Wayne and Cerubleu do. I know Abby isn¡¯t very likable, but you do n¡¯t have to do this to her.¡± ¡°Wow, feeling sorry for the damsel, are we, Mister Richard? You¡¯re scolding me on her behalf.¡± Pearl¡¯s gaze was bone- chilling, and her words made Richard frown in confusion. ¡°Do you really think Abby is naive and kind?¡± Richard recalled how upset Abby was after she stepped on an ant when they were young. ¡°I think she is.¡± Pearl knew there was nothing else left to say. She got to her feet and said calmly, ¡°Flores Firms¡® crises have everything to do with Abby and nothing to do with me. Mister Richard, you should call the preside nt of Cerubleu about this instead of making things difficult for me, your employee.¡± She turned and left i n a huff. Richard handed the task of organizing the Waldorf Enterprises anniversary party to Abby and invited m any influential and famous people. This news made Pearl¡¯s hand tremble as she wrote. ¡°Oh, turns out you like Abby. No wonder you defended her.¡± This strange idea surprised her and upset her at the same time. She decided to invite Wayne out for a drink at Night Pub after work. Staring at the sparkling wine in his hand, Wayne teased Pearl, ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you in a bad mood. What happened? Did the Wald orfs bully you?¡± Pearl downed her wine. ¡°I told you that would never happen.¡± Her arrogance made Wayne roll his eyes. ¡°Then why are you here drowning your sorrows?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Frustrated, Pearl knocked his head. ¡°Get lost if you don¡¯t want to drink.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll drink with you.¡± After chugging down a few sses of wine, Pearl became slightly tipsy and bold. She suddenly wanted to y truth or dare. ¡°Whoever the bottle points at first has to hit on someb*dy and get them to drink three sses of wine.¡± 2/2 Wayne lost the first round. He picked up his wine ss and walked over to a woman, and he sessfu lly got her number. The bottle pointed to Pearl in the second round. She staggered to her feet and walk ed toward a group of people nearby. When Richard saw her sashay toward them, he furrowed his brow s. ¡®Is that Pearl? Extending her hand and weaving through the crowd, Pearl chuckled and fell into Richard¡¯s arms. ¡°Since you¡¯re the most handsome one, I choose you.¡± Richard kept his cool, eager to watch her next move. ¡°Handsome, what do you think of me?¡± Pearl was flushed from the wine and her long red dress enhanced her charms. While lea leaning into Richard, she yanked his tic. Her pleasant smell enveloped him. The surrounding men were stunned. One of them started to tease Richard, ¡°You¡¯re a babe ma, Mis ter Richard. Women throw themselves at you wherever you go. Tsk! Check out her slim figure and fair skin.¡± ¡°Yeah, Mister Richard. Time is of the essence. She seems pretty wasted and is really into you. You¡¯d be tter hurry.¡± The men glued theirscivious gazes on Pearl¡¯s legs. ¡°I¡¯ll rip your eyes out if you keep staring at her,¡± Richard warned coldly. The men stoppedmenting on Pearl when Richard suddenly erupted in anger. He took off his coat an ¡°R¨CRichard? Forget it. I¡¯m gonna go.¡± Pearl struggled to get up but Richard swiftly picked her up. ¡°Stop. You¡¯re drunk.¡± Pearl pouted like a child. ¡°I wanna leave. Stop pestering me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get in trouble.¡± Richard then carried her to a room upstairs. The drunk Pearl started rambling, ¡°I hate Richard the most.¡± Her remark made Richard upset. ¡°And why is that?¡± Pearl beganining, ¡°Richard always helps others to bully me. How could he do this to me? I feel Helplessly, Richard refuted, ¡°He didn¡¯t bully you.¡± ¡°No, he likes¡­ Abby. He¡¯s been helping her to bully me,¡± she said as she sobbed. Richard had never seen Pearl behave like an aggrieved girl before, and he felt rather sorry for her. He wondered if he had made a mistake. ¡°No, Richard would never bully you.¡± It was his promise and guarantee. Pearl scoffed. ¡°But he likes Abby. He¡¯ll keep on helping her.¡± After that, she dozed off. Richard stared at her sleeping face and whispered, ¡°No, I don¡¯t like Abby.¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Pearl woke up with a serious headachete the next morning. She found more than ny¨C nine texts and endless missed calls from Wayne. After texting him that she was safe, she started recalli ngst night¡¯s events. She remembered meeting Richard and flirting with him, but she had no clue wh at happened afterward. She massaged her temples and got ready to go to work Although Abby was a pretentious b*tch, she did a great job in organizing the party and using new designs for thepany¡¯s decoration. Her work and i dentity earned her a slew of praises. ¡°Oh, please stop. It¡¯s nothing much. Rick was the one who taught me everything,¡± the blushing Abby said sh yly. Her attitude clued everyone in and they started teasing her. ¡°You¡¯re Mister Richard¡¯s childhood sweetheart, aren¡¯t you? He seems to really like you too.¡± ¡°This is just like an idol drama!¡± Unspeakable feelings engulfed Pearl as she returned to her seat, but she could still hear their words. Someone raised an inappropriate question out of the blue. ¡°But isn¡¯t Miss Pearl the fiancee of the Wald orf family? What if she picks Mister Richard?¡± Abby¡¯s face sank but she forced out an awkward smile and exined to protect her image, ¡°Don¡¯t worry . Pearl told me she doesn¡¯t like Rick.¡°! Pearl heard Abby¡¯s nonsense, cocked a brow, and burst intoughter. ¡°Watch your words, Abby. We¡¯re not close, so why would I tell you that?¡± Abby had not expected Pearl to suddenlye over. She bit her l*p as a hideous expression appeared Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. on her face. ¡°But Pearl, you did tell me that. It¡¯s okay even if you intend to break your word. After all, Ri ck- Pearl snickered. ¡°Why? I can¡¯t like Richard, can I?¡± Abby was struck dumb. At that moment, Richard appeared. Full of smiles, Abby took his arm. ¡°Rick, I¡¯ve got everything set up for tonight¡¯s party. Would you like to take a look around?¡± Richard ignored her and stared at Pearl, saying, ¡°You came in to workte today. I¡¯ll be deducting three days of your sry.¡± Pearl gnashed her teeth at Richard but thetter looked away and left with Abby. Richard¡¯s secretary went to Pearl about half an hourter and whispered, ¡°Mister Richard wants to see y Even though Pearl wanted to avoid him, after seeing how awkward the secretary looked, she sighed and ¡°What is it?¡± Grumpy, Pearl stayed where she was and stared at him. Richard pointed at a gift box on the table and said calmly, ¡°I want you to go to tonight¡¯s party with me.¡± T bbergasted, Pearl asked, ¡°Why me? Your childhood sweetheart will be mad at you.¡± He frowned at her response. He stuffed the gift box into her hands. ¡°I got you a dress for tonight.¡± ¡°What if I say no?¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Pearl crossed her arms and stared at him as she smiled. Richard replied gloomily, ¡°Then I¡¯ll deduct another half a month from your sry.¡± Clutching the box, she silently red at him. She then turned to leave the office. Abby spotted Pearl leaving Richard¡¯s office with a giant gift box, and a wave of jealousy overcame her. ¡®What a shameless b* hing up her At night, Pearl went to the washroom to change. Abby followed her into the washroom on the pretense of touching up her makeup. Abby, wearing a light pink dress that enhanced her adorable qualities, dropped her act and nced at Pearl. Her hatred grew worse. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Pearl. Don¡¯t dream of snatching Richard¡¯s heart, or I wi ll make you pay.¡± Calmly, Pearl smoothed her bangs. ¡°You have no say in what I want, do you?¡± Her stubbornness made Abby want to rip to shreds. ¡°I grew up with Rick. No one can get in between us . You best stop or you¡¯ll regret it. Pearl shook her head. ¡°Ha! He didn¡¯t fall in love with you even though you two grew up together. How pi tiful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense!¡± Abby yelled angrily. ¡°Do you think he likes you even one bit?¡± Abby had been avoiding this question as she was not bold enough to dwell on Richard¡¯s feelings out of fear it was not the answer she wanted to hear. But Richard had never been so concerned about another woman before, and it suffocated Abby ¡°He¡¯s just unsure about his feelings. He¡¯ll never fall in love with you!¡± Pearl uttered light¨Cheartedly as she nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. After throwing her l*pstick to the floor in frustration, Abby left. When Pearl opened the box to change into the dress, she found that someone had cut it up and ruined Pearl frowned. ¡°What bad luck.¡± After waiting for some time and not spotting Pearl, Richard grew slightly uneasy. He wondered if someth Suddenly, Abby appeared wearing a sweet smile when he was about to go look for Pearl. ¡°Are you waiting for someone, Rick?¡± Richard nodded as he kept looking. Noticing his absent¨Cminded look, envy ate at Abby. ¡°I bumped into Pearl earlier. She said she might be in the restroom for a while and told us to go ahead.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Abby¡¯s sincerity convinced Richard that she was telling the truth. He nodded and entered the hall with h er. Their appearance instantly attracted the attention of the reporters by the door. The reporters started snapping lots of pictures of the. Abby leaned close to Rich ard to give others the wrong impression of their closeness, Suddenly, she staggered and fell forward bu t Richard managed to grab her waist in time. Of course, this was precisely what the reporters yearned to see, and they took even more photos of the pair. They even came up with the headline for tomorrow¡¯s news. [Uing marriage between Flores Firms and Waldorf Enterprises! The couple is so lovey¨Cdovey!] Blushing, Abby thanked Richard. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡± Richard withdrew his hand and strode ahead into the hall, putting a damper on Abby¡¯s excitement. She bit her l*p and followed after him to avoid awkwardness. After a while, anothermotion started at the door, and it was no less than the one caused by Richard and Abby. Baffled, Richard quietly watched the two people who entere d/ They were Sean, who had on a bright smile, and¡­Pearl? She was wearing a short ck dress, looking charming and S**y. Richard started coldly at her. The dr ess he had bought her was a long white strapless dress. He concluded that she must hate him to the c ore to stand him up ande to the party with Sean instead. The keen Sean caught sight of Richard, and his smile became even brighter. ¡°You guys got here early .¡± Abby froze when she saw Pearl standing there safe and sound in a new dress. She had ruined Pearl¡¯s dress, cut Pearl¡¯s phone charger, and destroyed the lock on the washroom door. How did Pearl get out ? Pearl sneered at Abby¡¯s expression. ¡°You look surprised to see me, Abby.¡± Abby snapped back to reality and shook her head. ¡°Umm, I¡¯m just surprised to see you and Seane here together.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Pearl nced at Sean and chuckled. ¡°Well, I have to hand it to Mister Sean. He came to my rescue just in time. Otherwise, I¡¯d still be locked in the washroom. Someone messed up the lock on the door and r uined the dress I was going to wear. What do you think about that, Abby?¡± dn¡¯t do it.¡± Abby gripped her clothes tightly. ¡°Why are you asking me? I didn¡¯t do ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. Why are you so nervous? Did you actually do it?¡± Pearl¡¯s interrogation made it hard for Abby to defend herself. Richard spoke up to get Abby out of the predicament. ¡°Okay, the party¡¯s about to start. Stop fussing.¡± Hi s interruption earned him a re from Pearl. ¡°Yeah, the party¡¯s about to start. Pea, may I have the honor of having your first dance?¡± Sean extended his hand and bowed to Pearl. Pearl nodded as she smiled. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d be honored. Sean and Pearl danced together wonderfully, making others pale inparison. People were amazed by the lovely couple. Richard found their dance unsightly as he felt that they were unsuited for each other. Eagerly, Abby asked Richard, ¡°Should we dance too?¡± She had long prepared a routine to show off tonight but Richard was too upset to dance. He turned her down and went to drink in a corner. Before long, Richard felt a heat overwhelm him. He realized that he was drugged. Abby came over and asked in fake concern upon noticing the sweat on his forehead, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ri ck?¡± 2/2 Holding on to his weakening sanity, Richard replied, ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just go.¡± ¡°Rick¡­¡± Abby ced her hand on his burning forehead and sat beside him. ¡°Are you sick? Do you wan t me to take you to at doctor?¡± Her soft touch was excruciating for Richard, and waves of desire coursed through his b*dy. He stood u p and walked away from her. He went toward the elevator to head to his office. Chuckling, Abby knew that her n had worked. She followed him upstairs. Pearl subconsciously looked for Richard after her dance with Sean ended but found that Richard and Abby were nowhere to be seen. Sean saw through her thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re looking for Rick, aren¡¯t you? I saw him go upstairs with Abby in Pearl could guess the rest even. ¡°Go ahead and look for him if you want.¡± Sean let Pearl go as he felt that she would not go upstairs to be the third wheel. Even if she did, she wo it at the ¡°No, I¡¯m not going,¡± Pearl said in an icy tone. She was not about to go upstairs and intrude upon Richard had texted her. [Come upstairs to 302] Pearl turned off her phone. Out of sight, out of mind. But after some thought, she felt that something was wron Pearl understood something and dashed upstairs. Richard had been careful to go to the printing room instead of his office. Sitting on the floor, he used his When Pearl got there, she saw him suffering, ¡°Were you drugged, Richard?¡± Having learned some medical skills, she could tell something was wrong with him. He had been fed with a spec Grunting, Richard opened his eyes and saw Pearl. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist. ¡°What are you doing Before she could pull away, he pulled her into his arms. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Richard glued his fervent gaze on her, burning with desire ¡°Richard-¡± Pearl was interrupted by Richard¡¯s stiff and inexperienced k*ss, but he deepened the k*ss with each pa ssing second. Knowing that the drug had full control of him, Pearl bit his l*ps to force some sense into him. When he s taggered backward, she mbered on top of him and knocked him out as he was about to make his ne xt move. ¡°Troublesome.¡± She got to her feet and kicked him. ¡°What a rogue, taking liberties with me while out of it.¡± Pearl called for the Waldorf family b*dyguards to take Richard to the hospital because it would be too c onspicuous to call for an ambnce. When Richard opened his eyes, the first person he saw was the stoic Pearl. Shocked, he asked, ¡°Have you been taking care of me the whole night?¡± ¡°You were careless to get drugged,¡± Pearl mocked, ignoring his question. Richard fell silent and did not refute as she was right. ¡°Since you¡¯re up, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Uneasiness prompted Pearl to leave as the sight of Richard made her recall how he had defended Abby. ¡°Sean seems very interested in you,¡± Richard suddenly said. Cocking her brows, Pearl asked, ¡°And does that have anything to do with you? ¡°Sean likes topete with me for everything. I¡¯m worried he¡¯s trying to get close to you because of m Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. e instead of out of real feelings,¡± Richard answered honestly. His logic made Pearl snicker. ¡°You¡¯re interested in me too, aren¡¯t you, Mister Richard? Is that why Sean wants topete with you?¡± Richard was struck dumb by her words. He then replied awkwardly, ¡°Whatever.¡± His indifferent respons e made Pearl stop teasing him. After a brief rest, they returned to the office together. Deep dissatisfaction washed over Abby after her scheme was exposed. She stared at Pearl in jealousy, Seeing this, Pearl was amused. ¡°Are you curious about what we didst night?¡± Abby demanded, her face distorted with anger, ¡°What did you two dost night?¡± ¡°Last night, we¡­ What do you think? A man and a woman alone at night. Of course, something was bound to happen.¡± Abby was ovee by jealousy and she lost control at the thought of Richard sleeping with Pearl. ¡°Spil ¡°I took advantage of Richard¡¯s difficulty? But I didn¡¯t force him. We were willing participants.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Pearl grinned from ear to ear while watching Abby re up in a rage. Abby, having long lost her sanity, started rambling, ¡°Nonsense! Rick was drugged! How could he have co nsented to sleep with you?!¡± Cocking a brow, Pearl knew that it was Abby who had drugged Richard. ¡°I never said he was drugged. How did you know, Abby?¡± There was a glint of mockery in Pearl¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you were the one who drugged him.¡± Abby realized that Pearl had tricked her. After looking around to confirm that they were alone, she threatened, ¡°I¡¯m warning you. Don¡¯t you dare take my Rick, or you¡¯ll pay for it. He¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°You overestimate yourself, Abby. I¡¯m eager to see if you¡¯ll seed.¡± Pearl stretchedzily and returned t o her seat, ignoring the madwoman. Pearl took a cab after work as she did not want to go home with Richard. During dinner, Hanzel casually mentioned his n to shoot a music video for his new song the next day. Dustan suggested he took Pearl along. He thought it a good chance for Hanzel to spend some time with Pearl. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t she bring trouble, Dad?¡± Hanzel Labeled Pearl as trouble after she had been kidnapped once. Hearing this, Pearl purposely went against him. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tag along.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Enraged, Hanzel shot daggers at her. Pearl went to the set with Hanzel early the next morning. Hanzel¡¯s new song was a slow and romantic song in line with today¡¯s standards. Pearl knew that it would be popr after listening to the prelude. She gave an objective suggestion, ¡°The song is nice, but it¡¯ll be better if you lower the key of thest part and sing it with more feelings.¡± bbergasted, Hanzel wondered inwardly, ¡®She¡¯s good at music too?¡± His surprise made Pearl smile but thetter stopped talking. Naturally, the music video for a romantic song needed to feature a couple, but the actress ying the rol e waste and nowhere to be seen. The director called the actress and learned that she had gotten into a car ident and would not be attending the shoot. The stressed¨Cout director had no idea where to find another pretty and youthful woman. He had carefully picked that actress. He knew that he could not find a suitable cand idate in such a short time. Hanzel suddenly approached the director and beamed, ¡°Sir, I have a suitable candidate. He pointed at Pearl, who was enjoying the breeze. The b breeze lifted Pearl¡¯s hair, making her look like a young beauty from a painting in her simple white dress. The director¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°She¡¯s even better!¡± He made his wish known to Pearl and gained h Pearl found it hard to refuse given Hanzel¡¯s role in the affair. The makeup and shooting ended quickly as Pearl was charming and had outstanding acting skills. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sing the song with me for the recording? I¡¯m sure the song will be better with you in it beca After contemting it briefly, Pearl nodded in agreement as she found it hard to reject his sincerity. Hanzel¡¯s new song, Sweet Tea, became a hit on itsunch day and topped the charts. Manyizens praised the female singer¡¯s melodious voice but there were so [Her singing style is exactly like Nancie¡¯s. I¡¯m sure she copied Nancie!] Thisment spread like wildfire. Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Public opinion got worse and affected the streaming of the new song. Hanzel realized how serious the i ssue was and went to Waldorf Enterprises to discuss a resolution with Pearl, Pearl was discussing thepany¡¯s uing project with Richard in his office. The news Hanzel brought made her raise her brows. ¡°They¡¯re saying I copied Nancie?¡± Pearl failed to suppress herughter. Her light¨Chearted response baffled Hanzel. ¡°This is serious, Pearl¡± Pearl¡¯s indifferent response gave Richard a bold idea but he kept quiet and watched Pearl thoughtfully, waiting for her next move. Pearl shed Hanzel a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it. Your new song won¡¯t be affected.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing her being so calm, Hanzel decided to trust her. At that moment, Abby knocked on the door of the office. When she saw them, she asked, ¡°I heard som ething went wrong with Pearl and Hanzel¡¯s new song. It seems like Pearl copied. What¡¯s going on, Pea rl?¡± Pearl nced at Abby but gave no reply. Though feeling a little awkward, Abby pretended to be calm and suggested, ¡°I think Pearl should apolog ize publicly. Maybe the public will forgive her.¡± A public apology? That was equivalent to ruining one¡¯s reputation and burdening Hanzel. Pearl rejected, ¡°I won¡¯t apologize.¡± Abby anxiously added, ¡°Even if you¡¯re okay with it, you shouldn¡¯t burden Hanzel. You should do the righ t thing and apologize, If not, Hanzel¡¯s career will be affected.¡± ¡°Calm down. I won¡¯t burden him.¡± ¡°How are you going to resolve this then? You can¡¯t change the fact that you copied Nancie ¡± Pearl¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°What if I told you I had a way?¡± Abby did not believe Pearl. Her investigation showed that Nancie had disappeared from the public eye. It was impossible that Pearl was Narcle. Pearl was a top student who had studied abroad. She would h This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ave been too busy to join the entertainment industry. It was a ridiculous thought. ¡°Do you have a better n? Are you going to im that you¡¯re Nancie? Who would believe you?¡± Abby questioned incredulously as she stared at Pearl. ¡°I am Nance,¡± Pearl said. Hanzel was thunderstruck by her statement. He wondered if she was really the singer he admired deepl Richard was shocked too. Shaking her head and sighing, Abby said, ¡°Stop being stubborn, Pearl. You¡¯ll be doomed if you keep lyin Pearl stopped arguing with Abby and logged into a second social media ount that had millions of fan posted a new statement after a year. The brief statement knocked everyone off their feet. [1 am Pear! Leighton | The whole Inte got into an uproar Pearl¡¯s post was reposted hundreds of times, and some people ev Look! I told you that Pearl was Nancie but you guys wouldn¡¯t believe me!) Chapter 39 Chapter 39 [Shame on all of you who imed Pearl is a copycat.] [Oh, Nancie looks so pretty in the music video. She¡¯s good at singing and is a top student, and she has five excellent and handsome men to pick from. The Heavens really favor her.] [Nancie¡¯s new song is great. Her voice is so charming. I want to keep listening to her!] After a minute, theizens started taking Pearl¡¯s side, and the streaming of the new song increased b y leaps and bounds. ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m lying, Abby?¡± Pearl cupped her face and happily watched Abby¡¯s hideous expressi on. ¡®How could Pearl be Nancie?!¡® Abby was hit by disappointment, envy, and hatred as she clenched her f ists. She yearned to tear Pearl¡¯s face off. ¡°This is such a great surprise!¡± However, Pearl refused to let Abby off the hook ¡°But you were scolding and doubting me a moment ago. Shouldn¡¯t you be apologizing to me?¡± Abby wanted to curse, but she stered on a smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I doubted you, Pearl. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll forgive you because I¡¯m generous.¡± Abby hade to rejoice in Pearl¡¯s misery, but thetter¡¯s smugness after victory drove her away. Hanzel finally spoke up after calming down, but he could not hide his excitement. ¡°Pearl¨C I mean Nancie, you¡¯re my idol. I love your songs!¡± Nancie won one of the most prestigious singing awards one year after she debuted. After that, she wen t missing, and no one has reached her level since Bearing, Pearl replied, ¡°Stop. I¡¯m just a normal person. I hope we can keep making music together.¡± The ted Hanzel was eager to cooperate with the singer he admired. Pearl smiled at him and nodded. Hanzel then left to find his public rtions team, leaving Richard and Pearl in the office. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have so many identities.¡°Richard scrutinized Pearl. Chuckling, Pearl said, ¡°Mister Richard, you tter me, ¡°Do you have to speak that way to me?¡± Richard was filled with great uneasiness as she kept a distanc e from him. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What should I say then?¡± But she gained no reply from him even after a pause. The Waldorf family could tell that Richard and Pearl were being weird around each other. Mobius suggested when he noticed Richard¡¯s bad mood, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a new racing course in Death it out¡± This suggestion anused Dustan. ¡°Bring Pea along with you.¡± Moblus pouted and refused, ¡°But racing is a boy¡¯s thing She¡¯ll just wall and ery in the car. Why do you ev Curious, Pearl asked, ¡°Can¡¯t women race?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I look down on women. Some are really good at racing in fact, a woman broke Rick¡¯s recor other day. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s pretty and S**y!¡± Mobius expressed his admiration. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Pearl nonchntly ruined Mobius¡® fantasy. ¡°That woman was me.¡® Her confession knocked Mobius off his feet. ¡°Like hell it was!¡± ¡°If you think I¡¯m lying, then forget it.¡± Mobius huffed. ¡°Come with us tomorrow if you¡¯re really that woman and let me see how good you are. Don¡¯t tell me you even know how to drive a race car.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Pearl did not want to let the childish person off the book so easily. ¡°And what if I really am that woman? ¡± ¡°If it was, I¡¯ll never call you a bumpkin again.¡± Grinning, Pearl added another term ¡°And you will always address me as Miss Pearl from then on.¡± ¡°Deal. Also, get the hell out of our house if you aren¡¯t.¡± Mobius was certain victory was on his side. ¡°Deal.¡± don¡¯t Mobius woke Pearl up the next day and asked Richard to go to Death Valley together with them. He lov ed car racing and admired Richard¡¯s skills very much until a mysterious woman broke Richard¡¯s record. He even started fantasizing about that woman¡¯s looks. Pearl changed into a red racing suit that made her look attractive and dazzling. Simrly, Richard¡¯s suit was red too. He was a good match for Pearl. ¡°Just give up already. There¡¯s no need to embarrass yourself.¡± Pearl got into the car and fastened the seatbelt ¡°Watch me. After starting her car, she went as fast as a cheetah as she sped up. Mobius¡® initial doubt turned into shock as he watched her drive. He gasped, ¡°This¡­ This is unbelievabl e.¡± Richard whispered, ¡°I looked into the person who broke my record and found that it was Pearl.¡± ¡°Rick¡­¡± Mobius gave Richard a reproachful look. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Richard raised his eyebrows but remained silent. When Pearl got out of the car, Moblus¡® dominance had been reced with crestfallen feelings. ¡°Miss P earl.¡± ¡°Good boy.¡± Pearl bearned. Her confidence made Richard want topete against her. ¡°Let¡¯s race, shall we?¡± Pearl rolled her eyes. ¡°No, I won¡¯tpete against you.¡± Mobius immediately added fuel to the fire. ¡°Say yes, Miss Pearl! I¡¯ve never met anyone stronger than Rick!¡± Richard chimed in, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared.¡± He sessfully sparked herpetitiveness. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll use this course. The winner is the one who makes it back first.¡± Pearl and Richard then got ready. Flooring the pedals, their cars sped off. Pearl was more skillful than Richard Pearl was about to elerate when she paled all of a sudden. ¡°Richard!¡± she yelled. Richard¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My gas is running out and I¡¯m going too fast. I might stop too suddenly!¡± The consequences would be unimaginable. If the car stopped suddenly at high speed, the car might sp A look toward the rear of her car confirmed that her car was lealding. ¡°Stay calm!¡± Richard sped up and moved his car a few meters forward to be in line with hers. ¡°Jump!¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Gnashing her teeth, Pearl controlled the steering wheel as she unfastened her seatbelt. The twists and turns of the road made it difficult. She then stood up and leaped, falling into Richard¡¯s arms. He grunted. ¡°You okay?¡± Pearl was anxious. Richard shook his head and slowed the car. When the gas ran out, Pearl¡¯s car stopped all of a sudden and flew into the air. It then smashed into the ground and broke into pieces. When Richard and Pearl got back to the starting line, Mobius was a bundle of nerves. He had heard th e nt explosion. He rashed over and asked, ¡°What happened? I heard an explosion from the southw est. Did the car blow up?¡± Richard helped Pearl out of the car and exined, ¡°Pearl¡¯s car suddenly ran out of gas.¡± a He then instructed Mobius to get some people to handle the ruined car. With her gaze lowered, Pearl pondered. She then said, ¡°I think someone did it on purpose.¡± Richard was of the same opinion. The cars here were inspected daily and would never have an oil leak age problem. Richard and Pearl went to the monitoring room to get yesterday¡¯s surveince footage and found that it had been erased. Someone must be behind this.¡± They were vexed as they failed to find the culprit. Richard suggested heading home to avoid more idents. ¡°Okay. Just let me use thedies first.¡± Pearl nodded and walked toward the washroom. Once she was inside, she called Wayne. ¡°Help me investigate the surveince footage at the door of Death Valley fro m thest two days and find anyone who looks suspicious.¡± She then left with Richard and Mobius. When Pearl got home, she found people decorating the ce with balloons. She learned that it would b e Mobius¡® eighteenth birthday the next day. After some thought, she went to the mall to get him a gift. Knowing that he loved car racing, she decided to buy him a racing suit but failed to locate anything satisfactory after loo king around She asked the shop assistant for the rare and collectible racing suits. The shop assistant showed her th e most expensive racing suit after gaining the manager¡¯s permission. However, another person snatche d the suit before Pearl could touch it. ¡°This is good. I¡¯ll take it.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The shop assistant awkwardly exined, ¡°But Miss Abby, thisdy was the one who requested it¡­¡± Abby ignored the shop assistant and pulled a long face. ¡°I told you I want this. Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± ¡°But ¡± Abby scolded the shop assistant, ¡°No more buts. This mall belongs to my family. Unless you want to get Her threat made the shop assistant nce at Pearl nervously. Pearl said indifferently, ¡°I got here first. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t snatch my things, will you, Abby?¡± ¡°So what if you came first? I always get what I want, Pearl.¡± Abby sneered. She was certain to get this s Richard Pearl got closer and nced at the suit, asking Abby condescendingly, ¡°Do you really want this suit?¡± Laughing arrogantly, Abby looked at Pearl. ¡°This belongs to my family. I can have it whenever I want.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you have it if you really want it.¡± Pearl chuckled, but she was not about to let Abby off the hook so Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Abby attended Mobius¡® birthday party as the Waldorfs had invited her. After unwrapping Abby¡¯s gift, Mobius screamed in surprise, ¡°This racing suit is so cool! I love it! Thank you, Abby!¡± Smiling, Abby said, ¡°You¡¯re wee. It wasn¡¯t very expensive either.¡± She then threw Pearl a smug nce. Pearl¡¯s gift came in a much smaller box. ¡°That seems like a very half¨Chearted gift, Pearl¡­¡± Abby appeared conflicted. After unwrapping the box, Mobius saw a car key inside. ¡°I love this car! There¡¯s only one of these cars i n the world. It¡¯s priceless! You¡¯re so magical, Miss Pearl. Why do you seem to have everything?¡± Mobius was ecstatic. This gift was far more precious than all the other giftsbined. It made Abby fee l that her gift was unpresentable. ¡°I knew Flores Firms is rich and powerful. You even looked down on such a gift, Abby¡± Pearl mocked. Abby red at Pearl, then hung her head. Richard¡¯s gift was thest, and Mobius was very curious about it. There was a property contract ced in a square box. ¡°I know you like Death Valley. You¡¯re now an adult, and starting today, the ce belongs to you.¡± Richard¡¯s gift filled others with surprise too. Inparison, the gifts that Sean, Hugo, and Hanzel boug ht were not very dazzling Dustan instructed someone to drive Abby home after the party ended, but she suggested after looking at the weather, ¡°Can I get Rick to send me instead? It¡¯s a bit dark outside, and I¡¯m scared.¡± Richard tactfully turned her down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t. I have some work to handle.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Abby smiled awkwardly. ¡°Forget it then. I¡¯ll head home on my own.¡± This filled Susan with displeasure. ¡°Rick! Abby¡¯s asking you to send her home, so do it.¡± ¡°But Mom¡­¡± Richard stayed where he was. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No more buts. Are you trying to make me angry?¡± Susan clutched her chest and gasped for breath. ¡°Y ou¡¯ll give me a heart attack one day!¡± Left with no choice, Richard agreed to send Abby home. Sitting in the passenger seat, Abby lowered her gaze and said shyly, ¡°Thank you for the ride, Rick.¡± ¡°No problem. I consider it a duty.¡± Richard kept his eyes on the road. Stunned, Abby bit her l*p. ¡°But Rick, you liked me very much when we were young. You always held my Richard frowned. ¡°I was being, and you¡¯re younger than me. Of course, I should take care of you.¡± ¡°But 1..¡± Abby suddenly turned to him, her eyes watery. ¡°But I love you very much. I¡¯ve been in love with almost ten years.¡± Surprised, Richard asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had my heart since the first time we met. Have you never noticed? I thought you would marry m it¡¯s my dream to marry you one day.¡± Her passionate confession failed to move Richard. ¡°You should pick someone else, Abby.¡± ¡°No!¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 ¡°Abby, please understand it¡¯s impossible between us.¡± Richard looked cold. ¡°I think it¡¯s best if we cut co ntact if you insist on behaving this way.¡± When they arrived at the Flores residence, he told her to get out and left without another word. A hatred burned within Abby as she watched him speed away. ¡®It must be because of that b*tch! Other wise, Rick wouldn¡¯t be so cold toward me. You will pay for this, Pearl!¡± It was one o¡¯clock in the morning when Richard got home. Pearl coincidentally came downstairs for wat er. When she saw him rush into the house looking exhausted, she teased, ¡°You¡¯re finally home, Richar d?¡± Richard asked in answer, ¡°Why are you still up?¡± ¡°I just came to get so some water. Did you think I was waiting for you toe home?¡± Her words vexed him. ¡°Go to bed early. I want you toe with me to sign the contract tomorrow.¡± He went to his bedroom without waiting for an answer. Richard and Pearl woke up early the next morning to head to the hotel as the business partner they we re meeting was usually punctual. Lawson Enterprises, their new business partner, specialized in jewelry, and they were only inf erior to Cerubleu. Chet Lawson, the vice president of Lawson Enterprises, came to discuss the contract with Richard and Pearl. He kept ncing at Pearl out of the corner of his eye while reading the contrac t.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The contract¡¯s good. Did you draft this, Miss Pearl?¡± Chet smiled suggestively while staring at Pearl. Although she felt disgusted, Pearl nodded. ¡°Yes, I did. Please tell me if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re dissatisfi ed with. We can discuss it ¡± Chet ced his hand on Pearl¡¯s. ¡°You seem really friendly, Miss Pearl. How about we have a meal toge ther and discuss the project further?¡± Richard angrily stared at Chet¡¯s on Pearl¡¯s. He then quietly pulled Pearl into his arms. ¡°You can discuss the project with me, Mister Chet. I understand Pearl¡¯s thoughts as she¡¯s my fiancee.¡± His remark made Pearl¡¯s eyes go wide with shock. When did she be his fiancee? But she kept silent as she did not want the old pervert taking advantage of her to sign a contract. Chet¡¯s face sank. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you two were engaged.¡± Richard answered, ¡°We will be sooner orter.¡± Chet said with dissatisfaction, ¡°I think we can call off the project if you insist on annoying me, Mister Richard.¡± Pearl snickered. ¡°We spent a whole week drafting up this contract, Mister Chet. You want to call it off jus Lawson Enterprises isn¡¯t begging for this contract. It doesn¡¯t bring it much anyway.¡± Chet got up to leave ¡°That won¡¯t happen, Mister Chet.¡± Pearl icily watched Chet¡¯s expression sour. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. Waldorf Enterprises will never work with Lawson Enterprises,¡± Richard said. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 In an act of protecting Pearl, Richard sneered. ¡°Waldorf Enterprises doesn¡¯t need yourpany.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Chet red at Richard fiercely and stormed off. Pearl had not expected Richard to step forward. She asked as she smiled, ¡°Were you defending me?¡± Richard was moved by her smile, but he quickly looked away. ¡°I couldn¡¯t stand him taking liberties with Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. my employee.¡± Seeing his indifference, Pearl stopped teasing him, ¡°What should we do now? Lawson Enterprises won ¡¯t work with us anymore. This is going to be an issue.¡± ¡°I have a n B. Lawson Enterprises is a small fry and can¡¯t do anything to us.¡± Pearl was curious. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to work with a foreignpany. It will be a little more expensive, but Walford Enterprises can afford it.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you work with Cerubleu instead?¡± After a pause, Richard replied, ¡°Cerubleu has always been mysterious, and the projects they take on ar epletely dependent on their president¡¯s mood. We may waste a lot of time trying to get an appointment.¡± Waste a lot of time? Richard had given up after Pearl refused to meet him once. It was outrageous. Scoffing, Pearl suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. I¡¯ll get us a meeting with their president tomorrow.¡± ¡°You can do that?¡± Richard turned his deep¨Cset eyes to her. Pearl was prepared with a logical exnation. ¡°There¡¯s a fierce battle between Lawson Enterprises and Cerubleu. If we cooperate with Cerubleu, we can expand our market, help Cerubleu¡¯s development, an d bring down Lawson Enterprises. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure Cerubleu won¡¯t turn down such a win¨C win situation.¡± Richard agreed after recalling Pearl¡¯s rtionship with Wayne. ¡°I¡¯ll contact their presidentter.¡± Pearl turned and left. People assumed that Waldorf Enterprises would take a brief nosedive after failing to reach cooperation with Lawson Enterprises. But then came a piece of unexpected news that Waldorf Enterprises would b e cooperating with Cerubleu. With Pearl¡¯s help, the cooperation was confirmed within two days. The manufacture of the jewelry piece s would start in a week Pearl held a presale before the official mass production to see if the responses from the customers wer e good. In ten minutes, Richard summoned Pearl to his office. ¡°The jewelry was sold out in five minutes,¡± Richard said as he stared at her. Surprised, Pearl asked, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, and a lot of peoplemented on our official website asking for an official sale.¡± Pearl scrolled through social media and saw the top hot searches were about the new Waldorf Enterpris (Oh, what amazing jewelry!! (It¡¯s more that. These new products surpassed all the other jewelry of the same style.] (1 still think Angel¡¯s designs are the best, but Waldorf Enterprises¡® jewelry is remarkable too.] (Angel¡¯s designs are one¨Cof¨Ca¨C kind. It¡¯s hard to find someone simr to her style and does such a good job at it stom for too much.] Thements were endless, and Pearl was amazed as she scrolled through them. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 [Wait! Don¡¯t you find this set of jewelry very familiar? It¡¯s 70% simr to Angel¡¯s award¨C winning design fromst year¡¯s international jewelry designpetition!] Pearl for a bad feeling as she saw the cornments turn wild. [We want a refund! We don¡¯t want giarized items!] [Pearl¡¯s a singer. Why did she end up designing jewelry? It¡¯s ridiculous.] There were many suchments. The phone in Richard¡¯s office suddenly rang. He answered, then frowned. After ending the call, he exined, ¡°We suddenly got a mass cancetion.¡± Pearl remained calm. After a long while, she suggested, ¡°Tell Sales to start selling First Sight.¡± Her confidence boosted Richard, and he called the sales department. This was followed by another uproar on social media. [What happened? It¡¯s okay if the new products resemble Angel¡¯s designs, but this is in giarism. It¡¯s outrageous.] [Waldorf Enterprises is disgusting.] [Drive that designer out! Don¡¯t let her ruin Waldorf Enterprises¡® reputation!] Pearl was bombarded with endless criticism. Reading thements, Richard frowned. Pearl smiled at his worried look. Trust me, mak Waldorf Enterprises¡® first foray into the jewelry market a smashing sess.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. A jewelry sale was set to take ce in the afternoon but it became a press conference because of the c ommotion. Everyone was eager to know how Waldorf Enterprises would handle it. Raising their camera s, the reporters were eager to catch every detail. Pearl said into a microphone, ¡°This jewelry design is a set-¡± Someone interrupted her. ¡°We want to know why you giarized Angel¡¯s designs. Don¡¯t you have any i nspiration of your own?¡± Pearl looked at the camera and replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t giarize anything. The female reporter did not believe Pearl. ¡°There¡¯s aparison chart on the Inte, First Love and F irst Sight resemble Angel¡¯s award¨C winning designs. First Sight is clearly a giarized product. How are you going to exin this?¡± Pearl looked at the reporter¡¯s smug expression and raised her brows. ¡°Maybe I am Angel.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Angel never appears in public, and she¡¯s studying abroad. How could you possibly be Ange Pearl was amused by the reporter¡¯s livid expression. ¡°What if I can prove that I¡¯m Angel?¡± Angel had never appeared in public, so how could the reporter know that Pearl was not Angel? The reporter scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re going to prove it? How? I¡® impossible that you¡¯re Angel.¡± Shaking her head, Pearl took out a gold pen from her pocket that was iid with arge diamond. Some Someone took a closer look and found the official logo of thepetition engraved on the pen. ¡°She rea Chapter 46 Chapter 46 The woman looked scared. ¡°L..¡± Pearl smiled kindly. ¡°You should check things first before giving such an usation, Miss.¡± People were shocked because Angel, the famous jewelry designer, was actually Pearl from Waldorf En terprises. Everyone was taking pictures. This piece of news was as shocking as Pearl¡¯s suspected g iarism. Pearl changed the topic. ¡°I made this jewelry set for couples. The men wear ¡®First Sight¡® and the wome n wear ¡®First Love¡®. It¡¯s about love that grows with time, a love thatsts.¡± Consequently, the press conference ended sessfully. After the event, they posted on their website t hat the jewelry was all sold out that night. People online were upset they didn¡¯t buy it. DOB 2344 Cl [Oh no! Why did I even hesitate on buying it? This is Angel¡¯s design!] Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. [Yes, I want it too. Waldorf Enterprises has to start their official sale sooner. I need to buy it or my wife will divorce me!] Thesements stunned Richard, surprised to learn Pearl was Angel. He started thinking about the ot her names she used, like Nancie. He found her hard to predict. After work, they went homete at one o¡¯clock in the morning. They were hungry. Pearl¡¯s stomach growled. ¡°I¡¯m going to make pasta. Do you want some, Richard? ¡°Okay.¡± Richard nodded after a pause. Before long, Pearl served two tes of pasta with a fried egg each. The food was simple but tasted pre tty good. Richard was surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could cook too.¡± Pearl raised her chin smugly. ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know about me.¡± Suddenly, Richard started interrogating her. ¡°How many Identities do you have, Pearl?¡± Pearlughed. ¡°Are you interested in me, Richard? Why do you care so much?¡°¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking.¡± Richard¡¯s expression was unclear in the dark, but he sounded awkward. But he was notpletely honest. He really wanted to know more¨C he was starting to like her now. Suddenly, the lights turned on at the stairs. Hugo was standing there, sm he caught them flirting with each other in the middle of the night. Richard quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m going to slee ¡°You¡¯re such a busyb*dy, Hugo.¡± She ignored his question. ¡°My mom wants Rick to marry Abby. Liking him won¡¯t be easy.¡± Pearl said confidently, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do if I want to.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hugo¡¯s smile turned into a grin. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Pearl turned around and looked at Hugo. His smile seemed different from when she first met him. In her room, she called Wayne. ¡°Did you find the culprit?¡± ¡°Yeah, the IP addresses of those who ndered you are in the Flores Residence. It¡¯s most probably Ab by¡¯s doing. Also, I found. a weird person in the surveince footage of Death Valley. Thest person he called was Abby.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s Abby¡­ Let¡¯s show everyone the truth online tomorrow. An eye for an eye¡­¡± Pearl said coldly. ¡°Will do.¡± Wayne immediately handled it. The next morning, Pearl heard crying. After stretching, she went downstairs and saw Abby sobbing on t he sofa. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! It¡¯s all lies!¡± Pearl justughed, making everyone look at her. She asked innocently, ¡°Why are you all staring at me? ¡± ¡°Did you lie about Abby online?¡± someone said. Pearl sneered at that. ¡°Oh, you guys thought I framed her.¡± Abby cried, ¡°I¡¯m innocent, Pearl. How could you do this to me?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Shepletely lost her cool when she realized her actions were on the Inte Luckily, even though people suspected her, there wasn¡¯t solid proof. So, she hurried to the Waldorf Residence, where Susan still liked her, and convinced Susan that it was Pearl¡¯s n. ¡°I framed you?¡± Pearlughed again. ¡°Tell me, Abby. Why would I lie about you?¡± Abby looked up at Richard and said timidly, ¡°Maybe¡­ you like Rick and want me gone.¡± Faking a smile, Pearl retorted, ¡°Not everyone thinks like you.¡± ¡°Who else would do this to me? I know you always hated me¡­¡± Susan stepped in, frowning. ¡°Delete the online posts, Pearl. Clear this up!¡± She didn¡¯t want her future daughter¨Cin¨C Pearl stared at Susan. ¡°What if Abby really did those things? Susan was firm, ¡°Abby is a good person. She¡¯s always been a good kid, so of course she would never d His statement earned him a cold re from Pearl. ¡°So, you think I just made things up?¡± Pearl thought Susan¡¯s denial was unfair, but it really hurt when Richard repeated Susan¡¯s words. She realized she was just an outsider, not epted by the Waldorfs, including Richard. He had never a Since that was the case, she decided to reveal the true evidence Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Pearl posted all the evidence on the Inte, and everyone was talking about it. In the end, Abby¡¯s deeds were confirmed, and her failed attempts to harm Pearl became the hottest top ic of the year. As the youngdy of Flores Firms, this incident made thepany¡¯s shares plummet rap idly. Abby first thought Pearl was just guessing about what she did, but Pearl had real proof. And so, her perfect image, which she had worked so hard to build, was now destroyed. Plus, she could end up in legal trouble too¡­ Susan was very shocked and said, ¡°Abby. I never knew you could do something like this.¡± She never thought Abby could be so cruel, even though she¡¯d known her since Abby was a baby. Pearl looked at Abby and smiled. ¡°You tried to hurt me at Death Valley and spread rumors about me on the Inte. Why did you do all that, Abby?¡± Abby knew she could no longer clear her name. Crying, she exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My friends told me to do these things to keep Rick for myself. I did them because I love him so much. I know I was wrong¡­¡± Pearl remained calm, inwardly amused. ¡°So, because you love Richard, you thought it was okay to drug him and sleep with him? Abby stopped crying and stared at Pearl¨Ca sudden bad feeling hit her. Richard¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯re the one who drugged me, Abby?¡± For a moment, Abby was struck speechless. She realized that exining herself woulde off as me re excuses because the Waldorfs had already sided with Pearl after seeing the evidence. They would n ever listen to her now. With her head down, Abby was filled with despair. Pearl said, ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern me, and please don¡¯t get on my back again.¡± She was about to leave the house when Susan suddenly stopped her. Pearl turned around. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Madam?¡± Susan spoke up hesitantly, ¡°Pearl, I know Abby did wrong. But she did it because she loves Rick too m uch. Let me say sorry on her behalf. Can you¡­ please delete those posts online? I don¡¯t want Abby¡¯s r Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. eputation to be ruined.¡± Susan had liked Abby for a long time, and Abby had always treated her with genuine kindness. She rea Pearl scoffed. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying her mistakes are understandable, but I was forced to leave your house Was Pearl such a pushover? Feeling awkward, Susan sighed and said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, please?¡± However, Pearl nced at Abby coldly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have messed with her if she didn¡¯t mess with me. She Pearl then left and ignored Susan¡¯s apology. Even though Susan was sorry, Pearl knew the Waldorfs would still help Abby. She felt cold when she sa Chapter 49 Chapter 49 People no longer saw Abby as the kind girl she once was, and the Waldorfs were upset with her. Abby stayed away from Pearl, the Waldorf Residence, and thepany for a while. Pearl thought Abb y was lying low and reflecting on her mistakes, maybe even trying to better herself. One day, as Pearl left work and headed to the underground parking lot, she felt something was off, Suddenly, a bunch of strong guys tried to grab her. Pearl fought back, hitting one with her bag and tried to escape. Although she was good at martial arts, she couldn¡¯t defeat so many people. But she was tripped when she almost reached the entrance. When she looked up, It was Abby who had done it. The other men went over and tied her up. Abby slowly lifted her head, looking cruel. ¡°Oh, Pearl. I¡¯ve been waiting here for days. Now I¡¯ve got you. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡± Sheughed out loud. ¡°I¡¯ll never let you off the hook. I wouldn¡¯t have done this if you had behaved yourself. But you pushed me into this mess. You know, I¡¯ve been feeling so embarrassedtel y, especially in front of the Waldorfs and Rick!¡± Clenching her fists tightly, Abby sneered. Pearl, on the other hand, stated calmly, ¡°You only got what you deserved-¡± Abby was so mad she pped Pearl, cutting off her retort. Thetter¡¯s face became red and swollen. ¡°Shut up! None of this would have happened if it wasn¡¯t for you! Rick used to be so nice to me, but he h asn¡¯t even smiled at me since you arrived. Everything has changed since you came to the Waldorf Resi dence. Weren¡¯t you living a good life in your vige? Why did youe back? Tell me why!¡± Abby¡¯s anger escted when she saw Pearl¡¯s indifference. She grabbed Pearl¡¯s neck and dug her nails into Pearl¡¯s skin. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, Pearl? You think you¡¯re better than me? I¡¯m going to make you suffer for ruining my reputation!¡± Pearl knew she needed to stay calm and not provoke Abby further. All she could do was endure Abby¡¯s torment. After venting her anger, Abby felt much better. She waved and instructed the men to take her away. They blindfolded Pearl and threw her into a van. After a rough one or two¨Chour ride, they reached a remote and deste location. Pearl¡¯s heart sank when she realized how carefully Abby had nned this, making it impossible for her t One of the men grabbed Pearl¡¯s hair and dragged her into a run¨C down house. Pearl winced as her shoulders hit the wooden bed inside. Three men stood guard outside the house while the other four entered. Seeing Pearl in bed gave them w is. This¡¯ll be fun!¡± Another added, ¡°I¡¯ve never slept with someone this beautiful. Tsk¡­ Miss Abby is so nice to introduce us Chapter 50 Chapter 50 The leader red at them and said slowly, ¡°Miss Abby said she needs to be alive. But she didn¡¯t say w e couldn¡¯t have some fun. What a pretty babe¡­¡± Everyone burst intoughter. Pearl never imagined Abby would go this far. She stared at the men coldly and chuckled. ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡± One of them replied mockingly, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re our darling, and we¡¯ll give you a great timeter..¡± But another man, who seemed to know more, said, ¡°You¡¯re Pearl Leighton, the Waldorfs¡® future bride. A nd a singer too¡­. Tsk.¡± Pearl¡¯s voice turned sharp. ¡°And you think the Waldorfs won¡¯te after you for messing with me?¡± The man just shook his head and smiled helplessly. ¡°They¡¯ll break off the engagement when your reput ation is ruined. You¡¯re not family yet. Stop overthinking and just rx and enjoy-¡± Pearl raised her brows and smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. ¡°But do you know why I haven¡¯t marri ed into the Waldorf family yet?¡± Knowing that Pearl could not escape, he said curiously, ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Pearl let out a deep sigh. ¡°It¡¯s because I have AIDS. I didn¡¯t pass their health checks, that¡¯s why they¡¯re keeping me at a distance. Since I¡¯m dying, of course the Waldorfs don¡¯t want any of their sons to marry me.¡± Looking down, Pearl kept a sorrowful expression, as if she was really suffering. The man looked doubtful. ¡°Really? AIDS?¡± What a bummer if they couldn¡¯t enjoy themselves with such a beauty! ¡°If you don¡¯t care, then go ahead. It might be fun to have someone die with me,¡± Pearl sneered, killing t heir lust. This made them uneasy. One whispered, ¡°What if she¡¯s really¡­ Maybe we shouldn¡¯t?¡± The leader was smart. He narrowed his eyes and watched Pearl thoughtfully. ¡°We¡¯ll spare her for now. We¡¯ve got all the time in the world, after all.¡± He knew that they couldn¡¯t mess up. If they didn¡¯t follow through on their orders, there would be conseq uences. The Flores family was too powerful to cross, and even though Pearl was famous, she had no real powe r. They figured she would be easy to handle. The group decided to lock Pearl in the run¨C down house, with a strict rule that she wasn¡¯t to be untied unless the leader said so. Pearl, although sil ent, was trying toe up with countermeasures. They had taken her phone, but she had a backup n. She discreetly pressed on her ring, which had a built¨C in GPS. Once pressed, Wayne would be alerted to her location. Given the remote location, she hoped Wayne would realize she was in trouble ande to help. Time dragged on as Pearl waited in silence. At night, one of the men came in and gave her a piece of b read, Frowning, Pearl asked, ¡°Can you untie me? I really need to use the restroom.¡± She made a pained expr ession, pretending she had been holding it in for a while. The man hesitated. ¡°No, I can¡¯t let you run away.¡± Pearl widened her eyes. ¡°But I¡¯m just one woman, and you¡¯re here watching. Plus, do you really want this room to smell? You don¡¯t want that, righ t, handsome boy?¡± She could tell the man wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed. When she added apliment, calling him ¡°handsome,¡± he seemed to melt a bit.. ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°bute right back. If you try to escape, the punishment will be worse.¡± Pearl shed her best charming smile in response, bewitching him. She had barely stepped out of the room when another man stopped her. It was the leader, and he was f This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. urious to see her untied. He demanded, ¡°Who did this?¡± The man stepped forward with his tail between his legs. ¡°It was me-¡± His boss pped him. ¡°B*stard! How could you believe everything she said? What if she runs away?¡± After that, Pearl was tied up more tightly, and someone else was keeping an eye on her. Pearl knew she couldn¡¯t escape by herself. She needed someone to rescue her. Meanwhile, Richard noticed Pearl wasn¡¯t home. rmed, he called Wayne, ¡°It¡¯s quitete, and Pearl ha sn¡¯t returned home. Is she with you?¡± His tone was cold. Anxious, Wayne exined, ¡°She sent me the address of an abandoned house in the south of the city. I think she¡¯s in trouble.¡± Richard¡¯s gaze was cold when he heard that. ¡°I¡¯ll go there now. You call the police. We¡¯ll meet up there.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll text you the full address.¡± Richard drove fast. When he arrived, he saw the brightly lit abandoned house with two men guarding the Confirming she was alone in the roo he opened the window and went in,nding softly beside Pearl. ¡°Richard?¡± Pearl eximed in a hushed tone. She wondered why he knew her location and came to her Richard didn¡¯t have time to exin. Besides, she was tied up very tightly, leaving him no choice but to at A few minutester, he managed to free her, and she rushed to the window with Richard. However, just ¡°She¡¯s escaping! Catch her!¡± The men chased her relentlessly, and unexpectedly, Pearl sprained her leg. Breaking out in a cold sweat, she frowned. ¡°Go ahead, Richard, or they¡¯ll catch up to us. But Richard ignored her and carried her. ¡°Keep quiet if it hurts.¡± Pearl felt a surge of anxiety as the shouts behind her grew louder. ¡°Go now. At least one of us escapes. Richard looked down with a serious and gentle expression. ¡°I¡¯ll never leave you behind, Pearl.¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 1/2 Pearl was moved by how determined Richard looked. But they didn¡¯t get very far. When Pearl thought they would be caught, they heard the sound of sirens The men chasing them got scared and started to run away. But police officers, led by Wayne, caught th em Wayne rushed to them and asked, ¡°Miss¡­ Pearl, are you okay?¡± He quickly corrected how he address ed Pearl when he realized his mistake. Still in Richard¡¯s arms, Pearl said weakly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Richard spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m taking her to the hospital. She hurt her leg. You may go home first, Mister Wayne.¡± Inexplicable displeasure hit him whe n he noticed Wayne¡¯s concern for Pearl. ¡°Okay.¡± Knowing that it was quite inappropriate for him to stay here, Wayne nodded and left with the pol ice officers to handle those kidnappers. It was already three o¡¯clock in the morning when Richard brought Pearl to the hospital, and Hugo, who was working the night shift, noticed their distressed condition. ¡°What happened to you guys?¡± Richard exined apathetically, ¡°Pearl was kidnapped, and I just saved her.¡± ¡°Kidnapped?¡± Hugo frowned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us? Richard nced at Pearl in his arms and said indifferently, ¡°No need to trouble Dad and Mom, it might c omplicate things. Besides, she sprained her leg. Just get her the treatment she needs.¡± He then gently l aid Pearl down in the bed. With a sense of helplessness, Hugo remarked, ¡°You sprained your leg twice in a row. You better be car eful, or you might develop long¨Cterm issues from multiple sprains.¡± Pearl touched her nose awkwardly. ¡°All right.¡± After tending to her wound, a nurse called Hugo away. Richard took a seat in front of her bed and this ti me?¡± But his question made Pearl scoff. ¡°Why are you asking? You never believed a thing I said.¡± Stunned, Richard looked into her eyes and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He had realized his prejudice toward her, his firm belief in his feelings, and his partiality toward Abby. od who kidnapped you As a result, it was hard for Pearl to make things difficult for him after he had admitted to his mistakes, e specially since he had always been a proud and arrogant man. ¡°Okay, apology epted. But Abby is the one behind all of this.¡± Richard¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Is it really her?¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°Yes, she waited for me in the parking lot for three days. She also ordered a bunch of m en to kidnap me and take liberties with me, but I was spared because I tricked them.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing about those men¡¯s vulgar n, Richard¡¯s expression became fierce. ¡°She¡¯s gone too far. I lesson.¡± Pearl felt much better now, because surprisingly, Richard took her side. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Wayne. ¡°They confessed that Abby gave the orders, Miss Pearl. The cops have gone to the Flores Residence. I Those men were smart enough to realize they could get a milder punishment by admitting their guilt. Th After ending the call, Pearl closed her eyes in exhaustion. Richard felt sorry for her when he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°Just stay here tonight and re But his suggestion made Pearl sigh. ¡°Mister Dustan will get worried if I don¡¯t go home.¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Richard gave Pearl a cold look and said seriously, ¡°Your injury will get worse if you go home now. Do you want to stay here a bit longer?¡± ¡°Okay, when you see Mister Dustan, tell him I¡¯m staying at a friend¡¯s house for two days. Don¡¯t mention t he kidnapping.¡± Pearl didn¡¯t want to worry Dustan. She felt she had already troubled him a lot. Richard agreed to it and left. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Two dayster, Pearl was discharged from the hospital and heard that Abby had been arrested. After tha t, she stopped thinking about it and focused on her work. The jewelry set called First Love and First Sight was selling well. But it needed a famous person to prom ote it. Hanzel was perfect for the job. Hanzel had many fans, mostly young girls and women. They would love this jewelry. When Pearl returned to Waldorf Residence, she talked about this with Hanzel, who immediately agreed. ¡°But isn¡¯t this jewelry for couples?¡± Hanzel asked with a yful smile. ¡°It might be boring if I¡¯m the only on e in the ad. Why don¡¯t you join me, Pearl?¡± He had a point. The jewelry was for couples, so an ad with a lovely couple would be more appealing. Pearl was thinking about it when Richard spoke up, ¡°Are you saying Waldorf Enterprises can¡¯t find a suita ble woman for the ad? Why push Pearl into it?¡± Hanzel smirked. ¡°Come on, Rick. Pearl isn¡¯t yours. Even the director said she¡¯s beautiful. He even thoug ht of adding her to the crew.¡± Grinning, he gave Pearl a warm look. In fact, he had some selfish motives. Nancie had always been her idol, so shooting an ad with Pearl would be awesome. ¡°Pearl is busy with work, and it¡¯s unnecessary.¡± Richard refused to give in. He was annoyed when he saw people on the Inte referring to Hanzel and Pearl as a perfect couple because of their previous m usic video. ¡°Forget it. I won¡¯t ask you.¡± Hanzel pouted and asked Pearl, ¡°What do you think, Pearl?¡± Pearl rubbed her forehead, hesitating. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. If you really can¡¯t find someone else, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Pearl¡¯s vague answer made Richard¡¯s face sink. But he didn¡¯t say anything and just nced at her indifferently before leaving t he dining table. Pearl was confused. Why was Richard acting so strange all of a sudden? She didn¡¯t think about it for long. She casually took a few bites and followed Richard to the office. As soon as she sat down, a secretary gave her a stack of documents. ¡°The president instructed you to finish these in three days, Miss Pearl.¡± Three days for all this work? Pearl felt an iing headache. She had a feeling that Richard was trying to keep her busy on purpose. For the next few days, Richard kept giving her more work. Every time she finished something, there was s Did he¡­ not want her to do the advertisement? Pearl felt irritated and cursed him inwardly. Why was he being so childish? Chapter 53 Chapter 53 A few dayster, Hanzel went to thepany. He leaned against the door of Richard¡¯s office, smiling. ¡°I¡¯ve met many female celebrities recently. Non e of them were a good fit or wanted to do the ad. Rick, I really don¡¯t have anyone else in mind.¡± Richard responded coldly, ¡°It¡¯s not like we must shoot this ad.¡± His statement made Hanzel frown. ¡°You can¡¯t do that, Rick. You promised. Don¡¯t go back on your word.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll still pay you, but you don¡¯t need to do the ad.¡± Meanwhile, Pearl knocked on the door, wanting to rify some terms. She overheard their conversatio n, and it left her with mixed feelings. Spotting her, Hanzel said, ¡°Pearl!¡± He immediately went to her and grinned. ¡°I really can¡¯t find anyone f or the ad. Remember you said you¡¯d do it if I couldn¡¯t find anyone?¡± Pearl¡¯s l*ps twitched as she nced at Richard, who seemed upset. She found herself lost for words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Rick. He already agreed.¡± However, Richard coldly refuted Hanzel. ¡°I never said that.¡± Pearl replied, ¡°Why don¡¯t we give it a try?¡± She understood that Waldorf Enterprises needed the endorsement of a celebrity to establish a presenc e in the jewelry industry and gain an initial advantage in promoting their jewelry products. So, she wasn¡¯t willing to abandon the idea too quickly. She gave Richard a tentative look and continued when he stayedposed, ¡°Ultimately, it¡¯s for the good of Waldorf Enterprises. I believe this n will work.¡± After a long silence, Richard murmured, ¡°Fine.¡± Finally, with Richard¡¯s approval, Hanzel and Pearl could work together on the ad. Hanzel postponed filming the uing drama to focus on the ad. But the set was at arge outdoor field instead of Waldorf Ente rprises. Richard went there to oversee the shoot, afraid that something might go wrong During the shoot, Hanzel and Pearl acted intimately with each other, and they didn¡¯t notice Richard¡¯s livid face nearby. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . After the first scene, Pearl went for a water break and heard Richard¡¯s cold mockery. ¡°You¡¯re pretty goo d.¡± Shocked, Pearl turned around and saw Richard, who was fuming with unspeakable emotions. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Richard cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m the boss. It¡¯s only natural to keep an eye on our projects.¡± Pearl nodded when Hanzel walked over to them. Smiling, she handed him a bottle of water. ¡°Here, drink Hanzel took a sip and smiled at Richard. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe and check out such a boring thing Richard shot him a cold re. ¡°I¡¯m not allowed toe?¡± His question made Hanzelugh. ¡°You never came to my shoots before, even when I invited you. But yo After that, he squinted and asked curiously, ¡°Are you here because of Pearl? Oh, Rick! I never thought Staring at Hanzel, Richard lowered his voice. ¡°What are you talking about, Hanzel?¡± But Hanzel just smiled and shook his head. ¡°I took a fancy to Pea first. Don¡¯t think of taking her from me His words made Richard feel even worse. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 ¡°You don¡¯t know if she¡¯s yours yet.¡± When Pearl noticed the increasing tension between Richard and Hanzel, she hurried to a public washr oom nearby. As soon as she entered, she spotted a familiar face she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time: Emily. Emily regarded Pearl with a cold gaze. ¡°Humph! Fate brings enemies together, Pearl¡± Not wanting to get entangled in this conflict, Pearl tried to keep things civil. ¡°How have you been, Miss Emily? Did y new job?¡± you find a Emily¡¯s anger red at the mention of her employment situation. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve won just because you got me kicked out of Waldorf Enterprises. I¡¯ll make y ou pay one day!¡± Unfazed, Pearl calmly replied, ¡°Whatever.¡± n Pearl. Emily¡¯s anger only grew. Without warning, she stepped forward and tried to p Pearl reacted quickly, catching Emily¡¯s wrist and giving her a stern look. ¡°You¡¯re really going to p me, Emily?¡± ¡°Do you even know how tough it¡¯s been for me since Waldorf Enterprises let me go? Not even a single This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ed to pull Pearl¡¯s hair but Pearl abruptly pushed her away. Emily stumbled and hit her head against the sink, causing intense pain. When she saw the blood flowing down her neck, she pulled out her phone and dialed the police. ¡°This was a deliberate attack, Pearl! You¡¯ll end up in jail!¡± Pearl just watched Emily¡¯s anger with a calm demeanor. Not long after, the police arrived and took both Pearl and Emily into custody. Emily was rushed to the h ospital for her head injury, and then she was taken to the police station for her testimony. Meanwhile, Richard and Hanzel, unaware of the unfolding drama, waited outside for Pearl to return to t he shooting location. When they received the news that she had been taken by the police, they hurried to the station as well. Inside the police station, Pearl and Emily sat in silence. A police officer asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Pearl remained silent, while Emily burst into tears. ¡°You have to get justice for me, Officer. I was pushe d for no reason and got seriously hurt. You must punish this woman!¡± The police officer handed Emily a tissue to wipe her tears, taking note of her severe head injury and em otional distress. Turning to Pearl, he asked, ¡°Is Miss Emily telling the truth, Miss Pearl? Did you push her out of hatred?¡± Pearl answered calmly, ¡°I acted in self¨Cdefense.¡± Emily knew there were no security cameras in the washroom, so she felt emboldened to twist the truth. The police officer frowned. ¡°She¡¯s right. You won¡¯t be punished severely if you admit it.¡± Pearl repeated firmly, ¡°It was really self¨Cdefense.¡± Emily raised her voice in frustration. ¡°Stop interrogating her, Officer. She¡¯s too stubborn. Just lock her up Amused, Pearl chuckled. ¡°What if I have the evidence to prove otherwise?¡± Emily scoffed as if she¡¯d heard a preposterous joke. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll eat my hat if you can you can show the evidence today, Pearl¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 you can show the evidence today, Pearl¡± Naturally, Emily didn¡¯t think Pearl had any evidence against her. She felt that Pearl was trying to manipte her and buy herself more time. Pearl spoke slowly, ¡°Well, don¡¯t me me for what I did then¡± With her chin held high, Emily eagerly awaited what Pearl had in store. Pearl retrieved her phone from her sleeve and yed a recording. Soon, everyone heard Emily¡¯s angr y voiceing from the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve won just because you got me kicked out of Waldorf Enterprises. I¡¯ll make you pay o ne day¡­¡± The recording included some arguing and footsteps, all coupled with Emily¡¯s voice. It was clear to every ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . one that Emily had initiated the confrontation and tried to harm Pearl. ¡°I think these words are clear enough, Officer. It was Miss Emily who tried to harm me first. I was just P earl calmly exined. protecting myself,¡± Emily¡¯s face drained of color as she heard the recording. She couldn¡¯t believe that Pearl had foreseen h er attack and recorded it. ¡°You framed me! You deliberately provoked me and set me up with that recording,¡± Emily used Pear l, her gaze intense. But Pearl smiled indifferently. ¡°What was that you said earlier, Miss Emily? About eating your hat? It¡¯s u nnecessary because nob*dy wants to see that.¡± Turning to the police officer, she added, ¡°I trust you¡¯ll make the right decision, Officer.¡± Of course, the police officer could tell who was at fault here. He felt apologetic for doubting Pearl earlier and cleared his throat. ¡°I apologize for misunderstanding you, Miss Pearl.¡± Pearl epted the apology gracefully. ¡°It¡¯s okay, but what will happen to Miss Emily?¡± The police officer replied coldly, ¡°Under our country¡¯s jurisdiction, deliberate assault can lead to a sente nce of up to three years in prison. But it depends on whether you want to press charges, Miss Pearl.¡± Pearl raised her brows. ¡°So, it¡¯s up to me?¡± Emily¡¯s heart sank upon hearing this. She suddenly stood up, grabbing Pearl¡¯s sleeves, and began cryi ng and pleading. ¡°Please let me go, Pearl. I¡¯m still young. I can¡¯t go to jail¡± cars old. She didn¡¯t want to face the prospect of jail time at only twenty¨Ctwo years Pearl frowned. ¡°Calm down, Miss Emily.¡± ¡°Pearl, I admit I was terrible to you in the past, and I wronged you at thepany. I¡¯m willing to make amends, but please don¡¯t press charges. I can¡¯t go to jail. I¡¯m begging She was truly panicked, as she had never imagined her life taking this turn. Sneering, Pearl said, ¡°So, you acknowledge your wrongdoings now. Save that for your self¨C reflection in jail.¡± If anyone crossed her, she¡¯d make sure they learned their lesson. She was never a pushover. Emily, ovee with despair, copsed on the floor, crying uncontrobly. The police officer instructed a few officers to take her away and detain her temporarily. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 The police officer smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the misunderstanding earlier, Miss Pearl. I¡¯ll get s omeone to drive you home.¡± Pearl waved her hand dismissively. ¡°No need, I can go home on my own.¡± So, the police officer ordered someone to walk her to the door. Once outside the police station, Pearl spotted Richard and Hanzel rushing toward her in a state of pani c. Seeing her safe and sound, Richard breathed a sigh of relief. However, Hanzel went forward and grab bed Pearl¡¯s shoulders, asking, ¡°What happened, Pearl?¡± Pearl smiled at him awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I ran into Emily, and she tried to frame me but ended up i n jail.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this Emily, she¡¯s quite difficult. How did you handle her?¡± Hanzel was curious. Chuckling, Pearl exined, ¡°She tried to p me, but I pushed her away. Then she used me of atta cking her on purpose. Luckily, I had my phone recording during the shoot to listen to my performance, and I didn¡¯t manage to turn it off. So, I happened to record all of her angry words.¡± Richard knew Pearl was smart and could protect herself, but he frowned at the mention of Emily. ¡°Didn¡¯ t I drive her away long ago?¡± He even warned that nopany would hire her, or they would be Waldorf Enterprises¡® enemies. Unexpectedly, Emily refused to give up and stayed in this city. ¡°Yes, you did, but she insisted on causing trouble.¡± Pearl shrugged. ¡°Maybe she really hates me.¡± Looking somber, Richard decided it was time to teach Emily a harsh lesson to ensure she never came back. Hanzel was also relieved that Pearl was safe. ¡°Maybe we should pause today¡¯s shoot. You¡¯ve been thro ugh a lot today. We can shoot the rest of it another time.¡± However, Pearl shook her head and declined his offer. ¡°Your schedule must be tight, being a star and al l. I can¡¯t dy this further because of what happened. Let¡¯s go back and try to finish before sunset.¡± Richard and Hanzel reluctantly returned to the shooting location with Pearl, as she was determined to c ontinue. Hanzel and Pearl resumed their shoot. Three dayster, the advertisement was officially released. Within the first hour, sales of First Love and First Sight surged by thirty percent, proving the huge number of Hanzel and Nancie¡¯s fans. Theizens were also buzzing with excitement about the possible romance between Hanzel and Nancie, leaving endlessments on their official websites. Many were hoping that their partnership w ould lead to a real¨Clife love story. [Pearl is a perfect match for Hanzel, being a Waldorf family fianc¨¦e. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll marry!] This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. [Look at this ad! They¡¯re a match made in heaven!] [Please! I want to see them together!] [I¡¯ll support him if he marries such a perfect woman. I won¡¯t be sad. I¡¯m praying for their marriage!] [Please get together!] Pearl didn¡¯t pay much attention to thesements, as they seemed normal to her, but Richard was noticeably ufortable.. He didn¡¯t speak to Pearl for the entire day. When Pearl returned homete that night after working overtime, she was greeted by the strong scent o Dustan and Susan were traveling, Sean was on a business trip, Hanzel had a packed schedule, Hugo w So, the source of the scent of wine was¡­ ¡°Pearl¡± Pearl looked up and met Richard¡¯s intense, bright gaze. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Richard¡¯s voice brought Pearl back to reality. Her heart raced when she saw him, his gaze intense in t he dim light. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Richard seemed different from his usual self, likely due to the wine he¡¯d consumed. His gaze appeared even more intense than usual. don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You like Hanzel, don¡¯t you?¡± Pearl raised her brows in response. ¡°Why do you think I like Hanzel?¡± Richard got closer. ¡°Why did you shoot an advertisement with him if you didn¡¯t like him? Why didn¡¯t you reject his advances? And¡­¡± He trailed off, his expression unreadable. Pearl used her hand to stop him froming closer and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re drunk, Richard.¡± He seemed to sober up a bit and stepped back. ¡°I¡¯m not drunk. I just want to remind you not to be Hanzel¡¯s girlfriend. What happened the other day should serve as a lesson.¡± His words sent a chill down Pearl¡¯s spine as she remembered the incident a few months ago when Han zel¡¯s passionate and aggressive fans had kidnapped her and assaulted her. Luckily, she was not much interested in Hanzel, or his fans would do much worse. ¡°Got it. Thank you for the reminder, but I¡¯m really not interested in Hanzel,¡± Pearl replied with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ m going t now if there¡¯s nothing else you want to say.¡± The atmosphere felt tense and filled with Richard¡¯s undisclosed thoughts, making Pearl eager to escap e. Besides, Richard had agreed with his silence. ¡°Goodnight. Don¡¯t stay up toote.¡± After bidding him goodnight, Pearl hurried to her room. bed The following day at work, Richard didn¡¯t summon her to his office for their usual discussions about the new season. It struck Pearl as odd, but she didn¡¯t ask about it. Around noon, Pearl heard a nearby coworker scream, ¡°Help! Myputer just crashed!¡± Pearl looked over suspiciously when everyputer in the nning department cked out. At the same time, cries of distress filled the office. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I just finished my proposal and forgot to save it!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve justpleted my design!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening? Isn¡¯t anyone going to fix this?¡± Listening to theirints, Pearl stood up and cleared her throat ¡°Okay, everyone, please calm down. ¡°How? Everyone¡¯sputer crashed except yours, Miss Pearl,¡± a person mumbled, earning her a cold g In fact, Pearl¡¯sputer didn¡¯t crash because it was equipped with a system she had designed. Viruses Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Pearl remembered Ruby Snyder, the young woman who spoke ill of her in a low voice. Ruby had been close to Abby when thetter worked here previously. ¡°What? Yourputer didn¡¯t crash, Miss Pearl?¡± Everyone looked over and saw that Pearl¡¯sputer was still functioning. ¡°Ourputers are down, but yours is fine. Well¡­¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Ruby didn¡¯t outright use Pearl, but her insinuations were clear. She hinted that Pearl might be behin d theputer issues, raising suspicions among her colleagues. Pearl shot Ruby a cold re in response. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ruby tried her best to maintain herposure. ¡°I¡¯m not using you, Miss Pearl. I¡¯m just suggesting it¡¯ s possible. If it¡¯s not you, then prove it. Don¡¯t intimidate your subordinates.¡± Pearl looked away and asked the others, ¡°Do I have to prove it?¡± A man cautiously spoke up, ¡°Miss Pearl, I don¡¯t think you¡¯d do something like this based on your charac ter, but¡ª Ruby chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible! Everyone wants to excel in thepany and stand out by putting others down.¡± Ruby¡¯s words triggered a realization in Pearl. ¡°Well, Ruby, it seems like you have a good grasp of the m otives behind this scheme.¡± Ruby looked pale but vehemently denied any involvement. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Don¡¯t nder me. Myputer ¡­ is broken too.¡± She pointed at herputer and sneered. ¡°Mine was the first to crash, right in the mi ddle of working on a proposal.¡± With an arched eyebrow, Pearl looked at Ruby¡¯s mocking smile and ask ed, ¡°Can I take a look at yourputer then?¡± Ruby nodded confidently. ¡°Sure, go ahead. Since it crashed, there¡¯s nothing to hide.¡± She had intentionally nted a highlyplex virus in herputer, confident that Pearl wouldn¡¯t be a ble to fix it. Lookingposed, Pearl said, ¡°Okay, don¡¯t regret it.¡± She examined Ruby¡¯sputer and identified a notorious virus named Ellisa. Only five people in the w orld could crack it, and Pearl happened to be one of them. Pearl swiftly typedplex code and mathematical symbols, leaving others bewildered by the iprehensible disy on the screen. Finally, Pearl cracked the virus, and everyone saw Ruby¡¯s unfinished work¨Ca simple drawing of a frog. ¡°Oh, the proposal you were talking about was this little frog,¡± Pearl taunted Ruby. Ruby, still in denial, retorted, ¡°Maybe the virus turned my proposal into a frog!¡± She blushed but continue Ruby inadvertently let sl*p that she had a backup. ¡°You have a backup? You foresaw the future and created a backup because you knew yourputer w by a virus,¡± Pearl exposed Ruby¡¯s lie. Unable to maintain the pretense any longer, Ruby confessed vehemently, ¡°Yes, I did it! What are you go Ruby felt that she had worked her ¡°ss off for thepany and deserved a promotion. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Pearl¡¯s expression turned icy. ¡°You did a terrible thing by hacking everyone¡¯sputers and falsely using me, didn¡¯t you? Now, not only will you not be the manager, but you¡¯ll also lose your job due to your malicious actions.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . She nced at an assistant nearby. ¡°Inform the president that there¡¯s someone harming thepany h ere, and ask him to Knowing that the president would be notified of her scheme, Ruby was crestfallen. When Richard arrived on the scene, he found Pearl seated calmly, watching the drama unfold with inte rest. Ruby, on the other hand, was on the floor, crying and walling, disying deep remorse. Pearl teased Richard, ¡°Mister Richard, your seasoned employee tried to frame me, but I uncovered her plot. What do you think should be done with her?¡± Richard responded emotionlessly. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll fire Ruby ording to thepany¡¯s rules.¡± Ruby, in tears, threw herself at Richard, clutching his leg. ¡°Please don¡¯t fire me, Mister Richard. I¡¯ve bee n with thepany for so long, and I don¡¯t want to leave. Please give me another chance.¡± ¡°Release me immediately, or your punishment will be far more severe than just leaving thepany,¡± Richard warned sternly. Panicking, Ruby let go, fully aware of Richard¡¯s power. The incident concluded with Ruby leaving thepany in disgrace. After that, Pearl turned to her colleagues and offered a warm smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you guys restore yourputers now.¡± Her coworkers were amazed. ¡°You¡¯re 50 awesome, Pearl!¡± They already considered Pearl an incredibly capable woman, but now she was also skilled at fixing co mputer viruses, leaving them wondering if there was anything she couldn¡¯t do. Smiling, Pearl exined, ¡°I¡¯ll create a code in myputer and transfer it to yourputers. You don¡¯t have to do anything.¡± ¡°Just where did you learn this skill? It¡¯s so cool!¡± Pearl¡¯s male colleagues surrounded her in amazement. They felt that Pearl was just like a hacker in movies.. Smiling shyly, Pearl borated, ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. I picked up some knowledge from a foreigner whe n I was abroad. It¡¯s just basic stuff.¡± Richard, watching the attention Pearl was receiving, felt a pang of annoyance. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back to work? If you don¡¯t return to your desks now, I¡¯ll dock a month¡¯s sry from ea ch of you,¡± he dered coldly, his mellow voice carrying amanding tone. His threatpelled the men to timidly return to their workstations. However, Pearl yfully teased him with a sly grin. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°Get back to work.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so stem. I know men rarely say what they mean.¡± Richard shot her an indifferent look, a hint of emotion flickering in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re actually a hacker.¡± Others might think she had only acquired some basic skills, but Richard saw something more. Only a to Pearl shrugged, spreading her hands. ¡°You got me.¡® ¦° ¡°You¡¯re impressive.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure there are many more fupressive people out there,¡± Pearl gracefully returned to her seat. In the evening, as Pearl stepped out of thepany, someone blocked her path as she attempted to ha It was Hanzel, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in two days due to his filmingmitments. Hanzel shed her a bright smile. ¡°Get in the car, Pearl, I¡¯m taking you somewhere,¡± Pearl shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve got something to doter.¡± ¡°Come on, Pearl. Ilmow a ce with a beautiful night view. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll like it!¡± he urged. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Pearl, unlike other women, wasn¡¯t swayed by Hanzel¡¯s pleading look. She could sense his feelings for he r but couldn¡¯t reciprocate. ¡°I really don¡¯t-¡± ¡°Pearl, go home with me.¡± Out of nowhere, Richard appeared and parked his car by the street too. Suddenly, Pearl found herself in an awkward situation, torn between the two men. 1/2 ¡°I asked her out first, Rick. You can¡¯t just take her away.¡± Nervous, Hanzel raised his voice, but Richard r emained calm as was certain of his victory. ¡°We¡¯ve got a proposal to talk about, Pearl. Go back with me.¡± Richard¡¯s order was absolute. Gnashing her teeth, Pearl carefully apologized to Hanzel and got into Richard¡¯s car. ¡°Pearl! Wait!¡± But Richard ignored him and drove away: Struck speechless, Pearl nced at Richard in the car anxiously. ¡°Richard¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡± They both spoke at the same time, and his words made her hold back what she wanted to say. After a long pause, Richard said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away from Hanzel? You¡¯d easily get into trouble .¡± Stunned, Pearl disagreed. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t going to-¡± ¡°Try not to be alone with Hanzel. You guys were in a couple¡¯s advertisement before. If people see you to gether and take photos, it could lead to a PR nightmare.¡± While talking, Richard furrowed his brows if he Pearl nodded and looked out the window, but suddenly she noticed a car tailing them at a distance, adjus ting its speed to meet theirs. ¡°Richard, I saw a car behind¡­¡± Richard whispered, ¡°I saw it too.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Waldorf Residence was located in a remote suburban area, and Richard was turning into a small, desert ed street. It was a ce where an ident could easily happen. Richard stepped on the gas, causing the car behind them to speed up and chase them. ¡°Be careful, Richard!¡± Pearl was worried, feeling that their speed was bing dangerously high. Even though it was a deste area, Richard drove steadily. But the driver in the car behind them was ski lled as well and almost caught up to them. In the next second, that car elerated suddenly and forced Richard¡¯s car to a halt. oft ¡°Get out of the car, Richard!¡± The upants of the car behind them got out, cursing fiercely. Richard realized they were after him and s ¡®You want me to leave you in a situation like this?¡± Pearl looked serious. ¡°You saved me so many times, R Frowning, Richard spoke sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn, Pearl.¡± Pearl chuckled and rolled up her sleeves. 1. es. ¡°You¡¯ve u underestimated me if you think I¡¯m just a helpless woman, Richard.¡± Her words drew his intense gaze to her confident face, stirring up a strange feeling within him. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Pearl and Richard got out of the car, and Pearl discreetly pressed her ring to send her location to Wa yne. A group of menacing people stood outside the car, eyeing them with hostility. ¡°You¡¯re Richard Waldorf?¡± A man with a scar on his face and a cigarette in his mouth stared at the aloof Richard and sneered.¡± You look so annoying with your grumpy face.¡± Cautious, Richardposed himself and demanded, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. What matters is someone hired me to teach you a lesson!¡± Richard looked up fiercely. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± The scarred manughed loudly. ¡°Everyone knows who you are, Mister Richard, the president of Waldo rf Enterprises!¡± ¡°Are you inviting death by offending my family?¡± ¡°Hey, leave your family out of this. It¡¯s all just hot air, and I¡¯m not the least bit scared.¡± The scarred man made a very exaggerated expression, looking ridiculous. Pearl spoke up loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on them. They¡¯re just a bunch of losers.¡± ¡°We¡¯re losers?¡± The scarred man nced at her and ordered sternly, ¡°Get them! Beat them up good an d show them who the real losers are!¡± to hit th A few men rushed toward Pearl and Richard, trying to hit them with their sticks. But Pearl quickly dodge d to the side and delivered a powerful kick to one of the men¡¯s chests. Richard was fiercer. He grabbed one of the men by the neck and tossed him aside before delivering a s wift kick to the back of the man¡¯s head. Their coordination was wless, as if they were perfect partners. In no time, they defeated the assant s, leaving them writhing on the ground, groaning in pain. ¡°Bah! Pathetic losers!¡± The scarred man cursed and signaled, and several dozen burly men emerged fr om a nearby forest. They had been lying in wait to ambush Richard. Richard¡¯s expression turned icy and resolute. The second attack came with greater numbers. As the confrontation dragged on, both Pearl and Richard began to tire, and their situation became incre asingly dangerous.. Snickering, the scarred man seized an opportunity and produced a dagger, lunging ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . to stab Pearl, who was closest to him. Pearl narrowed her eyes at the impending danger, but Richard a cted fast, grabbing the dagger just in time and kicking the scarred man away. However, this move caused Richard¡¯s palm to bleed profusely, and the blood dripped onto the ground, a disturbing sight. Despite his usualposure, he furrowed his brows. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Pearl stared wide¨C eyed at Richard, shocked by his selfless act of grabbing the dagger when danger loomed. Shaking his head, Richard¡¯s face paled as he lost a significant amount of blood. Pearl turned to re at the howling scarred man on the ground, her expression cold and unforgiving- At that moment, Wayne finally arrived with his men steelymand, ¡°Apprehend them all!¡± His men immediately subdued the gangsters. ¡°We¡¯re here, Miss Pearl!¡± Observing the chaotic scene, he then issued a After that, he walked to Pearl and whispered, ¡°Are you alright, Miss Pearl?¡± Pearl shook her head and pointed at Richard, who was bleeding, her concern evident. ¡°Richard got hur of me.¡± Wayne walked over to support Richard, but he couldn¡¯t help but gasp when he saw the extent of his injuries. His palm was bleeding heavily. Richard must have been remarkably brave to grab the dagger without hesitation. ¡°Let me take you guys to the hospital,¡± Wayne offered. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Wayne drove Pearl and Richard to the hospital, paid for the medical expenses, and left Pearl to tend to the somewhat dazed Richard While bandaging his wound, the nurse identally touched it. It seemed painful, but he didn¡¯t even fli nch. When the nurse was done, she excused herself and left. Looking at how weak Richard looked, Pearl asked, ¡°Are you feeling okay, Richard?¡± Richard nced up. ¡°I¡¯ve got a question, Pearl.¡± Pearl paused, sensing what he was about to ask. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Wayne?¡± Richard couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Wayne always appeared promptly whenever Pearl was in troubl e. How did he know her exact location? Why did they share a drink? Why did he address her as ¡°Miss Pearl¡°? Why did he always obey her like a subordinate? These questions had been bothering him. Aware of Richard¡¯s meticulousness, Pearl knew he would eventually notice this issue, but she hadn¡¯t ex pected him to confront her directly. I ¡°Didn¡¯t I for now you he¡¯s my friend I got to know abroad? We¡¯re quite close.¡± Pearl chose to stick with her previ ous exnation Coldly, Richard pressed on, ¡°Tell me. Are you the president of Cerubleu?¡± Pearl¡¯s heart raced momentarily. Her initial instinct was to deny it, but Richard was too smart. Instead, s he feigned a yful smile to dispel his suspicions. ¡°Oh, my. You¡¯ve caught me.¡± Richard suddenly found himself uncertain whether his assumption was correct or not, given her reactio n. ¡°Are you honored to have the president of Cerubleu working as a mere employee at yourpany, Mis ter Richard?¡± Pearl raised her hands in mock exasperation. ¡°It¡¯s a bit far¨Cfetched, don¡¯t you think?¡± Her lie seemed reasonable because it was indeed preposterous for the president of Cerubleu to be working as an ordinary employee in Richard¡¯span Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. y. Dubious, Richard whispered, ¡°I hope you¡¯re not lying to me.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes. ¡°Stop being paranoid, Mister Richard. Can¡¯t I have a close friend?¡± But Richard felt an unexpected unease when he thought about Wayne¡¯s concern for Pearl, making his words seem somewhat peculiar. ¡°You¡¯re engaged to the Waldorf family, and you have a close male frie nd. Do you consider that wise?¡± ¡°Are you jealous? Don¡¯t tell me you want to marry me, Richard.¡± Pearl chuckled without restraint, findin g his serious expression amusing. Richard shot her a cold re. ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Then please don¡¯t meddle in my personal rtionships.¡± Richard closed his eyes to rest, as Wayne had returned by then. Naturally, Wayne overheard their conversation and smiled while speaking to Pearl, ¡°I¡¯m going home, Mi His teasing earned him a re from Pearl. ¡°F*ck you!¡± Wayne mouthed at Pearl that he understood it before heughed and left, leaving Pearl alone with Rich 2/2 ¡°You can go home now,¡± Richard opened his eyes and said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s quitete.¡± Raising her brows, Pearl declined his suggestion, ¡°I¡¯m staying to take care of you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± But Pearl settled herself into a chair and responded, ¡°You injured your hand saving me. I¡¯d look quite heartless if I Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Richard ignored Pearl¡¯s question and used his uninjured hand to take aptop out from his bag, immed iately delving into work Bored, Pearl gave up and grabbed her ownptop. Her aim was to uncover the mastermind behind the conspiracy that had targeted them. Utilizing facial features from photos and investigating recent calls and bank transactions, she traced the clues back to Lawson Enter prises. ¡°Richard, do you know who¡¯s behind this attack on you?¡± Pearl asked tentatively. Without looking up from hisptop, Richard answered without even blinking, ¡°Lawson Enterprises.¡± Shocked, Pearl asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± Richard exined calmly, ¡°Ourpany¡¯s stock has been on the risetely, and our jewelry business is thriving. We¡¯ve nearly monopolized the low¨Cend jewelry market and are moving into high¨C end jewelry. Who do you think would be the most threatened by this?¡± ¡°Lawson Enterprises holds a grudge against us for failing to strike a deal. They lost out on potential prof its and are envious of our current sess. Is that why you suspect them?¡± Richard shed her a rare smile. ¡°You¡¯re very: v smart.¡± His astute deduction impressed Pearl, but she had another question. ¡°What are you going to do about it ?¡® Being vindictive, she always sought retribution when wronged. Of course, she wasn¡¯t inclined to let Law son Enterprises off the hook for causing such a big mess. A steely resolve gleamed in Richard¡¯s eyes. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t forgive Lawson Enterprises so easily.¡± Knowing that he would make a move, Pearl felt reassured. Over the next two days, Pearl concocted a cover story when the Waldorfs inquired about their whereabouts. She imed that they we re workingte at thepany and wouldn¡¯t be returning home temporarily. Sean was away on busine ss, making her fabricated story more believable. Richard only resumed his duties at thepany once his hand had almost healed. During their absence, thepany had acquired some Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. unfamiliar faces, Upon his return, Richard held an executive meeting to discuss their next move. ¡°I propose we stabilize production of our low¨C end jewelry and allocate substantial funds for the development of high¨C end pieces,¡± Richard suggested. His n piqued Pearl¡¯s interest, as she admired his strategic thinking. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a wise move,¡± a skeptical voice interjected suddenly, breaking the silence in the con Richard nced up, his face turning cold as he looked at the man nearby. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Pearl also turned her attention to the source of this unexpected dissent, discovering that it was Brandon Brandon, who generally carried himself with an air of superiority, had adopted a condescending tone. ¡°Have you forgotten how to n during your brief absence, Mister Richard? We¡¯ve yet to stabilize our position end jewelry market, which is performing admirably. Rushing into high¨C end jewelry development could backfire, potentially resulting in financial losses. Who will be held oun ¡°We won¡¯t lose money,¡± Richard asserted. ¡°Sticking with low¨Cend jewelry alone will lead to aesthetic fatigue, limiting our potential. We¡¯d miss out on a good opportunity to develop high¨Cend jewelry.¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 However, Brandon seemed to not have heard Richard, saying sharply, ¡°Anyway, I disagree. Why don¡¯t y ou ask everyone¡¯s opinion then?¡± Richard scanned the others and asked, ¡°Anyone else have doubts?¡± A director hesitated before whispering, ¡°I think Mister Brandon is right. What if we face financial losses or unforeseenplications¡­¡± The others started whispering too. Observing this, Pearl rose to her feet, shing a confident smile. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to borate on Mister Richard¡¯s proposal.¡± Her words made Brandon snort. ¡°I understand you¡¯re on the president¡¯s side, Miss Pearl, but isn¡¯t it unfai r for us if you blindly advocate for him?¡± Unconcerned, Pearl addressed the gathering with a tone of gentle authority, ¡°My mentor happens to be a world¨Crenowned jewelry designer. I believe you guys have heard of her, right?¡± Joanna Morgan, an internationally acimed jewelry designer, had pieces thatmanded sky¨C high prices, sometimes reaching into the millions. bbergasted, everyone was all ears while listening to Pearl. ¡°She once told me that her career started with the most basic designs. However, her craft would never h ave evolved if she had solely focused on producing low¨Cend jewelry, even though it could generate substantial profits. ¡°What we truly need is a refinement in our product quality, aiming to appeal to a broader market. Jewelry is, by nature, a luxury item, with our customer base epassing both the general public and the rich. ¡°Thetter demographic, in particr, has the potential to drive significantly higher profits. Naturally, they This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. are less likely to be drawn to inexpensive jewelry. This is why it¡¯s good for us to venture into high¨C end jewelry production, to attract a broader customer base and enhance our earning potential.¡± Her state ment caused a pin¨Cdrop silence. ¡°Sounds reasonable,¡± Brandon sneered, ¡°but it could just be empty talk.¡± Staring at him, Pearl countered, ¡°I studied marketing abroad and consistently ranked at the top of my ss. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s more than enough?¡± Brandon was struck speechless, looking pale. ¡°Is there anyone else?¡± Pearl scanned the assembly, met with lowered heads in shame. Finally, her eyes settled on Richard, and she winked at him naughtily. His amazed look filled her with joy. After that, Richard made the final decision. ¡°Well, it¡¯s settled.¡± With the meeting concluded, everyone filed out, but Brandon approached Pearl and said absent¨C mindedly, ¡°May I have a word. with you, Miss Pearl?¡± Pearl smiled politely. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡± ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with the president?¡± ¡°Why? He¡¯s my superior. Don¡¯t tell me you perceive him differently.¡± Brandon was puzzled by Pearl¡¯s unfathomable smile, but he refocused on his original intent. He grinned ingratiatingly. ¡°I¡¯ve got to say, Miss Pearl, the president can be rather strict. Raising her brows, Pearl remarked, ¡°Oh? It looks like there¡¯s something else on your mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re smart, Miss Pearl. I believe you understand what I meant. Please think it through and don¡¯t let me Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Touching her chin thoughtfully, Pearl asked, ¡°Are you trying to win me over, Mister Brandon?¡± Laughing, Brandonmented, ¡°Well, I do admire you very much.¡± He then took out his business card and slowly pushed it to her table. ¡°Your abilities charm me, Miss Pearl. Have you ever considered a position higher than director, perhaps the vice president role?¡± With that, Brandon left, leaving Pearl to her thoughts. The vice president? It looked like the ambitious Brandon had set his sights on the position of presiden t. Later that night, upon returning home, Pearl found everyone else asleep except for Richard, who sat al one in the living room reading documents. After stretching a bit, Pearl sat down beside him and asked, ¡°How¡¯s your hand?¡± Pausing briefly, Richard replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s much better now.¡± However, Pearl was skeptical and attempted to check his hand, but he dodged her. ¡°You won¡¯t die if you let me take a look,¡± she whispered. But Richard changed the topic. ¡°What did Brandon say to you earlier?¡± Pearl leaned against the sofa and smiled. ¡°Why do you think he came to me?¡± ¡°To win you over. Pursing her l*ps, Pearlmented, ¡°How boring!¡± Richard ignored her response and asked gloomily, ¡°What are you going to do then?¡± ¡°What am I going to do?¡± Pearl looked into his eyes with interest. ¡°I¡¯m going to say yes, of course, since he promised to make me vice president. Only fools would turn down such a great offer.¡± Naturally, Richard wasn¡¯t convinced. He asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of exposing your n to me?¡± Pearl yawned. ¡°Stop pretending, Richard. Tell me your n.¡± It was beyond Richard¡¯s expectation that Pearl reacted so fast. Raising his brows, he suggested, ¡°I wan t you to say yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Of course, Richard hade up with a n. ¡°We¡¯re going to beat him at his game. Her interest piqued, Pearl said, ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Agree to his proposal and work with him to gather evidence. I aim to rid thepany of his supporters .¡± Smiling, Pearl mused, ¡°Ah, you noticed it too. There are many strangers in thepany. I thought all y ou did was work and you didn¡¯t recognize others.¡± Richard was rendered speechless. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s time to sleep. We¡¯re going to have a fierce battle.¡± Pearl stood up and walked upstairs. ¡°Pearl.¡± Suddenly, Richard stopped her. Pausing, Pearl turned around and teased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really special.¡± 2/2 She seemed to be an expert in everything, leaving others bewildered. One could never predict the surp next. In short, Richard found her very unique. Pearl repliednguidly, ¡°I¡¯ll assume you¡¯ve fallen in love with me, Richard.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Her words immediately brought a somber expression to his face. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Pearl failed to suppress her smile because of the drastic change in Richard¡¯s expression. After that, she went to her bedroom. Watching her graceful edit, Hichard¡¯s gaze grew more contemtive. Pearl and Hichard nned to put up a good show to expedite Brandon¡¯s actions. They aimed to make him believe they had a falling out by having a fight. The next morning, in Richard¡¯s office, Pearl and Richard appeared to be discussing. Then, Pearl sudden ly raised her voice. Told you I didn¡¯t mean this. Why can¡¯t you understand?¡± Richard rebuked coldly, ¡°Listen here. You¡¯re just the director of a nning department. You have no righ t to interfere with my decisions¡± ¡°You think you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re the president? That¡¯s absurd! I don¡¯t care. I can quit. Nob*dy wants to be your punching bag!¡± Bang! It seemed like a ss shattered on the floor, creating a noise that echoed through the office. Everyone within earshot c ould hear it. ¡°If you want to quit, then leave. You¡¯re not that important to thepany.¡± The tense atmosphere left everyone holding their breath. Pearl was tempted to smash another ss, but Richard intervened, whispering, ¡°One is enough. If our fig ht appears too heated, Brandon might grow suspicious.¡± Smiling, Pearl agreed, ¡°Good thinking.¡± Following this, Pearl stopped talking, enveloping the office in an eerie hush. Before long, she retrieved a bottle of mist spray from her bag and sprayed it on her face, smudging her makeup to create the illusion that she had been crying. She then walked out with a document and mmed the door shut behind her. Back at her desk, she called Brandon, making sure not to touch up her makeup. Sobbing, she informed him of her willingness to coborate with him, provided he agreed to appoint her as vice president once their n seeded. She could have agreed directly, but she feared he might get suspicious if she didn¡¯t reveal her motive. So , she purposely emphasized that. Her words brought a satisfied smile to Brandon¡¯s face, bolstering his confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Pearl This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. . I won¡¯t treat you unfairly after it¡¯s done.¡± With Pearl¡¯s cooperation secured, he believed it would be a piece of cake to seize control of Waldorf Ent erprises. He proceeded to use some underhanded tactics, manipting thepany¡¯s finances to create a significant financial gap. Both Richard and Pearl observed Brandon¡¯s actions but did not stop him, instead gathering evidence aga inst him. During the second meeting, Brandon mmed the financial report onto the table and sneered. ¡°Have you reviewed this season¡¯s financial report, Mister Richard?¡± Unmoved, Richard asked, ¡°Is there any problem?¡± ¡°In this season, we¡¯ve incurred a loss of 41 million dors. Do you understand the gravity of this situation ? I explicitly advised against the development of high¨C end jewelry. Now, what are we to do with these huge losses?¡± Pearl echoed his sentiments. ¡°Yes, you really should exin this.¡± Brandon¡¯s smugness gr grew as he heard her words. ¡°I think you¡¯re no longer capable of overseeing thepany¡¯s affairs effectiv 2/7 Looking cold, Richard demanded, ¡°Are you suggesting that you should take over as president?¡± ¡°I never said that. Why don¡¯t we ask for others¡® opinions?¡± Brandon scanned the colleagues nearby and sm However, nob*dy in the room spoke up. Feeling anxious, Brandon repeated his question, but only silence answered him. Pearl slowly got to her feet and smiled. ¡°Are you done, Mister Brandon? Why don¡¯t you listen to me now?¡± Panic began to show in Brandon¡¯s face, sensing that something was amiss. Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Pearl talked slowly, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you must be wondering why the colleagues you bribed are not opposing Mister Richard now, aren¡¯t you, Mister Brandon?¡± Brandon¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What are you insinuating, Miss Pearl?¡± With a sneer, Pearl responded with a question, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what I meant, Mister Brandon?¡± ¡°Watch your tongue!¡± Brandon retorted in panic. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at this evidence to see if I¡¯m telling the truth or not.¡± Pearl proceeded to extract docu ments and photos from a folder and forcefully scattered them across the table. As the documents fell, everyone could clearly see the photos of Brandon going in and out of the finance department, alon gside details of his embezzlement. ¡°Is there anything else you want to say, Mister Brandon?¡± Blood drained out of Brandon¡¯s face while looking at the evidence, growing more terrified. ¡°No, you made this up! I would never harm thepany. Don¡¯t nder me!¡± Suddenly, Brandon yelled agitatedly as if he had realized something. ¡°You guys must have staged this t o frame me and force me out of thepany. You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± However, Pearl paid no heed to his resistance and issued a final verdict, looking up at him. ¡°If you have nothing else to say, Mister Brandon, you can discuss it with the police officers.¡± She then casually took her seat, a satisfied smile gracing her face. At the mention of the police, Brandon ran away but was arrested at the door by the police officers who had arrived in time. ¡°I won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡± Brandon warned them before being led away. Once he was gone, Richard made a few remarks and ended the meeting, his gaze fixed on Pearl. ¡°I doubt it¡¯ll be that simple.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Pearl was grinning, clearly in high spirits after eliminating that ck sheep. Her voice sound ed livelier. ¡°It¡¯s not that easy to beat Brandon,¡± Richard exined slowly after a brief pause. Pearl¡¯s smile faded as she contemted his words. ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± ¡°I think he may have a chance to free himself.¡± His guess made her frown. ¡°You¡¯re saying he¡¯lle after us again? Didn¡¯t the cops arrest him just no w?¡± Richard quietly recalled the look Brandon had given him before departing. ¡°Maybe he has another trick up his sleeves.¡± out, Richard was right. The next day, they received news that Brandon had been released, his name cle As it turned ou charges. Deeply troubled, Pearl sat in Richard¡¯s office. ¡°You were right. He did have a backup n.¡± ¡°He¡¯s now an executive at Lawson Enterprises.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain he leveraged our internal information to strike a deal with Lawson Enterprises.¡± Pearl gritted Richard pressed his l*ps together, his expression grave. ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t have made a difference. No ma ¡°For example¡­¡± Even though Pearl was hesitant, both she and Richard were well aware of the situationText content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 This led to Lawson Enterprises gaining extensive knowledge of Waldorf Enterprises¡® jewelry proposal for the upco ming season, along with its development n. ¡°How did you deal with Lawson Enterprises the other day?¡± Richard blinked, then answered, ¡°I made them lose three percent of profits.¡± ¡°You hit them where it hurts. No wonder they sought an opportunity to strike back, and Brandon became their powerful weapon.¡± Pearl emphasized while looki ng at Richard¡¯s solemn expression, ¡°I think they¡¯ll make their move soon. We should be prepared at all times.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait until they make a move before we decide on anything.¡± Pearl nodded, her expression a mix of emotions. Later in the afternoon, Pearl noticed on her phone that Lawson Enterprises was about tounch a new set of jewelry. Moreover, she found the jewelry oddly familiar, as she had designed it as a stepping stone for Waldorf Enterprises to enter the high¨C end jewelry market. Surprisingly, Lawson Enterprises was releasing it first. However, Pearl stopped frowning on second thought. Though the jewelry set appeared new and unique , it had a significant w. Wearing it would be rather ufortable.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Her recent focus had been on dealing with Brandon, leaving her no time to fine¨C tune the jewelry design. This subtlety would likely go unnoticed by anyone other than a designer. Pearl had this hunch that Lawson Enterprises might very likely harm themselves instead. After that, she began redesigning and adjusting the jewelry, making a slight change to its shape and sty le. She then visited the president¡¯s office with her revised design. Pearl presented her n tounch a modified version of the same Jewelry. Hearing Pearl¡¯s n, Richa rd¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Are you sure people won¡¯t see us as giarizing them? After all, theyunched it first.¡± Naturally, Pearl had considered this in advance. ¡°Of course, people may get us wrong at first, but I hav e a solution. I have! concrete proof that this design is ours.¡± However, Richard kept quiet, prompting Pearl to give him a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me, Richard. I designed this. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I trust you, but I¡¯m concerned about Lawson Enterprises resorting to dirty tactics that you may not be a ble to handle,¡± Richard admitted, his gaze on her smile, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for a few b*dyguards to be with you during these days in c ase anything happens.¡± Baffled, he could not figure out why she was still giggling at such a time. Pearl teased, ¡°Are you that worried about my safety, Richard?¡± Her question left him looking somewhat flustered. ¡°Don¡¯t misinterpret things. I¡¯m just concerned about th Pearl, however, refused to give up. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re saying that I¡¯m very important.¡± Her yfulment annoyed Richard, who responded coldly, ¡°Get back to work.¡± Pearl pouted. ¡°Boring.¡± Richard only managed to regain hisposure after Pearl had left. Lately, her ability to influence his em Regardless, losing control over himself was frustrating. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 arl wasted no time inunching the new product. expected, on the first day of its release, some attentive people noticed striking simrities between her product and wson Enterprises¡°, just as Richard had foreseen. They marveled at how both product s seemed almost identical. h, my! Is Waldorf Enterprises ruining their brand?¡± they wondered aloud. rious criticisms spread like wildfire across the Intemet as people debated how and why this happened. looks like Waldorf Enterprises has lost its creative touch. Why would they copy Lawson Enterprises¡® de sign?] onsense! Pearl designed it. Do you really think she¡¯d giarize someone else?] Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ou have to admit, this world is full of all sorts of people, and nearly everyone has engaged in giaris m at some point. No ed to be such die¨Chard fans.] agree. This time, I¡¯m on Lawson Enterprises¡® side.] 1 the inte, almost everyone seemed to be siding with Lawson Enterprises, except for a few who re mained steadfast in eir support for Pearl, based on their unwavering admiration for her. The restbele d her as a giarizing b*tch and didn¡¯t old back their criticism. espite the online uproar, Pearl was unfazed. he following day, while enjoying her weekend at home, she engaged in cheerful conversations with the Waldorfs. obius couldn¡¯t hide his anxiety. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried at all, Miss Pearl? This is a big mess, and you may be doomed forever.¡± pping her soup calmly, Pearl asked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a giarist?¡± obius refuted immediately, ¡°No, absolutely not! I would never think that about you.¡± Then you don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Pearl replied calmly. owever, Sean interjected with a dose of reality. ¡°The situation may escte if you can¡¯t find a way out of this.¡± inlighten me with your brilliant idea then, Mister Sean,¡± Pearl said with a nce. uckling, Sean responded, ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t concern me, and I don¡¯t have any ideas either.¡± ugo just kept his smile and said nothing. anzel, who had survived quite a long time in the entertainment industry, knew how serious cyberbullyin g could be. incerned, he added, ¡°This isn¡¯t an easy problem to resolve, Pearl. And with Waldorf Enterpri ses involved, it bes even oreplicated. Can you handle it alone?¡± it Pearl just gave him a reassuring look. eir exchange left Richard uneasy. ¡°Pearl isn¡¯t as dumb as you guys think.¡± s statement made Pearl grin. It was clear he knew her well after spending a significant amount of time w chard then asked, ¡°Are you ready? We¡¯re going back to thepany this aftemoon.¡± arl nodded and shed a triumphant smile. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Lawson Enterprises understands the consequ e rest of the Waldorfs were stunned as they didn¡¯t know what Pearl and Richard were up to. arl and Richard appeared at the press conference for theunch of the new product at three o¡¯clock in th 2/2 Numerous paparazzi flocked to the event due to the giarism controversy¡¯s poprity on the Inte. ¡°Hello,dies and gentlemen. I¡¯m Pearl Leighton. It¡¯s a pleasure to see you guys again and share with yo But a reporter interrupted her eagerly before she could finish. ¡°Miss Pearl, there are rumors online sayin Chapter 70 Chapter 70 giarism? With a raise of her brows, Pearl shed a professional smile at that reporter. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t, because it¡¯s my product.¡± ¡°Your product? But Lawson Enterprisesunched it before Waldorf Enterprises,¡± the reporter challenged her, his tone overbearing, which was exactly what she wanted. ¡°Well, they didunch it before Waldorf Enterprises,¡± Pearl conceded, maintaining her confident smile. ¡°B ut theunch date doesn¡¯t determine the true designer, and I can show evidence to prove that I am inde ed the designer.¡± After that, she turned on herptop and projected its screen onto the screen behind her. ¡°I¡¯m sure you all can see this. I began designing this three months ago in September.¡± As expected, everyone could see the timestamp on the design file. Pearl then changed the screen to her chat with someone. ¡°This is the conversation between my mentor a nd me from October. She told me how to make this design more delicate.¡± Their chat was full of intricate descriptions and a deep understanding of the product, something that couldn¡¯t be faked. ¡°Lastly, I¡¯d like to take this opportunity to address Brandon from Lawson Enterprises,¡± Pearl cleared her t hroat and continued, ¡°I wonder, Mister Brandon, are you satisfied with this result?¡± The press conference was being streamed online, and her statement created a buzz among theizens. [Wasn¡¯t Brandon a former manager at Waldorf Enterprises?] [I know him. He¡¯s working at Lawson Enterprises now!] [I work at Waldorf Enterprises, and I can confirm that Brandon was fired because of bribery, embezzleme nt, and an attempt to seize the president¡¯s position.] [This is shocking! I couldn¡¯t believe it.] Pearl chuckled, satisfied with how she had captivated the reporters at the event. ¡°Look at them, Richard. Aren¡¯t they so easily persuaded?¡± Pearlmented nonchntly. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± Richard knew that Pearl could resolve this unscathed, but he was surprised to see sh e did such a great job. ¡°This is the first time you didn¡¯t ignore a question like that. You would have called me boring in the past.¡± P Hearing this, Richard looked away and left. Pearl understood that Richard was a reserved man, and it would be unlikely to see him disy much emotion. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . As a result, Lawson Enterprises was defeated, and its monopoly over the jewelry market was broken. After the crisis, Pearl found that the subsequent days felt strangely peaceful. Knowing Brandon¡¯s vindictive nature, she expected him toe up with a more wicked n after such a great blow. However Puzzled by this, Pearl remained vignt. That afternoon, as she was delivering a document to Richard¡¯s office, she noticed the fire rm on the ce Chapter 71 Chapter 71 ¡°Fire!¡± Someb*dy screamed, sending the entirepany into chaos as people rushed to escape the bu ilding. The elevators were not an option. As they hurried down the stairs, they soon realized the fire had reached the fourth floor. Thick smoke filled the stairwell, obscuring their vision and making it di fficult to breathe. Forced to retreat, they returned to their office on the eighth floor, gasping for air. Meanwhile, Pearl didn¡¯t join the frantic rush downstairs. When she turned around, she found Richard b ehind her, holding two wet towels. ¡°Use this so you won¡¯t inhale the smoke.¡± Pearl then dialed 911 and raised her voice to address the anxious crowd, ¡°Calm down. Panicking won¡¯t help. Anyway, we may be in danger, so listen to me if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± Despite their fear, everyone looked to Pearl for guidance. ¡°Grab some towels or clothes, wet them, and cover your mouths and noses. Drench your clothes as well to protect against burns and to keep cool. We¡¯ll line up and descend the stairs in an orderly man Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ner. Don¡¯t huddle together. If the fire bes too strong, we¡¯ll stop and consider other options.¡± After that, everyone followed Pearl¡¯s instructions and started going downstairs. They were almost out safely, but a scared young woman at the back dropped her handkerchief when th e fire got bigger. In an instant, she breathed in a lot of smoke, started coughing hard, and her eyes rolled back Frowning, Pearl gave her towel to that woman. ¡°Thank you, Miss Pearl. But what about you?¡± The woman covered her nose and mouth, expressing gr atitude and concern when she saw Pearl using her hand to shield her face. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m strong, and I can hold on.¡± Though she said this, Pearl felt something unusual in her throat, as if she was about to cough. Seeing this, Richard handed her his towel. ¡°Use mine.¡± Shaking her head, Pearl tried to give it back. ¡°It isn¡¯t right. I don¡¯t want to use something you¡¯ve used.¡± But Richard wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself.¡± Reluctantly, Pearl epted the towel. She smelled a faint scent of mint, much like his toothpaste. She w Soon, she found him falling behind, and he was getting weaker. ¡°Richard, are you okay?¡± Richard pinched her hand to signal that he was conscious but unable to speak. When he attempted to w Pearl¡¯s hand was small but wrapped securely around Richard¡¯srger hand, providing him with af Hand in hand, they slowly made their way out of the building using Pearl¡¯s strategic approach. The group managed to evacuate safely from the fire. However, the moment Richard stepped outside, he Chapter 72 Chapter 72 1/1 ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Richard? Hang in there. The ambnce will be here soon.¡± Shaking his head, Richard managed to sound steady despite his weakness. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°This fire was too sudden. I¡¯m sure it was Brandon¡¯s doing.¡± Pearl¡¯s gaze immediately became frosty at the mention of Brandon Richard looked down, concealing the iciness in his eyes ¡°It¡¯s alright. Once the investigation is over¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence as a sudden surge of pain hit him, threatening to knock him out. When Pearl noticed that he was acting weird, she nced at his back and found that arge part of his shoulders was burned. It was gruesome, with melted fabric sticking to his flesh and blood. Anxious, she scolded him, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this burn, Richard?¡± Richard had endured the pain without a word while escaping the burning building- Heartbroken and guilty, Pearl examined his wound, recalling how he had selflessly given her his towel. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say.¡± ¡°What do you mean, Richard? Don¡¯t you care about your b*dy? Do you think you¡¯re invincible?¡± Her sudden outburst left Richard momentarily speechless. Luckily, the arrival of the ambnce prevented their argument, and Richard was rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment. After the doctor inspected Richard¡¯s wound, he frowned deeply. ¡°This burn is quite severe, and it won¡¯t fully heal. We can, however, minimize scarring with medication.¡± Richard gave a nonchnt nod, not bothered by having a scar. However, Pearl looked at Richard lying in bed and said seriously, ¡°I can fully heal your scar, Richard.¡± ¡°You can?¡± Richard questioned her after a brief hesitation. After assessing the severity and size of the burn, Pearl came up with a treatment n. But her words made the doctor burst intoughter. ¡°I know you want to save your man, Miss. I do, too, Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. but you can¡¯t talk nonsense just because you want to save him.¡± Richard was moved when the doctor mistook him for Pearl¡¯s boyfriend. Pearl refused to give in. ¡°I¡¯m dead serious.¡± Stunned, the doctor mocked her, ¡°You don¡¯t look like a medical student, Miss. Even if you are, curing his ¡°Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s impossible for others. You¡¯re narrow¨Cminded.¡± Pearl¡¯s words triggered the doctor¡¯s .. why you The doctor¡¯s fury grew because of Pearl¡¯s calm look. ¡°You think too highly of yourself, youngdy. I don¡¯t ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet since you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Pearl suggested, shing the doctor a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯ll ap The doctor interrupted, agreeing, ¡°I¡¯ll retire right away if you seed.¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to do that. I just want an herb from you,¡± Pearl said with sparkling eyes. The doctor, a renowned modern physician at the hospital, frowned upon hearing her request for an herb. ¡°What do you need that herb for?¡± ¡°I need it for something. Just say yes or no,¡± After some contemtion, the doctor nodded and agreed to it. Smiling with satisfaction, Pearl took out a porcin¨Cwhite bottle from her pocket. It had a crystal¨C like appearance with a slight bluish tint. Pearl unscrewed the bottle, poured its green potion on Richard¡¯s back, and rubbed it on his back gently. A cool sensation spread across Richard¡¯s back, and the pain from the burn lessened significantly. ¡°I¡¯ll apply this on your back once a day, and in about a week, you¡¯ll be nearly healed.¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°A week? How is that even possible? You can¡¯t achieve that even with a skin graft surgery.¡± Pearl put away the bottle in her pocket. ¡°Of course, aplete recovery in a week is unrealistic. It requir es long¨Cterm treatment. However, I can guarantee an eighty percent improvement.¡± ry well, I look forward to the result in seven days,¡± the doctor conceded. ¡°Very Pearl raised her chin. ¡°Let¡¯s walt and sec. ¡± After the doctor packed up his things and left, Richard fixed his somber gaze on Pearl. ¡°Why did you mak e that promise?¡± Although he recognized Pearl¡¯s extraordinary abilities, he found it impossible for her magical potion to he al such arge burn without resorting to skin graft surgery. ¡°It¡¯s because I know I can do it,¡± Pearl replied confidently, her eyes gleaming with confidence and fearles sness. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t be embarrassed by then.¡± She scoffed. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Silent, Richard¡¯s mind raced with thoughts and doubts. For the next seven days, Pearl diligently applied the potion to Richard¡¯s back. Over time, the initial cold sensation subsided, and he began to wonder if the potion had l ost its effectiveness. However, he had no choice but to wait for the final result since he couldn¡¯t see his own back When the seventh day arrived, as scheduled, the doctor visited Richard¡¯s bedside and lifted the back of h ¡°Are you the same person?¡± The doctor had thoroughly examined Richard¡¯s severe burn earlier and had made a bet with Pearl becaus Incredulous, he touched Richard¡¯s back and the faint scar. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s like a miracle¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but praise Pearl¡¯s remarkable medical skills and marveled at her incredible abilities, espe ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . considering her young age. Richard naturally heard the change in Doctor Paul Jenkins¡® tone and was surprised too. ¡°Is our bet still valid?¡± Pearl inquired, eager to know whether Paul would honor their agreement. Paul nodded excitedly. ¡°Yes, of course it¡¯s valid. What do you want, Miss?¡± Pearl touched her chin and thought for a moment. ¡°I want Cuza Root.¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Paul appeared to be in a dilemma, stupefied by Pearl¡¯s request. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Doctor Paul? A promise must be kept. Don¡¯t tell me you want to break your word.¡± Ashamed, Paul heaved a deep sigh. ¡°Okay,e with me.¡± He led Pearl to the herb department, turning on the lights as they went, when an angry voice rang out. ¡°Do you want to die, Paul? Why¡¯d youe in so suddenly?¡± Paul gave Pearl an awkward smile and snapped at Roy, ¡°We¡¯ve got a colleague here, Roy. Can you sho w me a little respect ?¡± ¡°Colleague?¡± Hearing that, Pearl saw a figure approaching quickly, and in the next moment, that person tightly grabbe d her hand. ¡°You¡¯re that person Paul talked about?¡± Pearl was rendered speechless. She was not acquainted with this person, but his grip on her hand was s o tight that she couldn¡¯t pull away. ¡°This youngdy is awesome. She nearly healed a burnpletely. It was the first time I witnessed such a miraculous sight!¡± Roy Fisher chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a miracle. Burns can be treated quite effectively with herbs and trad itional methods. But¡­¡± He turned to Pearl and asked, ¡°Who taught you this, Miss?¡± ¡°My mentor is Simon Freeman.¡± Roy¡¯s expression changed at the mention of Simon. ¡°Simon Freeman, that world¨C renowned traditional physician? You¡¯re his student?¡± Still stunned, Pearl nodded. World¨C renowned traditional physician? Pearl knew Simon as nothing more than an old man who loved to drink a This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. nd would act shamelessly when he lost at chess. Je wants Cuza Root Can we give it to her?¡± Paul chimed in at the right time and raised Pearl¡¯s request. ¡°Hehe, sure, but Miss, can I borrow the burn medicine you used? I¡¯d like to study it,¡± Roy inquired eagerly . Roy had a great affinity for traditional medical practices and had been studying them for decades. He wo uldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity to examine such a remarkable treatment. ¡°Sure,¡± Pearl agreed to it without any hesitation. It was almost impossible to make the exact same medicine without the list of ingredients and instructions . If Roy did manage to make it, it would show his amazing skill, and he¡¯d deserve to have that medicine. Satisfied with obtaining the Cuza Root, Pearl left it in Wayne¡¯s care and returned to the hospital. However , as she reached the entrance, she stumbled upon a heated argument involving two women. One of them wore a mask, a hat, and sses, giving her an elegant appearance. She responded patientl y and gently, while the other woman behaved like a rude countrywoman, loudly berating her and using vu lgarnguage. At first, Pearl had no intention of getting involved, but suddenly, the aggressive woman struggled to brea It seemed the woman was suffering from an asthma attack, likely triggered by her anger. Shey on the g The elegantdy, clearly distraught, attempted to assist her friend. However, the friend pushed her away and continued to b Turning her attention to them, Pearl realized that the elegantdy looked quite familiar. She appeared to b had gifted Pearl flowers after she performed with Hanzel at his concert. Thinking back to that encounter, Pearl feltpelled to intervene. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me try?¡± Pearl stepped forward and whispered. ¡°You? You look so young! Do you even know how to treat her? You can¡¯t leave if something happens to m Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Pearl ignored her rambling and went to help the ill woman. But as she was about to give first aid, someo ne grabbed her ar?n. The woman scolded, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Stop. You must be held responsible if you fail to save her!¡± Her scolding earned her a cold re from Pearl, who responded sternly, ¡°Yes, you can hold me responsi ble, but you¡¯ll be the one in trouble if you keep stopping me and something happens to her.¡± Frightened by Pearl, the woman reluctantly let go. Pearl squatted down to assess the ill woman¡¯s condition. She retrieved a pill from her pocket and ced it in the woman¡¯s mouth upon learning it wasn¡¯t serious. That ill woman¡¯s friend screamed, ¡°What did you give her?¡± Losing patience, Pearl turned and said, ¡°This is a hospital. If you keep yelling, I¡¯ll call security to take you out.¡± That woman became timid. ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t. But what did you give her? What if it harms her instead of helpin g? Pearl ignored her and checked the ill woman¡¯s condition. But the woman¡¯s breathing got worse and she s hook hard, like she was reacting badly to the pill. ¡°See? I told you something would happen! You¡¯re overestimating yourself, Miss. You¡¯re going to kill her!¡± Feeling vindicated, the woman finally felt confident enough to criticize Pearl. Then, she sat on the ground dramatically, rolling and wailing loudly. ¡°Help! She killed my friend!¡± Pearl looked determined. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet if she¡¯s fine or not.¡± Suddenly, the ill woman stopped her rapid breathing and slowly opened her eyes, clearly confused about what had just urred. ¡°You¡¯re okay now. Make sure you keep your emotions in check and carry your inhaler with you at all time s. You might not run into someone like me next time,¡± Pearl said, then rose to her feet. Meanwhile, onlookers sighed with amazement at Pearl¡¯s ability to save the ill woman with just a small pill. ¡°This youngdy is so cool, even better than my grandson who ys video games all day!¡± ¡°Yeah, she seems more capable than the doctors. Is she a doctor here?¡± ¡°Of course not. There aren¡¯t any doctors this young. She looks like she¡¯s still in high school¡­¡± The crowd admired Pearl and made fun of the woman who had caused a scene earlier, remarking, ¡°How embarrassing! She caused such a fuss for nothing.¡± Feeling disgraced, the woman got up and walked away with her head down.. Pearl waved to disperse the growing crowd. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s over. Just leave.¡± Gradually, the people left, leaving Pearl with the three women. you.¡± The woman who had asthma looked embarrassed. ¡°Thank you. I would be dead if it weren¡¯t for you. Pearl waved dismissively, ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Thank her instead.¡± She pointed to the elegantdy nearby. The woman widened her eyes. ¡°Her?¡± ¡°Yes, I saved you because I know her.¡± The elegantdy had once given flowers to Pearl, and today Pearl had the chance to return the favor. After that, Pearl checked the time. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I have to go.¡± She turned and rushed toward the ward . The elegantdy¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she silently watched Pearl leave, without thetter noticing. Chaeter 75 1/1 Pearl ignored her rambling and went to help the ill woman. But as she was about to give first aid, someo ne grabbed her arm. The woman scolded, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Stop. You must be held responsible if you fail to save her!¡± Her scolding earned her a cold re from Pearl, who responded sternly, ¡°Yes, you can hold me responsi ble, but you¡¯ll one in trouble if you keep stopping me and something happens to her.¡± be the Frightened by Pearl, the woman reluctantly let go. Pearl squatted down to assess the ill woman¡¯s condition. She retrieved a pill from her pocket and ced it in the woman¡¯s mouth upon learning it wasn¡¯t serious. That ill woman¡¯s friend screamed, ¡°What did you give her?¡± Losing patience, Pearl turned and said, ¡°This is a hospital. If you keep yelling, I¡¯ll call security to take you Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. out.¡± That woman became timid. ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t. But what did you give her? What if it harms her instead of helping?¡± Pearl ignored her and checked the ill woman¡¯s condition. But the woman¡¯s breathing got worse and she s hook hard, like she was reacting badly to the pill ¡°See? I told you something would happen! You¡¯re overestimating yourself, Miss. You¡¯re going to kill her!¡± Feeling vindicated, the woman finally felt confident enough to criticize Pearl. Then, she sat on the ground Pearl looked determined. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet if she¡¯s fine or not.¡± Suddenly, the ill woman stopped her rapid breathing and slowly opened her eyes, clearly confused about ¡°You¡¯re okay now. Make sure you keep your emotions in check and carry your inhaler with you at all times rose to her feet. Meanwhile, onlookers sighed with amazement at Pearl¡¯s ability to save the ill woman with just a small pill ¡°This youngdy is so cool, even better than my grandson who ys video games all day!¡± ¡°Yeah, she seems more capable than the doctors. Is she a doctor here?¡± ¡°Of course not. There aren¡¯t any doctors this young. She looks like she¡¯s still in high school¡­¡± The crowd admired Pearl and made fun of the woman who had caused a scene earlier, remarking, ¡°How Feeling disgraced, the woman got up and walked away with her head down. Pearl waved to disperse the growing crowd. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s over. Just leave.¡± Gradually, the people left, leaving Pearl with the three women. The woman who had asthma looked embarrassed. ¡°Thank you. I would be dead if it weren¡¯t for you.¡± Pearl waved dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Thank her instead.¡± She pointed to the elegantdy nearby. The woman widened her eyes. ¡°Her?¡± ¡°Yes, I saved you because I know her.¡± The elegantdy had once given flowers to Pearl, and today Pearl had the chance to return the favor. After that, Pearl checked the time. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I have to go.¡± She turned and rushed toward the ward. The elegantdy¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she silently watched Pearl leave, without thetter noticing. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Pearl came while Richard was working in the ward. Richard said gloomily, ¡°The doctor said I¡¯m almost f ully recovered and can leaveter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Pearl nodded absent¨Cmindedly. Richard could tell her mind was elsewhere. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about the fire, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah, I hadn¡¯t dwelled on it these past few days, but it just came back to me now. I found it very weird .¡± Coldly, Richard agreed, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s weird. Ourpany¡¯s security system has always been good a nd was inspected every day. A fire like that should never have happened. Plus, it started on the first floo r, which is the shopping mall. I suspect someone might have taken advantage of the crowd and caused it intentionally.¡± At the mention of that, Pearl narrowed her eyes. ¡°Do you think it could have been¡­ Brandon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been reviewing the surveince footage from the first floor these past few days, and I did spot him in some hidden corners,¡± Richard said as he turned on hisptop and showed her the footage. ¡°It looks like he¡¯s gone all out,¡± Pearlmented while snickering. ¡°We should let him reap what he has sown.¡± After Richard had returned to thepany, Pearl went to the rooftop to make a call to Wayne. ¡°Are you avable?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Pearl?¡± Wayne¡¯s voice came from a noisy ce. Raising her brows, Pearl teased, ¡°Are you at a bar picking up women again?¡± Her question made Wayne chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re so smart, Miss Pearl¡± ¡°All right, I need your help with something.¡± Pearl lowered her voice at the thought of Brandon¡¯s outrage ous deeds. ¡°I want you to deal with someone for me.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Brandon Jones. He¡¯s the one who set the fire at thepany. I¡¯m sure you know what to do.¡± Wayne agreed, ¡°Got it, Miss Pearl. I¡¯ll teach him a hard lesson.¡± After ending the call, Pearl returned to her desk at thepany. Her colleague, Linda Davis, leaned ov er with a mischievous smile, holding her phone. ¡°You¡¯re on the news, Pearl!¡± Puzzled, Pearl asked, ¡°What news?¡± Linda turned on her phone and showed Pearl the top news. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a news story about a woman who saved an asthma patient at the hospital, but she didn¡¯t reveal her name. Even though they didn¡¯t captur e your face clearly, I could tell it was you!¡± People who knew Pearl would instantly recognize her because of her maroon, curly hair. Evenizens had noticed. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. [Isn¡¯t that Pearl, my idol?] [She¡¯s pretty and kind. Plus, she can do anything!¡± [Oh my! Can I marry such a perfect woman?] [Hey, pull yourself together! Dream on!] Pearl couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed as she read the news. Suddenly, she noticed the elegantdy in the corner of the photo, looking in her direction. While thed ¡°Pearl? Pearl?¡± Linda waved in front of Pearl because thetter was distracted, ¡°Ah? I¡¯m fine.¡± Pearl shook her head and smiled. Linda heaved a long sigh. ¡°Good. By the way, I heard that a TV station wants to interview you this aftern Chapter 77 Chapter 77 1/1 Curious, Pearl asked, ¡°But what?¡± Linda, looking around to ensure privacy, whispered, ¡°But the host of that TV station is a huge fan of Ha nzel. She¡¯ll definitely target you because of your romantic video with him.¡± Pearl, although unconcerned, was looking forward to the interview in the afternoon, ¡°Well, I¡¯m curious t o see what she has in store.¡± As expected, the TV station dispatched a crew to interview Pearl at three o¡¯clock. The female host, dressed in a smart work suit, unted her curvy and attractive b*dy, capturing the atte ntion of the male staff. Some of them wished they were the ones being interviewed instead. Sashaying to Pearl, she felt insecure upon seeing Pearl¡¯s striking beauty and elegant demeanor, en tuated by her delicate and wless features. ¡®So, this is my rival in love¡­¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Reba O¡¯Brien, a host from the local TV station.¡± Smiling, Pearl nodded. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Pearl Leighton.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get started, shall we?¡± Reba nced at the photographer nearby and instructed him to start s hooting. ¡°Could you tell us why you chose to save thatdy, even though you had no prior connection with her?¡± Pearl answered without any hesitation, ¡°I was free at the time, and I happened to stumble upon the situ ation.¡± ¡°Did you ept her gratitude and money?¡± Reba probed further. ¡°No, her gratitude was more than enough for me.¡± Reba added, ¡°But didn¡¯t you ask for anything in return?¡± Her forceful tone made Pearl realize that she was targeting her. Without missing a beat, Pearl posed a question of her own, ¡°Will the government reward me for such a courageous act?¡± Reba inwardly scoffed at Pearl¡¯s apparentck of sophistication but maintained her smile. ¡°Of cours e, there would be a substantial reward ¡± ¡°Well, can I ask you another question? Can you answer that?¡± Pearl continued calmly. Reba, confident in her abilities, replied, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°When will I receive this reward?¡± Reba had not anticipated such a question, as it was not a typical line of inquiry for this interview. Sh Unexpectedly, Pearl disyed quick thinking and sessfully struck a nerve with Reba. As a result, Reba¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about the exact timing.¡± ying along, Pearl feigned confusion. ¡°Ah? Didn¡¯t you say you can answer my question? Why didn¡¯t yo ¡°I¡­¡± Reba was rendered speechless, her face reddening in frustration. ¡°The government typically rewards such courageous acts with 130 dors per person. However, I didn¡¯t do this good deed for the money. I have no need for it. Miss Reba, I sugges After that, Pearl nced at the photographer with her brows raised. ¡°Be sure to cut this out when airing Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 1/2 Angry and with a livid expression, Reba almost lost control of herself. The photographer replied awkwardly, ¡°Ugh¡­ this is a live show, not a recording ¡± ¡°Hurry up and turn it off. Didn¡¯t you see how angry Miss Reba is?¡± Reba was startled when Pearl suddenly addressed her by name. Realizing that the show was still li Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ve, she quicklyposed herself. ¡°I apologize for my error during the live broadcast. I¡¯m not pleased wi th myself either. I hope everyone can forgive me. Okay, let¡¯s end it here. Miss Pearl, thank you for your cooperation. See you.¡± After that, Reba signaled to the photographer to turn off the camera. At that moment, Pearl stretched and saidzily, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± ¡°Wait, Pearl. You humiliated me on purpose!¡± Reba¡¯s gentleness disappeared, reced by fury. Shocked, Pearl couldn¡¯t figure out why Reba was shifting the me onto her. ¡°You should know exactly why I said those things, Miss Reba.¡± Sneering, Reba refuted, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not that dumb. I¡¯ll drop the act since you¡¯re aware. This is your final warning. Stay away from Hanzel, or I won¡¯t let you off lightly.¡± ¡°Hanzel and I are just friends. You¡¯re overthinking, Miss Reba.¡± ¡°Cut the crap! Just stop pretending. Friends don¡¯t make romantic videos together. Listen carefully. You¡¯ll regret it if I catch you trying to get close to Hanzel again.¡± Unperturbed, Pearl nced discreetly at the camera and casually mentioned, ¡°By the way, I forgot to tell you. It looks like your camera isn¡¯t turned off.¡± Reba froze upon hearing this. She turned to see the blinking red light on the camera, and the color drained from her face rapidly. This meant that everyone had heard her previous words. They were now aware of her feelings for Hanzel and her threats to Pearl Reba moved closer to the camera and switched it off, then turned to re at Pearl. ¡°You did it on pu rpose, didn¡¯t you? You wanted to see me make a fool of myself. You knew that it wasn¡¯t turned off, didn¡¯ t you?¡± However, Pearl smiled without a reply. Even though the camera was no longer broadcasting, many people had a rough idea of what had happ ened. Besides, a lot of people watched the interview because of Pearl¡¯s poprity. Consequently, Reba¡¯s reputation was ruined. [Hey, this is Reba O¡¯Brien, the gentle and sweet host you love. Tsk! Seeing is believing!! [Oh my! It turns out she¡¯s quite scheming. How sickening!] [Just stop. I¡¯m very disgusted. How could she like Hanzel? Hanzel would never fall for her.] [But didn¡¯t you find Pearl very cool? She said she didn¡¯t need money. How awesome¡­] Feeling deeply humiliated, Reba couldn¡¯t bear to stay any longer. Pearl, on the other hand, didn¡¯t take Reba¡¯s threats seriously. Seeing that, Reba wiped away her Observing Reba¡¯s departure, Pearl shook her head with a helpless smile and then proceeded to the president¡¯s office with a document in h ¡°Richard, 1-¡± Pearl stopped talking when she saw Richard¡¯s phone on the table, showing the previous liv She smiled brightly. ¡°You watched my interview. Do you care about me that much, Richard?¡± Richard exited the live show and replied, ¡°It just popped out.¡± ¡°Oh, your phone has a sense of timing, Mister Richard.¡± Smiling profoundly, Pearl asked, ¡°Well, what do you think of my reply, Mister Richard?¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 ¡°So¨Cso.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even admit you watched my interview secretly.¡± Pearl flicked her hair and shed Richard a teasing smile. ¡°All right, get back to work now.¡± Richard tried to drive her away to prevent any further awkwardness. ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t be so cold. Are you even a man, Richard? You don¡¯t even blush when such a pretty woman flirts with you.¡± Pearl. clicked her tongue and turned to leave when she saw Sean entering the office. ¡°A total of 100 people participated in the interview this year, and 20 of them passed the written test and are now waiting in the interview room. You can go there when you¡¯re free.¡± At first, Brandon was in charge of this, but thepany struggled to find a suitable recement for the personnel department manager. Hence, Richard had to oversee the rec ruitment process. Stunned, Pearl realized that it was the annual recruitment day. ¡°I¡¯ll be thereter.¡± Seeing Pearl in the office, Sean teased, ¡°Aren¡¯t you two getting bored of each other by now? I think Pe arl doesn¡¯t have to spend time with the others. She can just marry you, Richard ¡± Although Sean appeared to be ying matchmaker, Pearl detected some sarcasm. Unfazed, Richard replied coldly, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense.¡± Sean, now somewhat bored, shrugged and continued his yful tone, ¡°You know, Pearl, Richard has q uite a temper. You might end up getting bullied if you choose to be with him.¡± Pearl faked a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± ¡°I was just looking out for you, but you said that. You¡¯re breaking my heart, Pea.¡± Sean mockingly poute d but soon dropped his act when met with Richard¡¯s icy re. He left the office, tail between his legs. ¡°I¡¯m going to interview them. Do you want toe?¡± Richard¡¯s unexpected invitation made Pearl feel fl attered. ¡°Me? Are you sure? Didn¡¯t you find me an eyesore?¡± Pearl was puzzled as Richard often requested her to leave whe never she made a joke. He was indeed a very serious person. Richard stood up and put on his coat. ¡°I believe your insights could be valuable. If you¡¯re interested, feel free to join.¡± With a smile, Pearl epted the offer. ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle along.¡± The interviews took ce on thepany¡¯s second floor, where around twenty aspiring candidates aw aited their turn. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We¡¯ll call you in, one by one in a specific order.¡± After interviewing a few people, Richard kept his frown because of his dissatisfaction. ¡°Richard, aren¡¯t you too strict? I think some of them are pretty good,¡± Pearlmented while resting he ¡°No, they eitherck experience, disy arrogance, or stutter when they speak. It¡¯s not good to hire thes ¡°Don¡¯t hire them if that¡¯s the case. You don¡¯t have to make up the numbers.¡± Pearl understood him, but Wayne had always managed herpany alone and never bothered her except forrge issues. requiring her decision. The thought of that made her blush with sh The next candidate was a woman with amanding presence and a pretty face, her long hair reaching her shoulders. She greeted them with Pearl sensed Richard suddenly tense up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Have you fallen for the prettydy?¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Pearl yfully teased Richard, but he suddenly snapped back to reality. After quietly fl*pping through th e document for a while, he looked up and asked, ¡°Why did youe back?¡± Stunned, Pearl realized that Richard knew that candidate. ¡°I think your question isn¡¯t rted to the interview, Mister Richard.¡± The woman smoothed her hair and looked indifferent. Ma ybe you should ask me something rted to the job.¡± Thud! Richard closed the document with a livid expression. ¡°I know you¡¯re not really here for the intervi ew. Tell me why you came back¡± However, the woman covered her mouth while giggling. ¡°Of course, I came back to see you for my elde r sister, What do you think¡­ my brother-inw?¡± Brother¨Cinw? Confused, Pearl looked at the woman and a sudden crisis dawned on her. Richard¡¯s breathing seemed unsteady. ¡°Stop it. I¡¯m not your brother¨Cinw.¡± Raising her brows, the woman said, ¡°Fine, it looks like you¡¯ve forgotten about my sister. Very well, I wo n¡¯t waste your time any longer.¡± Speechless, Richard seemed to have lost his cool. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, and I¡¯ll also tell my sister to forget about you.¡± The woman got to her feet and was about to leave but Richard stopped her.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Katie Sullivan, I no longer have anything to do with your sister. We¡¯re only just strangers.¡± Katie sneered. ¡°Oh, strangers. My sister did fail to see who you truly are.¡± After that, she left without tur ning around. Though Pearl was unaware of the exact circumstances behind the incident, Katie¡¯s words implied that s he might be the younger sister of Richard¡¯s former love interest. Besides, Richard might have broken up with his beloved under some force, but both of them still cared about each other. Pearl¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she witnessed the usually calm Richard lose control that way. Althou gh Richard imed they were now merely strangers, his actions betrayed his concern. ¡°Richard¡­¡± Pearl called out Richard turned around, his usually stoic eyes now filled with pain. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Richard raised his head, his eyes distant. ¡°Let¡¯s cancel the interviews and go back.¡± Dazed, Pearl looked at him and nodded. Her emotions wereplex, as Katie had effectively disrupted After that, she decided against working overtime and returned to Waldorf Residence. She came home e ¡°Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at the hospital?¡± Chuckling, Hugo exined, ¡°It¡¯s my day off today.¡± Pearl nodded and was about to head to her room, but she stopped in her tracks. She turned and said w ¡°Go on.¡± Hugo sipped his tea and sounded gentle. ¡°Did Richard¡­ have a girlfriend before?¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Pearl¡¯s question caught Hugo by surprise, but he asked patiently, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? How did you know?¡± After a brief contemtion, Pearl decided to be honest with him because she felt that it was okay. ¡°In to day¡¯s interview, a woman named Katie Sullivan addressed Richard as her brother¨Cin¨C Katie Sullivan¡­. 712 Hugo raised an eyebrow and smiled as he confirmed, ¡°Yes, Richard did have a girlfriend named Jenny Sullivan. Katie is her younger sister.¡± Biting her l*p, Pearl pressed on, ¡°Why did they break up?¡± After looking around, Hugo whispered, ¡°It was because Jenny wanted to pursue her dream abroad and didn¡¯t want to be limited to our country. Richard, on the other hand, didn¡¯t want her to be so far away from him. Jenny ended the rtionship. but he hasn¡¯t dated an yone else since.¡± Pearl felt a sudden emptiness inside her upon hearing the whole story ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that Richard liked that woman very much?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Hugo smiled in approval. ¡°Absolutely. He wouldn¡¯t have remained single for so long if he didn¡¯t. Besides , he used to smile more often, even though he wasn¡¯t as gentle back then.¡± He paused and offered aforting smile as he observed Pearl¡¯s distracted expression. ¡°Maybe you have feelings for Richard, but no one can predict the emotions of one¡¯s past. However, don ¡¯t take it too seriously. Richard treats you in a special way too. Perhaps you¡¯re the ¡± Pearl cut him off. ¡°Okay, stop.¡± She felt that Richard would never fall for another woman because he liked his ex¨Cgirlfriend so much. After that, Pearl went upstairs and returned to her room. Feeling upset, she sat in her room and turned on herptop to investigate Richard¡¯s past. As a top hacker, finding information was a breeze, and she swiftly found everything between Richard a nd Jenny. They had met in college and were each other¡¯s first love, sharing four happy years at the university. But after graduating, Jenny broke up with Richard as she aspired to pursue her career abroad. Pearl also saw Jenny¡¯s photos. Jenny appeared gentle and adorable, no less appealing than Katie. The various snapshots of Richard and Jenny¡¯s college life depicted aplete first love story, featuring images of them holding hands, dining together, and cycling side by side. Pearl sighed deeply as she looked up from herptop. Suddenly, a text notification on theptop snapped her back to reality. It was a message from Wayne. [Miss Pearl, I¡¯ve done handling Cuza Root for you. You cane and take it whenever you¡¯re free.] Wayne¡¯s text reminded Pearl that she had to make medicine for Simon, and she had left the Cuza Root [I¡¯lle byter. Let¡¯s meet at the bar.] [Okay.] After receiving Wayne¡¯s reply, Pearl turned off herptop and headed out. However, she unexpectedly b ¡°Where are you going?¡± Pearl snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s any of your business.¡± 2/2 Pearl¡¯s sudden fierceness puzzled Richard and made thetter frown. ¡°It¡¯s already seven o¡¯clock. You¡¯re However, Pearl shot him a frosty re. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. It has nothing to do with you. Focus on your ow Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Consequently, Richard was enlightened. ¡°Are you talking about this afternoon¡¯s incident?¡± However, his question earned him a sneer from Pearl. ¡°You¡¯re so busy every day, Mister Richard. I ha ve no right to ask about your affairs. You¡¯d better care about your ex¨Cgirlfriend, Jenny Sullivan.¡± At the mention of Jenny¡¯s name, Richard emitted a cold aura. ¡°Who told you about her?¡± Pearl kept her sneer because of his impatience. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t find, Richard.¡± Richard took a deep breath to calm down. ¡°I don¡¯t care if someone else told you or you found it on your own. Don¡¯t bring her up in front of me again.¡± However, Pearl looked at him distantly. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your ex¨Cgirlfriend, Richard.¡± After that, she brushed past him and left the house to hail a cab to Dark Bar. On her way there, she gra ppled with indescribable emotions. She could understand Richard¡¯s former aloofness, but she was infuriated by his anger directed at her to day because of his ex- girlfriend. Upon arriving at the bar, Wayne got a bottle of wine for Pearl because of thetter¡¯s foul mood. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you, Miss Pearl? Did some Waldorf drive you mad?¡± Pearl raised her ss and gulped the wine down. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just drink with me tonight because I¡¯m not g oing home.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve got an important issue now. Cerubleu¡¯s local development has surpassed its foreign one due to its coboration with Waldorf Enterprises. Maybe yo u should consider relocating the headquarters here and focus on local growth.¡± However, Pearl¡¯s mind was elsewhere. ¡°Sure, do what you think is best.¡± She was still sober even after a few sses of wine. Suddenly, she smelled someone¡¯s fragrance, and she looked up and saw a figure d in white standin g in front of her. The figure¡¯s slightly familiar face wore a friendly smile. ¡°You¡¯re Pearl Leighton, aren¡¯t you?¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Unmoved, Pearl said, ¡°Miss Katie, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to have a chat with you.¡± Katie sat down and looked at Wayne with mixed emotions. Pearl whispered, ¡°Wayne, please give us some privacy.¡± After Wayne left, Katie disclosed her reason for being there. ¡°I¡¯m aware that you¡¯re quite popr now, M ¡°You¡¯re overestimating me, Miss Katie. I¡¯m just an ordinary person.¡± Covering her mouth and snickering, Katie asked, ¡°Ordinary? I don¡¯t think so. I¡¯m sure you must have som you as well, not to mention the Waldorfs.¡± While it sounded like apliment, Pearl detected a hint of mockery that left her uneasy. ¡°So, what¡¯s your point, Miss Katie? I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯te here to praise me.¡± Blinking, Katieughed. ¡°You¡¯re quite sharp, Miss Pearl. Let me get straight to the point then ¡± Pearl replied, ¡°I¡¯m listening ¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of my identity, aren¡¯t you? My sister dated Richard for a long time, and they still l Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Katie¡¯s words amused Pearl. ¡°I have nothing to do with Richard, Why are you suresi meddle in his rtionship with someone else?¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Ugh, Katie, there¡¯s no need to view me as your enemy. I ¡°You¡¯re very perceptive, Miss Pearl, but I have my judgment.¡± Katie smoothed her hair. ¡°I can see your fe elings for Richard, or else I wouldn¡¯t havee to you.¡± Looking cold, Pearl assured her, ¡°I¡¯ll never be involved with Richard.¡± ¡°I hope so. My flight is tomorrow at eight in the morning, but I want to remind you that my sister will be ba ck in less than half a month. So, you¡¯d better stay away from Richard, or you¡¯ll get hurt.¡± With that, Katie got up and left. Jenny would be back soon? Gloomy, Pearl looked down and gulped down another ss of wine. When Wayne returned, Pearl was drunk. He leaned over and heard her whisper a person¡¯s name. ¡°Bestard¡­ Richard¡­¡± As expected, it was Richard who had annoyed Pearl But Wayne could not drive Pearl home because she was drunk. Instead, he helped her to a lounge upsta irs. When Pearl woke up, she found herself lying in an upstairs lounge of the bar, and Wayne was gone. Nearby, she saw fresh clothes and a bottle of Cuza Root powder. She got up and washed up. After changing her clothes, she left the bar. When she came home, she saw Richard reading a book on the sofa Since it was the weekend, he hadn¡¯t gone to work. His dark blue casual clothes made him look neat and approachable, quite unlike his usual distant demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Richard, as though he had forgotten their earlier quarrel, greeted her. Pearl, however, responded with a grumpy snort. ¡°Don¡¯t go drinkingte at night again. You reek of wine.¡± Pearl sniffed the light jasmine scent of her b*dy and frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t smell of wine.¡± Quietly, Richard closed his book. ¡°Did you get someone to stalk me, Richard?¡± An idea suddenly dawned on Pearl. Calmly, Richard exined, ¡°It was Dad¡¯s idea. He¡¯s afraid something might happen to you.¡± Pearl was inexplicably uneasy after hearing his exnation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m going to bed. Bye.¡± Pearl was about to go upstairs when Richard grabbed her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad.¡± It was the first time Richard softened his tone and spoke nicely to her. Pearl attempted to pull away but couldn¡¯t break free. She shot him a defiant re. ¡°Whether I¡¯m angry or n I ¡°I¡¯m going on a business trip this afternoon for two days. Dad asked you to go with me.¡± Richard¡¯s intense Pearl considered refusing but hesitated because it was Dustan¡¯s request.. ¡°Why does Mister Dustan want me to go with you?¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 1/1 Pearl couldn¡¯t figure out why Dustan knew about Richard¡¯s business trip and even asked her to o mpany him. Richard released her wrist when he sensed she wasn¡¯t upset. ¡°Maybe he wants us to bond by spending ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . some time together.¡± Dustan might wish for Richard to marry her instead of Abby, so he might have wanted to provide them with some alone time. ¡°What time in the afternoon?¡± Although Pearl resisted the idea of being alone with Richard because of what had happened over the past two days, she anticipated that it would be difficult to get herself out of the situation if she declined Dustan¡¯s request. ¡°The flight is at three o¡¯clock in the afternoon going to Mosvil.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pack up and get ready to leave.¡± Pearl sighed, epting her fate. She packed light since it was just a two¨Cday trip. Then, she headed to the airport with Richard. Richard had booked first¨Css tickets. In the first¨C ss cabin, most of the passengers were busy typing on theirptops. Pearl covered her legs with a small nket and sipped her hot coffee, enjoying the smooth flight. But suddenly, the ne shook vigorously, and the passengers were reminded over the inte to rem ain calm. ¡°Something seems off, Richard,¡± Pearl said, her concern growing due to the turbulence. Richard closed hisptop and began to assess the situation. After experiencing the turbulence, he calmed down. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too serious. Let¡¯s just wait and list en to the captain.¡± But then, the ne began to shake violently again and nosedived. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. The captain is trying to control the ne¡­¡± The frequent announcements made Pearl realize the severity of the issue. After around a minute, the ne¡¯s speed decreased, but it was still descending rapidly. ¡°I want to go to the cockpit, Richard.¡± Frowning, Richard rebuked, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around at a time like this.¡± The critical situation made Pearl unbuckle her seatbelt and get to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m not messing around. I want to see if there¡¯s anything I can do to helpnd the ne safely.¡± Richard abruptly grabbed her wrist to stop her. ¡°Don¡¯t make light of people¡¯s lives, Pearl. Besides, the co ¡°Yeah, I know. Trust me, Richard.¡± Pearl pushed his hand away. ¡°I have a flying license, and although I Richard still refused to budge. ¡°No, it¡¯s not safe.¡± Suddenly, the announcement over the inte changed. ¡°Attention, passengers on flight G12548. Is th ¡°Listen, Richard. The captain might not be able to handle this emergency. Every passenger will die if I Richard¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he eventually let her go. ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡± However, Pearl declined, ¡°No, you stay here. The pressure isn¡¯t steady there. Some kind of ident ma ¡°Why don¡¯t you take me with you?¡± Pearl turned around and saw that the speaker was a strange man seated at the back. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 The man appeared to be in his twenties, with handsome features and a gentle expression in his char ming eyes. ¡°You are?¡± He smiled gently. ¡°My surname is York.¡± Somberly, Pearl asked, ¡°Why do you want to go with me?¡± Raymond York shed her a smile. ¡°Well, I have flying experience, just like you. I think it¡¯s better if we work together,¡± Pearl agreed because he seemed to be telling the truth. 1/1 Inside the cockpit, the captain was rather anxious, Both he and his assistant were rtively new to their roles andcked significant experience. Naturally, they were overwhelmed in a crisis like this, strugglin g to find a solution. When Pearl and Raymond rushed there, the anxious captain frowned upon seeing them. ¡°Why are you here?¡± The captain scolded them, worried because of their young age. ¡°This isn¡¯t a ygr ound. Go back to your seats!¡± Pearl took a step forward and asked patiently, ¡°Hello, Captain. I have flying experience. Can I give it a t ry?¡± ¡°You? You¡¯re in your early twenties, aren¡¯t you? This is amercial flight, not your family¡¯s private jet. You better go back to your seat!¡± Naturally, the captain didn¡¯t trust her and impatiently drove her out. ¡°You won¡¯t know if you don¡¯t let me try. Also, something is clearly wrong with the flight, and the ne is on the verge of crashing. Do you want to see every passenger die with you because of your subjective j udgment?¡± Raymond also chimed in, ¡°Let her try. You¡¯ve failed to resolve the crisis in two minutes, and the ne is descending rapidly. It¡¯s clear that your capabilities are insufficient.¡± His harsh words struck the captain and his assistant with a heavy sense of guilt. They had called the fli ght attendant for help because they couldn¡¯t handle the crisis themselves. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Recalling this, they stood up and gave up their spots to Pearl and Raymond. ¡°It¡¯s all in your hands now, but it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t seed. After all, you¡¯re giving it your best shot,¡± the captain said as he patted their sh oulders and sighed. Pearl abandoned her politeness and promptly took her seat to start managing the ne, while Raymond assisted by monitoring the aircraft¡¯s condition and flight route. ¡°The fuel is sufficient, and the pressure is stable, but why is there an issue with the ne and its trajecto After observing the indicators carefully for a long while, Raymond said slowly, ¡°Could it be that someone has tampered Shocked, Pearl asked, ¡°Are you saying this was deliberate?¡± Raymond pointed at the dashboard in front of him. ¡°Look at the current flight path. We should be headin However, Pearl doubted him. ¡°But this is amercial flight.¡± ¡°So what? Any top hacker could alter a ne¡¯s flight path settings.¡± Raising his brows, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t Chapter 86 Chapter 86 ¡°No, hackers wouldn¡¯t do something like this, especially those with a conscience. They wouldn¡¯t harm p eople,¡± Pearl firmly asserted. Despite being a top hacker, she had never engaged in immoral or malicious activities. While staring at the numbers before him, Raymond muttered, ¡°Maybe we can revert the flight path if ther e¡¯s a hacker to help us change the data. It¡¯ll be easier for us to handle it by then.¡± Pearl¡¯s eyes lit up at his suggestion. She promptly rose from her seat and rushed back to retrieve her ptop. With her hacking skills, she attempted to breach the civil aviation website. Although it was more difficult than her p revious challenge, she sessfully hacked into it. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Upon gaining ess, she located the information pertaining to their flight and modified the flight route, e nhancing it based on the original data. With intermittent guidance from Raymond, she assumed control o f the ne, and they managed to steady the ne. ¡°We did it!¡± Pearl eximed in joy as the ne¡¯s condition steadily improved. Raymond rxed too. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all because of you.! Pearl smiled faintly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do this if it weren¡¯t for your suggestion and advice.¡± ¡°All right, enough with the modesty. Since the ne can now fly automatically, let¡¯s go back to our seats,¡± Raymond proposed. Pearl nodded, and they made their way back to the first¨Css cabin. Though they had only been gone a short while, it felt like an eternity to Richard. Overwhelmed with indes cribable emotions upon seeing Pearl return, he anxiously asked, ¡°You¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± His question made Pearl burst intoughter. ¡°Of course! I¡¯m Pearl, and there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so talented and brave given your young age, Miss Pearl.¡± While Raymond was t alking, his eyes were full of amazement and admiration for Pearl, which did not go unnoticed by Richard. As a man, Richard naturally knew what Raymond¡¯s gaze meant. ¡°You¡¯re not so bad yourself. Without your insights, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to think of a solution and save the ne,¡± Pearlplimented Raymond politely. Richard interjected coldly, ¡°You could have done it even without him.¡± His abrupt remark caused Pearl to realize btedly that he was taking a stance against Raymond. Was h Snickering inwardly, Pearl exined to Raymond, ¡°My friend can be a bitpetitive. Please don¡¯t take Raymond kept his smile, now having a clearer understanding of Pearl¡¯s rtionship with Richard. ¡°I understand. Maybe he¡¯s just¡­ trying to protect his girlfriend, so he¡¯s a little hostile.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but ¡°No, you¡¯ve got the wrong idea. We¡¯re not in a rtionship.¡± Shocked, Pearl spoke up to deny it. However, Richard was not eager to refute Raymond but pulled Pearl into his arms. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s over. You can go back to your seat now. We¡¯ll arrive at Mosvil in a while.¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 1/1 ¡°Don¡¯t be so nosy¡­¡± Helplessly, Pearl rolled her eyes, but she could only sit down because she was no t as strong as Richard Seeing that, Raymond returned to his own seat as well. Before long, the nended at Mosvil. Richard got off the ne with Pearl and went their separate w ays with Raymond. ¡°It just urred to me that I never asked that guy for his name.¡± Richard asked coldly, ¡°Why? You want to know his name?¡± Pearl, sensing the change in his tone, added, ¡°Well, he was myrade, and I¡¯m naturally curious ab out his identity.¡± ¡°Well, to hell with that!¡® Richard turned away and stopped talking to Pearl. §´§à§â Pearl¡¯s surprise, she bumped into Raymond again when she tried to check in at the hotel. ¡°You¡¯re staying here too? What a coincidence!¡± Upon spotting Richard and Pearl approaching, Raymond greeted them with a bright smile. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll be temporary neighbors.¡± Pearl asked curiously, ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t even know your name yet.¡± Raymondughed. ¡°I¡¯m Raymond York.¡± Raymond York? Pearl had heard of him. He was the president of NK Group, apany that had be famous overnight and had since established a significant presence across various industries. Despite hispany¡¯s sess, Raymond maintained a low profile and rarely appeared in public. Although Pearl was surprised by his identity, she introduced herself, ¡°I¡¯m Pearl Leighton, and this is Ric hard Waldorf-¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. You¡¯re quite famous, Miss Pearl I¡¯ve seen you on the news.¡± Raymond turned and she d Richard a smile. I¡¯ve heard so much about you, Mister Richard.¡± He extended his hand to shake hand s with Richard. However, Richard fixed his gaze on Raymond for a long while before he gave thetter a firm handshake. ¡°I¡¯m heading to my room now.¡± Raymond faced Richard¡¯s hostility with boldness and amusement. After he left, Pearl asked, ¡°Do you have a problem with him, Richard?¡± Richard answered coldly, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°But why do you look like you hate him?¡± Richard stared at her with a gloomy expression but offered no exnation. Instead, he simply said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to our rooms and rest. We need to negotiate a deal at eight o¡¯clock tonight.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Pearl agreed half¨C heartedly. Suddenly, she recalled something and asked, ¡°Do you know why our flight experienced prob Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Was it due to foul y?¡± Shocked, Pearl eximed, ¡°How did you know?¡± Richard soundedposed. ¡°I know a bit of flight principles, and it didn¡¯t look like a typical ident.¡± ¡°Do you think it was Brandon or Lawson Enterprises¡® doing?¡± After thinking for a moment, Pearl couldn¡¯ After a pause, Richard said slowly, ¡°It wasn¡¯t them ¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Puzzled, Pearl sought rification. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for someone to deal with Brandon because he recently targeted Waldorf Enterprises. He won¡¯t dare to make a move for a while. As for Lawson Enterprises¡­ I don¡¯t think they¡¯d take such a ris k. The entirepany consists of just a few hundred people, and this issue couldnd them in prison f or several decades if they were caught.¡± His meticulousness earned him her admiration, but she needed to know the truth. ¡°Then do you know who did it?¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Shaking his head, Richard replied, ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But I think their target might not be us.¡± Pearl nodded thoughtfully. kay, go back to your ro your room. Let¡¯s meet at the hotel¡¯s entrance in half an hour.¡± Both Pearl and Richard returned to their rooms. However, as Pearl was preparing to freshen up and change her clothes, she suddenly heard a knock on her door. ¡°Room service.¡± After opening the door, a burly man suddenly barged into Pearl¡¯s room and tried to strangle her. She took a step back and kicked his face. The man, however, was strong, and Pearl¡¯s kick didn¡¯t hurt him much. After that, he locked the door and pounced on her again, trying to hold her waist this time. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Pearl struggled but was unable to free herself. She resorted to hitting his back with her elbows repeatedly. ¡°Stop struggling, babe. You¡¯re mine tonight.¡± His action of enjoying her scent disgusted her. Calming herself down, Pearl began devising a n while surveying her surroundings. She knew that trying to attract attention by causing amotion in the room wouldn¡¯t work due to the e xcellent sound. instion. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t contact Wayne as she had just taken off her ring to ta ke a bath Anxious, she had made up her mind to fight him. As he leaned in with his foul breath, Pearl leaned back in disgust. Just as she prepared to defend herse lf, the door suddenly burst open. The sight that met Richard¡¯s eyes filled him with rage. He grabbed the burly man by his cor and pulled him up. After that, he kicked the man. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± Richard sounded very dangerous.. The burly man had initially been confident about handling Pearl alone, but facing both Pearl and Richar d, he refused to say anything, fearing for his safety. Richard squatted down, his tone icy. ¡°You¡¯re not telling us, are you?¡± Fear began to creep into the burly man, fueled by Richard¡¯s menacing re, but he remained resolute. ¡° What¡­ can you do to me?¡± He did not know Richard. He was only here because someone paid him to harass a woman, and the sig ¡°I¡¯ll make you disappear from this world quietly.¡± The man was terrified by Richard¡¯s ominous words. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Someone¡­ Richard knew that a stranger wouldn¡¯t have been able to urately locate Pearl¡¯s room. Someone else must hav this. ¡°Who is it?¡± im Bonus For Free Every Day>> SHEEDRIL, I was charmed by thisdy¡¯s photo, so Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Brandon? Both Richard and Pearl exchanged knowing nces, instantly recognizing the mastermind behind this i ncident. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Brandon to be so persistent and keep testing my patience. Does he really think I wouldn ¡¯t retaliate?¡± She gnashed her teeth. If it weren¡¯t for Richard, she would likely have taken this burly man down with her today. ¡°Can I¡­ go now?¡± slowly, the burly man got to his feet, but as he attempted to run away, Richard¡¯s kick to his knee sent him tumbling to the floor once more. Coldly, Richard rebuked, ¡°You must be punished byw given your failed attempt at assault.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Oh no!¡± The burly man ignored everything else and wailed, ¡°I¡¯ve told you the man behind it. Why won¡¯t you let me go?¡± up if you say more.¡± His outburst earned him a stem re from Pearl. ¡°It won¡¯t be as simple as being locked up if you say Threatened, the burly man fell into despair and remained silent. After that, Pearl called the police, leading to the man¡¯s arrest. She decided to deal with Brandon after n egotiating with Richard. Richard and Pearl made an appointment with their partner in a private room on the first floor. When Pe arl entered the room, she saw a familiar man standing across from her. ¡°What a coincidence! We meet again.¡± Raymond greeted Pearl with a smile. Incredulous, Pearl turned to look at Richard as if wondering if their partner was Raymond or not. Richard exined slowly, ¡°Our partner is NK Group, and I only found out an hour ago that he¡¯s the pres ident.¡± Chuckling, Raymond added, ¡°It seems fate has brought us together.¡± After the three of them took their seats, Richard started discussing the deal with Raymond. ¡°I can give up this piece ofnd to you, but NK Group has to promise Waldorf Enterprises ten percent o f profits.¡± Surprised, Raymond said, ¡°Well, you¡¯re asking an exorbitant price, Mister Richard. Ten percent is too hi gh. How about five percent?¡± However, Richard refused to give in. ¡°Ten percent is already the lowest. If you refuse, I can only coborate with another ¡°Are you threatening me, Mister Richard?¡± Though both Richard and Raymond were smiling, Pearl could detect a sense of tension in their words. Chuckling, Richard denied, ¡°I would never dare to threaten you, Mister Raymond. We are all businessm en seeking our own interests, aren¡¯t we?¡± Suddenly, Raymond ignored Richard and grinned at Pearl. ¡°But ten percent isn¡¯t much if I¡¯m doing Miss Pearl a favor.¡± His words made Richard knit his brows. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do me a favor, Mister Raymond. Just discuss it among yourselves.¡± Pearl sensed the decided to stay out of it. ¡°I admire you very much, Miss Pearl. We, at NK, are not quick to give up our advantages. This is my first.¡± Raymond¡¯s words only seemed to make Richard¡¯s tone even colder. ¡°Mister Raymond, you¡¯re quite goo With augh, Raymond remarked, ¡°Every man would be captivated by an exceptional woman like Miss ordinary guy. If I¡¯ve offended you, just tell me. You don¡¯t have to be so rmed. Richard raised his brows and added sarcastically, ¡°No, you got me wrong. It¡¯s not like Pearl will fall for ju Chapter 29. 2/2 Helplessly, Pearl wondered why Richard wanted to implicate her while bragging Raymond¡¯s smile faded, and his tone shifted. ¡°You don¡¯t need to press me like this. I¡¯ll give in to your un Chapter 90 Chapter 90 ¡°She doesn¡¯t need your favor¡± After that, Raymond stood up. ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to cooperate with NK, we¡¯ll postpone this for now. Let¡¯s revisit the discussion when you¡¯re prepared to negotiate another day ¡°With that, he left the private room. Sensing Raymond¡¯s annoyance, Pearl nudged Richard¡¯s arm. ¡°Richard, what¡¯s gotten into you? Why did you speak so rudely? We¡¯re here for negotiations, not to argue with him!¡± However, Richard stared at her intensely and only managed to speak after a long while. ¡°Are you dumb?¡± Stunned, Pearl asked, ¡°Why are you scolding me?¡± But Richard got up and left, refusing to rify his statement to her. After B Richard returned to his room, Pearl decided to take a stroll in the garden, preferring not to return to her room. As she wandered to a quiet corner, she dialed Brandon¡¯s number. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Brandon¡¯s voice sounded weak. At that moment, he felt incredibly unlucky. He had merely s et fire to Waldorf Enterprises, but someone had set fire to his own home while he was asleep in his room that night. Miraculously, his family of five narrowly escaped death in the ze. Unfortunately, his assets had been frozen the following day due to irregrities discovered while he was still associated with Waldorf Enterprises. Following an investigation, all his assets had been confiscated.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. What infuriated him more was that Lawson Enterprises abandoned him that day too. As a result, his famil y was now cramped in a tiny rental apartment. The endless bickering andints had left him emotio nally drained. ¡°Brandon, do you know who I am?¡± Pearl¡¯s pleasant voice made Brandon realize who she was. ¡°So even you want to revel in my suffering, Pearl?¡± Brandon sneered as he took a long drag on his cigar ette. ¡°You hired someone to vite my dignity. Do you think I¡¯ll let you off the hook?¡± Confused, Brandon repeated her words. ¡°Vite? Who hired someone to do that to you? Don¡¯t make baseless usations!¡± Pearlughed coldly. ¡°You know very well what you¡¯v e done.¡± However, her usation sent himughing hysterically. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re using me simply because you can¡¯t find anyone else. Oh, Pearl. Why do you have His words made Pearl realize something was amiss, ¡°You really didn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°Of course not. You¡¯ve ruined my entire family. I¡¯ve lost my home and my job. I can barely afford meals no ¡°Understood.¡± After ending the call, Pearl felt perplexed. Brandon seemed to be telling the truth, so it was highly likely he wasn¡¯t behind the incident. Then who made Brandon the scapegoat? That person had used Brandon¡¯s nama tomli Chapter 91 Chapter 91 1/1 Pearl returned to the hotel and knocked on Richard¡¯s door. ¡°Richard, I need to talk to you.¡± Before she could say anything more, Richard cut her off coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡± Sensing his bad mood, Pearl decided not to say anything more. The two stood there at the door for a while, and just as Richard thought of softening his tone, a call came in. He picked up, and Hugo¡¯s voice came from the other end. ¡°Richard, Jenny is back.¡± Those three words were like a pebble tossed into a calmke, making ripples in Richard¡¯s calm heart. Hugo and Jenny went to the same university and were quite close, so Hugo¡¯s information was likely ac curate. Richard immediately said, ¡°Where is she? Tell me.¡± The surroundings were quiet enough for Pearl to hear everything. Jenny was Richard¡¯s first love? She was back? Hugo was right. Richard had never truly let go of her. ¡°She¡¯ll be back for a short visit and will be on the flight to Aflus tomorrow morning.¡± If her flight was tomorrow morning, it meant Richard had time to return. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll head back immediately.¡± Richard hung up and, upon lowering his gaze, noticed the expres sion on Pearl¡¯s face, which made his heart ache. Pearl took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Are we still going to talk about the partnership?¡± Richard looked directly into her eyes and appeared pensive. ¡°Let¡¯s cancel the partnership, Pearl.¡± ¡°The partnership with NK Group would bring a lot of benefits to Waldorf Enterprises. Are you sure you Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. want to let it go?¡± Pearl said in a low voice, her heart aching. The Richard she knew wouldn¡¯t easily give up an opportunity that benefited thepany so much. ¡°I have something urgent to attend to. Let¡¯s cancel it for now.¡± ¡°Something urgent? You mean you¡¯re going to see her, right? Richard, I could still close the deal without Richard frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± ¡°Whatever. It¡¯s none of my business.¡± Pearl wasn¡¯t interested in whatever he was going to say, so she tu Pearl returned to her room, her emotions in turmoil. Suddenly, a call from Wayne came through. Annoye Wayne was taken aback by her tone and asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± She frowned and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Why did you call?¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 ¡°Miss Pearl, Cerubleu recently encountered some sales issues, and I think you should take a look at it. ¡± Wayne sounded serious so the situation was probably grave. Pearl remembered how Richard lost his cool when Jenny was mentioned and immediately agreed. Howe ver, since the partnership with NK Group was not yet finalized, Pearl decided to speak with Raymond Yo rk before leaving. Pearl found Raymond enjoying tea in the hall, where the aroma of tea filled the air. ¡°Miss Pearl, I had a feeling you¡¯de to see me.¡± Raymond appeared smug about his prediction, leavin g Pearl a little confused. ¡°Why do you say that?*** ¡°You¡¯re a smart person, so you would know how much profit Waldorf Enterprises would make from this p artnership with NK. He smiled, but it made her feel ufortable. Pearl smiled and asked, ¡°So, what are your thoughts on this partnership?¡± He tried to y coy. ¡°I was so disappointed that Mister Richard refused to work with us¡­ But, if you coul d give us a number we can¡¯t refuse, we might just consider working with you.¡± As for the bargaining chip, it really depends on how tempting it was. ¡°The development of Waldorf Enterprises is witnessed by everyone. I¡¯m sure you know that. Working wit h us would be a win- win situation.¡± Pearl¡¯s words didn¡¯t seem to sway him, so he continued smiling. ¡°I think you should consider a different a pproach.¡± Pearl frowned. That wasn¡¯t good enough? ¡°I don¡¯t really understand what you mean. Why don¡¯t you be direct about this?¡± Raymond dropped his pretense. ¡°I think you¡¯re the biggest bargaining chip.¡± A weird expression shed across Pearl¡¯s face before she responded, ¡°I still don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± Raymond noticed her awkward expression andughed. ¡°No need to be nervous. I admire you, but I won ¡¯t exploit your situation. I see how capable you are. If you¡¯re interested in joining NK, I¡¯ll ensure you get a high¨Cranking position.¡± He deliberately made it sound enticing because he was worried she might decline his offer. ¡°NK is growing rapidly, and we¡¯ll soon rival Waldorf Enterprises. Moreover, if NK and Waldorf Enterprises coborate, your role would be advantageous for both parties, malding no difference which side you choose.¡± His statements not only showcased how powerful NK was, he even gave her a good reason to leave. Any person would have considered it, but Pearl was different. With power and wealth at her disposal, no ne of these offers tempted her. ¡°I¡¯m just a lowly employee. I wouldn¡¯t dream of bing leverage for Waldorf Enterprises to work with N K.¡± Pearl made her rejection clear. ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, I won¡¯t force you, but NK will not be giving way for this partnership.¡± After hearing this, Pearl stood up and gave a faint smile. ¡°I understand your position. If that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t push you any further.¡± As she turned to leave, Raymond called after her. ¡°Wait, Miss Pearl.¡± Pearl smirked before turning around. ¡°Yes?¡± Raymond wouldn¡¯t let this partnership sl*p away, and she was well aware of it. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Raymond sighed. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll proceed with the partnership between our twopanies. I¡¯ll send the cont Looking forward to working together.¡± Pearl¡¯s smile was genuine. ¡°Likewise.¡± ¡°Miss Pearl, to be honest, I like you even more now.¡± Pearl¡¯s smile radiated warmth and sincerity. Unlike materialistic women, she possessed cleverness and t Enjoy Ad¨CFree Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¡°Thank you for that. I hope you not only like me but Waldorf Enterprises too.¡± Thatment helped break the awkwardness between them. Raymond smiled. ¡°Of course. After handling the matter with Raymond, Pearl booked the earliest avable flight back. She returned to thepany to request leave to deal with Cerubleu but unexpectedly ran into Richard. ¡°Pearl,¡± he greeted her. ¡°Hi, shouldn¡¯t you have reconciled with your first love by now? What are you doing here?¡± Pearl was an noyed to see him looking like nothing happened and started mocking him. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± He rushed back just for Hugo to tell him that it wasn¡¯t her. Jenny wasn¡¯t back y et. His return was driven not by lingering feelings for Jenny but by a long¨C standing question that had troubled him for years. He needed Jenny¡¯s presence to answer it, Richard attempted to exin, but Pearl cut him off. ¡°No need to exin. I have no time to talk about yo ur old me with you. ¡°With that, she headed to the HR department to request her leave.. Richard watched her walk away, and an unfamiliar emotion surged within him. His phone rang, disying Raymond¡¯s name. He answered and heard Raymond¡¯s cheerful voice on th e other end. ¡°Have you received the agreement?¡± Richard frowned. ¡°What agreement?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Miss Pearl inform you? If it weren¡¯t for her sincere desire to work with NK, this partnership might have taken much longer to finalize¡­ Don¡¯t you know? It¡¯s odd she didn¡¯t tell you.¡± 1. However, he Raymond sounded surprised, and Richard couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this was an attempt to provoke hi m. ignored thement and asked, ¡°You were unwilling to work with us before. Why the change of hea rt?¡± Raymond raised his brow and said in a mysterious tone, ¡°All thanks to Miss Pearl, who gave me an offer I can¡¯t refuse, so¡­¡± He had just confessed his admiration for Pearl, but the way he phrased it left Richard with a different impression. ¡°What happened to Pearl?¡± Richard couldn¡¯t help but ask, although he didn¡¯t want to believe his own suspicions. ¡°You should go ask her,¡± Raymond replied with a smile. ¡°I have work to do. Talk to you soon.¡± After the call ended, Richard was left with a bunch of questions. He then heard the HR say Pearl would be taking a month off HR say Beach and was leaving today. He called Pearl. ¡°Where are you?¡± Pearl sensed something odd in his tone and scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± BeYour H leave request is denied. Continue working.¡± Richard thought she epted the terms Raymond gave her ¡°I went through the proper process for requesting leave. You have no right to stop me.¡± Richard sounded more stern. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it again.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± Chapter 94 Chapter 94 1/1 Richard suddenly scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re headed to NK, aren¡¯t you?¡± Pearl was taken aback because she couldn¡¯t understand why he would jump to that conclusion. ¡°I knew you must have offered something irresistible to Raymond. You¡¯re leaving Waldorf Enterprises ri ght?¡± Richard took a deep breath, then continued, ¡°Fine, leave then.¡± He hung up after saying that. Pearl¡¯s heart dropped when she heard the disconnected call. She wasn¡¯t going to tell Richard she wa s going back to handle Cerubleu, so she might as well let him think whatever he wanted. He never cared about her anyway except when he wanted to me and suspect someone, Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Pearl returned to herpany headquarters, where Wayne was anxiously waiting. ¡°What happened?¡± Wayne said, ¡°Something happened between the partnership of Cerubleu and Genesis Group, and they specifically requested a meeting with you, the president of Cerubleu, over tea.¡± Pearl frowned. ¡°A meeting with me?¡± ¡°Yes, if we decline, they¡¯ve threatened to cancel the agreement, even if it means paying heftypensation. This could have a sig nificant impact on thepany. We¡¯ve invested in several new projects, and our cash flow is tight. If th e deal falls through, this would be a big blow to thepany.¡± Wayne sighed. Pearl immediately understood. She had no choice but to meet with them, even if she didn¡¯t want to. ¡°I¡¯m guessing the president knows a lot about tea. Are you sure¡­?¡± Wayne was cautious. Pearl understood his concerns and smiled sadly at him. ¡°When have I ever embarrassed myself?¡± Her response lifted Wayne¡¯s spirits, transforming his earlier despair into hope. Indeed, she was Pearl, a nd there was nothing she couldn¡¯t do. Pearl smiled and said nothing more. The president of Genesis Group had requested to meet Pearl at a tea shop. It wasn¡¯t a busy ce. Wh en Pearl got there, there were only a few people sitting around. She stood outside the private room and knocked. A voice from within invited her to enter, and she push ed the door open. Stephen Long, appearing to be in his sixties and bearing a stern countenance, was sipping tea. When P Pearl chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t look your age, sir. You look much younger.¡± Stephen chuckled. ¡°We¡¯re here to enjoy some tea, so let¡¯s see how much you know about this.¡± Pearl had anticipated this and smiled, saying, ¡°The equipment, water temperature, pouring technique, a some are stronger, while others are milder. There are thousands of teas for people around the world to e ¡°Great. You know a thing or two.¡± Stephen smiled. ¡°I wonder who taught you this.¡± Pearl¡¯s mind drifted away. ¡°My father taught me when I was a child. He learned it from my grandfather, w Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Stephen was suddenly interested. ¡°Your grandfather? What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Fredrick Jameson.¡± Stephen was shocked to hear his name, then his eyes slowly teared up. ¡°You¡¯re Freddie¡¯s granddaughter. Your grandfather and I were best friends! But¡­¡± He held Pearl¡¯s hand and continued, You¡¯re the president of Cerubleu. You¡¯re so young yet already so sessful. I¡¯m sure F reddie would be very proud of you.¡± ¡°Grandpa Stephen, our partnership¡­¡± Pearl asked, but before she could finish, Stephen cut her off. ¡° We¡¯ll be working with Cerubleu on this project and any other future projects!¡± The assistant¡¯s eyes went wide when he heard that ¡°But, Mister Stephen¡­ We need to take into ou nt the partner¡¯s capabilities for certain projects!¡± The old man was annoyed. ¡°Are you doubting Pearl¡¯s capabilities here? Are you questioning my judgm ent?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. The assistant recoiled and fell silent. Pearl smiled gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Stephen.¡± ¡°Visit me from time to time. You look so much like your grandfather¡­¡°. Stephen engaged Pearl in conversation on various topics until the sky darkened, before finally allowing her to leave. Pearl thought this was going to take a while to resolve, but all she had to do was show up. With Cerubl eu now in a secure position, she was feeling a lot better. She would be able to return to Waldorf Enterprises sooner than expected, but what Richard had said to her made her hesitate. He had likely reconciled with his old me and was enjoying his time with her n ow. If she went back now, it would ruin things for them. While thinking about it, her phone rang. ¡°This is Mobius. Where have you been the past few days? Why haven¡¯t youe back?¡± Pearl froze, about to exin, when she heard Richard¡¯s voice on the other end. ¡°Time to study, Mobius. Don¡¯t you know you have an exam the day after tomorrow?¡± Mobius sadly replied, ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯m trying to get help from Pea. She majored in marketing so I¡¯m sur e she can help me.¡± ¡°Well, you should have studied earlier instead of waiting until two days before your exam. I¡¯d be surprised if you don¡¯t flunk it. Richard¡¯s words were cold but undeniably urate. Mobius lowered his head and asked, ¡°When are youing back, Pea? I really can¡¯t study anymore. I was focused on racing this semester and didn¡¯t pay attention to my sses.¡± Pearl was about to hang up when she heard Richard¡¯s voice, but Mobius sounded so sad that she coul dn¡¯t bear to turn him down. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back tomorrow morning.¡± Mobius brightened up. ¡°Alright. Thanks, Pea!¡± Pearl said goodbye and ended the call. As promised, she returned to Waldorf Residence the following morning. Mobius was still asleep, and only Richard was in the dining area, having breakfas ¡°d you know the way back?¡± Richard slowly took a bite of his food and sounded sarcastic. Pearl¡¯s heart, which had been calm for a few days, started raging again. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 ¡°What I do is none of your business, Mister Waldorf, You should worry about your own situation.¡± Pearl retorted, not wanting to back down and resorting to hurtful words. Richard wiped his l*ps with a napkin and said, ¡°I¡¯m only taking care of you because of my dad¡¯s orders. I have no interest in being a busyb*dy.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, then don¡¯t do it,¡± Pearl shot back, her annoyance growing. Mobius walked out of his room, noticing the tense atmosphere between them. ¡°Why are you both frowni ng so early in the day? You¡¯re not enemies.¡± Pearl dismissed it, saying, ¡°Nothing is going on, Mobius. Time for breakfast. I¡¯ll help you study in your r oomter.¡± Mobius nodded, quickly finished his meal, and returned to his room. He clutched his pen tig htly, clearly anxious. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve learned much in the past six months, Pea. Do you think I can fini sh this?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Pearl answered honestly. Mobius sighed. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen? Am I going to fail?¡± Pearl sighed in response. ¡°You won¡¯t fail because I¡¯m here, but you¡¯re probably not going to get a perfe ct score.¡± Perfect score? He would be happy just to pass. He smiled when he heard he wouldn¡¯t flunk. ¡°Let¡¯s start the revision now then.¡± Pearl opened the book and began highlighting the key points. She appeared to have the entire book memorized and efficiently marked the critical areas. Her confidence made it seem as if she was the one who wrote the exam questions. ¡°Pea, but¡­¡± Mobius started, surprised that when the teacher marked important sections, they were len gthy paragraphs, but Pearl only highlighted a sentence every few pages andpleted the entire book within ten minutes. ¡°Trust me, these are the questions that always repeat. As long as you put in some effort and memorize them, you¡¯ll score eighty or above.¡± Mobius nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°As for multiple¨C choice questions, just pick the wrong calctions. This is the finals so there wouldn¡¯t be any difficult qu estions.¡± Pearl provided these insights from her own experiences. ¡°Do you usually study at thest minute like this too?¡± Mobius asked out of curiosity. Pearl rolled her eyes, rolled up the book, and knocked his head with it. ¡°No way. If I studied this way, not Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll focus on my studies next semester and not neglect them again,¡± Mobius promised. Pearl nodded in approval. ¡°Good.¡± The following day was Mobius¡¯s exam day. Pearl was in her room preparing medication for Simon. She mixed some pink powder with water and crushed Cuza Root into a fine powder, then po Just as she was finishing up, she heard an exmation from downstairs. It was Hanzel, looking worried as he said to Pearl, ¡°Mobius was caught cheating and is currently in the p Chapter 97 Chapter 97 ¡°Cheating?¡± Pearl muttered to herself, struggling to reconcile the idea of Mobius, who had appeared so remorseful earlier, being involved in cheating. ¡°Where is he now then?¡± she asked. Hanzel wore a deeply troubled expression as he exined, ¡°He¡¯s still at school. The teacher called me , but I have an opening ceremony to attend and can¡¯t skip it.¡± Then, an idea seemed to dawn on him. He hesitated for a moment before suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t¡­ yo u go see him and find out what happened?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Pearl wasn¡¯t expecting him to ask her to do that. Hanzel nodded. ¡°Yes, I heard him say you helped him study. Maybe you can get to the bottom of this.¡± His phone rang suddenly, and he checked the caller ID before hurriedly walking away. ¡°Thanks, Pearl. I ¡¯ll join you there once I¡¯m done.¡± Although Pearl didn¡¯t know what to do, thinking of the trouble Mobius could be in, she decided to go take a look. She arrived at the school and, outside the principal¡¯s office, overheard Mobius¡¯s angry voice. ¡°I told you that wasn¡¯t the note I used. How many times do I have to say that?¡± Pearl was shocked to hear that. She began to suspect that Mobius might have been framed. ¡°Mobius Waldorf, is this how to speak to your principal?¡± The principal was enraged as he mmed the table. Mobius¡¯s expression was cold as he scoffed, ¡°I said I didn¡¯t do it. Asking me a hundred times wouldn¡¯t c hange my answer. The counselor spoke up, ¡°Mobius, even if you¡¯re a Waldorf, you¡¯re still a student. Your family can¡¯t protect you from the consequences of your actions.¡± Pearl could no longer stay silent and decided to enter the room. ¡°Hello, Sir. I heard that Mobius was caught cheating so I came to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± Pearl smiled sweetly, leaving the three people in the room stunned. Mobius, in particr, was bewildered. ¡°Why are you here, Pea?¡± The principal and counselor knew Pearl Leighton because she was a public figure. The principal¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Did youe here for Mobius? He¡¯s always been stubborn so I think you should ask him to find out more.¡± Pearl, her expression now ice¨Ccold, questioned them, ¡°Are you sure he was the one cheating?¡± ¡°Of course. We discovered this note on his desk, and the handwriting matched his. Most importantly, his Pearl sensed something was wrong. ¡°His friend reported him? Can I speak to him?¡± The counselor asked someone to send for David. David appeared at the door, looking slightly overwhelmed by the number of people in the room. ¡°What¡¯s Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, David. Tell thisdy everything about Mobius cheating.¡± The counselor looked at David affe David gulped. ¡°I had a feeling that Mobius was acting weird today so I paid more attention to him. To my surprise, I saw him wit best friend, so I felt I should help him break this bad habit. It seemed fair to everyone else, so I handed t Chapter 98 Chapter 98 After hearing David¡¯s statement, Mobius yelled at him, ¡°David, we¡¯ve been friends for years, and you¡¯re framing me like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not framing you¡­ Mobius, it¡¯s time to turn around. Cheating is wrong.¡± David looked scared when he saw how angry Mobius was. ¡°Enough, Mobius. There¡¯s no point denying this. David is your friend so what he said is likely true!¡± The principal made up his mind. ¡°Mobius Waldorf was caught cheating and remains unrepentant. After consulting with the teachers, we¡¯ve decided to expel you.¡± He turned to Pearl and smiled awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Leighton, but this was a terrible vition, so we had to do it.¡± Pearl, however, was not ready to ept this conclusion so quickly. ¡°Hold on, it¡¯s too early toe to a conclusion.¡± The principal was curious. ¡°What is it? Do you have more information about this?¡± ¡°Yesterday, I personally reviewed Mobius studies, and based on his understanding, I don¡¯t believe he n eeded to cheat.¡± The principal chuckled helplessly. ¡°Miss Pearl, you need to know-¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t think that¡¯s true, why don¡¯t you test him right now? I assume you have a spare set of exam questions.¡± The principal appeared momentarily stunned by Pearl¡¯s suggestion. The counselor responded, ¡°We do have a spare set. There are two sets, A and B. We used set A, but s et B is slightly harder¡­¡± ¡°Give it to him.¡± Pearl didn¡¯t hesitate. The principal smiled and said, ¡°Sure. We want him to ept the expulsion so no one would have anyth ing more to say.¡± The teacher took out the questions and ced them in front of Mobius. ¡°This set is a little more difficult so you¡¯ll have an additional thirty minutes, making it a total of a hundred and fifty minutes.¡± Mobius pushed it away. ¡°I won¡¯t do it.¡± Pearl frowned. ¡°Mobius, please take the exam. ¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t cheat! Why are they forcing me to do this?¡± Mobius protested angrily. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Pearl gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°Take the exam, and leave the rest to me.¡± Seeing her smile, Mobius reluctantly agreed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it.¡± An air of anticipation hung over the room as everyone awaited the oue. Mobius began the test, and after one The principal¡¯s jaw dropped after checking the answers. ¡°Was this leaked? He only got one question wro The counselor, also astonished, checked the answers while muttering to himself, ¡°No way¡­ The studen ¡°We¡¯ve seen how well Mobius can do, so now let¡¯s talk about David.¡± David jumped in surprise when his name was mentioned. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about. He might just b Pearl scoffed. ¡°Mobius seemed to have found a great friend.¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 David looked around with a guilty expression. Pearl took charge. ¡°There should be surveince cameras in the ssrooms. Let¡¯s check them to see i f Mobius was framed.¡± David was relieved when he heard Pearl was nning to check the surveince footage. He had mana ged to delete all the relevant footage, leaving no evidence behind, The principal shook his head. ¡°There were some issues with the footage. Nothing was saved.¡± Without the footage, Mobius faced an uphill battle to clear his name. Given his rebellious nature, the pri ncipal was inclined to believe that Mobius was lying Pearl, however, remained undeterred. ¡°No worries, let me take a look.¡± The principal guided her to the surveince system, and Pearl got to work. Although the data had been deleted, she managed to recover it through some simple bypass techniques. ¡°Look.¡± Pearl pointed at the screen with a triumphant smile. ¡°This person looks Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. very familiar. Could it be¡­ Mister Zimmers here?¡± The footage clearly showed David slipping the note on Mobius¡® desk when the ssroom was empty, th en walking away as if nothing had happened. ¡°Um¡­¡± The principal couldn¡¯t believe it. How could David be the one who framed Mobius? Mobius scoffed. ¡°It was you you. I knew it.¡± David¡¯s voice was shaking. ¡°No¡­ It wasn¡¯t me. Your footage has been tampered with!¡± Pearl raised her brow and chuckled in disbelief. ¡°Only you would know if it¡¯s been tampered with!¡± David knew there was no way he could weasel his way out of this, so he suddenly broke into an evil sm ile. ¡°We¡¯re all human.. He¡¯s from an affluent family with a good background. He even managed to score well without even studying ¡± He had been suppressing his jealousy, but now it exploded. Pearl shook her head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t excuse framing someone. Your betrayal is far worse than his cheat ing.¡± The principal finally grasped the situation. Pearl turned to face the counselor and smiled slyly. ¡°Do you have any connection to David? You never l ooked away since he walked in, and you looked just as nervous as him when he was exposed.¡± The principal felt ashamed of his initial judgment and apologized to Mobius. Then, he scolded David ste behaved as you could do something like this. Starting today, you are no longer allowed to attend school David¡¯s face paled, and he made a move to leave, but Pearl was not satisfied with this oue. She ex his exit. ¡°Hold on, framing someone for cheating is a criminal offense.¡± Pearl gave a chilling smile. ¡°The police will be here soon, so you better th David broke down and copsed to the floor. With the matter resolved, Pearl brought Mobius home. During the journey, Mobius nced at her, and a Seeing how awkward he looked, Pearlughed. ¡°You look so adorable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thanking you!¡± Mobius¡® face turned red, and he then whispered, ¡°Thank you for helping me today, P Chapter 100 Chapter 100 1/1 ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Pearl smiled and patted his back. ¡°Focus on your studies from now on.¡± Mobius felt a strange emotion stirring in his heart. ¡°I see why Richard likes you now¡­¡± Pearl was caught off¨C guard by Mobiusment but managed to maintain herposure. After some thought, she smiled. Y our brother has feelings for someone else. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± Mobius was shocked. ¡°Are you talking about¡­ Jenny? That¡¯s his first love. I don¡¯t think he still has feeli ngs for her.¡± ¡°Did you know your brother canceled a partnership and rushed back to see her?¡± Mobius was confused. ¡°Huh? He¡¯s just been in the office and didn¡¯t even meet any women.¡± Pearl was momentarily at a loss for words. Was she overthinking this? Meanwhile, Richard had learned about the situation and spotted them on his way to the school. ¡°Rick!¡± ¡°Cheating? Why?¡± Richard was obviously concerned about Mobius and didn¡¯t even look at Pearl, even t hough she was just next to them. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Mobius scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s fine now, thanks to Pea, If it expelled and called a cheater.¡± Richard looked at Pearl, and after a long pause, he finally said, ¡°Thanks for helping him.¡± it wasn¡¯t for her, I might have been His tone made it sound like they were strangers. Pearl felt ufortable but still said it was fine. Mobius cleared his throat when he noticed something was off with the two, then left to give them some space. But before he could walk away, Pearl saw through his n and said, ¡°Well, you can go home wit h your brother now. I have errands to run. ¡°Where are you going, Pea?¡± Richard coldly said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Pearl forced a smile then left. She felt wronged. Richard misunderstood her rtionship with Raymond, yet he was treating her that way. The more she t She even wanted to move out so she wouldn¡¯t have to see Richard again. ¡°Pea!¡± A voice called out from behind, prompting Pearl to turn around and see Mobius running over, clearly out of breath. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. Mobius finally caught up to her, his face beaming. ¡°Are you giving my brother the cold shoulder?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t overthink it. There¡¯s nothing between us to begin with, so why would I give him the cold shoul smiled while suppressing her anger. ¡°I know something happened between you two,¡± Mobius persisted, ¡°but why won¡¯t you just talk about it? Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Pearl sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, Mobius¡­¡± Mobius cut her off. ¡°I¡¯m just two years younger than you, and I know my brother. He may sound cold, but he cares for you a lot.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to move out. There¡¯s no need to say anything more.¡± Mobius was shocked. ¡°Move out? Why?¡± Pearl exined, ¡°Just like you said. My rtionship with your brother has be strained. Spending time together would just feel awkward.¡± ¡°You like him, don¡¯t you?¡± Pearl immediately refuted, ¡°No.¡± Mobius chuckled. ¡°Then why are you avoiding him? The Pearl I know would never back down when facing someone she doesn¡¯t like.¡± Pearl froze, unsure of what to say. ¡°Just admit that you like him. I can tell my brother has feelings for you too.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Mobius made it really clear, leaving Pearl with no reason to deny it, so she fell silent. After some thinking, she returned to the office. As soon as she arrived, she saw someone familiar. Abby? Pearl frowned and was going to leave, but Abby saw her and walked over with a smile on her face. ¡°Pearl! It¡¯s been a hot minute.¡± Pearl wanted to avoid her, so she sounded cold. ¡°Yes, it has. I thought you were still in jail.¡± The old Abby would be enraged when she heard that, but she just smiled instead. ¡°Thanks for your concern. I know I¡¯ve made a lot of mistakes, so I came back to ask for your forgiveness.¡± ¡°I hope that¡¯s true.¡± Pearl knew this woman wasn¡¯t simple, so she didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°How about I treat you to lunch today as an apology?¡± Pearl immediately declined. ¡°No thanks. I have work to do.¡± Abby looked disappointed. ¡°You won¡¯t give me a chance because you¡¯re being cautious. I¡¯ve turned over a new leaf, Pearl. Can¡¯t you forgive me?¡± Her pitiful look attracted sympathy from those around them.. ¡°All Abby did was love someone too much. That¡¯s such a shame.¡± ¡°She acknowledges her mistakes and is trying to change. Pearl is a little harsh.¡± ¡°Shh, don¡¯t let Miss Pearl hear you, or you¡¯re going to get it.¡± Pearl overheard their whispers and looked at Abby¡¯s sad expression, realizing Abby was trying to gain sympathy so everyone would feel sorry for her. A few months in jail really changed her. ¡°What do you want to have for lunch?¡± Abby immediately smiled. ¡°You¡¯re so nice. I also invited Rickter, so the three of us can decide where to eat.¡± Pearl¡¯s heart dropped when she heard Richard would be there too, but Abby strutted into the office in her high heels before Pearl could change her mind again. Left with no choice, Pearl prepared herself for the lunch meeting with Abby and Richard. Richard had a meeting, so Pearl and Abby waited for him at the door. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 102 Chapter 102 While they waited for Richard, Abby attempted to engage in small talk to pass the time. ¡°Pearl, I heard Waldorf Enterprises hit a new high while I wasn¡¯t around, all thanks to you.¡± Abby looked at Pearl with adoration, as if she was sincerely praising Pearl for her aplishment. ¡°It¡¯s the result of the hard work of hundreds of Waldorf Enterprises¡¯ staff, not just mine alone.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be modest. Richard told me you¡¯ve put in extra effort. If you marry into the Waldorf family, it would totally be their honor¡­ Oh Rick, over here!¡± Richard didn¡¯t expect Pearl to be there either, so his eyes darted around. ¡°Rick, we were discussing what to have for lunch. Any preferences?¡± ¡°Anything works for me.¡± Abby smiled and asked, ¡°How about you, Pearl?¡± Pearl suggested Jenovian, but Abby suddenly looked hesitant. ¡°Oh¡­ but Richard has a weak stomach, so Jenovian might not be good for him. Let¡¯s consider something else.¡± It seemed like Abby was trying to drive a wedge between them. Pearl knew Abby wasn¡¯t going to leave them alone. If she were to join them for lunch, it wouldn¡¯t lead to anything good. ¡°Whatever then.¡± Abby looked sad, hung her head low, and her eyes welled up. ¡°Pearl, do you dislike me that much? Do you not want to have lunch with me¡± Pearl was annoyed. ¡°Stop pretending. Do you want to have lunch or not?¡± Abby started bawling. ¡°I apologized, Pearl. Even if you¡¯re not going to forgive me, you shouldn¡¯t be so cold¡­¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Are you done?¡± Pearl was disgusted. Richard suddenly said, ¡°Stop being rude to Abby.¡± Rude? Pearl scoffed. ¡°Richard, I don¡¯t need you to boss me around. If you¡¯re going to waste my time, you two can go to lunch together. I¡¯m out.¡± Richard looked at her and turned to Abby. ¡°Let¡¯s go then, Abby.¡± Pearl froze because she didn¡¯t expect Richard to actually leave. Not only was she shocked, she was disappointed too. She was disappointed that Richard couldn¡¯t see through Abby¡¯s act. If that was the case, she wasn¡¯t going to stay in Waldorf Enterprises anymore. She went back to her office to type out a resignation letter and emailed it to Richard. After that, she returned to Waldorf Residence, packed her bags, and left. Hugo saw everything, so he chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Can¡¯t stand living here anymore?¡± Pearl sounded cold. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should stay here any longer, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I told you, Richard has no emotions. All he has in his mind is work. His heart died three years ago, so even if he had feelings for you, it¡¯s nothing. You¡¯re a smart girl, I¡¯m sure you understand.¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So¡­ Would you consider spending time with me instead? I promise I¡¯m a thousand times better than Rick.¡± Pearl looked at his cheerful expression and said in a serious tone, ¡°Hugo Waldorf, do you have a crush on me?¡± Hugo¡¯s smile froze. Hugo saw everything, so he chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Can¡¯t stand living here anymore?¡± Pearl sounded cold. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should stay here any longer, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I told you, Richard has no emotions. All he has in his mind is work. His heart died three years ago, so even if he had feelings for you, it¡¯s nothing. You¡¯re a smart girl, I¡¯m sure you understand.¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So¡­ Would you consider spending time with me instead? I promise I¡¯m a thousand times better than Rick.¡± Pearl looked at his cheerful expression and said in a serious tone, ¡°Hugo Waldorf, do you have a crush on me?¡± Hugo¡¯s smile froze. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 ¡°Does it matter?¡± Pearl found that funny. ¡°Of course it is. Why would I be with someone who doesn¡¯t have feelings for me, Hugo? What is so important in life that you¡¯re willing to give up love for?¡± Hugo paused, not expecting her to say that. ¡°Well, of course. There¡¯s a lot more to life than love.¡± In Hugo¡¯s mind, love was the most useless thing. He probably couldn¡¯t love. ¡°Alright, I hope you don¡¯t bring this up with me until you find out what love really is.¡± Pearl smiled at him and left with luggage in hand. The butler stopped her at the door. ¡°No, Miss Pearl, what am I supposed to tell Mister Dustan if you leave?¡± The butler looked troubled as he watched her prepare to leave with her bags. ¡°I¡¯m just moving out of the house, not cutting ties with the family. Calm down.¡± Pearl was amused that he tried to stop her. Richard came back at that moment, and when he saw she was leaving, he felt a knot in his stomach but still, pretended he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°None of your business.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes and saw Abby was there with him. She was even more sure that she had to leave. Abby was shocked. ¡°Why are you moving out?¡± But she was secretly delighted that Pearl couldn¡¯t handle it anymore and was trying to run away. She had nothing on her! ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Doesn¡¯t this work in your favor?¡± Pearl scoffed at her pretense. Abby pretended to be sad again. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood me, Pearl. I¡­¡± ¡°Richard, I have no intention of bullying your precious Abby,¡± Pearl interjected, her heart ached as she spoke. All she wanted to do was leave. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t interrupt your date any longer. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Whatever she did would turn into ¡®bullying¡¯, so she might as well leave. ¡°Pearl, nothing is going on between Rick and me. I just came back to visit Aunt Susan, and Rick just drove me here. It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Pearl coldly replied, ¡°Whatever you do is your business.¡± Seeing how resolute Pearl was in her decision to leave, Richard felt a chill in his heart. ¡°Are you going to move in with Raymond now?¡± Pearl¡¯s anger rose. ¡°Don¡¯t give me nonsense, Richard. There¡¯s nothing between him and me!¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re seeing someone? I thought you had feelings for Rick. My mistake, I suppose,¡± Abby said with a smile. Pearl couldn¡¯t stand their duet. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± With her luggage in tow, Pearl walked to the gate, but there was a shout from upstairs. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Madam?¡± The three put aside their emotions and rushed upstairs when they heard that. Upon entering the room, they were shocked by the scene before them. Susan was on the floor with her ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . eyes closed, as if she had fainted after a sudden shock. The nurse anxiously said, ¡°After Missus Susan came back from her jog, she was unwinding with a facial mask on when she suddenly fainted. I don¡¯t know what happened!¡± Pearl bent over to check her breathing. ¡°Her breathing is weak.¡± The nurse¡¯s jaw dropped as she stuttered, ¡°Wh¡­ what? Weak¡­ breathing?¡± Pearl ignored her reaction and asked, ¡°Have you called 911?¡± ¡°Yes, but we¡¯re in a secluded location, so it will take the ambnce an hour to get here. What should we do in the meantime?¡± Richard¡¯s eyes looked cold. ¡°You were supposed to take care of her!¡± The nurse shuddered and stood in silence with her head bowed. Pearl squinted and asked, ¡°Is Aunt Susan sick?¡± Abby quickly replied, ¡°She has a congenital heart disease, but she¡¯s been pretty healthy recently. I even talked to her yesterday, and she mentioned she stopped taking her meds for quite some time. How could this happen?¡± Pearl checked Susan and realized exercising might have triggered her heart disease, so she ran to the medicine cab and took out the needles to inject her with medication. She brought it into the room, and Abby looked terrified. ¡°No, Pearl, you can¡¯t just stab her with a needle. You won¡¯t be able to bear the consequences if things go south!¡± Pearl red at her. ¡°I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡± Abby looked worried on the surface, but she was ready to let Pearl take the me. ¡°I said it¡¯s going to be fine.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Abby didn¡¯t have anything more to say. She didn¡¯t know Pearl knew how to give an injection. The nurse was anxious when she saw Pearl insisting on giving the injection, so she said, ¡°I¡¯ve already called the family doctor, and he¡¯ll be here in a few minutes. Why don¡¯t you¡­ Pearl red at her and said with a cold expression, ¡°She¡¯s been unconscious for nearly five minutes now, so we need to take emergency measures. If we dy and something happens to her, will you take responsibility? ¡°T The nurse was startled. She nodded and went quiet. Richard knew Pearl was good with medicine, so he didn¡¯t say anything and just watched her. He always had a peculiar hope and trust in her. Pearl began performing heart massages on Susan, and soon, Susan¡¯s breathing returned to normal. Pearl then took out the needle and injected her. Soon after that, Susan started groaning. The nurse was overjoyed. ¡°She¡¯s awake! Missus Susan is awake!¡± Pearl calmly said, ¡°She¡¯s not awake yet. She¡¯s just reacting to the medication, but she still needs to go to the hospital for treatment. Nheless, she¡¯s out of the woods now, so we just need to wait for the ambnce to arrive.¡± The nurse nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I informed Mister Dustan and the others, so they should be home soon.¡± Right after she said that, there was amotion at the door. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Mobius¡¯s voice echoed from the doorway before he showed up. ¡°What happened to Mom?¡± Sean, who was behind him, sounded calm. ¡°Have we called for an ambnce?¡± Hugo, who was a doctor, knelt down to check his mother¡¯s pulse and breathing, then hesitantly said, seems to be alright now.¡± ¡°She¡­ Pearl stood up as the entire family arrived. ¡°I think stopping her medication for a long time triggered her heart disease, which caused her to faint. I administered some medication, so she should be fine now.¡± Hugo saw the needle on the floor and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Pearl picked it up and disposed it, then said, ¡°I gave her medication with this.¡± Sean was scrutinizing her. ¡°You know how to give an injection?¡± Pearl replied, ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± Mobius admired Pearl even more after finding out she saved their mother. His eyes grew big with curiosity.¡¯ That¡¯s so cool, Pea! Where did you learn that?¡± Pearl was a little shy. ¡°I learned it from an old doctor. Richard could tell the man wasn¡¯t just any doctor. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Pearl replied, ¡°Simon Freeman. The others, not well-versed in the world of medicine, didn¡¯t react much to the name, but Hugo became very excited. ¡°Simon Freeman? The man known as the greatest doctor of the 21st century?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Pearl frowned. ¡°That seems to be his title.¡± ad ¡°Do you have any idea how incredible that man is?¡± Hugo never met anyone as remarkable as Simon Freeman, but Pearl got to learn from him. He was really envious. Pearl nodded. ¡°Of course I do.¡± To her, he wasn¡¯t merely the greatest doctor. He was also a grumpy old man who loved his tea and enjoyed a game of chess. He¡¯d throw a fit if he lost. Mobius¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re a woman of many talents, Pea!¡± Pearl¡¯s l*ps twitched. She needed time to get used to Mobius¡¯ sudden change. The sirens of the ambnce were soon heard, cutting the awkward tensions. They quickly transported Susan to the hospital. At the hospital, everyone assisted with the paperwork before, leaving Richard to care for Susan and returning to their respectivemitments. Abby chose to stay behind, but her enthusiasm was clearlycking. She had expected Pearl to fail, but Pearl had performed admirably and had even been mentored by a famous doctor. The more she thought about it, the more jealous she felt. ¡°Pearl, how did you meet your mentor?¡± Pearl sat and ignored her. ¡± ¡°Pearl¡­ Abby called her again. . Pearl finally responded, ¡°We met while ying chess.¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 ying chess¡­ Abby suddenly had an idea, knowing her own proficiency in chess. She suggested excitedly, ¡°Could you introduce me to your mentor? I¡¯d like the great doctor to treat my grandma, who has asthma.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. However, Pearl, seeing Abby¡¯s enthusiasm, sneered as she sensed ulterior motives behind the request. ¡°I don¡¯t think he can treat your grandma. He¡¯s always very busy.¡± Gnashing her teeth, Abby persisted, ¡°I¡¯ll pay him a lot.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t go even if you pay him a lot,¡± Pearl replied coldly. ¡°Pearl¡­ I just want that great doctor to see my grandma. I¡¯m not trying to snatch your mentor. Please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± While talking, Abby slowly bowed her head, looking aggrieved. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help you, Miss Abby. The problem is, finding him is quite difficult, and he¡¯s really too busy to treat your grandma.¡± After that, Pearl took out her phone and made a call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Oh, Pea. You finally remember your mentor, huh? Well, listen. I lost terribly in a chess game yesterday and added my opponent¡¯s social media ount. Do you know who that opponent was? He¡¯s our national chess yer. What a promising youth- But Pearl couldn¡¯t be bothered. She interrupted him and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t call you to chat. Someone needs you to treat her grandma. Are you interested?¡± Baffled, Simon replied, ¡°I taught you everything I know. You could just treat that patient yourself and mention my name.¡± + 7 #% * $ ** M + ncing at Abby, Pearl smiled and added, ¡°But I can¡¯t do that because she specifically wants you.¡± H Stunned, Simon asked tentatively, ¡°Is she your friend or rtive?¡± Pearl looked at the nervous and eager Abby and replied calmly, ¡°No, she¡¯s an acquaintance, that¡¯s all.¡± Simon¡¯s tone changed. ¡°Ah, then you don¡¯t need to involve me. I¡¯m swamped with work, and I can¡¯t take on any patients. You should suggest she find another doctor.¡± Then, he suddenly eximed, ¡°Pea, he¡¯s challenging me to another chess match. I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± Pearl was struck speechless. Abby didn¡¯t expect Pearl to put her in such an awkward position. After cursing Simon inwardly, she wore a pitiful look. ¡°You don¡¯t really want your mentor to help me, do you? That¡¯s why you said we¡¯re acquaintances, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shrugging, Pearl answered, ¡°No, we¡¯re actually strangers.¡± Then, recalling her intention to move out of the Waldorfs¡¯ residence, she added, ¡°Oh, I need to go back and pack up my things. Please take good care of Madam.¡± Unexpectedly, Richard interjected, ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± Pearl turned to him. ¡°Why not? Do I need your approval to leave, Richard?¡± Richard calmly replied, ¡°My mother¡¯s illness has something to do with you. If something goes wrong, you have to answer for it.¡± ¡°Do you doubt my medical skills?¡± Pearl raised her voice, but Richard ignored her question and gave her an indifferent look. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stay until she recovers. Then I¡¯ll leave.¡± Hearing that, Richard cracked an indiscernible smile. * At noon, Susan regained consciousness. Abby rushed to Susan¡¯s side the moment she opened her eyes. ¡°Are you okay, Madam?¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem¡­ Get me some water¡­¡± Abby immediately handed a ss of water to Susan. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Coughing, Susan asked, ¡°What happened to me?¡± Abby held Susan¡¯s hand. ¡°You fainted, Madam, but we found you in time. If we hadn¡¯t, something serious might have happened. Are you hungry? Let me buy you something to eat.¡± Abby then nced at Pearl and asked, ¡°Could youe with me, Pearl?¡± Pearl looked at Richard and nodded because she wanted to escape this awkwardness involving the three of them. ¡°Sure.¡± After Abby and Pearl left, Abby bought a lot of food, appearing as though she cared deeply for Susan. However, Pearl knew that a recently awakened patient couldn¡¯t eat that kind of food. Although she didn¡¯t fully understand Abby¡¯s motives, she decided to remain silent. Upon reaching the door, Abby suddenly imed that she needed to get some medicine for her stomachache and would be back shortly. ¡°Could you please help me give these to Madam, Pearl?¡± Abby shed Pearl an apologetic smile. Finally, Pearl grasped Abby¡¯s intentions, and an idea sparked in her mind. ¡°Okay.¡± She epted the bag of food and entered the room. After a brief wait outside, Abby also entered the room. To her surprise, she saw Pearl feeding Susan and even noticed an opened pack of snacks on the table. However, Richard seemed to have left the room. ¡°What are you doing, Pearl?¡± Abby demanded with wide eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Madam can¡¯t eat this kind of greasy, high-calorie food? Why did you buy these for her?¡± Smiling calmly, Pearl replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Abby¡¯s bewilderment confused Susan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Abby? Is there anything wrong with my food?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, Madam. Please don¡¯t be upset. I took a quick look at the food and noticed that it¡¯s not suitable for a patient who hasn¡¯t fully recovered. I¡¯m just concerned about your health¡­ Besides, Pearl wasn¡¯t very careful.¡± Abby acted as if Pearl hadmitted a grave offense, all for Susan¡¯s sake. Pearl, still smiling calmly, said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what Madam should eat.¡± Taking a step forward, Abby sounded angry as she falsely used Pearl, ¡°I¡¯m sure this wasn¡¯t a careless mistake given your medical skills. Why did you do this?¡± Pearl looked up at her and asked in response, ¡°What if the food I gave her is actually suitable?¡± ¡°Huh? I saw it, Pearl. She can¡¯t eat these!¡± Abby thought Pearl must be joking, as she knew Susan couldn¡¯t eat those items after her careful inspection. ¡°Abby, is there some kind of misunderstanding¡­¡± Susan tried to mediate since Abby seemed to be overreacting. ¡°Stop eating it, Madam. I¡¯ll get you something else.¡± Abby attempted to remove Susan¡¯s food, but as she approached, she was stunned when she finally saw what it was. What on earth was this? There was a package of delicate, nutritious food ced in front of Susan, looking incredibly delicious and appealing. However, the pile of snacks she had bought made her fail to notice this pack of food. ¡°When did you buy this¡­¡± Abby smiled awkwardly. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Pearl fed Susan again and replied calmly, ¡°I bought it when you weren¡¯t around, and I got the snacks for myself. Is there a problem?¡± Tongue-tied, Abby hadn¡¯t anticipated that Pearl would see through her scheme and effortlessly resolve the situation. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pearl. I got you wrong.¡± All Abby could do now was apologize to avoid appearing like she was trying to nder Pearl casually. Raising her brows, Pearl asked, ¡°Why? Do you think it¡¯s a misunderstanding?¡± Her response caught Abby off guard. ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t it a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°You immediately imed there was something wrong with the food I gave Madam the moment you entered without even looking at it. Furthermore, you said that it wasn¡¯t my careless mistake. I don¡¯t understand why you would say such things.¡± Even though Pearl sounded calm, she gave Abby a knowing look. Abby averted her gaze. ¡°No, I would never intentionally use you. Besides, I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d bought this nutritious food. It¡¯s only natural that I misunderstood¡­¡± Her feigned innocence prompted a sneer from Pearl. ¡°I know you never repented, Abby.¡± Tears welled up in Abby¡¯s eyes as she sobbed. ¡°I already told you I had a sl*p of the tongue. I was just worried about Madam. Please, just let it go.¡± Seeing Abby¡¯s tearful look, Susan¡¯s heart softened. ¡°Pearl, just forgive Abby. She¡¯s genuinely sorry, can all see that.¡± and we Yes, Abby did repent in front of others, but she wanted to keep on provoking Pearl. That was why it wasn¡¯t that easy for Pearl to forgive her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pearl. I did realize my mistake.¡± But Abby¡¯s acting disgusted Pearl. Even so, Pearl understood that she couldn¡¯t keep arguing with Abby, as it might make her appear petty and unforgiving, making a big fuss out of nothing. Weak people always gained others¡¯ forgiveness easily, and Abby was good at being one. ¡°Okay, I can forgive you. But shouldn¡¯t you make it up to me?¡± Blinking, Pearl smiled harmlessly. ¡°How?¡± ¡°400 thousand dors. No more, no less.¡± It was a small figure for the Flores family but it was still a lot. Baffled, Abby tried to seek rification. ¡°Why do you want 400 thousand dors?¡± ¡°No specific reason. You can give me 680 thousand dors instead if you think 400 thousand dors is too little. Just transfer it to my ount. Thank you.¡± Knowing that she couldn¡¯t do anything to Abby, Pearl decided to make Abby suffer a financial loss instead. At first, Abby thought that apologizing was enough, but she didn¡¯t imagine Pearl would demand such a huge amount. As a result, she felt sorry for herself- apologizing was free, but now she had to pay 400 thousand dors. She felt that Pearl always went to great lengths to make her ufortable. 1 Amused by Abby¡¯s dejected expression, Pearl remarked, ¡°Why? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t even.have 400 Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. thousand dors? It¡¯s alright. I can lend it to you, but you must return it to meter.¡± Her words made Abby gnash her teeth in hatred. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll transfer it to your ountter.¡± ¡°Thank you for your money, Miss Abby.¡± Just then, someone unexpectedly entered the room. Richard walked in carrying a bag of fruits but frowned at the sight of Abby¡¯s aggrieved and tearful look. ¡± What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Abby bowed her head. ¡°Pearl asked me to give her 400 thousand dors as an apology.¡± She intentionally framed it in a way that would make Richard misunderstand Pearl. Richard coldly looked at Pearl and said, ¡°400 thousand dors? Give me your bank details. I¡¯ll make the transfer.¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Pearl suddenly lost her interest because of Richard¡¯s actions. ¡°Aren¡¯t you quite the hero, Mister Richard?¡± Richard exined somberly, ¡°400 thousand dors is a little difficult for Abby due to recent family issues. I¡¯ll cover the sum for her.¡± Of course, Pearl was well aware of Abby¡¯s situation, and it was precisely why she made the demand. However, Richard¡¯s defense of Abby made her reconsider her decision. ¡°No, keep it.¡± She didn¡¯t need the money, and she felt like an outsider in this situation. Pausing, she turned and left the ward, finding sce away from Richard and Abby. While strolling in the garden, Pearl noticed a group of people gathered around a young woman, seemingly confronting her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Pearl quickly approached them and firmly grabbed the hand of a man who appeared to be getting too close to the woman, pulling him away. Then, she stood guard in front of the woman coldly. The man, whose arm had been nearly dislocated, was initially ready to berate Pearl. However, he changed his demeanor when he realized Pearl was more attractive than the young woman. ¡°Miss, I wasn¡¯t doing anything wrong. I was just trying to get this woman to return my money because she stole it. I meant her no harm¡­¡± He smiled and exined while discreetly sizing up Pearl. ¡°Did she steal from you?¡± Pearl turned to scrutinize the woman behind her. Timidly, the young woman replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything. It¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°Nonsense! Everyone here witnessed it. She sneakily took the 1,400 dors I had just withdrawn!¡± the man ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . used, his voice loud and usatory. The young woman trembled with fear. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t! That money is mine. You¡¯re lying!¡± Pearl had a feeling that the man had set a trap and falsely used the young woman simply because he knew the exact amount of money she had. It seemed like he intended to use the public to extort money from her. ¡°Do you have any evidence to prove that the money is yours?¡± Pearl stared at the man curiously. The man lifted his head. ¡°It¡¯s mine. Everyone around me saw it. That¡¯s the best evidence.¡± ¡°Are these gangsters the ¡®witnesses¡¯ you¡¯re referring to?¡± Pearl nced at the group of men around him andughed coldly. ¡°We¡¯re not gangsters! Don¡¯t push your luck. Back off, or we won¡¯t go easy on you!¡± the man threatened sternly, attempting to use force. However, Pearl kicked him hard, causing him to fall to the ground with a painful cry. ¡°How dare you hit me! Guys, go after her and teach her a lesson. This b*tch has iting!¡± He cursed and tried to retaliate. But the men hesitated and didn¡¯t immediately act, especially after seeing Pearl easily defeat their leader. ¡°What are you standing there for? She¡¯s alone! Can¡¯t you guys beat her up? Get her!¡± With a gulp, the gangsters clenched their teeth and charged at Pearl, who remained unfazed. It was a piece of cake for Pearl to defeat those young and inexperienced gangsters. In less than a minute, they ally on the ground, groaning in pain. ¡°We can¡¯t beat her. She¡¯s too strong,¡± one of the gangsters whimpered, grimacing as he looked at their leader. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 ¡°Stupid and useless!¡± The man cursed, his worry palpable as Pearl easily defeated his men. Suddenly, his gaze turned to the woman behind Pearl. He snickered, making a move towards her. Pearl, however, immediately saw through his intentions. She pushed the woman behind her and delivered a powerful kick to the man¡¯s chest. ¡°Ah!¡± the man cried out in pain as he was sent flying again, wondering what he had done to incur the wrath of this fierce woman. ¡°I¡¯ll count down from five, and you better leave. If not, I won¡¯t be as gentle next time.¡± Pearl raised her hand and began the countdown. ¡°Five.¡± ¡°Why should I leave? She¡¯s the one who stole my money!¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°Damn it! We¡¯re going!¡± The man waved to hispanions, and they hurriedly fled, fearing something else might happen. Pearl turned to the trembling woman. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Shaking her head, the young woman began to cry before she could respond. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but I¡¯ve got to pay my mother¡¯s medical bills, or it¡¯ll be toote.¡± Pearl noticed that the woman didn¡¯t look well-off. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your mother?¡± ¡°She has leukemia, and finding a suitable bone marrow donor has been difficult. I¡¯ve used up our family savings for her hospitalization, and I¡¯m about to sell our house next.¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± The woman sniffed. ¡°I¡¯m seventeen.¡± Hearing that, Pearl¡¯s heart softened. ¡°Let me help you.¡± Her words stunned the woman. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cover the medical expenses and help you find a suitable bone marrow donor. Just don¡¯t sell your house.¡± Pearl smiled and gently patted the woman¡¯s hair. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡­ I can earn the money myself.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes lit up briefly, but then she seemed disheartened. ¡°No, I can¡¯t ept your help. It¡¯s going to cost a lot, but I appreciate your kindness.¡± Pearl had a sudden realization when she saw the woman¡¯s reluctance and downcast eyes. How could a seventeen-year-old earn such a huge amount of money? Nevertheless, Pearl nodded and removed a ring from her finger. ¡°Alright, then take this ring. If you find yourself in a dire situation and can¡¯t afford the expenses,e to me with this ring. I¡¯ll provide you with the money for your mother¡¯s treatment. Just promise not to sell this ring. It¡¯s not particrly valuable.¡± If Wayne heard her statement, he might haveughed his lungs out because Cerubleu had spent 50 million dors to manufacture that ring, which was equipped with GPS and a smart remote connection, making it a ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . very valuable item. ¡°Okay, thank you, Miss.¡± The young woman carefully pocketed the ring. Watching her leave, Pearl¡¯s thoughts churned. Later that night, she discovered that the young woman¡¯s location was traced to a local bar based on the ring¡¯s GPS signal. Dark Bar? Suddenly, a foreboding feeling hit Pearl. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 After giving it some thought, Pearl decided to drive to Dark Bar. However, finding the woman proved challenging due to the glittering lights and the crowd inside the bar. With the help of her phone¡¯s location tracking, Pearl eventually found the woman nearby. To her surprise, the woman had transformed from her previous studious appearance into a maid costume, now serving and drinking with the bar¡¯s patrons. So¡­ this was the same young woman? Pearl felt very sorry for the woman¡¯s predicament. The woman was forced into this situation,pelled to serve drinks and cater to the guests. Moreover, Pearl felt a personal connection to her. She remembered her own father¡¯s demise years ago when the family couldn¡¯t afford his treatment. She had watched him pass away in a hospital bed, igniting her determination to earn money and be excellent to protect her loved ones. Approaching the young woman, Pearl grabbed her arm, prompting her to stand up. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­¡± The woman widened her eyes. ¡°Renee, is she your friend?¡± a drunk man, captivated by Pearl¡¯s beauty, inquired. Renee O¡¯Connor immediately shook her head, fearful that the man might take advantage of Pearl. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know her. I think she¡¯s mistaken.¡± ¡°Leave this ce. You should be preparing for your college entrance exams. Do you understand?¡± Pearl¡¯s tone was stern andmanding. ¡°Hey, it looks like you guys do know each other. Come on, Renee¡¯s friend is our friend. Let¡¯s have a drink, babe.¡± The man reached for Pearl¡¯s waist, but Pearl forcefully pinched his wrist and yanked his arm down. ¡°Ah!¡± Pearl had actually dislocated his arm. ¡°Stop screaming, or I¡¯ll dislocate your other arm too!¡± Suppressing his pain, the man made a call, and a group of b*dyguards promptly rushed over. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere!¡± The man instructed his b*dyguards, ¡°Beat her up!¡± It was clear that Pearl would have difficulty fighting against those well-trained b*dyguards. Thinking quickly, she seized a ss from a nearby table and smashed it onto the man before grabbing Renee¡¯s hand and making a swift escape. ¡°Damn it! Go after them!¡± Pearl maneuvered through the densely packed crowd and led Renee to the second floor. Once there, she left Renee in one of the rooms and prepared to leave. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Renee grabbed Pearl¡¯s sleeve, anxious. ¡°I¡¯ll lure them away. If we both stay here, we might get caught. I might as well leave you here.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No more buts. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re looking for me since I punched so many of them earlier. Try to sneak away when it¡¯s safeter. Don¡¯t let them find you.¡± After instructing Renee, Pearl sl*pped her Waldorf Enterprises business card into her hand, jotting down her name and contact information. ¡°Here¡¯s my phone number. Call me afterward, and don¡¯t worry about medical or surgery fees. I have more than enough.¡± She then closed the door and turned to leave but ran into the people pursuing her. ¡°She¡¯s here! Hurry up! Don¡¯t let her escape!¡± Pearl took a step back, turned, and ran in the opposite direction, but a sense of dread overcame her as the surroundings became more isted. However, she couldn¡¯t let her guard down while running. She spotted a room with a door ajar, dashed into it, and quickly shut the door behind her. But she regretted it the moment she closed the door. It appeared she had trapped herself in a wine cer, where bottles were stored at frigid temperatures to preserve their quality. ¡°She¡¯s in there. Why aren¡¯t we going in?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cold storage room. We can just lock her in and let her freeze to death.¡± ¡°Heh, smart thinking.¡± Pearl¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she overheard their conversation. She tried to send her location to Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Wayne but realized that she had given the ring to Renee. ¡°Sh*t,¡± Pearl muttered under her breath. She then retrieved her phone only to find that there was no signal in the cold storage room. ¡°Am I going to die here today?¡± Pearl whispered while anxiously watching the door. The icy temperature made her curl up and hug herself, desperately trying to keep warm. However, the intense cold made her drowsy. Whenever she felt her eyelids drooping, she resorted to pinching herself to stay awake, using the pain as a countermeasure against sleepiness. As time dragged on, Pearl gave up hope of rescue and began to ept her grim fate. In her fading consciousness, her thoughts turned to Richard. Yet, even in her dying moments, the pain she felt when thinking of Richard¡¯s actions was excruciating. ¡°Richard¡­¡± Richard was having dinner with Abby when his phone rang suddenly. Unconcerned, he ignored the call, assuming it was a prank. However, the caller persisted, and the phone continued to ring. Reluctantly, Richard finally answered the call. The voice on the other end was that of a distraught woman, begging for help through her sobs. Startled, Richard abruptly left the table to rush to the bar. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Rick? We¡¯re in the middle of dinner,¡± Abby said, bewildered and concerned. ¡°I¡¯ve got something urgent. Continue eating without me.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s been a while since west had dinner together. Can¡¯t you stay a little longer?¡± Abby insisted, trying to keep him there. ¡°I need to save someone,¡± he said firmly. Abby was taken aback. ¡°Who¡­?¡± ¡°Pearl.¡± With that, Richard ignored her and drove to Dark Bar. Upon arriving, he discovered the locked door of the cold storage room. Richard kicked it forcefully, and inside, he found Pearl lying on the ground, barely conscious and shivering. Seeing her in that state caused Richard unbearable pain. ¡°Wake up, Pearl.¡± Pearl heard someone calling her and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Richard, she let out a weak chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­ Why do I see you when I¡¯m dead?¡± Richard frowned. ¡°What nonsense are you saying, Pearl?¡± ¡°No, really¡­it¡¯s strange. You seem to be everywhere,¡± Pearl mumbled, ¡°Am I really in love with you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk, or you¡¯ll tire yourself out.¡± Richard carried her and rushed her to the hospital. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 112 Chapter 112 When Pearl woke up, she saw Richard sitting beside her bed as if he had been waiting there for a long time. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Pearl wondered why she was still alive, then recalled what had happened in the cold storage room. ¡°Did you save me?¡± ¡°You should rest more and avoid talking so much,¡± Richard advised in a calm tone. He poured a ss of warm water for Pearl. ¡°The doctor said you should stay in bed for two days. Just call me if you need anything. Don¡¯t push yourself.¡± Despite his stern tone, Pearl didn¡¯t resist him as much, given that he had saved her life. She refrained from arguing with him further. Nodding, she sipped some water. After a while, she asked curiously, ¡°How did you find me? Did you put a tracking device on me?¡± Richard looked puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t send you an SOS signal. How did you know where I was?¡± WOLF ¡°A woman called me and told me about your ident at Dark Bar. She asked me to go and save you.¡¯ Pearl instantly thought of Renee. Wi P 30 NO w Renee must have guessed Pearl¡¯s identity based on the business card and obtained the president¡¯s contact number from thepany¡¯s customer service. She then called Richard. It seemed like she was Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. pretty smart. Feeling warmed, Pearl smiled. ¡°Why are you smiling? You¡¯re so dumb. How could you get locked inside a cold storage room?¡± Richard scolded her. Rolling her eyes, Pearl retorted, ¡°I was trying to save a damsel in distress, okay? I think it¡¯s my responsibility to help the young woman find the right path.¡± Her excuse was rather exaggerated. An inexplicable joy overwhelmed Richard when Pearl started teasing him again. As a result, they seemed to have grown closer to each other after today¡¯s incident. * Pearl was resting alone when Richard went to spend some time with Susan. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. ¡°I¡¯vee to see you, Pearl. I hope you won¡¯t be angry,¡± Abby said. Pearl couldn¡¯t even smile when she saw Abby. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to chat with Abby. Her indifference filled Abby with bitterness, and tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just here to visit you, Pearl. Can¡¯t you be a bit nicer to me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine to put on a show in front of others, but there¡¯s really no need to do it when we¡¯re alone.¡± Abby kept her head lowered, appearing as if she didn¡¯t understand Pearl. ¡°No, I¡¯m not pretending. I really wanted to visit you because I want to get along with you. That¡¯s why I¡ª¡± ¡°How are you going to exin the incident when we bought food for Madam?¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t bring herself to trust Abby after thetter had shown her power on the third day that she was back. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know either. I just suddenly felt that she couldn¡¯t eat that kind of food when I went to the restroom. I got so agitated, but I didn¡¯t intend to me you,¡± Abby stammered. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Abby¡¯s seemingly sincere words almost convinced Pearl. Sneering, Pearl said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re plotting this time, but don¡¯t provoke me again, or I won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± A sinister light flitted past Abby¡¯s eyes as she kept her head down. Then, she abruptly raised her hand and struck herself with a hard and forceful p, startling Pearl. ¡°I was wrong, and I pped myself as an apology. Plus, I came back this time to change everyone¡¯s perception of me. I really don¡¯t have any ulterior motives.¡± Sobbing, Abby continued, ¡°I know that Rick likes you, so I won¡¯t try to snatch him away from you.¡± But Pearl found herself amused by yet another of Abby¡¯s self-directed drama. ¡°You¡¯re trying to make Richard witness me bullying you again, huh?¡± Covering her face, Abby cried pitifully. ¡°No, I really don¡¯t mean anything else.¡± Seeing that it was almost time, Abby stopped saying anything else. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m leaving. Do take care of yourself.¡¯ ¡°Bye.¡± 11 Not long after Abby left, Pearl was ready to take a nap when Susan entered the room, apanied by Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Abby. Susan immediately bombarded Pearl with questions the moment she came in. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Pearl? Did you p Abby?¡± Smiling at Abby, Pearl replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t p her, Madam. She did it on her own.¡± J ¡°Preposterous! Abby wouldn¡¯t p herself for nothing.¡± Susan was far from convinced. Besides, she felt tremendous sympathy for Abby, who now bore a conspicuous red mark on her face. After all, she had promised Abby¡¯s mother to look out for her. She couldn¡¯t simply dismiss this incident. ¡°But why would I randomly p her?¡± Pearl¡¯s logical question left Susan momentarily speechless. Yet Abby interjected when Pearl appeared ready to dispel Susan¡¯s doubts. ¡°Madam, Pearl didn¡¯t do anything wrong. She simply doesn¡¯t like me very much because of the things I¡¯ve done to her, and she hasn¡¯t forgiven me yet. I deserved it¡­¡± Abby¡¯s implication was that Pearl held a grudge and pped her because of past transgressions. Enraged, Susan started demanding an exnation. ¡°Pearl, I understand that Abby wronged you, but she¡¯s not a bad person. She acted that way because she liked Rick too much, and she assured me that she would let you be with Rick. Look, she¡¯s turned over a new leaf. Why won¡¯t you give her a chance?¡± Pearl, however, remained unmoved. ¡°Of course, I haven¡¯t forgiven her, and I never will.¡± Susan rebuked angrily, ¡°I¡¯ll never allow Rick to marry someone as heartless as you. You¡¯re so cruel that you won¡¯t even give a young woman a break!¡± ¡°Alright, if you doubt that I pped her, I¡¯ll provide evidence.¡± Pearl smiled as she pointed to the surveince camera in the upper right corner of the room. ¡°All the rooms in this hospital are equipped with surveince systems. You can check with the hospital to verify whether it was me or not. Then you¡¯ll see who did it.¡± Pearl¡¯s suggestion demonstrated her clear conscience. Suddenly, Susan wondered if Pearl had really pped Abby or not. ¡°Abby¡­¡± She turned to stare at Abby, making thetter rather uneasy. Abby immediately exined, ¡°I¡­ I did p myself, Madam. I just wanted Pearl to forgive me¡­¡± With her head hung low, Abby was about to cry again. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Susan shot Abby a reproachful look, feeling that it was Abby¡¯s vague words that had caused her to misunderstand Pearl. ¡°But¡­ Pearl really hates me. I did it to make her feel better because I couldn¡¯t stand her hating me.¡± Abby bit her l*p. ¡°But I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d still refuse to forgive me even after I did that.¡± She feigned humility, making Susan feel sorry for her. Knowing that Abby was telling the truth, Susan sighed. ¡°Silly, you shouldn¡¯t have pped yourself. It must have hurt.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Pearl, raising an eyebrow, saw through Abby¡¯s maniption, using her apparent vulnerability to garner sympathy. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s all you wanted to say, please leave. Madam, please get some rest in your room.¡± Pearl tried to make them leave while maintaining herposure. Feeling awkward, Susan reluctantly left with Abby, realizing that her prejudice had misled her. However, after a brief rest, Pearl heard another knock at the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Timidly, Renee walked into the room and looked at Pearl with guilt and distress. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. It¡¯s all my fault. You would be fine if I didn¡¯t insist on going to work.¡±. 6 + ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, okay? I chose to help you. Besides, I got into this mess because I wasn¡¯t careful enough. You don¡¯t have to me yourself.¡± Pearl grinned while consoling Renee. She knew that she had done the right thing in assisting her. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Renee took out the silver ring from her pocket and ced it in Pearl¡¯s hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want to work at the bar anymore, Miss. Can you help me?¡± There was a plea in Renee¡¯s innocent eyes. Stunned, Pearl smiled and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± She produced a gold card she had prepared earlier and gave it to Renee. ¡°I have around 270 thousand dors on this card, and the password is the first six digits of my phone number. If it¡¯s not enough, don¡¯t hesitate to contact me. I think you have my contact information.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss. I¡¯ll definitely repay you.¡± Renee held the card tightly, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°No need to repay me. I don¡¯t need this money. Just focus on your studies and avoid ces like the bar.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Keeping her head bowed, Renee muttered, ¡°But my mother still doesn¡¯t have the right bone marrow for her. I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just leave it to me.¡± Pearl called Wayne and instructed him to find suitable bone marrow for Renee¡¯s mother. In less than half an hour, Wayne sessfully located apatible donor nearby. ¡°Alright, your mother can have the surgery in about half an hour,¡± Pearl informed Renee. Surprised and happy, Renee eximed, ¡°Really? My mother can have the surgery now!¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll get the best surgeon for your mother and ensure her safety.¡± Renee dropped to her knees. ¡°Thank you, Miss. I don¡¯t know how to repay your kindness. Just tell me if you need me for anything in the future. I won¡¯t say no!¡± Smiling, Pearl affectionately ruffled Renee¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Go back and take care of your mother now.¡± Renee nodded and wiped away her tears before she left. Of course, Pearl would not break her promise. She called Hugo after that and asked him to perform the surgery for Renee¡¯s mother. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 While Hugo was young, he was the most respected doctor in the entire hospital, surpassing many older doctors in the medical field. In short, he was considered a genius. ¡°But what¡¯s in it for me if I perform surgery on Renee¡¯s mother?¡± Laughing casually, Hugo¡¯s words filled Pearl with vignce. ¡°It¡¯s just a small favor. It won¡¯t hurt you. Can¡¯t you do a good deed?¡± However, coldness enveloped Hugo¡¯s voice. ¡°Oh? Why should I be the one doing good deeds?¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± With that, Pearl abruptly ended the call. After all, there were plenty of doctors in the hospital who could perform the surgery. But Pearl suddenly got a call from Renee before Renee¡¯s mother could undergo surgery. Crying, Renee exined, ¡°The doctor said my mother is losing a lot of blood, and she¡¯s in critical condition!¡± ¡°What?¡± Pearl wondered if it was Hugo¡¯s scheme, but it was beyond belief. Yet, in this dire moment, everyone in the hospital seemed powerless. With no other option, Pearl went to Hugo¡¯s office to plead with him. ¡°Can you save Renee¡¯s mother, Hugo?¡± ¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that you must give me a reason to save her?¡± Hugo leaned in and gazed at Pearl with a smile. ¡°What are you trying to say? Just spit it out.¡± Pearl realized that she hardly knew him anymore. He was ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . not. the same person she once knew. He used to be friendly and kind, but now he seemed like a shrewd businessman. ¡°I want¡­¡± Hugo took a deep breath. ¡°I want you.¡± Pearl stared at him in shock. ¡°Why?¡± Naturally, Hugo would only lie to her. He chuckled and replied, ¡°I like you. Maybe I took a fancy to you before Richard did.¡± ¡°But you told me you didn¡¯t love me. Isn¡¯t it suffocating to be with someone you don¡¯t love?¡± Pearl was baffled by his sudden change, feeling that he just wanted something that didn¡¯t belong to him. Hugo¡¯s eyes filled with desire. ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t like you? I just answered your question before, but I never said I disliked you.¡± After learning that Simon was Pearl¡¯s mentor, his feelings for Pearl grew because he could manipte her once she was in his grasp. It would benefit him even more. But he couldn¡¯t act rashly, as Pearl was exceptionally astute and would see through his schemes. So he needed to win her over gradually. ¡°No, I can promise you anything except this.¡± Pearl knew that being with Hugo would be difficult because she felt nothing for him. ¡°I want nothing else but you.¡± Hugo stretched a little. ¡°Think it over, but keep in mind that the patient may not hold on for long. You¡¯d better hurry up and make up your mind.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you a doctor? Why are you so heartless?¡± Pearl shot him a cold, angry look, her frustration simmering. Hugo just grinned. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 ¡°I¡¯m a human before I¡¯m a doctor. Like everyone else, I have desires,¡± Hugo said. Pearl¡¯s phone began vibrating intensely, disying Renee¡¯s caller ID. Taking a deep breath, Pearl said, ¡°Okay, you have my word.¡± ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t go back on your promise after the surgery. Renee¡¯s mother will need treatment for at least three months afterward.¡± Pearl stared at him with a cold gaze. ¡°Fine, go ahead.¡± ¡°Be gentler. After all, I¡¯m your boyfriend now.¡± Hugo stood up and stretched. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll perform the surgery now. Be nice and wait for me.¡± He pinched Pearl¡¯s cheek yfully before leaving with a smile. Pearl wiped her cheek vigorously, clearly disgusted. However, she couldn¡¯t easily refuse Hugo¡¯s advances, as she needed a favor from him. Moreover, she had finally saved Renee¡¯s mother, and she couldn¡¯t let Renee down. So, she went to the surgery room to wait with the tearful Renee. She hugged her tightly and reassured Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. her. ¡°My mom won¡¯t leave me behind, right?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯ll always be with you.¡± The surgerysted for a grueling ten hours. By the time Hugo came out, night had fallen, and the city¡¯s lights were aglow. Though Hugo was wearing a mask and a white coat, it was obvious that he was tired. ¡°It¡¯s a sess. Don¡¯t worry,¡± he informed Renee with a smile. Relief washed over Pearl as she saw Renee smile. ¡°Pearl,e to my office with me,¡± Hugo said, turning his gaze to her. ¡°Alright.¡± In his office, Hugo changed into casual clothes and took Pearl¡¯s hand, catching her off guard. Shocked, Pearl instinctively tried to pull her hand away. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hugo frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? We¡¯re a couple now, right? Why can¡¯t we hold hands?¡± Pearl clenched her teeth in hatred but refrained from shaking his hand off. ¡°We don¡¯t have to rush things.¡± ¡°Rx. Just get used to it. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± And so, Pearl held back and decided against shaking his hand away. They left the office hand in hand and bumped into Richard, who hade to see Hugo. ¡°You guys?¡± Fury rose in Richard when he saw their tightly held hands. Hugo, reveling in Richard¡¯s annoyance, grinned and suggested, ¡°We¡¯re heading out for dinner. Would you like to join us?¡± His provocation only intensified Richard¡¯s irritation. ¡°What¡¯s your game?¡± 17 ¡°Can¡¯t you tell, Rick?¡± Hugo gripped Pearl¡¯s hand tighter and swayed it before Richard. Pearl remained silent, uncertain how to exin the situation to Richard, given his furious expression. ¡°Have fun,¡± Richard snapped. Smirking, Hugo replied, ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll try to make it back tonight.¡± The word ¡°try¡± hung in the air, leaving Richard in a gloomy and tense state. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 ¡°Stop. You want to grab a bite, right? Let¡¯s go.¡± Pearl yanked Hugo¡¯s sleeve to break the awkward situation. ¡°Alright, Rick. We¡¯ll go first,¡± Hugo said to Richard. Richard watched them leave the hospital, hand in hand. But as soon as they stepped outside, Pearl withdrew her hand from Hugo¡¯s grasp. ¡°Why? Are you mad?¡± Hugo kept his smile even when she was angry. ¡°I know you like Rick, but you¡¯re my girlfriend now. You can¡¯t be mad at me because of another man.¡± Pearl regretted asking for Hugo¡¯s help. ¡°Are you enjoying this, Hugo?¡± ¡°Yes, I am,¡± he replied, clearly pleased with his progress. ¡°What¡¯s the point of all this? There¡¯s no future for us.¡± However, Hugo remained undeterred. ¡°I can make you fall in love with me in three months.¡± ¡°That will never happen.¡± Did Hugo take Pearl as a love-struck fool? She was certain that it wouldn¡¯t happen. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Stepping back, Pearl continued, ¡°It¡¯s impossible between us, so you better give up. I won¡¯t have dinner with you. I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Come with me. You know what will happen if I get mad.¡± Hugo would not take no for an answer. ¡°I¡¯m a patient, and I¡¯ve been feeling unwelltely. Even the doctor advised that I stay in bed, So, I can¡¯t go. with you.¡± Raising his brows, Hugo refuted, ¡°I¡¯m a doctor.¡± ¡°Hugo, stop pushing your luck.¡± Hugo, realizing that he wouldn¡¯t get his way by pushing too hard, raised his hands in surrender. ¡°Fine, Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. go rest. I¡¯ll go by myself.¡± Pearl felt a sense of relief and made her way back to her ward to rest. However, before she could reach the in- patient department¡¯s door, a figure in the corridor startled her. Suppressing her emotions, she approached the figure and was left speechless by what she saw. It was¡­ Richard? The glow of the cigarette he held was conspicuous in the darkness. ¡°Richard, what are you doing¡­¡± Pearl was taken aback as she couldn¡¯t recall Richard being a smoker. ¡°I¡¯m smoking. I¡¯ll go hometer.¡± A strange restlessness hit Pearl. She blurted out, ¡°Are you feeling blue?¡± ¡°No, I think it¡¯s pretty good that you¡¯re dating Hugo.¡± Those words sent a dull ache through Pearl¡¯s heart. ¡°So, you think it¡¯s a good thing that I¡¯m dating Hugo?¡± Pearl forced a smile. ¡°Very well. As you wish.¡± As she turned to enter the department, Richard suddenly pinned her against the wall, his eyes zing with anger. His grip on her waist conveyed his fiery fury, which seemed to burn her alive. ¡°You don¡¯t understand irony, do you?¡± he growled. Pearl¡¯s heart raced, and indescribable emotions surged within her as she witnessed Richard, who was usually calm, losing control. ¡°I have my reasons.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason for you to be with him? You aren¡¯t easily threatened, are you?¡± Richard¡¯s voice was filled with frustration. ¡°I¡¯ve told you there¡¯s a reason, but I won¡¯t be with him forever. When the time is right, I¡¯ll break up with him. Richard remained aloof. ¡°When is the right time?¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Richard couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, not even for a minute. ¡°I have to endure for two more days since he has something against me right now,¡± Pearl said, looking ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . up. She wasn¡¯t sure why she felt the need to exin to Richard, but guilt overwhelmed her when she saw him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I helped save that girl¡¯s mother, and now Hugo is threatening me with it. I need to transfer her mother to another hospital before I break up with him. If not, he might do something in secret.¡± Pearl had decided to send Hugo away for a few days and transfer Renee¡¯s mother to another hospital. Then she could break up with Hugo. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a hand,¡± Richard blurted out impulsively. ¡°I can do it on my own.¡± Richard looked ufortable. Smiling, Pearl asked, ¡°Are you¡­ in love with me, Richard?¡± Richard didn¡¯t immediately deny it but gazed at her earnestly. ¡°I have to admit that I¡¯ve really fallen in love with you.¡± Stunned, Pearl didn¡¯t expect him to confess his feelings so openly. ¡°Richard, you¡­ like me?¡± Stepping closer, Richard gently lifted her chin. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to see you with him because I like you.¡± He had initially thought of his feelings for Pearl as vague and insignificant, but seeing her with another man stirred up envy, sorrow, and confusion within him. It had been a long time since he had experienced such.plex emotions. ¡°What about you? How do you feel about me?¡± Richard held her close, not allowing her to escape, and demanded an answer. Pearl realized she had been pondering over her feelings for a long time but hadn¡¯t been willing to admit them. Just as she was about to respond, a sudden light illuminated them. ¡°Stop making noise in the corridor. Hurry up and go back to your ward.¡± Pearl blushed at the intrusion into their intimate moment. She pushed Richard away and escaped. Unbeknownst to them, Abby had overheard their conversation while hiding in a corner. She hade out in search of Richard and hadn¡¯t expected to witness this scene. She was delighted to see Pearl dating Hugo, but Richard¡¯s confession had thrown a wrench into her ns. Panicking, she knew she had to act quickly to prevent Pearl from bing Richard¡¯s girlfriend. And so, Abby wasted no time and called Hugo. At that moment, Hugo was drinking at a bar. He sent his location to Abby and agreed to meet her in person. When Abby arrived at the bar, Hugo was deep in thought, contemting his next move. ¡°I¡¯m here to discuss something with you, Hugo.¡± Raising his brows, Hugo asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Abby gritted her teeth in frustration because of his nonchnce. ¡°Let¡¯s work together.¡± Hugo chuckled, realizing he had sessfully ensnared Abby. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 ¡°Do you know that Rick likes Pearl?¡± Abby continued when Hugo remained calm, ¡°And Pearl likes Rick too. It¡¯ll be bad for us if they end up together.¡± She was making a calcted bet, suspecting that Hugo had ulterior motives concerning Pearl. ¡°I¡¯m not worried because Pearl is my girlfriend now,¡± Hugo responded, showing no interest in her proposition. ¡°But I heard Pearl mention transferring someone to another hospital and breaking up with you. Are you sure you can be with her forever?¡± Hearing that, Hugo¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What did you hear?¡± Finally gaining his attention, Abby pressed on. ¡°I think you should consider working with me so we can get what we both want.¡± She wanted Richard, and Hugo wanted Pearl. Their coboration would certainly be a win-win situation. As expected, Hugo shed her a smile. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s work together¡­ since you put it that way.¡± Slowly, he extended his hand towards Abby, who chuckled and shook hands with him. An uninvited guest arrived at Pearl¡¯s ward the next morning. Pearl couldn¡¯t help but feel on edge as she observed the woman who bore a slight resemnce to Abby. ¡°You are?¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m ir Dixon, Abby¡¯s mother.¡± Looking elegant and noble, ir sounded quite refined. ¡°May I know why you¡¯re here?¡± Pearl inquired, her suspicions growing due to ir¡¯s confident and smiling demeanor. She had a bad feeling about this, assuming that ir must be a difficult person if she had raised a daughter like Abby. ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m here for Abby. I understand that she has caused you a lot of trouble due to her infatuation with Richard. However, the Waldorf and Flores families are close friends, and Abby and Richard have been childhood sweethearts. Everyone hopes to see them together. But now you¡¯ve entered the picture, and Richard doesn¡¯t even care about Abby anymore¡­¡± If Pearl couldn¡¯tprehend ir¡¯s intentions by now, she would be ying dumb. ¡°So, you want me to leave Richard so your daughter can be with him, right?¡± Pearl cut to the chase. ir smiled and replied, ¡°I know you¡¯re smart, but I won¡¯t let you suffer either. How about this? Name your price. My family is willing to pay any amount as long as you leave Richard alone.¡± Any amount? ¡°Can I have the entire Flores Firms then?¡± Pearl countered, stating an exorbitant price that left ir stunned. ¡°Miss Leighton, I sincerely want to negotiate with you. You can name a reasonable price.¡± After smoothing her hair, ir continued, ¡°After all, it¡¯s for my daughter. I¡¯m sure you can understand my feelings as Abby¡¯s mother.¡± Pearl remained calm as she exined, ¡°But do you know that Richard had a first love? Even without me, wouldn¡¯t be with Abby. Don¡¯t you think a rtionship between Richard and Abby is impossible?¡± he Unexpectedly, ir¡¯s smile widened. ¡°That was because Richard was young and inexperienced. Nob*dy remembers their puppy love. Furthermore, Abby was studying abroad and didn¡¯t have the chance to spend time with Rick. It¡¯s only natural for him to fall in love with someone else.¡± ¡°Are you determined to drive me away, then?¡± Chapter 120 Chapter 120 ¡°No, I¡¯m not trying to drive you away, but I want you to think it over. Don¡¯t do anything you¡¯ll regret. After all, you¡¯re still young, and Rick isn¡¯t the only man in the world. Why do you refuse to let Rick go?¡± Suddenly, a fierce and cold male voice came from the doorway. ¡°It¡¯s not that she refuses to let me go, but I like her.¡± Richard was enraged when ir tried to persuade Pearl to give him up. ¡°Oh, Rick, here you are¡­¡± ir felt awkward, knowing that Richard had overheard some of her conversation. Hearing Richard¡¯s words, Pearl blushed, her emotions swirling within her. ¡°Stop bothering Pearl. It¡¯s none of your business that I like her. Plus, I¡¯ll never like Abby, even without Pearl. You better stop trying to persuade Pearl.¡± Richard stood guard before Pearl coldly. ir¡¯s disdain for Pearl grew stronger because of Richard¡¯s infatuation with her. ¡°Your mother will never agree.¡± ir dropped her gentleness and said fiercely, ¡°You can only marry Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Abby.¡± However, Richard smirked sarcastically. ¡°Who I want to marry is my own business. My mother can¡¯t meddle in it.¡± ¡± J ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll see about that.¡± ir left angrily, mming the door behind her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad to offend her like that¡­¡± Pearl became restless, concerned about ir¡¯s anger. ¡°I think she might go to your mother.¡± However, Richard was unconcerned. As he helped Pearl tuck in her nket, he said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You have me.¡± After his impulsive confession of feelings for her, he seemed to have changed and be very gentle. ¡°Alright.¡± Richard wanted to raisest night¡¯s question again, but just then, someone else entered the room. It was Abby. A pang of jealousy shot through her heart when she saw how close Pearl and Richard were. However, she remainedposed. ¡°How are you feeling, Pearl? Do you still feel sick?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Miss Flores.¡± ¡°Rick, Pearl still hates me¡­¡± At first, Abby had nned to use her usual tactic of acting pitiful to create discord between them, but Richard didn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°I think it¡¯s best that you leave. Pearl needs to rest.¡± Jealousy clouded Abby¡¯s judgment as she witnessed Richard openly defending Pearl. She yearned to teach Pearl a lesson, but she couldn¡¯t let on how much she cared about Richard. ¡°I¡¯m just here to check on Pearl, and I won¡¯t disturb her-¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve already disturbed me, Miss Flores.¡± Chuckling, Pearl stared at Abby with a warning look. Abby was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected both of them to stand up to her. It brought tears to her eyes, but she dared not cry here, given the frustration and impatience in Richard¡¯s eyes. She wiped away her tears and hastily left. ¡°Richard, you scared her.¡± Pearl touched her chin and yfully looked at him, grinning. ¡°What happened? Why didn¡¯t you scold me like you used to?¡± ¡°She can be quite noisy,¡± Richard replied, rubbing his forehead. In the past, he had merely wanted Pearl to witness those scenes because he was curious about her reactions. However, everything had changed once Pearl became linked to Raymond. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± Richard asked seriously, leaning in. ¡°You confessed your feelings for me first, didn¡¯t you?¡± Pearl responded with a question, leaving Richard bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯ll have to work hard to win my heart,¡± Pearl added with a mischievous smile. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Richard frowned. ¡°Win your heart? Why?¡± ¡°Because you have feelings for me, but I haven¡¯t agreed to it.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Pearl thought about it. After enduring Richard¡¯s bullying for so long, she finally had the chance to turn the tables. ¡°I¡¯ve never done that.¡± It was something he hadn¡¯t experienced before. Pearl obviously didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Never? How¡¯s that even possible? Weren¡¯t you in a rtionship before this?¡± ¡°She confessed to me, and we got together because I like her too.¡± Pearl was excited when she heard that, and she smiled. ¡°So, I¡¯m the first person you¡¯ve truly fallen for? What an honor.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m giving you permission to pursue me.¡± Richard didn¡¯t know how to react to that, but seeing her smile, he decided to embrace the opportunity. ¡°Fine. 11 Pearl couldn¡¯t help butugh at his awkward expression. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see you with any expression other than cool, indifferent, or annoyed.¡± Richard suddenly leaned in and yfully pinched her chin, his usual cold expression returning. ¡°Say that again.¡± Pearl froze. ¡°No¡­ nothing.¡± She wasn¡¯t about to fall for that. ¡°Alright, I need to go back to the office for a meeting. Rest well.¡± Richard let go and took a few steps back, giving her space. ¡°Alright.¡± Once Richard left, Pearl called Wayne. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you in trouble?¡± ¡°Is Fortune Hospital the one Cerubleu invested in?¡± Wayne didn¡¯t understand why she was suddenly asking about the hospital, so he asked, ¡°Yes. Are you sick? Why are you asking about a hospital?¡± ¡°I need to transfer someone¡¯s mother to that hospital, so I need you to help me contact the director.¡± Wayne was still confused but did as he was told. After hanging up, Pearl switched on herptop and bypassed the hospital¡¯s firewall, then essed the intr. She tried to search for information about Renee and her mother to facilitate the transfer, but after searching for a long time, she couldn¡¯t find anything. What was going on? Could it be¡­ She had a bad feeling but also considered she might be overthinking things. After leaving the intr, Pearl nned to visit the hospital¡¯s Information Department in person, but she ran into Hugo at the door. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Pearl stretched and pretended nothing was going on. ¡°I was just taking a walk.¡± ¡°How did you manage to find your way here during a casual walk? You¡¯re quite the wanderer.¡± Hugo clearly didn¡¯t buy her exnation and appeared to be aware of her intentions, but he chose to observe for now, not wanting to expose her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going back to my room to take a nap.¡± Pearl chuckled and began walking away. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 ¡°Hold on, I¡¯m your boyfriend now. Shouldn¡¯t we be spending time together?¡± Hugo wasn¡¯t going to let her go, so he grabbed her wrist and whispered in her ear. Pearl felt ufortable with his touch and tried to break free, but his grip was firm. ¡°I know you don¡¯t have feelings for me, and you know why I¡¯m with you.¡± Unable to escape red at him. his grasp, Pearl ¡°I know. I¡¯m trying to make you fall in love with me,¡± Hugo whispered in her ear and smiled. ¡°Pearl, don¡¯t make me angry, or you might regret it.¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t help but think that this man was crazy. ¡°Why are you so stubborn, Hugo? What have you turned into?¡± Hugo looked at her in disbelief and smiled. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯ve always been like this?¡± Pearl froze, not understanding what led a person who grew up in a perfect family to turn into someone like him. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s forget about it. You didn¡¯t go out with mest time, but you can¡¯t turn me down again.¡± Hugo was about to lead her out the door when his phone suddenly rang. It was an emergency surgery. The patient¡¯s condition deteriorated, requiring immediate intervention. ¡°I guess I won¡¯t be able to go out with you this time either.¡± Hugo sighed with disappointment. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. As for Pearl, she sighed as well, but it was a sigh of relief. She smiled and waved him off, ¡°Go ahead, Hugo. Better not let your patient¡¯s condition worsen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early to celebrate, Pearl. This is just a minor surgery that will be done in two hours.¡± After Hugo left, someone walked into the information department, and the door was left ajar. Seeing her chance, Pearl sl*pped in without being noticed. With Hugo upied in surgery, Pearl had the opportunity to search for the information she needed. The challenge was figuring out where it might be stored. Carefully avoiding any staff in the department, she moved stealthily, making no noise. The person who had entered before her had taken a bag of documents and left, closing the door behind him. That¡¯s when Pearl reemerged from behind a bookshelf. There were about twenty cabs in the office, so Pearl had no idea where to start looking. She went through a few cabs, and an hour had already passed. If she continued at this rate, finding what she needed seemed unlikely. Pearl sighed and was considering an alternative approach when she noticed a pattern in the way information was stored. The first ten cabs were arranged alphabetically, but the remaining ten were organized by family names. Her eyes brightened as she had an idea of where to begin searching. However, after checking the cabs that might contain the files, she came up empty-handed. If her hunch was correct, the file she needed might be in Hugo¡¯s office. Realizing that Hugo might have caught onto her n, she gave up her search, returned the cabs to their original state, and left the department. She then proceeded to Hugo¡¯s office and thoroughlybed through it. Two hours passed, but she still couldn¡¯t find what she was looking for. ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± a voice suddenly asked. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 The voice came from above her head, causing Pearl to freeze. She looked up and saw Hugo holding a file between his fingers, wearing a smug smile. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Pearl retracted her hands and frowned at Hugo. ¡°I told you, Hugo, I have no feelings for you. Why are you making things hard for me?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re the only one I want.¡± Hugo ced the file aside and slowly walked over to the other side of the desk where Pearl was. Pearl caught an unexpected scent of orchids in the air, which made her feel somewhat uneasy. ¡°Do you think this is how a gentleman should behave?¡± Hugo¡¯s eyes turned cold at her words. ¡°Why not? Who gets to decide that? Ruthless Richard?¡± Pearl could sense Hugo¡¯s hatred for Richard. ¡°He¡¯s not what you think¡­ ¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve all been blinded by him and falling head over heels for him. Of course you can¡¯t see it.¡± Taking advantage of Hugo¡¯s distraction, Pearl raised her foot and stomped on his foot. ¡°Ouch!¡± Hugo jumped away in pain, and Pearl seized the opportunity to grab the file. She quickly made her escape, leaving Hugo behind with a cunning smile. Pearl rushed back to her room and, to avoid Hugo catching up to her, locked the door and switched on her She quickly began transferring the information. Surprisingly, everything went smoothly, almost unbelievably so. As soon as the data transfer wasplete, Pearl called Renee to inform her and coordinate her mother¡¯s transfer to another hospital. Renee didn¡¯t fully understand the situation but trusted Pearl unconditionally because she knew Pearl was trying to help her mother. That night, Hugo had another surgery, granting Pearl enough time to arrange the transfer of Renee¡¯s mother. However, just before she could reach the room, she received a call from Renee. ¡°Something happened, Pea!¡± Renee¡¯s voice trembled with tears. ¡°My mom¡¯s condition has deteriorated. She coughed up blood just a while ago and is now unconscious!¡± ¡°What? Have you told the nurses?¡± ¡°I pressed the call button about ten minutes ago, but no one came. Do you think my mom will make it?¡± Pearl¡¯s mind went nk as this wasn¡¯t part of her n. The situation was spiraling out of her control. She contemted calling Hugo to understand what was happening but remembered he was in surgery, likely with his phone turned off. She hurried to the doctor¡¯s office area and grabbed a nearby doctor to ask, ¡°Where are all the surgeons?¡± ¡°I have no idea¡­ I¡¯m not a surgeon¡­¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. She asked around and realized all the surgeons in the hospital were mysteriously missing. She then called the nearest hospital to send an ambnce, but was informed they wouldn¡¯t ept patients transferred from another hospital. They were unfamiliar with the patients¡¯ conditions and didn¡¯t want to assume responsibility. As ast resort, she called Richard. ¡°Stay there. I¡¯m on my way.¡± Richard, who had just left Susan¡¯s room, saw Pearl¡¯s pale face and understood the gravity of the situation. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Renee¡¯s mother¡¯s room, and I¡¯ll bring her to the nearest hospital.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Pearl nodded and went to Renee¡¯s mother¡¯s room. Inside, Renee was crying as she called out to her mother. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to take Jennifer to another hospital now,¡± Richard said. He carefully lifted Jennifer onto his back, then gently ced her in the back seat. He took the wheel and drove to the nearest hospital with Renee and Pearl apanying him. Upon arrival at the hospital, they encountered resistance from the staff, who were reluctant to ept the transfer due to hospital rules. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three minutes to reconsider. Either help her or get out of our way,¡± Richard warned, his imposing presence making them hesitate. Dealing with the well-known Richard Waldorf before them, they softened their tone. ¡°Mister Waldorf, I¡­¡± ¡°Three minutes.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, please calm down. We¡¯ll admit her to the emergency room right away,¡± one of the doctors relented, smiling awkwardly and signaling his colleagues to assist in moving Jennifer to the emergency room. As they waited outside, Renee paced nervously, her eyes tired and ringed with dark circles. Pearl felt a wave of sympathy for her. ¡°You¡¯ve been looking after your mom tirelessly. You must be exhausted. Why don¡¯t you sit down and rest for a while?¡± Observing Renee¡¯s worn-out appearance, Pearl couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of sadness. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m going to wait for her toe out.¡± Renee shook her head and refused to take a seat. The surgery seemed to drag on forever, and when the red light finally turned off, Pearl¡¯s legs were numb from standing. Renee immediately sprang to her feet, anxiously awaiting the doctor¡¯s exit. The doctor, wearing sses, looked around and asked, ¡°Is there a family member here?¡± Renee rushed forward. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ the patient didn¡¯t take the correct medication after her surgery. This caused her to cough up blood. The medication she took ended up causing severe damage to her b*dy, so¡­ I¡¯m sorry, we did everything we could.¡± A heavy silence fell over them after the doctor¡¯s announcement. After a long pause, Renee¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke, ¡°Wrong medication? How is that possible? The doctors provided all the medication she took, and I personally watched her take them. How could she have taken the wrong ones? You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± The doctor frowned, growing impatient. ¡°Please don¡¯t question our findings. Please get ready to sign some release papers.¡¯ ¡°You¡¯re lying! My mom can¡¯t be dead!¡± Renee¡¯s emotions spiraled out of control, unable to ept that her mother had passed away under her care. Pearl sensed that something was amiss, and unsettling thoughts began to take root in her mind. Could Hugo have been involved in this? She immediately called Hugo, and after several attempts, he finally picked up, sounding tired. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Hugo, did you switch Jennifer¡¯s medication and cause her sudden death?¡± Pearl asked, her voice filled Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. with suspicion. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Hugo was surprised. ¡°She died?¡± ¡°Stop pretending. You better tell the truth, or I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this,¡± Pearl dered, her to the despairing Renee, her anger rising. gaze shifting ¡°Pearl, that¡¯s a wild usation. I have nothing against her. I¡¯ve been using her as leverage over you, so her death wouldn¡¯t benefit me in any way,¡± Hugo exined, but Pearl didn¡¯t buy it. Suddenly, a message from Wayne popped up on her screen, revealing that the information Pearl had sent him wasn¡¯t about Jennifer but rather someone with the same name who was also admitted to the Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. hospital. Pearl felt her strength drain from her b*dy, and her voice quivered as she spoke, ¡°Hugo, it was you. You killed Jennifer.¡± Hugo was perplexed because he could sense that the situation was far moreplex than Pearl¡¯s usation implied. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, so I won¡¯t admit to it,¡± Hugo retorted before abruptly hanging up. He had manipted the information to prevent her from transferring Jennifer, but who was responsible for swapping Jennifer¡¯s medication? Hugo pondered this as he called Abby. ¡°Did you have a hand in this?¡± Hugo raised his voice at her. ¡°Did you switch out the medications? She¡¯s dead now. Did you do it?¡± Amused, Abby chuckled. ¡°Hugo, what are you talking about? Who¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°Abby, I agreed to work with you because I believed we had the same goal. But if you¡¯ve turned against me, this partnership is over,¡± he warned. While Abby had a reputation for ruthlessness, Hugo¡¯s threat caught her off guard. ¡°Hugo, there¡¯s no need to worry. This situation actually benefits you. Pearl currently suspects you, but she won¡¯t find any evidence. She¡¯ll eventually realize she was mistaken about you, and it might even bring you closer together.¡± Abby¡¯s reasoning made sense, but Hugo disliked that she had made such a significant decision without consulting him. ¡°I won¡¯t reveal anything this time, but if this happens again, I won¡¯t hesitate to sever our ties.¡± Unustomed to Hugo¡¯s assertiveness, Abby began to feel anxious. ¡°Alright, Hugo, don¡¯t worry. This is just a simple medical mishap. You can just get some nurse to take the fall. Rx.¡± Hugo didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation, so he hung up. Meanwhile, Pearl remained convinced that Hugo was involved, but her priority wasforting Renee. ¡°Renee, are you alright?¡± Renee remained silent, sitting on the floor with vacant eyes. ¡°Even though¡­ your mother is no longer around, she still loves you. Every life has toe to an end eventually, and this might be a peaceful release for your mom, right?¡± Pearl embraced her gently, offering soothing words. Renee burst into tears, sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°My mom¡­ she told me to be strong, no matter what happened, but she¡¯s gone now. I don¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± She cried and clung to Pearl¡¯s sleeve, whoforted her by patting her back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you so she can rest in peace.¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Pearl helped Renee with the funeral arrangements and then texted Hugo, requesting a meeting. Hugo knew she wanted to talk about Jennifer, so they arranged to meet at a nearby cafe. As Hugo walked into the cafe, his eyes immediately found Pearl. She was seated not too far away, her long hair cascading gracefully over her shoulders. She wore a ck dress that beautifully entuated her figure. Pearl appeared to be sipping her coffee casually, and Hugo couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the sadness had left her feeling numb. ¡°You know why I wanted to see you,¡± Pearl stated, cing her cup down and fixing her gaze on him. ¡°I need to exin myself. I really have nothing to do with it.¡± Pearl scoffed. ¡°Nothing to do with it? Hugo Waldorf, do you expect me to believe that? Who else would have done this?¡± Hugo seethed, and Abby¡¯s name nearly escaped his l*ps, but he held his tongue. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I have nothing to do with this. Go ahead and investigate if you don¡¯t believe me. If it turns out I¡¯m responsible, I¡¯ll ept whatever punishmentes my way.¡± Pearl didn¡¯t appear convinced. She scrutinized his face, sensing that it wasn¡¯t the first time he swore in his life. She clenched her fist. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯ll look into this. If I find any evidence linking you to this, I¡¯m not going to let you off.¡± ¡°Calm down. Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re still my-¡± ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Pearl cut him off. ¡°Our agreement ends now, Hugo. You¡¯re not just a pervert, you¡¯re shameless. 11 Pearl shuddered at the memory of this killer¡¯s touch. Hugo¡¯s indifference to her words only fueled her disgust. Hugo, however, seemed unfazed and found her reaction adorable. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could be this interesting, especially when you speak like that.¡± He touched his chin, savoring the moment. ¡°Enough, I don¡¯t have time for this nonsense. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Pearl was just going to warn him, but seeing how he wasn¡¯t bothered, she thought she was just wasting time. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Wait.¡± Pearl turned around to see Hugo standing with a half-smile, causing her to feel nervous. ¡°What?¡± she asked tersely. Hugo crossed his arms. ¡°Jennifer passed away, but Renee is still here¡­¡± His words sounded like a threat, but they were more of a reminder. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch her,¡± Pearl said coldly, fear evident in her voice. ¡°Why can¡¯t I? I don¡¯t want you to leave me.¡± Previously, Hugo¡¯s efforts were about keeping her by his side. But now, seeing her annoyance, he had a different idea. How satisfying would it be to crush such an arrogant flower in his hands? He slowly smiled, his eyes filled with passion as he looked at her. ¡°You¡¯re crazy, Hugo.¡± Pearl red at him before leaving for Renee¡¯s home. Renee¡¯s safety was no longer guaranteed at her current residence, so Pearl needed to find her a new ce to stay. As she drove to Renee¡¯s home, she repeatedly attempted to call her, but the calls wouldn¡¯t go through. There was no reason for her phone to be off in the middle of the day. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 No matter how many times she called, she couldn¡¯t get through to Renee. Renee¡¯s home wasn¡¯t too far away, so Pearl got there in around ten minutes. She rushed out of the car and knocked on the door, but there was no response. She suddenly remembered the spare key Renee had given her and quickly used it to unlock the door. She was shocked by the messiness inside, with blood stains covering the floor. Pearl cautiously entered the house and saw someone lying behind the couch, their hair and clothes disheveled. There was a deep cut across their throat, and it appeared they had suffered humiliation. Pearl checked for signs of breathing, but there were none. Her tears started falling. The person she had sought to protect had met a tragic end. Pearl felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, and her hatred for Hugo deepened. She immediately called him, her voice breaking. ¡°Hugo Waldorf, you¡¯re a murderer!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why did you kill Renee?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Who else would have done this?¡± Hugo shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Are you trying to show that you have a conscience, but it¡¯s not that great?¡± Pearl chuckled bitterly, her grip on the phone tightening. ¡°Thank you so much for warning me that she was going to be killed.¡± ¡°Pearl, don¡¯t overthink it. She was never rted to you in the first ce.¡± Tired of his bullshit, Pearl hung up. Renee¡¯s passing left Pearl sleepless for several days. After Richard learned about the tragedy, he assisted with Renee¡¯s funeral arrangements and, upon discovering that she was recovering well, discharged her from the hospital. He didn¡¯t want her to be reminded of the painful memories associated with the ce. Pearl asked Wayne to investigate the murders of Renee and Jennifer, but the perpetrator had covered their tracks well. The hospital imed it was a medication error by a nurse, resulting in the hospital paying a substantial settlement. On Renee¡¯s side, there were no apparent traces left behind. Pearl knew that finding the killer wouldn¡¯t be easy, so she instructed Wayne to continue the ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . investigation while she returned to work. Abby had managed to build good rtionships with her colleagues, and it seemed they had forgotten her past misdeeds, growing closer to her once again. However, this was typical human behavior. ¡°I¡¯m d to see you back, Pearl. I thought you were seriously ill since you haven¡¯t been at work for the past few days,¡± Abby said, her words carrying a hint of sarcasm, implying that Pearl was simplyzy. ¡°Richard neglected his work while taking care of you. That¡¯s something I¡¯ve never seen before,¡± Abby added, teasing Pearl. Pearl had no patience for this kind of banter, especially after witnessing two deaths. ¡°What¡¯s the point of all this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, Pearl. I was just joking. I¡¯ll stop if you¡¯re annoyed,¡± Abby replied, feigning tears. Others who witnessed the exchange came to Abby¡¯s defense. ¡°Miss Pearl, Abby was just concerned about you. Don¡¯t be angry with her.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Only Abby knew if she really was concerned about Pearl. Pearl cast a cold nce at Abby before heading to her desk. Her desk, which had previously been cluttered with stacks of work, was now empty. She furrowed her brows and asked a colleague sitting nearby, ¡°Where are my files?¡± She worked really hard to get all those files, and many of the documents were only partiallypleted. Why were they missing? Her colleague looked at Pearl and exined, ¡°Abby took them because you¡¯ve been absent for a while. She helped you finish all the work.¡± Did Abby intend to take credit for work that Pearl had alreadypleted? This infuriated Pearl. She took a deep breath, preparing to confront Abby, but Abby beat her to it. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Calm down. I finished all the work, but it¡¯s for your own good. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want thepany¡¯s work to be dyed because of your absence. Since I didn¡¯t know when you¡¯d return, I didn¡¯t want to risk dying our progress. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d want that responsibility.¡± Pearl scoffed. ¡°I know the project timeline and whether I¡¯d cause any dys. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this for thepany. It¡¯s one thing if you were absent, but we¡¯re a team, and this agreement requires teamwork. Are you truly fine with potentially causing dys for everyone else?¡± The tension in the room escted. Pearl realized that since her return, Abby had be cleverer with her words. Pearl looked around. ¡°If anyone here thinks I¡¯ve caused any dys, please let me know. That way, I won¡¯t need to ask each one of you.¡± Abby¡¯s face froze. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no need to be upset. Even though I finished the work, I submitted it under your name, so there¡¯s no reason to worry.¡± Pearl looked at her suspiciously, as she doubted Abby¡¯s intentions were entirely benevolent. As expected, Pearl suddenly received a call from the investors, informing her that there were issues with the design and the numbers didn¡¯t add up. It was impossible to use the products. Pearl froze because she knew this wasing. ¡°I¡¯m d I hadn¡¯t started mass production and only created a sample. If I had initiated production right away, we could have faced huge losses,¡± the investor said, sounding displeased. ¡°I¡¯ll revise the design and send it to you by tonight.¡± Pearl switched on herptop, only to discover that her backup files were missing. Had Abby Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. orchestrated this as well? She clenched her teeth in frustration, but the urgent need to create a new design left her with no time to dwell on Abby¡¯s actions. She revisited the project proposal, which called for the product to be both cold and seductive. The term ¡°cold ¡± immediately brought moonlight to her mind. But what about seduction? As she sketched some lines on a piece of paper, an idea suddenly struck her. Her eyes widened. A silver fox gracefully strolling beneath the moonlight, its alluring, foxy eyes casting a seductive spell. She envisioned using blue gemstones for the fox¡¯s eyes, with a small diamond embedded at the top. The moonlight would be framed by silver thread clouds, imparting a sense of mystery. She had it-the design concept: The Foxy Moon Seduction. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Aftering up with a name andpleting the design, Pearl sent it to the investor, who responded with praises. ¡°You¡¯re truly an exceptional designer. Only you could havee up with a design like this,¡± the investor¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°It was well worth the wait. We¡¯llmence production based on this design, and I¡¯m hopeful it will achieve record-breaking sales.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Pearl¡¯s designs consistently performed well in sales, which was why the investor continued to coborate with her. On the first day of the new productunch, excitement about ¡°The Foxy Moon Seduction¡± swept across the inte as soon as the website announced its avability. ¡°Wow, this is so pretty. The previous ones were all for couples, so I never had the chance to buy one. But this one is so beautiful!¡± ¡°Why do people ever doubt Pearl¡¯s designs? I¡¯m ready to defend her!¡± When Abby heard of the news, she sat in stunned disbelief. She vividly recalled making significant alterations to the design. It shouldn¡¯t have turned out like this! Had Pearl truly managed to create an entirely new design in just one afternoon? Was this her talent? Jealousy surged within Abby as she contemted how effortlessly Pearl could create such remarkable designs. Her immediate concern was locking down Richard as soon as possible, or else Pearl mighte between them. All her efforts would be in vain if they ended up together. Abby made a call to tell Susan she was going over for dinner. Susan had grown fonder of Abby since her transformation, so she dly epted the invitation. That evening, when Pearl returned home and discovered Abby was there, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Pearl, are you upset that I¡¯m here?¡± Abby noticed Pearl¡¯s annoyance and aimed to expose her. ¡°I just came to see Madam and join you all for dinner. It¡¯s not a problem, right?¡± she exined, feigning innocence. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Susanughed. ¡°You¡¯re wee toe over whenever you like. Who would ever stop you?¡± ¡°Of course not. Go ahead.¡± Pearl thought of skipping the meal. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t particrly like me, you should show respect to Madam. She made all this food, so you should have some¡­¡± Abby advised, attempting to offer guidance but only making the situation more ufortable. Susan felt disheartened when she sensed the tension. ¡°Yes, Pearl. I put so much effort into cooking this meal. It wouldn¡¯t be right to let it go to waste.¡± Pearl found herself at a loss as she watched the two of them seemingly team up, so she reluctantly took her seat at the dining table. Richard returned home shortly afterward, and upon seeing Abby there, he greeted her coldly, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Abby hadn¡¯t anticipated Richard¡¯s frosty reception. She hesitated before replying, ¡°I miss Madam, so I came over¡­¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 ¡°Richard, Abby is just being lovely. My love for her since she was a child hasn¡¯t gone to waste.¡± Susan red at Richard and patted Abby¡¯s hand. ¡°Look, Abby is so well-mannered now. Do you want to consider dating her¡­¡± ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t say that¡­¡± Abby blushed, nudging Susan gently. Richard chose to remain silent, a response that seemed most fitting. Abby found herself in an awkward spot because of Richard¡¯s silence, so she withdrew her arm. ¡°Richard doesn¡¯t have feelings for me now, so there¡¯s no need to force it. I don¡¯t want it to look like I¡¯m pressuring him.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Your mother and I had an agreement that the two of you would get married. You grew up together, so how could he not have feelings for you?¡± Susan reassured Abby, worried that Richard might have hurt her. Richard finally spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m seeing someone.¡± Pearl froze, her fork hung in midair. ¡°You¡¯re seeing someone? Who? Not Pearl, I hope?¡± Richard nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s her.¡± Abby chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to have feelings for her,¡± Susan blurted. Richard didn¡¯t understand, so he turned and looked at her curiously. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because I said so, Rick. Even if you don¡¯t have feelings for Abby, you¡¯re still not allowed to have feelings for Pearl.¡± Susan sounded very serious, as if she knew a secret she couldn¡¯t tell anyone about. Everyone fell silent. The meal seemed tasteless, so after quickly eating, everyone returned to their rooms. Abby decided to stay for the night and leave the following day because it waste. Susan entered Richard¡¯s room, carrying a ss of warm milk, and knocked on the door before entering. ¡°Rick, I have something to tell you,¡± she said as she ced the ss on the table. Richard knew what she was going to say, so he asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be with Pearl because¡­¡± Susan sighed, and her thoughts wandered. ¡°Did you know that your father, when he was young, had his first love¡­¡± ¡°What does this have to do with Pearl?¡± She hesitated, then continued, ¡°Your dad¡¯s first love was Pearl¡¯s mother! The person you¡¯re seeing might be your sister!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Richard thought it was ridiculous. Susan scoffed. ¡°Why is it impossible? Pearl has your dad¡¯s personality. You should know that when I was pregnant with Hanzel, your dad disappeared for half a year, and no one knew what happened during that time. Look at Pearl. She¡¯s the same age as Hanzel!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t prove she¡¯s Dad¡¯s child.¡± Richard found the notion so absurd that he couldn¡¯t take it seriously. Susan sounded like she was about to cry. ¡°I only found out half a year into our marriage that there was a woman your dad loved with all his heart. I was already pregnant with you at that time, so I stayed instead of getting a divorce. Did you know?¡± Richard patted her back to calm her down. ¡°Don¡¯t get too worked up. This might all be a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Misunderstanding? Why would your dad be so nice to Pearl if not for this reason? Do you have an exnation?¡± ¡°Dad and Pearl¡¯s dad are best friends. It would be normal for him to want to protect her too.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t try to convince you, but remember, Pearl isn¡¯t a good match for you,¡± Susan advised. ¡°Rick, I only have your best interests at heart. The girls I approve of will always be cream of the crop. You should understand¡­¡± ¡°Okay, Mom, let me make that decision.¡± Richard wasn¡¯t easily fooled. Despite Susan¡¯s serious tone, he still had his reservations. He sent his mother ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . out. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to finish the milk. It¡¯s getting cold,¡± Susan reminded him before returning to her room. Richard made his way back to the table, picked up the cup, and downed the milk. Then, he prepared to sleep. As hey down in bed, he felt his b*dy heat up. He lowered the air conditioning temperature, but it didn¡¯t help. Sleep eluded him as his mind filled with thoughts of Pearl: her captivating eyes, alluring l*ps, and a smile that could melt any heart. ¡°Damn it,¡± he muttered to himself. What was he thinking? His mind was in turmoil when he suddenly heard the door handle turn. In the dimly lit room, he couldn¡¯t see who it was, but he felt a cold hand on his face. Reacting quickly, he grabbed the wrist and, with his remaining consciousness, asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± In the faint light, he could make out that it was a woman. The only person who would enter his room at this hour would be¡­ ¡°Rick¡­¡± Abby whispered. She felt the heat from his hand, causing her to feel both shocked and anxious. Was she going to seed in keeping Richard for herself? ¡°Abby?¡± Abby took a deep breath and k*ssed him, but he pushed her away. ¡°What are you doing, Abby?¡± Richard¡¯s breathing was heavy, and he felt drained. ¡°Richard, I love you, and I want to be with you forever¡­¡± Abby began to undress him, her voice trembling. You only have Pearl on your mind, and I can¡¯t ept that. You¡¯re mine, Rick, only mine¡­¡± ¡°1 Richard tried to calm down and gripped Abby¡¯s wrist to stop her. ¡°Even if we sleep together, I won¡¯t marry you.¡¯ Abby couldn¡¯t believe he said that, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°How could you do this to me?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯ve changed a lot, and I thought you¡¯ve moved on,¡± Richard¡¯s voice grew colder. ¡°But I never thought you would resort to drugging me. Abby, that¡¯s insane.¡± Afraid of his anger, Abby¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°Please, Rick, don¡¯t be angry. I like you so much, but I don¡¯t want you to hate me¡­¡± Richard let go and moved away. ¡°Get out, now.¡± ¡°Rick¡­¡± Richard hadn¡¯t anticipated her persistence, so he grabbed a cup from the table and smashed it against his own head. He lost consciousness right after that. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Richard¡¯s self-harm scared Abby. She had never anticipated that he would prefer to inflict pain on himself rather than touch her. The humiliation she felt was overwhelming. Tears welled up in her eyes, a mixture of shame and intense hatred. If it weren¡¯t for Pearl, Richard wouldn¡¯t treat her this way. As she watched Richard unconscious on the bed, a bold and malicious idea began to form in her mind. She stripped both herself and Richard,y down on his broad chest, and took a picture. She then sent this intimate photo to Pearl. After that, Abby carefully got out of bed, put on his clothes, and went back to her room. The next morning, Pearl woke up to that shocking image on her phone. It depicted an intimate scene, making it appear as if Richard and Abby had slept together. Her heart ached, but she remembered Richard¡¯s words from the previous night, causing her to scoff. As she examined the photo more closely, something didn¡¯t seem right. The way Richardy in bed didn¡¯t resemble someone who had peacefully fallen asleep. Instead, it looked as if he had fainted. His flushed face looked unnatural as well. Was he drugged? Pearl quickly got dressed and headed to Richard¡¯s room, which was left unlocked. Inside, she found Richard alone, and upon seeing him unconscious, she froze before approaching to check on him. It was clear that he had been drugged, although not with a potent substance that would have led to his death by morning. The person responsible seemed to possess a conscience. Pearl retrieved some medication she had brought with her, ced it in Richard¡¯s mouth, and ensured he swallowed it. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes and immediately saw Pearl waiting beside him. ¡°When did youe in here?¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Why do you want to know? How were you drugged?¡± Pearl replied. Recalling the events of the previous night, Richard looked at the cup on the table. ¡°My mom brought me a cup of milkst night, just like she usually does, so I drank it without suspecting anything.¡± His anger began to rise as he considered the possibility of his mother working with Abby. Pearl couldn¡¯t hold in herughter. ¡°Even your mom tried to trick you?¡± Richard looked coldly at her. ¡°Enough of this. How did you get into my room?¡± Pearl nonchntly shrugged and showed him the photo on her phone. ¡°Look, Abby sent this to me. I guess she wanted me to feel jealous and start hating you.¡± ¡°Hate me¡­ Pearl, why would you hate me after seeing this?¡± Richard gazed at Pearl with his deep-set eyes. Pearl almost blurted out that she liked him, but when she noticed Richard¡¯s attempt to get that response from her, she held back. ¡°I might have been disgusted because you feel like telling me about this.¡± Pearl suddenly noticed that Richard looked off, so she stopped herself. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant¡­ I¡­¡± Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Pearl¡¯s wrist was grasped tightly, and the next thing she knew, she was in Richard¡¯s arms. ¡°Pearl, repeat what you just said,¡± Richard whispered into her ear, his gaze locked onto hers. They were pressed closely together, their skin touching. Pearl felt like a helpless chick in his arms, unable to free herself from his grip. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to deny it?¡± In her struggle, Pearl moved around too much, causing a button on her clothing to pop off. A glimpse of her fair skin was revealed, and Richard¡¯s eyes inadvertently caught it, his gaze intensifying. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ Mmm!¡± Before she could say anything further, he hugged her even tighter, his k*ss sealing her l*ps. Richard had just taken some medicine, so his l*ps tasted sweet. Pearl¡¯s mind went nk, and she allowed him to k*ss her. Eventually, Richard let her go when she didn¡¯t respond to the k*ss and instead wore a shocked expression. He waved his hand in front of her face. Pearl shook her head, slowlying to the realization that she had been k*ssed. All she could manage to ask was, ¡°Richard, is the medicine working?¡± Richard took her hand and pressed it against his chest, allowing her to feel his strong heartbeat, which caused her own heart rate to quicken. ¡°What do you think?¡± he replied with a smirk. ¡°Assh*le!¡± Pearl snapped back, kicking his chest. He leaned back slightly to avoid her kick. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t say if it¡¯s working or not,¡± he remarked casually, as if he had just sipped water rather than taken medicine. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Pearl turned to leave, but as she did, she found Susan standing at the door, poised to knock. Susan took in the disheveled scene before her and was left speechless. She then noticed Pearl¡¯s rumpled attire, a missing button, and smudged l*pstick, and she also noted Richard¡¯s blushing face and open robe, revealing his exposed chest. ¡°What¡­¡± Susan couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. All her efforts in warning her son went to waste because of Pearl. ¡°How could you be so shameless, Pearl? You¡¯re a girl. You shouldn¡¯t be in the same room if you¡¯re not married. Are you trying to sleep with him and force your way into the family? I won¡¯t let that happen!¡± Susan struggled to catch her breath, and her b*dy, which had just recovered, started acting up again. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking, Madam. I would never use such a method to marry into the family. I¡¯m not interested in that,¡± Pearl said coldly. ¡°Rick, exin yourself.¡± Not only did Richard fail to offer an exnation, but he casually stated, ¡°I initiated it.¡± Susan was furious. ¡°What have you done, Rick? Have you forgotten what I told youst night? Pearl isn¡¯t a good match for you!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like her. I thought you knew.¡± Susan tried to advise him, ¡°Rick, feelings can develop. You can¡¯t simply reject her because you don¡¯t like her yet. I¡¯ve known her for years, so how could I be wrong? She made some mistakes in the past, but it was all because she loved you too much. Give her a chance, and you¡¯ll discover how nice-¡± ¡°Enough. I only have feelings for Pearl.¡± Richard heard this too many times and was tired of it. Abby, who was standing at the door holding a ss of water, heard his words and dropped the ss in shock. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 ¡°Rick¡­¡± Abby¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, despair consuming her upon hearing his words. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t have feelings for me, I want you to know I love you. Why do you keep using Pearl to hurt me? It¡¯s so unfair!¡± ¡°You should understand that I see you as a sister. You need to move on,¡± Richard delivered the final blow. Unable to bear the pain any longer, Abby ran off, wiping her tears. Watching the scene unfold, Susan shouted, ¡°Pearl, you did this to my family! How could you be so ruthless? You just want to take over the family, huh? I won¡¯t let that happen!¡± ¡°You¡¯re mistaken.¡± Pearl¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that at all.¡± Richard immediately replied, ¡°You¡¯ll have to take it over, even if you¡¯re not interested in it.¡± Pearl was speechless. ¡°You¡¯re going to give me an aneurysm!¡± Susan¡¯s chest heaved as she raised her hand, pointing at Pearl while yelling, ¡°You¡¯re just like your mother, tearing apart rtionships. The daughter she gave birth to is just as shameless. You¡¯ve learned everything from her!¡± Pearl froze. ¡°You know my mom?¡± ¡°How could I not? Your mother was desired by countless men, and she even seduced Dustan. How could I not know her!¡± Susan¡¯s words were hurtful, suggesting that Pearl¡¯s mother was promiscuous and attempted to seduce married men. ¡°Madam, I hope you choose your words more carefully. You can insult me, but not my mom,¡± Pearl retorted, her anger ring. She recalled her father talking about the past. Her mother had been like a fairy, gentle and kind. That¡¯s why her father had kept waiting for her return. How could such a perfect person do what Susan was iming? ¡°Go ask Dustan then, see if they had an innocent friendship!¡± Susan scoffed. ¡°You might even be his daughter!¡± With that parting shot, Susan stormed out, leaving Pearl stunned. Pearl couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Was what she said true?¡± Richard avoided her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°I have to find a way to shut her up. Her baseless usations are an insult to my mom.¡± Pearl looked at Richard and began to plot. ¡°I have an idea.¡± Richard met her determined gaze. ¡°You want a DNA test?¡± ¡°Mister Dustan won¡¯t be home for about half a month, but I recall that I can use your DNA for the test Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. too.¡± Richard raised his brows. ¡°So you think that as long as we can prove we¡¯re not rted, everything my mother said will be proven false?¡± ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t believe we¡¯re rted.¡± Pearl then extended her hand. ¡°Give me some of your hair.¡± Richard frowned. ¡°Where are the scissors?¡± ¡°What scissors? Just pull some out.¡± Richard winced. ¡°Pearl!¡± Seeing him agitated, Pearl didn¡¯t want to linger any longer, so she shed an awkward smile and ran. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Pearl brought Richard¡¯s hair to the hospital in the morning for the DNA test. As she was leaving, Hugo, who happened to be walking past, spotted her. Once she had left, he entered the DNA testing room. ¡°What was the girl here for?¡± Hugo casually inquired as he walked in. The doctor recognized him and immediately tensed up. ¡°Dr. Waldorf, she came for a DNA test.¡± ¡°What test?¡± The doctor handed the sample to him and smiled. ¡°This one¡­¡± Hugo picked up the sample and examined it. There were two strands of hair inside, one long and one short. The short one was¡­ He suddenly had a bold idea, then he said to the doctor, ¡°Could you get this month¡¯s report for me please?¡± The doctor nodded and went to retrieve the report. Seizing the opportunity, Hugo took out the long hair from the bag and reced it with one of his own. After that, he stood up straight and instructed, ¡°Take your time. I have to rush off, so once you find it, bring it to my office.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Hugo then left with a cunning smile. Pearl was ready to return to the office when she noticed a familiar woman sitting on the floor, looking Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. injured. Approaching her, she found that the woman was the same one who had given her flowers. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Pearl squatted down and checked her, discovering that she had a sprained ankle. ¡°The hospital is nearby. Would you like me to take you there?¡± The woman was in immense pain and refused to speak. Instead, she just nodded. Pearl helped her to her feet, and as they leaned closer, she noticed a silver ne around the woman¡¯s neck. The pendant on it looked familiar. It reminded her of a time in middle school when, after school every day, her father would hold a simr silver pendant in his hands. However, his had a heart cut-out, while thedy¡¯s pendant was a solid heart. After her father¡¯s death, he was buried with the pendant, and after so many years, she didn¡¯t recognize it at first. ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡± Pearl asked cautiously. The woman replied with some enthusiasm. ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± ¡°Could you tell me where you got this pendant from? It looks familiar to me, and my dad had one too, although his was slightly different¡­¡± The woman froze and suddenly started trembling. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I said your pendant looks a lot like the one my dad had.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your dad now?¡± Pearl lowered her voice, ¡°Dad¡­ He passed away.¡± The woman¡¯s trembling hand hung in mid-air, and tears soon streamed down her face. She was wearing sses, so Pearl couldn¡¯t see the sadness in her eyes. ¡°Are you alright, Madam?¡± Pearl was shocked to see this unexpected emotional reaction. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just that my ankle hurts so bad,¡± thedy replied with a smile, though her expression was tinged with sadness. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen you so many times. Since the first time you gave me flowers, you¡¯ve always been very mysterious. Now that we are meeting again, could you tell me your name, please?¡± Pearl asked with a warm smile. ¡°I¡­ Myst name is Ramsay.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t tell me your name? That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just call you Madam Ramsay then.¡± The woman nodded and didn¡¯t say anything more. After sending her to the hospital, Pearl told her to take care of herself and left. She returned to the office but was summoned into a meeting before she could even take a moment to rest. ¡°Pearl, you have a new mission.¡± Richard turned around and ced a file on the desk, then slid it over. ¡°We n to design an Angel & Devil series of bracelets for best friends, but we haven¡¯t found a suitable brand ambassador. I was wondering if we should use you for this.¡± Pearl¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Why me again? Richard, I¡¯m the design director, not a celebrity. Why don¡¯t you get a proper celebrity to do this?¡± Richard gave a practical reason, ¡°We can save a lot of money if we go with you.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Pearl smiled. Why would the Waldorfs fret over the small expense of hiring a brand ambassador? That seemed ridiculous. ¡°Are you just trying to torture me, Richard?¡± Richard didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Of course not. I was just thinking from thepany¡¯s perspective.¡± His main reason, of course, was that if Pearl had to be in the ads, he would have more opportunities to spend time with her. While she worked in the office, their conversations were limited to business matters. Pearl wasn¡¯t aware of his ulterior motive, so she hesitated. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t two people be involved in promoting these best friend bracelets?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find someone to do it with you.¡± Suddenly, Hanzel appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me to be part of the ads? Asking me to find someone for you is so cruel.¡± Hanzel pouted and looked quite unwilling. ¡°Cruel? You can¡¯t do it. It¡¯s not suitable for you,¡± Richard shot him down. Hanzel wasn¡¯t ready to give up and moved closer to Richard. ¡°Why not? You said Pearl is going to be in the ad. If she can, why can¡¯t I? Are you doing this on purpose? I heard you confessed your feelings to Pearl in front of her and Mom. Are you afraid that Pearl might catch feelings for me if we worked together?¡± Richard frowned. ¡°Why would I be afraid of that?¡± ¡°Then why wouldn¡¯t you let me be part of the campaign? Why do you need a woman?¡± Pearl froze as she looked at Richard, then at Hanzel, and finally burst intoughter. Hanzel was puzzled. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Richard exined to him, ¡°Have you read the agreement?¡± Hanzel hesitated because he hadn¡¯t. ¡°It¡¯s a bracelet for best friends. How can you, a man, be in the ad campaign?¡± Hanzel¡¯s expression turned awkward. ¡°Uh, I was just thinking that I could go in drag and work with Pearl. It could work¡­¡± Pearl was rendered speechless. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 ¡°Okay, stop messing around. Did you find the female celebrity I need?¡± Richard asked, his tone Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. businesslike. Hanzel, after ncing at Pearl, nodded reluctantly. ¡°I checked out the recently popr celebrities, but I couldn¡¯t find the kind of morous model you¡¯re looking for.¡± Clearly, they needed two types of women to portray an angel and a demon. Pearl, with her pure and charming demeanor, could y the angel, while they needed a morous woman for the demon role. ¡°You didn¡¯t find anyone? Then you can forget about being a star. I¡¯ll have yourpany suspend your contract, and you can return to work at thepany,¡± Richard threatened, knowing well how to use his influence. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Hanzel pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t, Rick. I told you it¡¯s difficult to find this kind of character because there are too few women of this type in the entertainment industry. Most are just vulgarly S**y. There are hardly any women who possess an aloof and attractive aura.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean there are none. I¡¯ll give you one day to find someone, and if you fail, say goodbye to your showbiz career,¡± Richard stated firmly, giving Hanzel onest chance. Hearing that, Pearl offered a reassuring smile to Hanzel and pointed at a news article on theputer screen, saying calmly, ¡°I think she might be a good fit.¡± The article featured a sweet, adorable, and pure young woman on the cover. She was a new rising star named Esther Sanders. ¡°What does she have to do with being morous?¡± Hanzel asked, baffled, as Esther appeared purer and cuter than Pearl. Smiling, Pearl exined, ¡°She¡¯ll be the angel, and I¡¯ll be the demon.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t look like a demon either,¡± Hanzel muttered. Richard felt better seeing Pearl¡¯s confidence because he trusted her judgment. Without wasting time, he instructed someone to negotiate a coboration with Esther. Unexpectedly, Esther agreed to the proposal without much fuss. The shooting was set for this Sunday at three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Pearl arrived at the set early, driven by her curiosity. She had never met such a popr TV star before. Esther arrived not long after Pearl got there. Contrary to her pure and cute image on television, Esther came across as somewhat arrogant, behaving like a spoiled princess. When she saw Pearl, she sized thetter up and asked, ¡°You¡¯re Pearl?¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Pearl.¡± ¡°I heard you have an engagement with the five Waldorf brothers, is that true?¡± Esther, being around sixteen or seventeen years old, was a young female idol who had be a B-list star due to her sweet and cute appearance. Clearly, she had quite a bit of confidence. Pearl nodded once more. ¡°Yes, everyone in Enswood knows that.¡± . Esther, however, seemed puzzled by Pearl¡¯s behavior. Pearl didn¡¯t appear to be in awe of her at all. This was unusual because Esther was used to being adored wherever she went. But Pearl looked calm when she saw Esther-no, more than that, she seemed slightly curious and yful. ¡°So, which one of them is your favorite?¡± Esther asked with a sly smile. Pearl instantly knew what Esther meant. It seemed Esther might have a crush on one of the Waldorf brothers. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ¡°Why? Does my preference in men have anything to do with this project?¡± Pearl replied. Stunned, Esther didn¡¯t expect that Pearl would refuse to answer her question. She frowned and continued, Yes, it does. Just ignore the reason and tell me.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me who you like instead, Miss Esther?¡± Pearl responded calmly, causing Esther to blush. deeply, wondering how Pearl knew¡­ Esther¡¯s agent, sensing the danger, quickly intervened, pulling Esther¡¯s arm to silence her. ¡°Of course, Esther doesn¡¯t have a crush on anyone.¡± With a multitude of male fans closely following Esther¡¯s every move, any rumor of her having a crush could negatively impact her career. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll drop the question then, if that¡¯s the case,¡± Pearl said with a chuckle, moving on from the topic. The makeup session was now underway, with both heroines present. However, Esther was far from cooperative. She sat thereining about her makeup artist¡¯s inability to entuate her charm and behaving arrogantly. ¡°Hey! This will make my eyes look small. What¡¯s with this makeup? It¡¯s hideous. Do you even know what you¡¯re doing? Quit if you can¡¯t handle being a makeup artist. I¡¯ve never met such a lousy makeup artist in my life.¡± Esther¡¯s harsh words made Pearl frown, prompting her to nce over. While the makeup artists were skilled, Pearl couldn¡¯t help but feel that something was missing. Being a part of the entertainment industry for such a long time, Esther could tell if someone¡¯s makeup skills were good or not. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, Miss Esther. I¡¯ve given it my all¡­¡± The makeup artist felt disheartened, as she had done her best but couldn¡¯t seem to create the right look for Esther. Pearl patted the makeup artist¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Alright, leave it to me. You can take a break.¡± ¡°I never thought a bigpany like Waldorf Enterprises would hire such an ipetent makeup artist. It¡¯s embarrassing,¡± Esther remarked rudely and arrogantly, crossing her arms. ¡°Don¡¯t be too quick to judge, Miss Esther. Why don¡¯t¡­ you give me a chance?¡± Esther cast a disdainful nce at Pearl. ¡°You? Can you do it? I don¡¯t settle for just any makeup artist.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t know if you don¡¯t let me try. Sit tight. I¡¯ll do your makeup.¡± Others assumed Pearl was just trying to calm Esther down, but to their surprise, Pearl removed Esther¡¯s makeup using makeup remover and cotton pads, then applied moisturizer to Esther¡¯s face. ¡°Can you really do it?¡± With her makeup removed, Esther appeared fair, soft, and cute. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Pearl replied confidently as she gently applied a light concealer and foundation. ¡°You¡¯re a very cute girl, you just need a subtle touch.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Okay.¡± Previously, the makeup artist had aimed to lighten Esther¡¯splexion but unfortunately made her look like a doll-beautiful, but unnatural. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 ¡°Plus, those sequins might give you a slightly subdued look. We can rece them with feathers and attach them to the corners of your eyes, along with a touch of golden powder.¡± Pearl exined while working swiftly toplete Esther¡¯s makeup. When she was finished, the nearby makeup artists were left astounded. They had never seen Esther in this light before. Esther had always beenbeled as a Barbie, and it was the first time they saw such a fairylike side to her. Looking at herself in the mirror, Esther gaped in silence. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re so good at it.¡± Esther, who had a somewhat childish disposition, blurted out her thoughts. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Pearl picked up a small golden ring and ced it on Esther¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t you look just like a fairy?¡± ¡°Yeah, I look just like a fairy. Pearl, I didn¡¯t expect you to have such amazing makeup skills.¡± Esther blushed, feeling remorseful for doubting Pearl earlier. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what I said earlier¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Pearl chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it.¡± Suddenly, an idea popped into Esther¡¯s head. ¡°Why don¡¯t you be my makeup artist? You get only a few ten thousand dors at Waldorf Enterprises a year, but I can pay you a few hundred thousand dors. What do you think?¡± Pearl found Esther rather cute and straightforward. ¡°Are you that rich?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can afford it, even though I¡¯m not very popr.¡± Laughing, Pearl said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s stop there. I¡¯ll go put on my makeup first. We can chat more after the shoot.¡± For the first time, Pearl adopted a different style, abandoning her usual innocent and cute appearance. She donned a dark, form-fitting dress and applied heavier makeup. Unexpectedly, this look suited her well and made her very attractive. Standing outside and waiting for her, Richard was struck dumb when he saw her. At first, he had concerns about Pearl adjusting to this look, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated her looking this stunning. ¡°Eh, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Pearl smiled because of Richard¡¯s stunned expression. ¡°Is my makeup bad? I did it myself, and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not as good as the professional makeup artists here¡­¡± ¡°How could you call that bad? Pearl, the makeup artists here didn¡¯t do half as good as you did.¡± Hanzel couldn¡¯t stop praising Pearl earnestly. Looking down, Pearl smiled. ¡°You tter me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, Pearl!¡± Esther leaped off her chair. The ck dressplemented Pearl wlessly, with only a few small diamonds adorning the corners of her eyes. She exuded a captivating charm. Esther felt somewhat inferior upon seeing Pearl¡¯s beauty. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty. I¡¯ll look worse beside you in the ad.¡± While Esther was filled with admiration for Pearl¡¯s stunning appearance, she also felt a sense of humility. Amused, Pearl affectionately pinched Esther¡¯s soft cheek. ¡°Stop overthinking. The makeup I did for you is very pretty too. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get a lot of fans. Besides, I¡¯m not part of the entertainment industry. Just rx.¡± Her words filled Esther with pure joy. Esther lifted her chin and said smugly, ¡°Well, yeah. I¡¯m Barbie.¡± Pearl suddenly realized that Esther wasn¡¯t as mean as she initially thought. Instead, she was simply straightforward and honest, especially whenpared to others in the entertainment industry who often beat around the bush. ¡°Yeah, Barbie. Shall we proceed with the shoot?¡± Esther held Pearl¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Both Esther and Pearl worked seamlessly, bringing the pure angel and morous demon to life in their advertisement. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. When the ad cl*p aired, it received a lot of praise. [Oh, my Barbie is so pretty! Help, I can¡¯t catch my breath!] [Oh, please. Pearl is the prettiest, okay? Have you ever seen a female star more morous than Pearl?] [What? Stop pitting them against each other. They¡¯re both beautiful!] [Pearl is the prettiest! You either agree or you¡¯re wrong.] Pearl found thesements amusing. Her fans had even given her the nickname ¡°Satan¡± and idolized her. It was a Friday, and Pearl intended to collect the DNA report, but Mobius stopped her abruptly. ¡°Miss Pearl.¡± Mobius looked somewhat awkward, leaving Pearl baffled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Embarrassed, Mobius found it hard to speak up. ¡°There¡¯s going to be an arts festival at my university, and my team needs a singer for a performance. So, I was wondering if¡­¡± His eager expression betrayed his request. Pearl exposed his thoughts. ¡°You want me to help you, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Touching her chin, Pearl dwelled on it briefly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask for Hanzel¡¯s help instead?¡± ¡°He¡¯s even busier than Rick and is hardly ever home. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you¡­¡± Indeed, Hanzel frequently traveled for film shoots. Pearl nodded in agreement. ¡°I believe this is the first time you¡¯ve asked me for a favor. Alright, let¡¯s out what you¡¯ll be performing.¡± Mobius immediately shed her a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Miss Pearl. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± As they were about to leave, a sudden knock on the door caught their attention. go check Pearl opened the door to find a young womanpletely covered with sunsses, a mask, and a scarf. ¡°It¡¯s me, Pearl. I¡¯m Esther!¡± Pearl heard a delicate female voice. Before she could react, Esther¡¯s tone changed the moment she saw Mobius. ¡°Oh, Mobius. You¡¯re here too¡­¡± Mobius, impatient and slightly annoyed, responded, ¡°You came all the way to my ce. What do Can¡¯t you focus on your work instead of stalking me every day?¡± you want? Pearl could sense there was something extraordinary about their rtionship. She turned to Mobius and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I bumped into her in a shopping mall, where she was being harassed by a fan in a corner. I helped her out, but she insisted on giving me money, which I declined. She followed me to my university, and now she¡¯s here at my doorstep.¡± Pearl suggested, ¡°Well, let¡¯s invite her in. She only wants to repay your kindness.¡± ¡°I told her it was unnecessary, but she came here anyway. I have nothing to say to her. Just get her to leave,¡± Mobius replied and tried to push Esther out. Stupefied and indignant, Esther said, ¡°Mobius, I told you I just wanted to repay you. Why do you have to be so cold to me?¡± But Mobius sneered. ¡°Repay me? Your way of repaying me was to announce in the university that I have a girlfriend?¡± Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Hearing that, Esther looked away. ¡°No, I said that because I happened to see a woman pestering you.¡± Mobius insisted, ¡°Just stop. This is my house. Please leave immediately.¡± Esther kept her head bowed, never having experienced such humiliation, and tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Stop crying. I can¡¯t stand it when women cry.¡± Mobius¡¯s frustration grew as he saw Esther¡¯s tears. Pearl, noticing Mobius¡¯s insensitivity, shook her head and tried to console Esther. ¡°Alright, Este. Don¡¯t cry. Despite his bad temper and sharp tongue, he¡¯s a good guy. Don¡¯t take his words to heart.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time someone has humiliated me like this. No, I won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll stay here,¡± Esther dered, preparing to enter the house. Seeing Esther¡¯s determination, Mobius became flustered. ¡°Fine, stop causing a scene. I¡¯m sorry, Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. okay?¡± Esther stopped crying at his apology. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have offended you. Just don¡¯t approach me again. We¡¯ll be total strangers. What do you think?¡± Total strangers¡­ However, his words didn¡¯t bring her joy but rather a sense of emptiness. He had apologized, but she wasn¡¯t sure if that was what she truly wanted. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Okay, just go. Miss Pearl and I have something to do,¡± Mobius interrupted her. Esther widened her eyes. ¡°Where are you guys going?¡± Noticing Mobius¡¯ impatience, Pearl answered for him, ¡°He¡¯s got to rehearse for apetition at the university.¡± ¡°What kind ofpetition? Can I help?¡± Pearl sized Esther up and agreed, ¡°If a popr star like you joins their performance, winning the However, Mobius immediately rejected their offer. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I already told you we¡¯re going to be strangers. ¡°Are you a coward, Mobius? You¡¯re rejecting me because you¡¯re worried I¡¯ll steal your spotlight?¡± Esther, aware of Mobius¡¯s impulsive nature, intentionally provoked him. As expected, Mobius couldn¡¯t resist rising to the bait, sneering, ¡°Stop ttering yourself. It¡¯s not like everyone likes you.¡± ¡°Then why won¡¯t you let me join your performance? You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m generous and won¡¯t steal your spotlight.¡± Esther watched Mobius from the corner of her eye. Rolling his eyes, Mobius gave in. ¡°Fine,e along. I don¡¯t think everyone will vote for you just because you¡¯re pretty.¡± He was indirectlyplimenting Esther¡¯s looks¡­ Esther beamed with delight. ¡°It¡¯s settled, then!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. It¡¯ll be very embarrassing if you fail to create a great impact, given you¡¯re a famous star.¡± Seeing that they had reached an agreement, Pearl decided to stop intervening. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave you two to it. I won¡¯t join because I have other ns.¡± But Mobius said anxiously, ¡°Miss Pearl, you¡¯ve got to be in this show¡­¡± ¡°Why? My fan base is just as strong as hers. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Esther was very confident. Pearl stifled augh and pushed them out of the house. ¡°Alright, hurry to the university for the rehearsal. I¡¯m going out too.¡± Chapter 141 Chapter 141 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Pearl. I¡¯ll take good care of Mobius.¡± Esther¡¯s words earned her a re from Mobius. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take care of me!¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°Okay, just go.¡± After bidding Mobius and Esther goodbye, Pearl went to the hospital alone. It had been three days, and the DNA report might be ready by now. However, when Pearl received the report, she didn¡¯t immediately check its contents. She knew it was likely a lie made by Susan to manipte Richard into breaking up with her. Besides, Pearl felt that it was impossible that she was Richard¡¯s biological sibling. When Pearl got home with the report, she stumbled upon Hugo, who hade home to change his Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. clothes. Seeing the report in her hand, Hugo raised his brows and smiled profoundly. ¡°Where have you been, Pearl?¡± Pearl, still upset about their previous encounter, gave Hugo a stern look. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Don¡¯t you have anything else to do, Mister Hugo?¡± Hugo¡¯s face paled, but he understood that Pearl¡¯s anger was justified. After regaining hisposure, he replied, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be angry with me, Pearl. You¡¯ll see that being with me is the right choice.¡± Pearl mocked him because of his tant lie. ¡°The right choice? I¡¯d never dare to be with you. What if you do something to me and kill me in the future?¡± The memory of Renee and Jennifer¡¯s deaths still haunted her. ¡°Richard isn¡¯t your perfect match, Pearl. He loved Jenny so much in the past, but now he easily moved on to you. Do you think you can trust him?¡± He continued, ¡°And there¡¯s something you should know¡­ Jenny will be back soon. Even if Richard wants to be with you, I¡¯m sure Jenny will have an impact on him. By the way, you really resemble Jenny. Both of you are so stubborn.¡± Hugo still attempted to manipte her. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We know what¡¯s on your mind,¡± Pearl said, taking a step back. She continued in a cold tone, ¡°I think you have your own affairs to attend to. I won¡¯t bother you any longer. Bye.¡± With that, Pearl went upstairs. Shaking his head with a helpless smile, Hugo felt that Pearl wouldn¡¯t bend to his will without experiencing suffering. Later in the evening, all the Waldorfs were gathered at home. After dinner, Pearl retrieved the DNA report from her bag, as she believed it was the right time to address the matter. ¡°Madam, there¡¯s something we need to rify,¡± Pearl stated, cing the report in front of Susan. ¡°I must inform you that I am not Mister Dustan¡¯s biological daughter. Furthermore, some things are better left unsaid. I conducted a DNA test between Richard and me. I hope you understand that my mother had no rtion to Mister Dustan either.¡± 212 Richard ate silently while listening to Pearl¡¯s exnation. Pearl knew it was wiser to frame the situation as if she were doing it for her mother, who was a wonderful and virtuous woman, rather than for herself. Such an outstanding woman like her mother couldn¡¯t be easily ndered by others. ¡°Humph¡­ No one knows if you¡¯ve done anything to the report or not,¡± Susan retorted, unwilling to admit. the truth, and prepared to find various ways to dispute it. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Surprisingly, Hugo threw in some nice words for Pearl. ¡°Just take a look at it, Mom. What if you got her Wrong? You would have used her wrongly.¡± However, his words earned him a re from Susan. Susan didn¡¯t expect that Hugo, who was usually gentle and peace-loving, would say those words. He even took Pearl¡¯s side. His support left Susan in a sour mood. Hanzel couldn¡¯t bear to see Pearl unjustly used. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t make baseless usations. How could Pearl be Dad¡¯s child?¡± Mobius chimed in as well, ¡°Yeah, Mom. I¡¯m sure Pearl¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± Even Sean, despite his silence, couldn¡¯t fathom why his mother was causing such a scene. As a result, Susan perceived Pearl as a maniptive woman who had deceived her sons and sowed doubt in their minds. ¡°Madam, my mother was a kind and honest woman who is now missing. I can¡¯t stand by and let her be falsely used. Please conduct a thorough investigation into this matter,¡± Pearl asserted, pushing the DNA report toward Susan. Reluctantly, Susan paused and picked up the report to examine it. All she needed to see was that Pearl was not Richard¡¯s biological sister to know that her scheme had failed. ¡°So, Madam, was I right? Mister Dustan is not my father,¡± Pearl queried. Susan hesitated and stammered, ¡°But¡­ What if it¡¯s true? Dustan was in love with your mother. Even if you¡¯re not his child, how could you be dating Rick?¡± Hugo was taken aback by Susan¡¯s statement. He knew it was impossible. He had manipted the DNA test results. The report should have indicated that Pearl and Richard were siblings. Furthermore, Pearl wouldn¡¯t have had the time or motivation to arrange for a second DNA test, and Hugo had indeed tampered with the results. Hugo found himself grappling with an unsettling notion. Perhaps either he or Richard was not truly a Waldorf by blood. This thought made him break out in a cold sweat. If Richard was not a Waldorf, it could mean the end of his ascension to power. However, if it turned out to be him, marrying Pearl would secure his position as the head of the Waldorfs, preserving all his hard work and ambition. This realizationpelled Hugo to keep his tampering with the report a secret and console Susan. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mom. Pearl is engaged to our family and will be a part of it in the future. If you insist on this, it¡¯ll seem like she can¡¯t marry any of your sons.¡± Susan, upon recognizing her wrong statement, paused and sighed. ¡°I believe you understand what I mean, Pearl. It¡¯s not that I want to drive you away from our family, but I¡¯ve already chosen Abby as Rick¡¯s fiancee. It¡¯s unfortunate that you¡¯ve suddenly meddled in it. YouContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! should know what I¡¯m talking about, given your intelligence.¡± 212 Chuckling, Pearl replied, ¡°We¡¯re living in the twenty-first century, Madam. Arranged marriages and parental matchmaking are outdated practices. If you believe that Abby is the ideal daughter-inw for your family, why not ask Richard for his opinion? Ask him if he wants to marry Abby or me.¡± It was the first time Pearl expressed her stance. Hearing that, Richard couldn¡¯t help but smile, admiring her for her ability to stand up for herself. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Trembling in anger, Susan found it hard to refute Pearl, given thetter¡¯s glib tongue. ¡°Mom, stop. I like Pearl, and it¡¯s always been her.¡± When Richard confessed his feelings, he nced at Pearl with his head tilted. At that moment, Pearl appeared nonchnt, but the tips of her ears turned slightly pink. Richard found her cute, and this bold idea was entirely new to him, taking him by surprise. It was an unprecedented feeling for him. ¡°I will never agree to you being with her, no matter what you say!¡± Susan suddenly stood up. ¡°I deeply regret letting Pearl into our home. If I hadn¡¯t, you all wouldn¡¯t have defied me.¡± With that, she ascended the stairs on her own, leaving the six of them to look at each other in dismay. Hanzel¡¯s reaction was the most dramatic. He interrogated Pearl, ¡°Pearl, have you really fallen in love with Richard?¡± Looking at his indignant face, Pearl smiled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I took a fancy to you first. How could you like Richard?¡± Hanzel frowned. ¡°And Rick, how could you snatch her away from me? I asked you before, and you told me you didn¡¯t like her¡­¡± ¡°Hanzel, don¡¯t you want to be a star anymore?¡± Although Richard¡¯s gaze was furious, he still remained calm. Hanzel, hearing that, became timid. ¡°Rick, you¡¯re threatening me with this again. Alright, fine! I don¡¯t want to be a star anymore.¡± However, he had to admit that Richard had helped him a lot in his career. ¡°Okay,e to thepany tomorrow. We need a technical director at Tespeyna. You can go and work there. ¡°1 Richard¡¯s words left Hanzel bbergasted. ¡°Rick, I don¡¯t want to work there¡­ Why don¡¯t you find N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. someone else for that role? Besides, I think being a celebrity is quite good.¡± Richard nced at Pearl, and Hanzel suddenly grasped the situation. ¡°Although Pearl likes you, I won¡¯t give up easily. Pearl, let me know if you ever feel wronged here. I¡¯ll take you away immediately.¡± ¡°You want to be n B?¡± Richard sounded dangerous. Hanzel lowered his head in response to Richard¡¯s fierce expression. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding¡­¡± At most, he just found Pearl a novelty and would regret it if he fell out with Richard because of her. Amused, Pearl found that Richard was the only one who could discipline Hanzel, the stunningly handsome man. This matter was quickly resolved. Susan stormed off, and Hugo was displeased. However, it revealed the romantic connection between Pearl and Richard, filling the air with an amorous atmosphere. When Pearl woke up the next day, she heard Abby¡¯s voice. Even though Richard had rejected Abby, she brazenly showed up under the pretext of visiting Susan. However, her true intentions were far from Susan. When she saw Pearl descend downstairs, she said hypocritically, ¡°You¡¯re awake, Pearl?¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t understand how Abby could speak to her calmly despite their serious conflict. ¡°It¡¯s amazing that you can pretend to be close to others even after a fallout, Miss Abby.¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Stretching her b*dy a bit, Pearl found Abby¡¯s greeting ridiculous. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, I¡¯m going back to bed.¡± Pearl turned to go back to her room, Susan stopped her. ¡°Pearl, a moment.¡± Susan then went upstairs and signaled Abby to apany her. but ¡°Pearl, I really do like you. You¡¯re smart and pretty, and many men like you. Why do you want to be with Rick I hope you¡¯ll be sensible and leave him soon. Then we can get along well with each other. Don¡¯t worry, all of my sons are exceptional. You can choose any of them except Rick. If not, I can even introduce you to a few young rich heirs. I won¡¯t be unfair to you.¡± She sounded quite tactful, and Pearl would appear unreasonable if she refused. However, Pearl took a step back and smiled. ¡°I made myself very clear, Madam. I don¡¯t have a say in who Richard chooses to be with. And neither do you. His choice of a spouse is his business.¡± Fuming with anger, Susan wanted to p Pearl, but Pearl acted fast and tilted her b*dy to dodge Susan¡¯s hand. Unsteady, Susan nearly tumbled down the stairs, but Pearl immediately grabbed Susan¡¯s wrist. ¡°Hold on tight, Madam.¡± Despite their conflict, Pearl wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch Susan roll down the stairs. Meanwhile, Abby stood nearby with a wicked smile, observing the situation. ¡°I sincerely want to marry Rick, Madam. I hope you can understand me. You¡¯re willing to make some sacrifices for me, right?¡± Hearing Abby¡¯s words, Susan looked at her in disbelief. Suddenly, Abby shoved Pearl, causing Pearl to let go of Susan¡¯s wrist. Pearl managed to regain her bnce, but Susan lost control of herself and rolled down the stairs, screaming piteously. Witnessing Susan¡¯s fall, Abby was taken aback and screamed, ¡°Ah!¡± As a result, panic swept through the house, and everyone was startled when they saw Susan lying on the floor. After a quick assessment, Hugo frowned and said, ¡°Mom lost consciousness right after falling down the stairs. I suspect she has multiple fractures. Hurry up and call for the ambnce!¡± Richard promptly made the call and exined the situation. Then, he looked at Pearl and Abby. ¡°What happened?¡± Still stunned, Pearl wanted to exin, but Abby spoke up first. ¡°Rick, it¡¯s my fault. Madam got upset with Pearl because of me, and that¡¯s why this ident happened. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± As she spoke, Abby cried piteously. ¡°But Madam is innocent. She won¡¯t be able to bear it if the culprit gets away with it.¡± 2/2 Abby distorted the facts because she believed Susan couldn¡¯t testify against her after such a fall from the high stairs. She felt that Susan might be either dead or seriously injured. On the other hand, Pearl anticipated that Abby would make such a im. She gave Abby a cold look and said, ¡°You did that on purpose to frame me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Frightened by Pearl¡¯s intense re, Abby hid behind Richard. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Please don¡¯t push me..¡± She acted as if she were still gripped by fear from witnessing Pearl supposedly push Susan down the stairs. ¡°You indirectly caused Madam to fall down the stairs, didn¡¯t you? You pushed me from behind, causing me to release my grip on Madam. Stop pretending ¡°Pearl used. Tearfully, Abby defended herself, ¡°Pearl, Madam raised me. Even if I got hurt, I would never harm her. Plus, you had a conflict with Madam. I would never be the one to harm her!¡± Richard couldn¡¯t help but feel uncertain due to Abby¡¯s convincing act, although he didn¡¯t fully believe her. Analyzing the situation, he grappled with mixed emotions, aggravated by Pearl¡¯s distant attitude. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you doubt me too, Richard?¡± Pearl was infuriated by Richard¡¯s questioning gaze. ¡°Rick hasn¡¯t said anything yet, so why are you so agitated, Pearl? Are you feeling guilty?¡± Abby prodded, attempting to to make the situation worse and sow discord between them. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m doubting you, Pearl,¡± Richard replied solemnly after a pause. ¡°But my mom is lying here, and I don¡¯t know who I should believe.¡± His words left Pearl feeling wounded. She hadn¡¯t expected Richard to begin doubting her integrity today, especially after expressing his desire to marry her just the day before. ¡°Okay, I did identally cause this since you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Pearl admitted, leaving Richard feeling helpless. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Pearl,¡± Richard rified, but it seemed Pearl had misunderstood him. ¡°You know I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Pearl took a deep breath and said, ¡°Then please exin what you meant. You¡¯re standing here, looking at me with doubt. Do you think I haven¡¯t noticed?¡± Richard averted his gaze. ¡°So, you should be more cautious when making promises, Richard,¡± Pearl said, closing her eyes as she chuckled bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s quite funny.¡± Herughter was tinged with sadness. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, okay?¡± Abby rejoiced in their conflict, but she didn¡¯t think it was enough. Thus, she added, ¡°Don¡¯t leave in a Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. hurry. This could be a criminal offense, and you might face legal consequences.¡± Richard clenched his fists, his expression cold. ¡°Enough, Abby.¡± ¡°Why? How can you be so biased toward her when she¡¯s harmed Madam? Your mother is the one lying here, isn¡¯t she?¡± Abby couldn¡¯t understand why Richard was still concerned about Pearl and seemed indecisive when his mother was in such a critical condition. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Just stay out of it.¡± ¡°Rick, you should let her prove her innocence. I¡¯m willing to apologize to her if she can prove she¡¯s innocent. If not, I¡¯ll never forgive her for doing this to Madam.¡± Abby¡¯s forceful tone almost made Pearl believe her nonsense. ¡°Pearl.¡± Richard turned to Pearl with a pleading look. Pearl understood that he wanted her to provide some evidence to prove her innocence. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Richard probably thought that Pearl could resolve the disaster given her wits, but he was wrong. The feelings, truth, and evidence all seemed to point to her guilt. Surprisingly, the spacious residence was not equipped with a surveince system. ¡°I don¡¯t have evidence,¡± Pearl admitted. Richard looked grave in response. As the ambnce arrived and paramedics ced Susan on a stretcher, Richard briefly nced at Pearl from the corner of his eye before lowering his gaze and departing. Pearl didn¡¯t offer much of an exnation, as she was left with feelings of despair and disappointment. Smiling bitterly, she seemed to understand something. Perhaps Hugo had been right. The typically aloof and ruthless Richard would not easily show kindness to someone. Furthermore, it was clear that Richard didn¡¯t fully trust her. If that was the case, Pearl felt that there was no reason for her to stay any longer. Heartbroken, Pearl was overwhelmed with pain. Staring at the chaotic house, she felt that she was always an outsider. Since it seemed that everyone disliked her, she decided it was best to leave. In the end, she left quietly. Mncholic feelings hit Richard when he learned of Pearl¡¯s departure while he was in the hospital. Meanwhile, Abby mistook his disappointment for concern that Susan might never wake up. So she quickly reassured him, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Rick. I¡¯m sure your mother will be fine. You shouldn¡¯t stay here all the time, especially since you¡¯ve been here the entire night.¡± She felt very sorry for Richard when she saw his stubble and dark circles under his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Sean has to manage thepany, and Hugo is busy with surgery. Hanzel and Mobius both have their careers and studies to focus on. If I don¡¯t stay here, no one will take care of Mom,¡± Richard replied sensibly. He observed Abby yawning repeatedly and suggested, ¡°You¡¯ve been here with me the whole night as well. You should get some rest.¡± His words made Abby smile. ¡°I¡¯m d to keep watch here, Rick. Madam has always been so kind to me, and I Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! can¡¯t leave her alone in her time of need.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Richard said sincerely. Abby sensed his guilt and waved it off. ¡°No need to mention it, Rick. We¡¯ve been childhood friends, even if you don¡¯t have romantic feelings for me. You don¡¯t have to say that.¡± She was indeed a pretentious person. As expected, Richard began to wonder if he had been too harsh towards her in the past. Most women would have left in tears after such a cold rejection from him. Yet, Abby remained undeterred and even willingly took care of Susan. 2/2 ¡°Rick, what do you n to do about Pearl?¡± Abby asked tentatively, but her question only irritated him. ¡°I told you, don¡¯t meddle in her business.¡± Richard was annoyed again. Naturally, the forbidden topic left him in a foul mood. Realizing that pressing further would tarnish the good image she had just built, Abby decided to drop the subject. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be upset. I¡¯m hungry. How about grabbing a bite to eat with me?¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Icily, Richard turned Abby down. ¡°No, I¡¯m not hungry. Go grab a bite on your own.¡± Abby sensed that she should leave, given Richard¡¯s sour mood, so she hastily got up and left. The room was quiet again. Richard instinctively reached for his phone and attempted to call Pearl, but he was met with surprise when he discovered that her contact no longer existed. Stunned, a pang grabbed his heart, momentarily setting aside his internal turmoil. He dialed Hugo¡¯s number and asked him to take over for Pearl before heading to thepany. Normally, Pearl would have been at thepany by that time, diligently attending to her work. However, upon arriving at thepany, Richard received a call from the HR department. ¡°Mister Richard, I received a call from Miss Pearl just now. She requested to resign and has already sent her formal resignation letter via email.¡± When Richard checked his email, he found Pearl¡¯s formal and cold resignation letter. It made him realize that she had really disappeared. In a state of disbelief, he reached out to Wayne, but Wayne¡¯s tone on the phone was impatient. ¡°Mister Richard, did you call me to discuss our next season¡¯s coboration?¡± Richard replied solemnly, ¡°No, I¡¯d like to ask you where Pearl is.¡± ¡°Pearl?¡± Wayne snorted. ¡°Isn¡¯t she staying at your ce, Mister Richard? I don¡¯t know where she is or what she¡¯s even thinking.¡± Richard was struck speechless. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll end the call if there¡¯s nothing else. You¡¯re always too busy with work to talk about anything else with me.¡± With that, Wayne hung up abruptly. At that moment, Pearl¡¯s voice chimed in, surprising Wayne. ¡°Bravo! Tonight, you¡¯re having a drink with me.¡± Startled, Wayne nearly dropped his phone. ¡°Miss Pearl, please spare me from joining you for a drink. I¡¯ll get exhausted.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± Pearl narrowed her eyes and sounded a little dangerous. Being threatened out of the blue, Wayne broke into a cold sweat. ¡°No, I want to. Absolutely!¡± He couldn¡¯t offend her, fearing that she might torture him with several dangerous tasks. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go now!¡± Pearl made up her mind and dragged him to a bar. She deliberately avoided Dark Bar, which she frequented to avoid running into Richard. ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary. Richard wouldn¡¯te to the bar to drink because his mother is critically ill in the hospital.¡± Pearl gulped down her wine. ¡°Yeah, but he still thinks I¡¯m the culprit.¡± Wayne widened his eyes. ¡°He looks so smart. But why is he so stupid at such a critical time? You would never do that kind of thing. s, does he really like you? Why does he doubt you every day?¡± ying with her wine ss, Pearl smiled. ¡°I have no idea myself. He sees me as a culprit, even if it¡¯s an ident.¡± ¡°Then why did he look for you?¡± Tilting her head, Pearl¡¯s eyes lit up as she sipped her drink. ¡°Maybe¡­ he¡¯s afraid that I¡¯ll run away.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Wayne nearly spat out his wine. How could Pearl say that? Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 148 Chapter 148 ¡°What¡¯s your next move?¡± Wayne frowned. ¡°You can¡¯t just leave under this false usation. It¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to escape punishment.¡± Laughing, Pearl said, ¡°Of course not. I won¡¯t stand for this false usation. Right now, the most important thing is to find proof that Abby pushed Richard¡¯s mother down the stairs.¡± Wayne tilted his head thoughtfully. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°There¡¯s no surveince system in the house, and there were only three of us at the top of the stairs at that time. I don¡¯t have eyewitnesses, but Abby said something harsh before pushing Richard¡¯s mother. I¡¯m certain Richard¡¯s mother heard it. So¡­¡± Enlightened, Wayne interrupted, ¡°So, we should wait for her to wake up and have her testify against Abby.¡± ¡°Pretty close.¡± Pearl smiled and shook her head. ¡°What we need to do is make Abby confess her wrongdoing and secretly record her statement, as I can¡¯t guarantee she won¡¯t attempt anything against Richard¡¯s mother again.¡± Her words made Wayne frown. ¡°She¡¯s so cruel that she might even harm the woman who took care of her.¡± ¡°People can be blinded by love, but Abby has taken ruthless measures.¡± Waynemended her, ¡°Miss Pearl, you did a very good analysis. But how do you feel about Richard? You don¡¯t seem very pleased, given that you¡¯re drowning your sorrows in wine.¡± Pearl undoubtedly felt disappointed and hurt. She smiled, taking a sip of the bitter wine. ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on that. I need your help with something right now.¡± Leaning against the sofanguidly, Wayne suddenly straightened up at her request. ¡°Go ahead. What is it?¡± ¡°Help me gather some people to keep watch over Richard¡¯s mother to prevent Abby¡¯s people from approaching her. Abby might find someone to do something to her. If Abby seeds, Richard¡¯s mother might never wake up.¡± Pearl believed that given Abby¡¯s character, she was capable of such actions. After all, Susan was Richard¡¯s mother. Though Pearl had her reservations about Susan, she still respected her as an elder. She didn¡¯t wish any harm upon Susan because it would devastate Richard. Furthermore, Pearl had experienced the anguish of losing her parents and didn¡¯t want Richard to endure the same pain. ¡°Richard got you wrong. Why are you so concerned about him and helping him? He doesn¡¯t deserve your kindness.¡± Wayne rolled his eyes, sensing that Pearl had transformed into a lovesick fool. Clearing her throat, Pearl exined, ¡°She¡¯s the mother of the five Waldorf brothers. Some of them are close to me, and I don¡¯t want to let them down.¡± However, this exnation sounded far from convincing because Wayne knew her well. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± After a few more sses of wine, Pearl began to feel dizzy, her stomach churning. She decided to head to the 2/2 restroom. As she reached the restroom, she spotted a familiar figure. She wondered if it was Richard and why he was there. But before she could address him, the figure turned around. While he resembled Richard, it wasn¡¯t him. A sudden desire grabbed the man¡¯s reason when he saw the drunk woman getting close to him. ¡°Hey, pretty. Where are you from? Why did you drink so much? I feel sorry for you.¡± Pearl found him familiar but couldn¡¯t recall who he was. She staggered and took a step back as he approached. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Pearl finally saw the man¡¯s face when he got ufortably close to her. After searching through her memories, Pearl¡¯s eyes widened when she recalled seeing him at the bar beside Richard. He seemed to have been present when she had a few drinks and yfully teased Richard not long ago. He was clearly close to him. ¡°You look familiar¡­ Hey, aren¡¯t you Pearl? Why are you drinking alone? Isn¡¯t Richard with you?¡± He was a little timid when he realized her identity but became bolder again when he noticed that she was alone. While talking, he subtly ced his hand on her waist. Since Pearl was wearing a dress with a waist slit, he could feel her fair and smooth skin, arousing him. Pearl struggled but failed to break free. She red at him. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Despite being a bit crude, he had handsome features, and Pearl surmised he might be a rich young heir. Pearl¡¯s resistance made him more excited. ¡°Pearl, allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m Tyler Sanders. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the Sanders Group. It¡¯s my family¡¯s business. If you agree to be with me, I¡¯ll make sure you have a worry-free life.¡± Tyler Sanders¡­ Looking at his face, Pearl smiled charmingly at him. Bewitched, Tyler was about to say more when Pearl suddenly stepped on his foot ruthlessly. ¡°Ah!¡± He let go of her and was about to reprimand her for her aggressiveness, but Pearl promptly seized his ear. ¡°Who do you think you are? How dare you harrass me? Do you think I¡¯m a pushover?¡± The influence of the wine had caused Pearl to lose her usual restraint. Given the events that had transpired between her and Richard, she was naturally in a foul mood, and Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Tyler happened to provoke her during her discontent. Being a frivolous heir to a wealthy family, Tyler was scared out of his wits. Covering his ear, he started wailing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong. Really! I won¡¯t dare to do it again. Please let me go!¡± He pleaded incessantly, never expecting that she would be such a formidable woman. He had only yfully teased her, yet she had retaliated with such force, filling him with deep humiliation. However, just as Pearl was in the middle of teaching the pervert a lesson, another familiar voice chimed in from behind her. ¡°Pearl, what¡¯s going on?¡± Pearl turned and saw Esther, though she nearly failed to recognize her due to the heavy makeup. Esther was adept at ensuring her fame didn¡¯t give her away at the bar, thanks to her heavily altered appearance. She managed to transform from the innocent girl-next-door into a seductive vixen. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Pearl was confused. When Esther was about to exin herself, her l*ps twitched upon seeing Pearl pinching Tyler¡¯s ear mercilessly. ¡°Pearl, you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s a creep. He harassed me, so I¡¯m teaching him a lesson,¡± Pearl exined curtly. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 1/2 Tyler shrieked miserably, ¡°No, I just identally touched you! You¡¯re not going to make a big deal out of it, are you? After all, if Richard doesn¡¯t want you, why would someone like me feel the same!¡± His words made Pearl¡¯s eyes turn cold. In response, she tightened her grip. ¡°Ouch! That hurts! My bad, okay? I won¡¯t touch you again. Just let me go, please?¡± Tyler found himself trapped in an unfortunate encounter with an unreasonable shrew. ¡°Tyler, you¡¯re here flirting with women, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m calling Dad right now to report this. I¡¯ll make sure he grounds you,¡± Esther threatened as she reached for her phone. This sent Tyler into a state of panic. ¡°My dear sister, please, not that. Dad¡¯s going to kill me!¡± ¡°No, he¡¯ll just give you a mild punishment, maybe a few days of grounding at most. Nothing too severe,¡± Esther replied matter-of-factly. However, Tyler wanted to avoid reliving those dreadful days of punishment he¡¯d experienced before, so he reluctantly agreed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll apologize to her. Please, don¡¯t tell Dad!¡± Making his promise, Tyler turned to Pearl and extended an apologetic gesture. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. It was my fault. I hope you can forgive me.¡± Pearl, who had been observing their exchange, finally realized that they were siblings. Esther¡¯s behavior towards Tyler made it evident. Esther wore a slight frown because Pearl hadn¡¯t responded. ¡°Pearl doesn¡¯t forgive you. Keep on apologizing to her, or else, I¡¯m still going to tell Dad!¡± Her words put Tyler in anguish. ¡°Huh? Why? Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°No, you weren¡¯t sincere. Do it again!¡± Esther insisted. ¡°No, Esther. Don¡¯t cross the line. Haven¡¯t you forgotten that I have something on you? Remember that thing you¡­ Ugh!¡± Before Tyler could divulge anything further, Esther covered his mouth with her hand. Their squabbling helped dispel Pearl¡¯s earlier annoyance, and she even found it somewhat amusing. ¡°Alright, stop fighting. It¡¯s okay now.¡± Esther released Tyler, then proudly remarked, ¡°Nob*dy ever holds him ountable. That¡¯s why he¡¯s so spoiled.¡± Tyler wanted to refute her words, but a stern re from Esther silenced him. ¡°So, Pearl, what brought you here today?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just here for a drink.¡± While talking, Pearl had be quite sober. ¡°I heard about the issues with the Waldorfs from Tyler. Don¡¯t overthink it. I know you¡¯re not that kind of person, and I¡¯ll always stand by your side!¡± Esther¡¯s words touched Pearl deeply but also filled her with a sense of bitterness because even Esther had unwavering faith in Pearl, while Richard¡­ 2/2 Shaking her head, Pearl wondered why she recalled that issue again. ¡°Oh, right. Why did youe here today? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being recognized?¡± Tyler immediately chimed in, ¡°She¡¯s here because of that Waldorf kid. She follows him around like a fan. If her fans find out she¡¯s stalking a man like this, she might lose them.¡± ¡°Mobius?¡± When Pearl said that name, she could see Esther blush. ¡°Pearl¡­¡± ¡°Tell me why you¡¯re stalking him here.¡± Embarassed, Esther struggled to exin herself. Unable to bear it any longer, Tyler said, ¡°I invited him here because it¡¯s my birthday today, but I¡¯ve got plenty of young women around. She¡¯s worried that some woman might steal him away, so she tagged N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. along.¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Esther¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. With her thoughts and feelings now exposed, things became awkward. ¡°Alright, time to go. Pearl, would you like to join us?¡± Tyler seemed to have forgotten his recent behavior and appearedfortable around Pearl. ¡°No, you go ahead.¡± Tyler pouted, then turned and left. Esther looked at Pearl¡¯s calm expression and patted her shoulder. ¡°I know you must feel bad after what happened. Don¡¯t worry, the truth wille out and you¡¯ll be vindicated.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡®Anyway, since I snuck in here and can¡¯t sit with them, why don¡¯t you sit with me so we can talk?¡± Esther looked at her excitedly. Pearl was about to decline when her phone started ringing. Wayne called to inform her that an urgent matter required his attention at the office, so he wouldn¡¯t be able to drink with her. ¡°See, even your friend can¡¯t hang out with you now. You might as well keep mepany!¡± Esther then dragged Pearl to a table not too far away and took a seat. She sat there with her chin resting on her hands, gazing at Mobius, who was in a dark corner. ¡°Este, what do you see in Mobius?¡± Pearl was curious how a proud woman like Esther could be attracted to a hothead like Mobius. The first time she met him, she almost felt like strangling him. ¡°Oh, me?¡± Esther had to go far back into the past. ¡°The first time I met him wasn¡¯t when he saved me. I¡¯ve actually known him earlier than that.¡± Pearl paused, surprised to learn of their longer rtionship. ¡°I first met him two years ago when I was fifteen and hadn¡¯t debuted yet. I was just a trainee in my agency, and I wasn¡¯t a good dancer, so the trainer scolded me a lot. I even got beaten up and had bruises all over. I was very upset, so I went to cry by ake behind the office.¡± There was a touch of bittersweetness in her voice as she reminisced. ¡°That was when I met him. He was sixteen and attended a high school near my agency. One day, while I was crying by theke, I bumped into him.¡± As Esther recounted the story, an image began to form in Pearl¡¯s mind. ¡°So, heforted you, and that¡¯s when you developed feelings for him?¡± Esther thought about it and chuckled. ¡°No, not really. He thought I was trying to drown myself in the me, he gave me a good scolding, but I found it endearing.¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t help but twitch her l*ps. Their story was certainly unique. ¡°What happened after that?¡± 2/2 Esther propped her chin on her hand. ¡°He left after that, but he told me not to give up on life and to live it to the fullest, I didn¡¯t know his name until he saved me again. That¡¯s when I felt it was destiny. He¡¯s not getting away from me.¡± Pearl was surprised. ¡°He doesn¡¯t remember you?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t.¡± Esther looked sad. ¡°He had no idea who I was, so when I grabbed him, he thought I was some crazy person and told me to stay away from him.¡± ¡°Your brother knows the Waldorfs, but you don¡¯t know Mobius?¡± Esther rolled her eyes. ¡°Tsk. All he does with the Waldorfs is party and get drunk. I¡¯m not into that. This is my first time drinking, and it¡¯s actually quite fun.¡± She looked around, then winked discreetly.¡± Pearl, I want to drink. Can you keep it a secret from my brother? ** ¡°You can¡¯t if you¡¯re underaged.¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Pearl turned her down immediately. Esther lounged back in her chair. ¡°Alright then.¡± Suddenly, she sat up straight. ¡°Look, Pearl, who¡¯s that girl?¡± Pearl followed her gaze to the girl sitting next to Mobius. The girl appeared quiet, and her makeup was simple. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That girl looks like a student. That¡¯s Mobius¡¯s type?¡± Esther fumed and seemed ready to confront the girl. ¡°A student¡­¡± Pearl observed as the girl sat timidly, and a pang of sadness gripped her heart. Memories of Renee, the girl whose entire family had perished when Pearl tried to save her, shed in her mind. This time, she didn¡¯t dare go over. ¡°Pearl, do you think she¡¯s as pretty as me? As adorable as I am? Is her figure as good as mine?¡± Pearl nced at the girl and then back at Esther, who had heavy makeup on, before offering a reassuring smile. ¡°Certainly, our celebrity here is prettier. Not everyone can be a star or even be called a Barbie.¡± ¡°Hmm, I know that. Mobius just doesn¡¯t know a good girl when he sees one.¡± Pearl tried to console her. ¡°Alright, stop overthinking. She¡¯s probably just here to have a drink with them. I doubt Mobius is interested in her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not overthinking. Look, he¡¯s helping her by drinking her drinks. He¡¯s never that caring!¡± Esther was seething with anger as she watched that. Her emotions reached a boiling point, and she couldn¡¯t contain herself any longer. She rushed over to confront them but then abruptly remembered that she hade uninvited. This would only make her seem like a stalker. The anger in her b*dy dissipated, and her expression froze. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mobius cast a puzzled and slightly annoyed look at Esther, who appeared embarrassed. The girl beside him, who had a great figure but seemed mature for her age, was pretty but her makeup made her look alluring rather than innocent. With her excessive makeup and provocative attire for a bar, Esther wondered why she wasn¡¯t concerned about her safety. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Esther beamed with delight. Mobius looked away. ¡°Of course not.¡± Esther¡¯s mood swung from happiness to disappointment. ¡°Alright then. Why are you sitting with her?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Mobius was confused and responded coldly. ¡°That girl sitting next to you. Why are you with her?¡± Mobius nced at the trembling girl and sighed irritably. ¡°Why do you care?¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 ¡°Fine, it¡¯s none of my business. You should enjoy your time together. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Esther struggled to hold back her tears when she spoke, but as soon as she turned to leave, the tears began to flow. Pearl watched from afar and frowned. She was about to chase after Esther when someone grabbed her wrist. ¡°Pearl.¡± Startled, Pearl turned to see Richard, his gaze icy. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Pearl was taken aback. Since Richard and Tyler were close, she assumed he would be at Tyler¡¯s birthday celebration. It turned out he had juste from the restroom. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Tyler¡¯s birthday, so it makes sense that you¡¯re here, considering birds of a feather flock together.¡± Her words carried a hint of sarcasm, but Richard didn¡¯t appear fazed. He simply stared at her. ¡°What do you want?¡± Pearl sounded impatient. ¡°I need to leave. Don¡¯t waste my time.¡± Richard paused, surprised by her reaction. It was the first time she was so annoyed to see someone. ¡°Well, now that we¡¯ve bumped into each other, I just wanted to talk.¡± He had been searching for her, but she had been avoiding him. Finally, they had crossed paths today. ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°Just five minutes.¡± Pearl noticed his insistence, and since he was still gripping her wrist tightly, she reluctantly agreed. They found a ce to sit down, and Pearl got straight to the point. ¡°Are you asking about your mother?¡± ¡°I want to know how she fell down the stairs.¡± Pearl scoffed. ¡°You thought I did it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Richard paused, then responded in a neutral tone, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Would you believe me if I said it was Abby?¡± Richard¡¯s breathing slowed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡± A bitter taste filled Pearl¡¯s mouth as she realized the inevitable oue. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, there¡¯s no point talking. I need to go now.¡± She stood up to leave, but Richard called out to her. ¡°I¡¯m not suspecting you, but¡­ Abby wouldn¡¯t hurt my mom.¡± Even if Richard didn¡¯t believe his mother had fallen, he couldn¡¯t imagine Abby causing her harm. Susan had been like a mother to Abby, and the idea seemed inconceivable. ¡°So you think I¡¯m trying to frame her? Yes, it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Pearl scoffed. She was not only disappointed in him, she had given up hope. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± ¡°Stoping to see me. I¡¯ll find evidence, but before that happens, please stay out of my life.¡± She wanted to cut him off, ¡°Do you have to do this, Pearl?¡± 2/2 Pearl forced a smile. ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying this now? You should go check how Abby is feeling because when the truthes out, she won¡¯t just be spending time in fail.¡± Richard frowned. ¡°Pearl¡­¡± ¡°Enough, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Richard, typically a smart man, was making a foolish mistake. Pearl didn¡¯t want to waste any more time talking to someone so blinded, so she left. As Pearl walked away, Richard watched her with irritation. He sent a text to Tyler and then left the bar to visit Susan in the hospital. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Right after Pearl left, her phone began to ring with an iing message. Her heart sank as she read the content: ¡°Help me, Pearl!¡± Pearl froze for a moment. Esther¡¯s impulsive nature made it unlikely that she would send such a text. There were two possibilities: either someone was controlling her and forcing her to send the message, or she was hiding and unable to make a call. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Pearl hesitated to call or text back because doing so might reveal Esther¡¯s location if her phone wasn¡¯t on silent mode, potentially alerting her attackers. So, Pearl decided to use her hacking skills to locate Esther¡¯s phone. After some quick work, she pinpointed Esther¡¯s whereabouts. It was the same ce where she had spoken to Richard just moments ago. Suspicion gnawed at Pearl as she hurried back to that location. Esther had many connections there, and as an A-list celebrity, her disappearance would surely cause a media frenzy. When Pearl got back there, Richard was gone. She looked around and even checked under the seats, but found no sign of Esther. Where was she? She stopped in her tracks, realizing there was a faint knocking sounding from beneath her. Knock, knock, knock¡­ Pearl instantly knew where Esther was. She rushed to the entrance of the basement. The basement contained a wine cer, secured by a passcode-locked door. An incorrect passcode entry would trigger an alert to the police, potentially putting Esther¡¯s life in danger. Pearl examined the keypad, knowing that passcodes often had limited variations. Her senior had taught her how to crack these codes. A few lines of code on her tablet, and the passcode to the basement was revealed. With the door open, Pearl descended into the dark basement. She avoided turning on the lights and moved cautiously, guided only by the faint wall lights. The knocking grew louder as she approached a door. It was clear that Esther was just behind it, struggling to get her attention. Pearl had expected this, but she sensed something amiss when the knocking suddenly sped up and then returned to its original pace. It was a signal, and Pearl understood it. She reached into her sleeve and retrieved a concealed knife, holding it ready in her left hand. With her right, she slowly opened the door. Inside, Esther was bound to a chair, her hair disheveled. When she saw Pearl, her eyes widened, and she began shaking her head. Pearl understood that Esther was trying tomunicate without alerting her captor. However, Pearl couldn¡¯t pick up the signal immediately. Esther made muffled groans and attempted to rise from the chair, hitting her head on the ceiling in the process. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here to save you.¡± Pearl reassured her with a smile and took a step closer when the door suddenly swung open. ¡°I knew you would fall into my trap!¡± Pearl turned to see an unfamiliar masked man standing in the doorway. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Not only do I know you, but I have a bone to pick with you!¡± The man sounded menacing. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± 2/2 ¡°If you hadn¡¯t chosen Esther, the Waldorfs would have coborated with an artist from my agency. But now, not only has she rejected me as her manager, the entire industry has cklisted me. I can¡¯t even feed my family. Don¡¯t you think you deserve to die?¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t fathom the severity of such consequences. Unemployment was one thing, but to wish death upon someone for it was beyondprehension. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 ¡°Who¡¯s the artist you¡¯re talking about?¡± Pearl pretty much understood who he was referring to and felt Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. sorry for him. ¡°Hah, that¡¯s not important. What¡¯s important is all of this¡­ only happened because of you!¡± The man had lost all sense of reason, consumed by his desire to capture Pearl and exact his revenge. ¡°You and Esther Sanders are both the root of evil and deserve to die!¡± He drew a knife and lunged at Pearl, but she quickly grabbed his wrist, using her strength to push him aside and send him sprawling to the floor. ¡°You b*tch!¡± The man wasn¡¯t expecting Pearl to be so agile, so he was taken by surprise and forgot to pick up his knife. ¡°I understand, Clem Gutor. You might be angry that you were let go and that¡¯s why you¡¯re taking it out on us, but do you think killing us would make you feel better? People woulde after you upon my death, and your wife and children would be bullied. Is that what you want?¡± Pearl¡¯s rational words seemed to bring Clem back to his senses. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± Pearl held back a chuckle. ¡°All I know is that the only star who rivaled Esther¡¯s fame was Yvonne Fuller. She gained her fame because of you. Unfortunately, she failed to appreciate you and terminated your employment. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll regret that decision.¡± Clem was taken aback by Pearl¡¯s unexpected revtion. Just moments ago, he had been attempting to take her life. ¡°Clem, if you don¡¯t mind, I can refer you to a betterpany.¡± Clem sounded defeated as he replied, ¡°But Yvonne made sure I was cklisted everywhere and left me with no options. How could you change that?¡± ¡°What if I tell you I can introduce you to a decent managerial role for a talent agency under the Cerubleu group?¡± Clem¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°You¡¯re talking about¡­ Brilliance Entertainment?¡± Brilliance Entertainment was renowned in the entertainment industry, vastly superior to Pris Entertainment, which was under Lawson Enterprise. He had faced numerous challenges at Pris, failing to advance to a true managerial role due to his aversion to bootlicking. However, Brilliance Entertainment was on apletely different level, and everyone recognized their supremacy, even overshadowing Pris. ¡°Yes, a lot of award-winning actors are signed with Brilliance. I will personally vouch for you, and you can expect to join them by tomorrow.¡± As Cerubleu¡¯s president, Pearl had the influence to make such arrangements. ¡°R-Really?¡± Clem¡¯s voice started shaking, astounded that this young woman possessed such power. ¡°Absolutely. I am Cerubleu¡¯s vice president,¡± Pearl affirmed with a yful wink. Clemn gave in. Would this really be the chance for him to start anew? 2/2 He almost thanked her, but he started looking cautious. ¡°What if you¡¯re just lying to me?¡± H ¡°I never lie. Besides, I¡¯ve set my phone to alert the police if I don¡¯t find Esther within half an hour. You have two choices: embrace a promising future as a manager at Brilliance and shine in the career you love, or¡­¡¯ Pearl trailed off, leaving the alternative unspoken. It was a simple decision. Given their circumstances, he had only one path to choose. ¡°Your children need their father, don¡¯t they, Mister Gutor?¡± Pearl smiled, her straightforward question dismantling his remaining defenses. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 1/1 ¡°Alright, I¡­ I¡¯ll let Esther go.¡± Clem untied Esther with shaky hands and removed the ck tape covering her mouth. ¡°Pearl, why would you help him?¡± Esther asked as she ran to hide behind Pearl once she was free, staring daggers at Clem. Pearl shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not helping him. I¡¯m just helping myself.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± From Esther¡¯s perspective, Clem was a bad person who had kidnapped her, and he deserved to be thrown in jail. There was no reason to help him. ¡°Clem is actually very good at what he does.¡± Pearl had heard Wayne speak highly of Clem from Brilliance. He had a great work ethic and was good at what he did. He had been treated unfairly, particrly after working with Yvonne, which had led him to this situation. ¡°Thank you, Miss Pearl.¡± Clem¡¯s eyes welled up with gratitude. He never expected the person he despised so much to suddenly tumn around and do so much for him, even acknowledging his capabilities. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Mister Gutor. I know you¡¯re a brilliant man, but you should never take the wrong path in life and avoid making impulsive decisions you¡¯ll regret.¡± Pearl¡¯s advice was sincere, and Clem didn¡¯t feel any resentment even when she was admonishing him. ¡°I know, Miss Pearl.¡± ¡°Also, do your best when you start working at Brilliance. As long as you work hard, you¡¯ll have a lot of chances to be promoted. ¡± Clem fell to his knees. ¡°I¡¯m forever indebted to you, Miss Pearl.¡± Pearl helped him to his feet and smiled. ¡°Alright, get up. You should go home. I¡¯ll send over the agreement tomorrow so you can just report to work at Brilliance Entertainment.¡± Clem nodded and suddenly remembered the police report automation. ¡°But Miss Pearl, your phone¡­¡± Pearl chuckled. ¡°I may have lied about that.¡± Clem was speechless. ¡°You just said you never lie a minute ago,¡± Esther mumbled, and Pearl yfully tapped her head. ¡°Shush.¡± Clem couldn¡¯t help butugh. Miss Pearl was rather adorable when she wasn¡¯t being serious. He knew he had made the right choice. ¡°Well, we should be going now. You¡¯ll receive an update soon.¡± Pearl handed him a business card with her contact information. ¡°Send your address to me tomorrow.¡± Clem nodded and carefully put the card away. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Pearl and Esther went back to the first floor. ¡°What happened? How did you get caught?¡± Pearl scolded Esther. Esther scratched her face and smiled awkwardly. ¡°Well, I was upset.¡± Her expression then darkened as she remembered the reason. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 ¡°It¡¯s all because of that stupid Mobius. If it wasn¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t have run off and bumped into that stupid man,¡± Esther grumbled, recalling how close Mobius had been with that other girl. ¡°It¡¯s because you have feelings for him. If you didn¡¯t, you wouldn¡¯t feel this way. How is that his fault?¡± Pearl pointed out. Esther knew she was in the wrong, so she changed the subject. ¡°I remember you came after me right away, but why did it take you so long to find me?¡± She wasn¡¯t ming Pearl but was genuinely curious. ¡°Because¡­ a dog blocked my path,¡± Pearl said through gritted teeth, while Richard sneezed somewhere in the hospital. ¡°A dog?¡± Esther was confused because no dogs were allowed in the bar. That was weird. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s time for you to go back to your brother.¡± Esther asked, ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Pearl took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m going for a walk¡± After saying goodbye to Esther, Pearl strolled along thekeside. The night was illuminated with scattered lights, and couples were enjoying their dates. Suddenly, she overheard two people quarreling. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. I wouldn¡¯t have lost that trivia contest if it weren¡¯t for you.¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded angry. ¡°It¡¯s because you don¡¯t trust me. You wouldn¡¯t have lost if you trusted me!¡± the woman retorted, raising her voice to make her point. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Trust you? Why would I trust you? You can¡¯t even think clearly. I know better than you. You don¡¯t know anything about this, and I do!¡± ¡°Fine, you know me well. Do you know how much effort I put into this trivia contest? You never noticed the changes and still think of me as the same dumb person from before!¡± The woman turned angrily, almost tumbling into theke, but the man quickly caught her. ¡°Why did you save me? Just let me die!¡± The man hugged her tightly, his eyes welling up as he lowered his voice. ¡°Just because we argue doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t love you anymore.¡± Realizing her mistake, the woman apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for yelling.¡± Pearl, who had been eavesdropping, was deeply moved. Quarreling didn¡¯t mean they stopped loving each other. Harsh words didn¡¯t benefit anyone. Richard had grown up with Abby, and to him, Abby was like a daughter to Susan. Why would a child hurt her own mother? Pearl, on the other hand, had always had a bad rtionship with Susan. Richard had never reprimanded her, and that meant he didn¡¯t me her. Yet here she was, throwing a tantrum. It was natural for him to be suspicious, but he was willing to talk to her, which indicated he still had feelings for her. With her thoughts rified, Pearl realized her next move. She needed to find evidence that would clear her name rather than falling into this rtionship trap. She immediately called Wayne to ask about Susan¡¯s recovery. ¡°I rushed back to the office because of this.¡± Wayne¡¯s voice sounded like he was smiling. ¡°It was quite a coincidence because I had someone guarding the room for three days, and finally, Abby showed up. She tried to pull Susan¡¯s IV tube but was caught. I took pictures as evidence. She was probably afraid Susan would wake up and expose her.¡± Pearl was overjoyed to hear that, and her mood brightened. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 ¡°You seem so happy, Pea? Something good happened?¡± Wayne was relieved to hear Pearl sounding happy. He had expected her to be down for a while because of Richard, but it seemed like she was back to her usual self. ¡°I¡¯m fine. By the way, how¡¯s the investigation about Renee going?¡± Wayne was eager to share the update. ¡°The blood traces found at Renee¡¯s home match those of a convict who served time in Enswood. He was sentenced to ten years and was released just two months ago, but he¡¯s alreadymitted another murder. I¡¯ve dispatched someone to track him down. Additionally, there¡¯s evidence that twenty hours before Renee¡¯s death, Abby had a cash transaction with this man, and she transferred 100 thousand dors to his ount.¡± ¡°This confirms that Abby was involved in the murder!¡± Pearl eximed, realizing she had wrongly pinned this on Hugo¡­ Having made up her mind after receiving this critical information, Pearl continued, ¡°Alright, gather all the information tonight. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll go to the hospital to meet Abby.¡± She was going to show Richard how much of a snake Abby was. Wayne worked quickly and sent over all the gathered information not long after their call ended. The next morning, Pearl went to the hospital where Susan was admitted. Abby had spent three days and nights without sleep, waiting for the opportunity to kill Susan. She wasn¡¯t thrilled about it, but she had maintained a facade of concern and had even lied to Richard. ¡°Rick, do you think she¡¯ll wake up?¡± Abby asked, but deep down, she was worried. ¡°Hugo said Mom is recovering well, so she might wake up in two days,¡± Richard replied with hope in his voice. Unbeknownst to him, Abby broke into a cold sweat. If Susan woke up after two days, her secret act of pushing her down the stairs would be revealed. Just then, Pearl walked in, and Abby gasped. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid to see me? Are you feeling guilty?¡± Pearl¡¯s words made Abby feel awkward. Thetter looked away and said in a rude tone, ¡°Stop using me. Everyone knows you did this. Why would I hurt Aunt Susan? She loves me, and I¡¯m very thankful Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. for that!¡± She sounded so convincing that even Richard was fooled. However, Pearl remained resolute. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re going to keep that narrative, we should let the evidence speak for itself.¡± She then mmed a thick stack of documents onto the table. ¡°Do you want to go through these on your own, or do you want me to help you?¡± Abby was visibly distressed when she saw the documents. ¡°You¡¯re fabricating evidence. This is character assassination!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know if this was fabricated when we look at it.¡± Pearl opened the folder and carefully ced each piece of paper on the table. ¡°This is your connection to a convicted felon, along with evidence of your transferring 100 thousand dors to him. I won¡¯t delve into the details, but this implicates you in the murder of Renee¡¯s family. I never suspected it was you.¡± She continued, ¡°This one shows you trying to pull out Susan¡¯s IV tube, and someone took a picture of it. Isn¡¯t it obvious what you were trying to do?¡± As Abby looked at the papers spread out before her, she began to feel light-headed. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Abby never expected Pearl to uncover all this damning evidence. Fear coursed through her, causing her legs to give way, and she fell to the ground. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Weren¡¯t you so confident earlier? Why are you suddenly so quiet?¡± Pearl scoffed and watched as Abby shook because she knew all the evidence was real ¡°I didn¡¯t do any of that. You fabricated all of them!¡± Abby¡¯s voice trembled uncontrobly. Confronted by Pearl¡¯s smug expression, the world seemed to spin around her. Pearl pressed on, ¡°Exin how I fabricated these. If you doubt the photos, I can get the video authenticated.¡± Richard, who had been silently observing, was shocked to his core. He never imagined that Abby, who had grown up with his family and was like a sister to him, would attempt to harm someone, especially his mother. ¡°Exin yourself, Abby!¡± He wanted to give her a chance to deny it. ¡°I¡­ Rick, you know how well Aunt Susan treats me. Why would I hurt her?¡± Richard took a deep breath. ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Abby had more to say, but the door swung open, and Hugo entered with a nurse for his rounds. He nced at the tense atmosphere in the room and chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? This looks pretty intense.¡± ¡°Hughie¡­ ¡°Abby bit her l*p and pleaded to Hugo, ¡°Hughie, how could I possibly be responsible for trying to harm Renee and Aunt Susan? I don¡¯t even know Renee, and I have a great rtionship with Aunt Susan. Why would I want to hurt her?¡± Hugo looked down and smiled. ¡°Well, I believe you. Let me take a look at the evidence.¡± He picked up the photos from the table, examined them, then shook his head and ced them back down. ¡°These pictures don¡¯t prove anything. Transferring money? That doesn¡¯t prove it¡¯s for harming Renee. The one with Mom is just a blur. You were simply checking the tube. How did that turn into pulling it out?¡± Hugo effortlessly turned the situation in Abby¡¯s favor. Abby breathed a sigh of relief as she gazed at Hugo and managed to force a smile. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve always understood me, just like when we were kids.¡± Richard, though still doubtful, couldn¡¯t fully trust his judgment. ¡°Well, Mom is still unconscious. How can we be sure Abby really did all this?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Abby nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, she¡¯ll vouch for me and say I¡¯ve been wrongly used once she wakes up!¡± She didn¡¯t know when Susan would regain consciousness, but she realized this was her chance to clear her name. Thankfully, Hugo was there or she wouldn¡¯t be able to talk her way out of this. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Abby might not be the mastermind behind all this.¡± Richard raised his brows. ¡°Could you please step out for a moment? I need to speak with Pearl.¡± Hugo and Abby left the room. Once outside, Hugo dropped his cheerful expression. ¡°You¡¯re so careful. Pearl would have destroyed you if I didn¡¯t show up.¡± Abby expressed her gratitude to him, ¡°Thank you, Hughie. I would have been in serious trouble without your help. I might even have ended up in jail.¡± Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Hugo scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to prepare for your next move. As long as my mother never wakes up, Pearl won¡¯t be able to touch you, no matter how powerful she is.¡± Abby was surprised. ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s your mother. How could you¡­¡± Hugo found her surprise amusing. ¡°My mom? She¡¯s Richard¡¯s mom. I have no blood rtion to her whatsoever.¡± He had undergone a DNA test after his previous suspicion, which confirmed that he had no familial ties to the Waldorfs. This revtion exined why their parents had always treated him with leniency and kept their distance-he wasn¡¯t their biological child. ¡°You¡¯re not a Waldorf?¡± Abby almost shouted but quickly lowered her voice when she remembered they were in a public ce. ¡°What do you n to do then?¡± Hugo scoffed again. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about the death of a Waldorf. I, like you, am just a poor soul the family took care of.¡± ¡°So Aunt Susan¡­¡± ¡°Leave her to me. I¡¯ll make sure she never wakes up. All you have to do is before Richard and Pearl find evidence¡­¡± He made a subtle gesture, and Abby immediately understood. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll figure something out. I need to leave now.¡± Hugo smiled after Abby left. This woman was so dumb there was no way things would go wrong for him if he worked with her. However, before something happened to her, he would have to find a way to distance himself from her. Meanwhile, Richard and Pearl stood awkwardly in the room. Before Richard could say anything, Pearl N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Richard was surprised because he didn¡¯t expect an apology from her. She had always been a proud person and would never back down. ¡°I know my attitude toward this has been terrible, so I¡¯m apologizing. As for what happened today, whether you think I¡¯m framing Abby or just speaking without thinking clearly, I¡¯ll respect your decision.¡± Pearl looked at him, acknowledging that the events of the day had taken a toll on him. ¡°I believe you.¡± Those three words conveyed Richard¡¯s position clearly. ¡°You believe me? Why? Didn¡¯t you say you would never suspect Abby?¡± Pearl was surprised at his words. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°I didn¡¯t suspect Abby before because of our long- standing rtionship from childhood. I¡¯m suspecting her now because I¡¯ve noticed something.¡± Pearl looked directly into his eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 ¡°When we were kids, Abby and Hugo didn¡¯t get along. Hugo was quieter and easier to bully, so Abby didn¡¯t like him and usually stuck with me.¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Pearl yfully teased, ¡°I guess Mister Richard was always the lovable one. It makes sense that people couldn¡¯t get you out of their minds.¡± ¡°Alright, keep the jokes for now.¡± Richard looked serious. ¡°I never expected Hugo to defend Abby.¡± ¡°So you believe me now?¡± Richard nodded. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to be suspicious when Abby was so frantic, and you were so calm.¡± Pearl¡¯s mood lifted, and she spoke more cheerfully. ¡°So what¡¯s your n?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we can trust Abby or Hugo. I¡¯m going to transfer Mom to a different hospital. It¡¯s been a week, and she still hasn¡¯t shown any signs of waking up.¡± Pearl winked at him. ¡°I guess you¡¯re not as stupid as I thought.¡± Richard was relieved to see Pearl returning to her usual self. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I can help you. We can let Hugo and Abby know that we¡¯re onto them,¡± Pearl said. ¡°No, I can handle this.¡± Cerubleu had shareholdings in eight out of ten hospitals. Would Richard be able to make changes more efficiently than Pearl could? Pearl had the urge to tease himn further but remembered that Richard didn¡¯t know her true identity. She decided to keep quiet. ¡°If that¡¯s your decision, I¡¯ll leave it to you. Just call me if you need help.¡± Just as Pearl was about to leave, her phone rang from an unknown number. Recognizing the voice, she remembered that she had neglected Clem after spending too much time at the hospital. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ming right over.¡± Pearl smiled after hanging up. ¡°I have urgent matters to attend to. Got to go.¡± Richard nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¨C After saying goodbye, Pearl went to a ce they both agreed on a cafe nearby. Clem was sitting not too far from the door, drinking coffee. He was proud and gentle, quite the contrast from the frantic man she had encountered the previous night. ¡°Please take a seat, Miss Pearl.¡± Pearl smiled and did as she was told. ¡°Are you ready to join Brilliance?¡± Clem¡¯s eyes welled up with emotion. ¡°Thank you, Miss. Pearl.¡± ¡°For what?¡± Clem took a deep breath. ¡°I know you wired 270 thousand dors to me, just enough to cover my wife¡¯s medical expenses.¡± Pearl paused, slightly amused. ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± ¡°Miss Pearl, I¡¯m all alone in this situation without any help. Who else but you would reach out to help?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You deserve it, right?¡± Pearl smiled. ¡°Consider it¡­ ransom for Esther.¡± Clem¡¯s face reddened. He had resorted to abducting Esther out of desperation. His wife was critically ill and required expensive treatment, but he was unemployed and had no source of ie. After much thought, he came up with a risky n-to abduct Esther and demand a 100 thousand dors ransom for her return. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Clem apologized sincerely. ¡°I was blinded with rage.¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Pearl waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Consider the rest of that money as your first sry. Wee to Brilliance Entertainment. It¡¯ll be money well spent.¡± Clem nodded as he shook with gratitude. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t let you down. I¡¯ll give my life to Brilliance!¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much, Mister Clem.¡± Even though it might seem like a significant expense, she had gained the loyalty of a top-notch manager in return. If Pearl had known the impact this man would have on Brilliance in the future, she would have been exceptionally proud of her decision. ¡°You should report to Brilliance for work tomorrow and just mention my name when you get there.¡± Pearl was ready to leave, but Clem stopped her. ¡°Miss Pearl.¡± Pearl turned around, curious. ¡°Yes?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Clem pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°You¡¯re the president of Cerubleu, aren¡¯t you?¡± Pearl¡¯s smile faltered momentarily. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Why would you go to such lengths to recruit me if you weren¡¯t the president? All I need to do is mention your name. Only someone in a very high position could arrange that.¡± Clem was a clever man. Years of experience had honed his ability to read situations, and he suspected that this clever young woman was his boss. ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve guessed it, I won¡¯t deny it. You¡¯re correct. I am the president of Cerubleu, and I genuinely want you to join mypany,¡± Pearl admitted. While lower-level employees might not know who she was, Clem, as a high-level manager, would eventually find out. ¡± ¡®Alright, thank you, Miss President.¡± Clem appreciated her more for not hiding it from him. Pearl smiled back at him and headed for the exit, but before she could leave, someone stood in front of her. ¡°Hugo?¡± Pearl watched as he stretched out his long legs to block her path, growing annoyed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t want to see me?¡± Hugo took a casual sip of his coffee, wearing a mischievous smile. He hadn¡¯t intended to seek her out-their encounter at the cafe happened by chance. ¡°Please don¡¯t show your face anymore. I¡¯m disgusted just by looking at you.¡± Hugo shook his head. ¡°Destiny has brought us together. Why don¡¯t you take a seat? You might be interested in what happened to my Mom.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Pearl froze at the mention of Susan. Hugo felt more confident when she turned around. ¡°I have a proposal for you.¡± Pearl pulled up a chair and looked at him with suspicion. ¡°Go on. What¡¯s the proposal?¡¯* ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be interested in this deal.¡± Hugo raised his brows. ¡°I know you suspect something. You want to prove that Abby was the one who hurt my mom, not you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve done a lot to clear your name, right?¡± Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Pearl grabbed the hem of her dress as her heart sl*pped a beat. ¡°So? What are you saying?¡± She had a bad feeling. ¡°I¡¯m saying the culprit behind everything is Abby. That includes Renee and her mother¡¯s death. Abby did it all. I wasn¡¯t involved in any of that.¡± Hugo divulged everything, leaving Pearl confused. Considering Richard¡¯s analysis, it seemed likely that these two had worked together, so why was Hugo now trying to shift all the me onto Abby? ¡°So, what are you really getting at?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe Hugo was simply being charitable and trying Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. to help her clear her name. ¡°I¡¯d be willing to help you prove Abby¡¯s crimes if you agree to one condition.¡± Abby was nothing more than a pawn to him. Having used her, he now had no qualms about getting rid of her, especially if he could get some additional benefit from it. The proposition was tempting because Pearl had no way of obtaining evidence of Abby¡¯s crimes. The only hopey in Susan waking up. However, Susan¡¯s condition was still unstable, and there was no guarantee she would regain consciousness. Pearl didn¡¯t look thrilled with Hugo¡¯s offer. Instead, she seemed annoyed. ¡°What¡¯s the condition?¡± ¡°Marry me.¡± Pearl stood up. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m agreeing to that.¡± ¡°Keep that rejection on hold. I don¡¯t actually want to be with you so it¡¯s just a fake marriage. We¡¯ll merely register it. When the time is right, we¡¯ll get a divorce.¡± Marrying Pearl would grant him a twenty percent share of her holdings, so it was extremely tempting. As for feelings, he didn¡¯t care much about it. ¡°Why would you want to do that?¡± A fake marriage would mean he had no romantic interest in her. In that case, what was his ulterior motive? ¡°Why? I have my own reasons. If you ept it,e back to me anytime.¡± Hugo had to rush back to the hospital for work and didn¡¯t have the time to persuade her further. There was no way he could convince her anyway. ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t even try to record our conversation.¡± Pearl jumped when she heard that. ¡°I have a jammer with me so there¡¯s no point trying.¡± He took out a little jamming device from his pocket and tossed it onto the table. ¡°You¡¯re so meticulous, Dr. Hugo.¡± Even though she said that, she discreetly pushed the recording pen back into her pocket because she had been caught. Pearl went home to a vi not far away. After leaving Waldorf Residence, she bought a vi on the south side of the city because it was closer to the hospital. It made it easier for her to visit Susan and find evidence. As she approached her vi, she noticed a familiar figure standing nearby. Initially, she didn¡¯t pay much attention, but as she headed inside, that person called out to her. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 ¡°Pearl¡± When she recognized the voice, she realized it was Raymond, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a while. Raymond looked surprised to see she was living there. ¡°The fiancee of a Waldorf living in this ce. That¡¯s interesting.¡± Pearl knew he was teasing her so she didn¡¯t mind it. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to stay there for too long. I prefer having my own ce.¡± ¡°Well, in that case, we¡¯re neighbors now, and the distance definitely works in my favor, I¡¯m sure Mister Richard will have to step up his game.¡± Pearl had nothing to say to that. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I should get going.¡± Raymond didn¡¯t try to stop her, merely offering a smile from where he stood. Afterward, Pearl contemted the encounter and decided to share the day¡¯s events with Richard. To prevent him from growing suspicious, she invented a pretext for visiting the cafe and left out the part where she met Clem. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on in Hugo¡¯s mind. First, he wanted to be in a rtionship with me, and now he¡¯s proposing marriage. What does he hope to gain from me?¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t discern Hugo¡¯s intentions, but she knew he was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Every move he made was calcted. ¡°Hugo wants to marry you?¡± Richard felt uneasy hearing that, but he quickly realized why his brother would want to do that. It wasn¡¯t the first time Hugo had shown interest in Pearl. Unlike Sean¡¯spetitive streak or Hanzel¡¯s jokes, Hugo always approached for a reason. He desired something only Pearl could give. ¡°Yes, this lunatic. I thought he was a nice person at first, but now I see he¡¯s the most cunning in your family.¡± He was like a psycho, normal yet abnormal. ¡°We don¡¯t know his motives yet, but if he¡¯s aware of Abby, it means he knows how to stop you from finding evidence and make sure my mom never wakes up.¡± Richard¡¯s concerns made sense. Hugo was clearly no saint. ¡°Renee¡¯s mother¡¯s condition deteriorated because her medication was switched. When you have the chance, check her medications for any signs of tampering. As for transferring her to another hospital, you need to be careful. Hugo might try to hide her information and dy the transfer. Pearl added, ¡°One more thing, remember to get enough rest. I can take over and stay by your mother¡¯s Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. side¡­ That is, if you trust me.¡± Pearl¡¯s words flowed rapidly, leaving Richard in silence. ¡°Huh? Did I get cut off?¡± Pearl thought her connection was choppy and that was why Richard didn¡¯t hear her. After some time, there was a rustling sound, like the sound of the phone brushing against some fabric. Richard remained quiet for some time before asking, ¡°Why would you help my mom? I remember she wasn¡¯t nice to you.¡± Pearl paused when she heard that, then sighed and smiled. ¡®Because she¡¯s your mom. Even if she did hurt me in the past, I would still help her. I know you¡¯ll be sad if you lose her.¡¯ Pearl didn¡¯t say this out loud, but Richard understood the unspoken message. Richard¡¯s voice, no longer cold, turned serious. ¡°Let¡¯s get into a rtionship after this is over.¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 That night, the cicadas chirped, the weather was warm, and their hearts were beating quickly. Pearl¡¯s heart skipped a few beats because when he said that, it came from the bottom of his heart, and he was dead serious about it. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Richard didn¡¯t react when he heard that. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you want me to chase you for us to be together?¡± Pearl chuckled. ¡°If I had to wait for that to happen, I might die of old age.¡± Richard wasn¡¯t the romantic type. She did some digging into his past rtionship with his first love, and it was boring. They hadn¡¯t even k*ssed. Richard felt ufortable. ¡°So?¡± Pearl suddenly felt lethargy kicking in, so she yawned and began preparing to get into bed. ¡°So it¡¯s time to sleep. It¡¯s veryte now. Let¡¯s talk about thister.¡± Pearl hung up, leaving Richard feeling mncholic on the other end. The next day, Pearl got up early in the morning and nned to see Wayne to discuss their next course of action. However, her car wouldn¡¯t start, and she realized she had run out of gas. This ce was a bit far out, so it was impossible to get a cab. Without a car, there was no way she could leave. ¡°Good morning, Miss Pearl.¡± Raymond had also woken up early, and when he saw her looking troubled, he smiled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Pearl imed nothing was wrong, but Raymond saw everything. ¡°Ran out of gas? It¡¯s okay, I have a few cars I can lend you.¡± Raymond was generous enough to take out some keys from his front pocket and hand them to her. Pearl took a few steps back. It¡¯s fine, thanks.¡± She didn¡¯t want to owe him a favor because she didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not trying to take advantage of you.¡± Raymond found her reaction amusing and chuckled. ¡°Take it, you don¡¯t need to return it.¡± Pearl shook her head and was prepared to reject him again when a car honked at her gate. She looked over and saw Richard. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She suddenly had a bigger question. ¡°Wait, how do you know I live here?¡± Richard just calmly said, ¡°Get in, I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡± Pearl was still confused. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to repeat myself.¡± Raymond shed a cold smile. ¡°Why are you interfering with Miss Pearl¡¯s life, Mister Richard? Didn¡¯t you kick her out?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this concerns you¡± Seeing how Richard was getting annoyed, Pearl quickly got into his car to defuse the tension. Raymond stood there, still smiling, but his eyes were cold. Pearl remained curious about how Richard had found out where she lived and why he hade to pick her up so early in the morning. As if he could read her mind, he calmly exined, ¡°Waldorf owns this neighborhood.¡± That made sense. The Waldorfs had the resources to find information about anyone. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 ¡°Why did youe to pick me up today?¡± Hearing that, Richard appeared uneasy. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I don¡¯t know how to win women over? I think it¡¯s considered one of the tricks to win you over if I drive you to and from work.¡± ¡°Who taught you that?¡± After some thought, Richard replied rather slowly, ¡°Justin.¡± He had trouble sleeping after hanging up the callst night. Hence, he called Justin, the yboy, to have a drink at Dark Bar. ¡°So, you dragged me out here, interrupting myte-night pursuits of meeting women, just to ask me about¡­ picking up women?¡± Richard shot Justin a re. ¡°No, I¡¯m trying to win a woman over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty close.¡± Justin leaned back casually. ¡°Well, first, you need to do something that moves her, like driving her to and from work and buying her gifts. You have to say some romantic things to her too. Women like that stuff. I¡¯m sure a smart woman like Pearl will like it too.¡± Richard took mental notes and kicked Justin. ¡°What kind of gifts?¡± ¡°Tsk, you can give her whatever you want since you¡¯re filthy rich. You can even buy her a house.¡± Recalling that advice, Richard took out a card from his bag. ¡°I¡¯ve put the money you spent to buy the vi on this card. Well, consider the vi a gift from me.¡± His words made Pearlugh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have too much money to spend?¡± Stunned, Richard wondered why Pearl wasn¡¯t moved as Justin had suggested. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t turn down your generosity since you insist.¡± Pearl epted his card and stuffed it into her bag. ¡°Everyb*dy wants money.¡± ¡°Is there anything else you like? I can buy it for you.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Finally, Pearl believed that Richard knew nothing about wooing women. ¡°You can¡¯t win women over this way. Since you want to give me a ride, you might as well drive me to Cerubleu. I want to meet Wayne.¡± Bitterness overwhelmed Richard when he heard that she wanted to see Wayne again. Awkwardly, he asked, ¡°Why are you meeting him again? Is there something I can¡¯t help you with?¡± His words filled Pearl with silence. She wanted to tell Richard that she was Wayne¡¯s superior but she couldn¡¯t. With a forced smile, she retorted, ¡°Are you driving me there or not? If not, I¡¯ll go on my own.¡± Helpless, Richard nodded and agreed. But he seemed reluctant and drove slowly on purpose. Suddenly, they encountered a traffic jam, and he gradually stopped the car by the street. ¡°I guess it¡¯ll take more than half an hour. Do you want me to have my assistant fly a helicopter here?¡± Stupefied, Pearl wondered why Richard had such a bold idea ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of town. Can¡¯t you think about the consequences before you do anything? Where¡¯s yourmon sense?¡± A helicopter appearing out of nowhere might cause more than just a traffic jam. It could lead to a serious ident. ¡°I don¡¯t care about what others think because I just want to give you a ride.¡± His words might have captivated young, naive, and love-struck women, but Pearl was different. She just felt like kicking him. ¡°It¡¯s okay to wait a little. I¡¯m not in a rush,¡± Pearl said. ¡°I may not be good at pursuing women, but I really want to be nice to you. You must tell me if I did anything wrong.¡± Pearl had never seen this side of Richard before-serious yet helpless in his pursuit of love. Suddenly, she found herself at a loss for words, and silence fell between them. Then, Pearl turned to the window and was drawn to somemotion outside. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Two middle-aged men appeared to be arguing about the parking situation outside. The man who was speaking sounded self- righteous and reluctant, even though he had hit the other man¡¯s car. Pearl found him somewhat familiar, and upon closer look, she realized it was Brandon, who had been gone for a long time. Brandon¡¯s clothes were shabby, as if he had bought them from a street vendor. He had lost his confidence and was now living as a regr citizen. Pearl felt a pang of pity for him, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it too much because she knew he had brought this upon himself. However, Brandon seemed to get an idea when he turned and spotted Pearl. He hurried over to her and yelled while pointing in her direction, ¡°She¡¯s my wife! Tell him to ask forpensation from her because I don¡¯t have the money!¡± In his mind, Pearl was somehow responsible for his current situation, so he thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to get some money from her. The other man seemed to believe Brandon and approached Pearl. ¡°Are you his wife? He¡¯s the one who damaged my car. I spent over 150 thousand dors when I bought it. Are you going to pay me?¡± Pearl sneered and replied, ¡°I have nothing to do with him. He should be the onepensating you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so unreasonable!¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. The man knew that Brandon couldn¡¯t afford topensate him based on his current appearance, so he decided to hassle Pearl in hopes of getting some money out of her. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, her husband damaged my car, but she refuses to pay for the damages. This is outrageous!¡± The victim dramatically sat on the ground, wailing for justice when he realized that Pearl was unmoved. As a result, a crowd gathered, with some people criticizing Pearl and others showing sympathy for the supposed victim. ¡°Mister Brandon, you¡¯ve be even more shameless after a few months.¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t be bothered to speak to the man on the floor and turned her attention to Brandon nearby. Seeing that the situation was no longer his concern, Brandon wore a cunning grin. ¡°Miss Pearl, I know you¡¯re known for helping people. How about helping me this time? I really don¡¯t have the money.¡± Suddenly, he caught sight of Richard in the car and fear engulfed him. But he managed to suppress it andughed. ¡°Hey, Mister Richard, you¡¯re here too. I¡¯m d to see you.¡± Despite the troubles his family had faced, Brandon didn¡¯t fear Richard¡¯s wrath. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance, Brandon. Set the record straight with that man, or you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡± Richard¡¯s unease grew as he heard how Brandon had falsely framed Pearl. His icy demeanor intensified when Brandon made things difficult for her. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll listen to you, Mister Richard? I have nothing to lose now. I won¡¯t be intimidated by you, and you can¡¯t threaten me.¡± Brandon leaned back andughed. ¡°Well, don¡¯t regret it.¡± Richard stepped out of the car and turned his attention to the man who was crying and creating a scene. He asked in a cool tone, ¡°You want money, don¡¯t you?¡± The man stopped crying ¡°You¡¯re giving me money?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you 270 thousand dors, but this man imed that my girlfriend is his wife and caused us a lot of trouble. Well¡­ I¡¯m sure you know what you should do, right?¡± Richard rarely smiled, but his smile now sent shivers down the spine. Being a sensible man, the victim chuckled at the opportunity to gain some money. He beamed at Richard, exposing his yellowish teeth. ¡°Sure, sir. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll teach this man a good lesson!¡± Knitting his brows, Richard returned to his car. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 ¡°It¡¯s okay now. Let¡¯s go.¡± Richard was about to drive away when Brandon suddenly appeared fierce, standing nearby. Brandon rushed over and reached into Richard¡¯s car through the window, opening the car door. With force, he managed to drag Pearl out of the car. ¡°I¡¯m going to die anyway. I might as well take someone else down with me!¡± He pulled out a knife and pressed it against Pearl¡¯s neck C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org His actions prompted an immediate change in Richard¡¯s expression. ¡°What are you doing, Brandon?¡± ¡°Scared now, aren¡¯t you? You were so smug just a moment ago, Richard. I didn¡¯t expect you to end up like this today!¡± He pressed the knife closer to Pearl¡¯s neck, leaving a bloody mark. ¡°You¡¯re going to suffer with me soon, Richard. Ha! Ha! Ha!¡± In response, Pearl kicked Brandon¡¯s knee while he was momentarily distracted. Feeling the pain, Brandon let go and dropped his knife on the ground. At the same time, Richard kicked his chest, sending him flying three meters away. ¡°That¡¯s very dangerous,¡± Richard scolded Pearl after her sudden move. ¡°If something happened to you when he had the knife at your neck, you would be rushed to the hospital by now.¡± Raising her brows, Pearl asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Worried that I would take such a risk? I¡¯m not that stupid, Richard.¡± Looking down, Richard acknowledged that she was right. She was more careful than he was. The victim pressed Brandon on the ground and kicked him. ¡°What are you doing? How dare you harm her! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Brandon vomited blood because of the kick ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t kill me!¡± As the fear of death gripped Brandon, he realized that he was genuinely frightened, but it was toote to turn back now. The mannded a heavy punch on Brandon, who couldn¡¯t even scream because his mouth was sealed. Finally, the street was cleared. Richard watched the scene unfold calmly. ¡°Come on. Let me drive you to Cerubleu.¡± Pearl nodded and joined him, but as she got into the car,plex emotions suddenly hit her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Richard asked, noticing a shift in her expression. ¡°Brandon is just reaping what he¡¯s sown, given all the bad things he¡¯s done. But I suddenly find him rather pitiful. I don¡¯t know why.¡± Richard consoled her, ¡°It¡¯s okay. If he¡¯s gone, we¡¯ve gotten rid of a viin.¡± Suddenly, his phone rang. He picked it up, gave a brief response, and then ended the call. Since he was close to Pearl, she overheard the call, learning that Brandon had passed away. Brandon, who was once a skilled and cunning man in the workce, had finally passed away on the roadside. It was over now. After that, Richard drove fast and arrived at Cerubleu without dy. When Pearl got out of the car, she bumped into an executive who smiled and greeted her. ¡°Miss President, what brings you back to thepany so unexpectedly today?¡± Her spine tingled with guilt upon hearing those words. She turned to look for Richard, but he had already driven away. Pearl breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 ¡°I¡¯m looking for Wayne. Where is he?¡± Pearl inquired. The executive nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I think he¡¯s not in today because he¡¯s gone on a business trip. By the way, who¡¯s the man who gave you a ride? Is he your boyfriend?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s not.¡± Pearl blushed, momentarily at a loss for words. ¡°Well, I have two kids now. Of course, I understand this kind of thing well. Plus, he seems rather attractive. Why don¡¯t¡­ you give it a try with him?¡± Pearl raised her brows and asked, ¡°You don¡¯t know him, do you?¡± The executive was stunned and baffled. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s Richard.¡± The executive then eximed, ¡°Richard¡­ Waldorf?¡± Pearl nodded, amused by the sudden change in the executive¡¯s expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°Being a wealthy bachelor, he has many women hoping to marry him. But I find him too cold and emotionless. Besides, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d be a good match for you because¡­ you deserve better.¡± Pearl burst intoughter when she recalled how Richard wanted to fly a helicopter to give her a ride to work this morning. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now since Wayne isn¡¯t around. But don¡¯t tell anyone what you saw today. Also, work hard N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. and try not to gossip too much.¡± Pearl offered her advice to the executive, who seemed to keep smiling as if she was enjoying the situation. After a brief contemtion, Pearl decided to head to the hospital. However, before she could even set off, her phone¡¯s ringtone red loudly, grabbing her attention. ¡°Are you free now, Pearl?¡± Richard¡¯s voice was shaky. ¡°Come to the hospital if you¡¯re free.¡± Hearing this, Pearl¡¯s heart sank. ¡°I¡¯ll be there right away.¡± She hailed a cab to the hospital and found Richard waiting nearby when she entered the ward. At that moment, Richard was holding a cigarette between his fingers, and cigarette butts were scattered on the floor. ¡°What happened?¡± Richard turned to her with bloodshot eyes. ¡°The doctor said my mom will never wake up.¡± ¡°What?¡± Pearl was shocked. She hadn¡¯t expected Hugo to be so cruel as to harm his own mother in this way. ¡°Yes, the doctor said my mother will be a vegetable for the rest of her life.¡± ¡°Did you inspect the medicine like I asked you to?¡± Richard nodded. ¡°Yeah, I did. The medicine is okay, but I don¡¯t know why this happened.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re telling me that Missus Susan¡¯s condition suddenly deteriorated for no apparent reason, and she became a vegetable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll get the best doctor. I won¡¯t let my mom stay like this.¡± Taking a deep breath, Richard continued, ¡°When my mom wakes up, I¡¯ll make sure Hugo pays for what he did!¡± He was determined to punish Hugo for hurting their mother. ¡°Can you let me examine Missus Susan, Richard?¡± Pearl asked. Richard nodded and didn¡¯t object since he knew she had some medical knowledge. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Carefully, Pearl inspected Susan¡¯s b*dy and found that Richard was right. There was nothing wrong with Susan¡¯s intake of medicine, but¡­ With narrowed eyes, Pearl reached out to touch Susan¡¯s venttor and noticed that it was cold. ¡°I know why she¡¯s be a vegetable, Richard.¡± Stunned, Richard asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Look at her venttor. It¡¯s cold. Normally, it emits warmth when it¡¯s turned on, but this one doesn¡¯t. On the contrary, it feels cold to the touch. I think someone must have secretly pulled off the venttor when you weren¡¯t around and reconnected it when you returned. If this continues, she can¡¯t breathe normally. That¡¯s why she¡¯s now in a vegetative state.¡± Pearl¡¯s analysis enlightened Richard. He clenched his fists with a cold determination. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was Hugo.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not certain. It could have been Abby.¡± Pearl lifted her gaze and said, ¡°Regardless, our priority now is to save Missus Susan instead of finding the culprit.¡± Richard nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted the most reputable doctor in Enswood, and he¡¯lle overter.¡± Pearl set aside her suggestion upon hearing this. The doctor arrived promptly. He was a man in his forties or fifties, wearing a suit and gold-rimmed sses, exuding an air of seriousness and reliability. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Mister Richard, allow me to conduct a thorough examination of the patient,¡± the doctor said. As the doctor carefully examined Susan, he frowned and sighed. Finally, he spoke with a tone of resignation, ¡°To be honest, Mister Richard, curing this condition is extremely challenging. We may need to rely on a miracle to save her.¡± ¡°What do I need you for if I want to pray for miracles?¡± Richard¡¯s stern voice made the doctor tremble. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to say I won¡¯t try to cure her, but¡­ I can¡¯t guarantee sess, and it could harm my reputation.¡± ¡°Reputation? Get out of Enswood if you can¡¯t cure her.¡± Observing this exchange, Pearl decided to intervene to help the doctor out of his predicament. ¡°Hold on. He¡¯s just a doctor, not a god. I¡¯ll get my mentor here and ask him to check on Missus Susan¡¯s condition.¡± Unexpectedly, the doctor responded to Pearl¡¯s words with anger, as if he felt humiliated. ¡°What do you mean ¡®just a doctor¡¯? I¡¯m the best doctor in Enswood. Who is your mentor? Don¡¯tpare your mentor with me!¡± This reaction annoyed Pearl, and she regretteding to the doctor¡¯s aid in the first ce. ¡°Simon Freeman,¡± she responded, causing the doctor to suddenly fall silent. However, the doctor soon doubted her im and muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re telling the truth. It¡¯s hard to believe Simon is your mentor. He¡¯s an outstanding figure. Stop joking around!¡± Unconcerned, Pearl made a video call. A white-haired old man in traditional clothes appeared on her phone. Despite his age, he had a lively demeanor and bright eyes. ¡°Hi, Pearl. You finally called me.You can¡¯t imagine how lonely I¡¯ve been abroad¡­ By the way, when are youing back? I miss you terribly¡­¡± Pearl interrupted Simon with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re still struggling to beat Leo in chess, the guy who¡¯s staying downstairs, right?¡± Simon chuckled and admitted, ¡°You got me there. When are you going to help me defeat him? He¡¯s so smug. You must help me beat him!¡± An idea sparked in Pearl¡¯s mind as she smiled. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s make a deal.¡± Simon enthusiastically agreed, patting his chest. ¡°I¡¯ll say yes to whatever you have in mind.¡± 2/2 Suddenly, Pearl turned her phone toward Susan, who was behind her, and calmly exined, ¡°I want you to help me wake her up.¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Stupefied, Simon didn¡¯t anticipate such a request from Pearl. ¡°Is she¡­ asleep?¡± His question was rather shocking. Knowing that Simon was a humorous man, Pearl didn¡¯t say much but rolled her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s in a vegetative state. Help me save her.¡± ¡°Why are you asking for my help for such a simple illness? You can do it on your own, Pearl.¡± But Pearl replied absent-mindedly, ¡°I never learned how to do it.¡± ¡°What? I was so serious when I taught you. Ugh, you make me so sad¡­¡± Simon pretended to be crying, but it was rather puzzling and helpless for an old man like him to cry. ¡°Okay, stop crying. I¡¯ll book you a flight an hourter. You¡¯ll arrive in another four or five hours. Hurry up, or else¡­¡± Pearl let out a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll never y chess for you again.¡± Her threat effectively eliminated Simon¡¯s objections. He promptly stopped his dramatics and agreed, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go and save her¡­ Oh, how you torture an old man like me¡­¡± Although Simon grumbled, he had no choice but toply. He resigned himself to the situation and hung up to pack his belongings. Staring at the doctor nearby, Pearl raised her brows and asked, ¡°Do you believe me now? If not, he¡¯ll The doctor had harbored doubts about Pearl¡¯s confidence but was now convinced after witnessing the elderly man in the video call. All that was left in him was guilt. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay¡­ I¡¯m busy. I¡¯ll go now¡­¡± Feeling awkward, the doctor didn¡¯t want to stay because he knew that he would be humiliated due to his inadequacy. Although he had hoped to learn Simon¡¯s extraordinary medical skills, his dignity and pridepelled him to leave. ¡°Alright, bye.¡± Pearl then nced at Richard after the doctor had left. ¡°Richard, that old man wille Richard nodded,forted by her words. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Simon came very fast and arrived four hourster, dragging arge piece of luggage to the hospital. ¡°Where is she, Pea?¡± When Pearl saw Simon, she frowned. ¡°Why are you wearing those ugly clothes again?¡± Simon looked hurt as he pouted. ¡°No, they¡¯re not ugly. A local olddy said they made me look energetic. It looks like our tastes are different.¡± ¡°Fine, put your things down and examine the patient¡¯s condition first.¡± Pearl stepped aside and let Simon go to Susan. Simon¡¯s expression turned serious the moment he started his examination. He leaned over and carefully assessed Susan¡¯s b*dy, inspecting her neck, hands, and wrists. All traces of his usual smiles had disappeared. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s easy to cure her, but it¡¯ll take some time.¡± Speechless, Pearl asked, ¡°Why did you frown then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just sad because I¡¯ll have to stay here for a few days.¡± Simon¡¯s mood soured. ¡°I¡¯d rather be ying chess. Ugh, I really don¡¯t want to be here. This ce reeks of disinfectant.¡± His words made Pearl¡¯s l*ps twitch, but she held back her amusement and asked, ¡°Are you going to treat her or not?¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 ¡°Yes, of course. Alright, both of you, please step out. I¡¯ll administer some injections and treatments to thisdy.¡± Simon pushed both Richard and Pearl out of the room and closed the door. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Standing outside, Richard looked at Pearl with an unfathomable expression. Pearl noticed his concern and reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Despite Simon¡¯s attitude, he¡¯s dedicated to his work He¡¯ll save Missus Susan Richard nodded but seemed to disregard her words as he inquired instead, ¡°Are you nning to return to work at thepany?¡± ¡°Going back to thepany¡­¡± Awkwardness filled Pearl when she recalled that she hadn¡¯t informed Richard in person about her abrupt departure from thepany the other day. ¡°Do I¡­ have to go back?¡± Richard replied gloomily, ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping the director¡¯s position in the design department for you.¡± His sincerity made Pearl nod firmly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go back to work there.¡± ¡°I think Mister Simon needs some time to save my mom. I¡¯ll help take your things back to thepany now.¡± Shocked, Pearl asked, ¡°Do I have to go back today?¡± ¡°Yes, I hope you can resume your duties at Waldorf Enterprises today.¡± Following that, Richard furrowed his brow, recalling the events of that morning. ¡°I¡¯d also prefer if you came back and lived with us tonight, rather than continuing to stay in that ce.¡± At a nce, Richard could tell that Raymond had some ulterior motives toward Pearl, and it was best if Pearl stayed far away from Raymond. Yet, apprehension gripped Pearl as she recollected what had happened at the Waldorf Residence. ¡°But I¡­¡± ¡°No more ¡®buts¡¯ Come home with me.¡± Richard felt very ufortable at the thought of Pearl being close to Raymond. His jealousy made Pearl think of Raymond. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you? Are you still worried about Raymond?¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you know that.¡± Richard gave Pearl a cold look. Snickering inwardly, Pearl forced herself to nod. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go back now. Don¡¯t worry about Missus Susan because my mentor can heal her alone.¡± After a brief discussion, they returned to Waldorf Enterprises. Sean had been managing Waldorf Enterprises these days because Richard rarely went to the ¡°Pearl?¡± Sean was rmed when he saw her. ¡°Why did you bring Pearl here? Didn¡¯t she leave?¡± Although Dustan didn¡¯t hold Sean in high regard, Susan treated all her sons equally. Of course, Sean would have some prejudice against Pearl after Susan¡¯s sudden ident. ¡°Pearl came back to work here,¡± Richard stated inly without any exnation. ¡°Richard, have you forgotten what Pearl did the other day? That¡¯s our mom! She¡¯s in this condition, and we don¡¯t even know when she¡¯ll wake up. And now you¡¯re getting along so well with Pearl. How could you do this when Mom was so kind to you?¡± Sean lost control of himself and said angrily, ¡°Richard, I let you take care of Mom because you wanted to, while I managed thepany by myself. Why are you doing this?¡± Richard didn¡¯t expect such words from Sean, as thetter had always been carefree. For a moment, he was rendered speechless. Suddenly, Pearl stepped forward and stated calmly, ¡°I didn¡¯t harm her.¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173 ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± Sean chuckled. ¡°Who else could it be then?¡± ¡°Abby.¡± 1/2 Hearing that, Seanughed sarcastically. ¡°Abby? My mom practically raised her. How could it be her?¡± ¡°Whatever. You¡¯ll know when I find the proof.¡± Pearl didn¡¯t intend to argue further with Sean, knowing that tarnishing Abby¡¯s image would not be easy. ¡°So, what do you want then? Are you trying to find evidence to prove your innocence?¡± Richard cleared his throat, intervening to quell the impending argument. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. It¡¯s not Pearl¡¯s fault.¡± Sean, filled with disbelief at Richard¡¯s defense of Pearl, struggled to control his emotions. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll see how she¡¯ll find her so- called evidence since you believe her.¡± With that, Sean snorted and left. When Richard caught sight of Pearl¡¯s sadness, he tried tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t take Sean¡¯s words to heart. That¡¯s just how he is. He tends to say unpleasant things.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll go to the design department now.¡± After bidding Richard goodbye, Pearl returned to the design department alone. When the members of the design department saw her, they were filled with joy at first, but that enthusiasm soon gave way to an ufortable silence. Baffled by their peculiar behavior, Pearl turned to a close colleague and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why does everyone seem Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. awkward around me?¡± Her colleague looked around and lowered her voice, ¡°You see, Miss Pearl, when you left, Mister Sean had Miss Abby take over your position since Mister Richard wasn¡¯ting to thepanytely.¡± ¡°So, Abby is now the director of the design department?¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated upon hearing that Abby had reced her again. ¡°Alright, I understand ¡± Pearl entered her office and found Abby seated at her former desk, diligently at work. Abby was rubbing her shoulders while keeping her head down. When she noticed someone standing nearby, she looked up. Upon seeing Pearl, she smiled. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t it Pearl? Why are you suddenly back to work?¡± ¡°Yeah, I returned to see who eagerly took my ce after I left.¡± Hearing that, Abby kept her head down as if she was being scolded. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t my choice. Sean asked me to take over your position because he felt that it couldn¡¯t remain vacant. If you¡¯re unhappy about it, I can talk to Sean and ask him to return the position to you. ¡± Pearl chucked. ¡°No need, it¡¯s unnecessary. I don¡¯t have the habit of snatching things back from others.¡± ¡°Pearl, I¡­¡± A male colleague nearby, seeing Abby on the verge of tears, feltpelled to protect her and rebuked Pearl, ¡°Why can¡¯t Abby take this position? Are you the only capable one, Pearl? Besides, you left first. Abby cameter to fill your role. She didn¡¯t steal it from you. Why do you belittle her like this?¡± Pearl shed him a smile and distracted him. ¡°Have you ever heard of the story of the blind men and an elephant?¡± For a moment, the man didn¡¯t understand her and wondered what it was. Abby felt ted when the man defended her, but her joy quickly turned to anger when she noticed the man being captivated by Pearl. She couldn¡¯t fathom why all the men seemed to fall under Pearl¡¯s spell, and she longed to disfigure Pearl so she couldn¡¯t enchant anyone else. 2/2 ¡°Alright, thank you for your concem, sir. I know that Pearl is just having a hard time epting it, but it¡¯s fine.¡± Abby gently nudged the man¡¯s arm, feigning shyness Chapter 174 Chapter 174 ¡°If Richard finds out that you¡¯re so close with another man¡­¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t help but be amused by Abby¡¯s pretentious and catty behavior. Pearl¡¯s words filled Abby with a lingering fear. Subconsciously, Abby forcefully pushed the male colleague aside. ¡°Abby, why¡­¡± Suddenly, the man felt like he was being a k*ss-*ss, and he wasn¡¯t pleased to be disliked even after defending Abby. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way, Mister¡­¡± Abby started to exin herself, but the man didn¡¯t want to hear it and left in a huff. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s stop here. Richard might overhear if you continue. Oh, by the way, I actually came back to the office with him today.¡± Suddenly, Pearl¡¯s eyes lit up as she waved at someone behind Abby. ¡°Richard.¡± Abby sneered. ¡°Quit lying. I know he¡¯s in his office, reviewing contracts, and he won¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m here.¡± A familiar voice sounded behind Abby, causing her to break out in a cold sweat. She turned around, visibly flustered when she saw Richard¡¯s expressionless face. ¡°Rick, I don¡¯t think you heard what I just Said¡­¡± Calmly, Richard said, ¡°I heard everything.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. The man helped me, so I¡­¡± Abby attempted to exin herself, but Richard appeared disinterested. He walked over to Pearl and, with his head lowered, asked, ¡°Sean informed me that he appointed Abby as the director of the design department, is that true?¡± His tone was so intimate that it filled Abby with envy, as if he were whispering sweet nothings to a lover. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t need this job.¡± Pearl seemed indifferent, as the role of a design director didn¡¯t hold much interest for her. Moreover, she had deliberately contradicted Abby earlier due to her own emotions. After all, Abby had gone to great lengths to irk Pearl, and Pearl was determined to show her displeasure. ¡°It¡¯s not the same.¡± After a brief pause, Richard¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Would you like to be my personal secretary instead? Your sry will double, and it¡¯s not tiring at all.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Pearl hesitated instinctively. ¡°I¡¯m not used to that because I¡¯ve never been anyone¡¯s secretary.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Reluctance crept in as she didn¡¯t want to work tirelessly for him. Richard smiled, sensing her reservations. ¡°I won¡¯t bully you. I just want to offer you an easier job.¡± He felt that having her as his secretary would be pleasant, especially since she couldn¡¯t be the design director. Additionally, it would bring her closer to him. ¡°No, I don¡¯t need that.¡± Meanwhile, Abby stood nearby with an exaggerated gaping expression. She couldn¡¯t understand why Richard was speaking to Pearl so gently and even offering her the role of his secretary. In the past, Abby had begged Richard for a long time to be his secretary, but he had remained unmoved. Now, he wanted to make Pearl his secretary instead. ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Pearl, Rick?¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 cing his hand on Pearl¡¯s shoulders, Richard asked nonchntly, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do this. Aunt Susan wishes you to marry me, not Pearl. What will she think if you do this? She¡¯s still in aa at the hospital. How could you be with the person who pushed her down the stairs?¡± Abby¡¯s voice turned sharp as she refused to ept the situation. ¡°I¡¯ve told you a long time ago that I¡¯m not interested in you. Don¡¯t attempt to manipte me by mentioning my mother or trying to push all the me to Pearl.¡± Taking a step forward, Richard sounded impatient. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it could have been you who pushed her, Abby?¡± But Abby continued with her act. ¡°Do you really think I could do something like that? I would never harm Aunt Susan, Rick. She¡¯s been so kind to me. How could I- ¡°Just stop. Don¡¯t ruin myst good impression of you.¡± After that, Richard pulled Pearl to his office, leaving Abby behind with her fear and anger. Pearl leaned against the office table with curiosity. ¡°Why did you suddenly speak up for me today, Richard? Haven¡¯t you always believed it was my fault?¡± ¡°I know you didn¡¯t push my mom down the stairs.¡± ¡°Why the sudden change of heart?¡± Richard looked out the window at the traffic outside and said, ¡°The other day at the hospital, you were so eager to prove it wasn¡¯t your fault. You took care of my mom and even asked Mister Simon toe Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. all the way from abroad. If you were the one who pushed my mom down the stairs, I don¡¯t think you would have acted that way.¡± He added, ¡°Plus, most importantly, I trust you. My long-standing trust in you won¡¯t be swayed by others¡¯ one-sided usations, and my heart will always be on your side.¡± Warmth overwhelmed Pearl. She didn¡¯t expect that Richard would take her side without any conditions. ¡°What are you thinking, Richard? Do you really want me to be your secretary?¡± Richard looked at her and asked, ¡°Why not? Isn¡¯t being my secretary a good job?¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve never been a secretary before. Why are you so sure everyone wants to get close to you like Abby does?¡± Pearl rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. ¡°Abby won¡¯t remain the design director for long.¡± Richard kept his head down, his frustration hidden. ¡°Once I find evidence of her harming my mom, she¡¯ll pay for it.¡± Pearl nodded in understanding ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bite the bullet and be your secretary for a few days.¡± ¡°Good. Start by making me a cup of coffee, no sugar.¡± With that, Richard settled into his office chair and started reading contracts. ¡°So fast, huh?¡± Cursing, Pearl went out to the coffee machine with Richard¡¯s cup. However, as Pearl left his office to fetch the coffee, she overheard Sean¡¯s gossip. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 ¡°Did you guys hear? Our vice president signed a contract with Lawson Enterprises, but it looks like this contract is going to cost thepany a lot of money!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard it from the vice president himself the other day. He told me it was an ident. He got drunk at a party and was forced to sign it. But he hasn¡¯t informed the president about it yet. Maybe he¡¯s afraid of getting scolded.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t Lawson Enterprises our enemy? Why would he so readily sign a contract with them?¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t easy. He put in a lot of effort to secure the contract. Maybe our president is so impressive that Mister Sean wanted to prove himself by making a big deal with a major group like Lawson Enterprises. Surprisingly, Lawson Enterprises tricked him like this¡­¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Get back to work quickly. Let¡¯s not let him overhear us.¡± The group dispersed, leaving Pearl brewing coffee. When she looked up, she saw Sean, who was also preparing coffee nearby. It seemed that Sean had heard their conversation, and he was as white as a sheet. Pearl could empathize with his feelings. He had worked hard to prove himself, but he was now being framed due to his naivety. epting such a situation would be difficult, especially when others were gossiping about him behind his back ¡°Sean,¡± Pearl began, but Sean interrupted her rudely before she could say anything else. ¡°Do you want tough at me too?¡± For a moment, Pearl was puzzled by his question and asked with confusion, ¡°Why would Iugh at you?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what they were saying over there?¡± Sean sneered. ¡°Why are you pretending?¡± ¡°No, I just wanted to ask about the contract you signed with Lawson Enterprises. How did they manage to swindle tens of millions out of thepany?¡± At the mention of that, Sean turned beet red. ¡°I only signed and contract with them, but they gave me subparnd. That¡¯s why thepany N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. suffered losses¡­ I just can¡¯t believe that the piece ofnd turned out to be substandard. I distinctly remember checking the inspection report, and there was no indication of any issues. How did this happen?¡± Sean couldn¡¯tprehend why this situation had happened unexpectedly. ¡°You know that Lawson Enterprises has always been our enemy. Coborating with such shrewd old men is really risky. Plus, Richard wasn¡¯t around-¡± ¡°Oh, Richard. You¡¯re talking about Richard again. Don¡¯t tell me this world can¡¯t work without him. Ever since we were young, everyone has used him to overshadow me. We¡¯re both Waldorfs, but is he really that good? Am I really that bad?¡± Richard had forever been the pride of the Waldorfs. Even when he made mistakes, people regarded them as mere sl*p-ups and never questioned hispetence. However, the same leniency didn¡¯t apply to Sean. ¡°No one used Richard to diminish you, but you¡¯ve been using him as a benchmark for yourself. Or maybe he¡¯s influenced you too much.¡± Pearl sighed. ¡°I understand that Richard is indeed more aplished, but he¡¯s not perfect. He has his own ws. You don¡¯t need to put so much pressure on yourself, Sean. It¡¯s alreadymendable as long as you give it your all¡± Stunned, Sean realized it was the first time someone said that kind of thing to him. ¡°So, don¡¯t look down on yourself. Now, can you tell me what happened?¡± Chapter 177 Chapter 177 but I ¡°I received a sudden call from the president of Lawson Enterprises that day. He said they wanted to coborate with us, initially declined because I knew about our longstanding rivalry with them. However, Mister Chet persisted and made several offers, eventually pressuring me into agreeing. ¡°After that, I personally inspected thend they were offering. Mister Chet exined that they were short on time to deal with thend and decided to transfer it to us due to ourpany¡¯s rtively strong financial position. I never expected thend to turn out like this. I couldn¡¯t have imagined he would deceive me in this manner¡­¡± Sean expressed his regret. ¡°Alright, I have a general idea now.¡± Pearl rubbed the ce between her brows. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that Seancked sensitivity. ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with them in a few days and try to return thend to them.¡± Pearl¡¯s words shocked Sean. At that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that he didn¡¯t possess the same courage and determination as Pearl, despite being the vice president of Waldorf Enterprises. Guilt washed over him. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll see how it goes.¡± Suddenly, Sean recalled something and asked in a daze, ¡°Pearl, my mom¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯ll recover soon. I¡¯ll inform you when she wakes up.¡± Pearl realized that she had been here to make coffee for Richard. Checking the time, she realized she had taken too long. Immediately, she rushed back to Richard¡¯s office. ¡°What happened? Why did it take you half an hour to make a cup of coffee?¡± Richard frowned at Pearl. Awkwardly, Pearl cleared her throat. ¡°Oh, I got a little distracted.¡± ¡°By the way, I want to discuss something with you.¡± Richard picked up a report on the desk and ced it in front of Pearl. ¡°I just learned that Sean signed a contract with Lawson Enterprises during my absence and lost us 65 million dors.¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just not very perceptive. You just need to teach him a little bit.¡± It was beyond Richard¡¯s imagination that Pearl would throw in some nice words for Sean, and it made him jealous. ¡°Why? You don¡¯t want me to scold him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s your brother, not mine. Feel free to scold him if you want, it¡¯s not my business.¡± Shrugging, Pearl wasn¡¯t willing to meddle in their affairs. ¡°The main issue now is how to recover that 65 million dors. It¡¯s actually Lawson Enterprises¡¯ fault, so we can¡¯t let them off the hook easily.¡± Leaning forward, Pearl asked, ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a n, but I need your help.¡± Instinctively, Pearl covered her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want me to seduce that old guy?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Richard said, looking shocked. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. With a sly smile, Pearl touched her nose. ¡°Just a thought.¡± ¡°I want you to ask Mister Chet out, and we¡¯ll use an attractive person as bait. Yes, Mister Chet is ruthless, but he also has some other weaknesses.¡± Nonchntly twirling a pen in his hand, Richard continued, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll find someone else to be the attractive person.¡± ¡°Why do I have to be the one to ask him out?¡± Paused, Richard asked, ¡°Because I want him to think that you¡¯re the one he¡¯s meeting.¡± ¡°When should I do that?¡± Shaking his head, Richard replied, ¡°No rush. Let¡¯s wait for my mom to wake up first.¡± Just then, Simon called Pearl. Hearing themotion and shouting on the other end of the call, she frowned. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± It sounded like there was a fight or argument happening in the background. ¡°What¡¯s happening over there?¡± 2/2 Simon seemed to have realized that he had dialed Pearl¡¯s number and immediately replied, ¡°A couple of men suddenly barged in and tried to take this woman away¡­¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Pearl didn¡¯t catch what Simon said next as she urgently informed Richard about the crisis. Together, they rushed to the hospital. When Pearl entered the ward and saw the mess, she called out, ¡°Where are you, Simon?¡± ¡°Over here!¡± Suddenly, Simon crawled out from under the bed. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± The floor was scattered with several men, visibly trembling. One of them attempted to rise but struggled to do so. ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°I have no idea. They tried to attack me, but thankfully, I know some martial arts, or I¡¯d be in trouble.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Terribly frightened, Simon patted his chest. ¡°You know martial arts?¡± Pearl was surprised, considering Simon¡¯s typical activities involved wine and chess, leaving little time for martial arts training. ¡°I gave them some injections. It might take them half an hour to recover.¡± ¡°But why did you hide under the bed?¡± Pearl assumed Simon had sought refuge there to avoid danger. ¡°I was worried that if someone walked in and found me alone, they might think I was the attacker. I¡¯d be long gone if they called the police.¡± Covering his eyes, Simon sobbed while sneakily ncing at Pearl, who seemed indifferent to his tears. Relief washed over Richard when he noticed that Susan was safe in her bed. ¡°Thank you for your assistance, Mister Simon. If it weren¡¯t for you, my mom might have been in danger.¡± Realizing that Pearl wasn¡¯t alone with him, Simon ceased his tears and smiled awkwardly while rubbing his head. ¡°Well, I enjoy helping people, and since you¡¯re Pearl¡¯s friend, her friend is my friend.¡± ¡°How¡¯s my mom doing, Mister Simon?¡± Simon nodded with satisfaction when Susan was mentioned. ¡°Your mom is stable, but she hasn¡¯t regained consciousness yet. She should wake up within twelve hours.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mister Simon.¡± ¡°You can go now since you¡¯ve treated her.¡± Pearl smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve already booked your flight, and you can leave tonight.¡± Simon¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Let me repeat myself. You can go back tonight. I¡¯m sure Leo from downstairs misses you very much since you¡¯ve been away for eight hours.¡± Pearl maintained herposure and shed Simon a bright smile. ¡°You¡¯re so heartless, asking me to leave after using me.¡± Simon, wiping his tears, grabbed his luggage and began to leave. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Pearl stopped Simon as he walked away. ¡°What is it, Pea? Can¡¯t bear to see me go, can you? I knew it. You care about me. That¡¯s why you suddenly realized your mistake ¡± ¡°My silver needles are getting a bit old. Just give me yours.¡± Pearl not only didn¡¯t care about Simon, she was even plotting against him. That realization hit Simon hard. With a sob, he decided not to trust Pearl anymore. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Ignoring Pearl¡¯s words, Simon wiped away his tears and left. ¡°He¡¯s like that sometimes. Don¡¯t be scared, Richard.¡± Pearl turned to Richard with an awkward smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. He seems¡­ pretty cute.¡± Richard couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything negative about Simon, considering he had saved Susan. However, Simon¡¯s behavior was rather baffling¡­ ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll stay here tonight to wait for her to wake up. We can¡¯t afford any more idents since it¡¯s thest day.¡± Richard nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Luckily, no one disturbed them that night. The following morning, Richard felt a slight movement in his hand while he was still asleep. Being a light sleeper, he woke up instantly. He felt the warmth in his hand and noticed Susan¡¯s fingers curling, moving slightly in his hand. She didn¡¯t open her eyes but continued to move her fingers rhythmically. This movement also roused Pearl from her slumber. When she saw Susan¡¯s fingers moving, she was surprised. ¡°She¡¯s going to wake up.¡± Susan¡¯s eyes fluttered abruptly, and then her eyes slowly opened. ¡°I¡­¡± Her throat was parched from not having a drink for several days, and she felt an intense thirst as if she might suffocate at any moment. ¡°Water¡­¡± Pearl quickly poured a cup of water and helped Susan take a sip. ¡°Madam, are you feeling better C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org now?¡± Susan¡¯s jumbled memories seemed to resurface when she saw Pearl. She recalled the day when her dear Abby had suddenly shown a strange expression and tried to harm her. Now, she remembered that Abby had actually pushed her down the stairs. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m okay.¡± She couldn¡¯t forget the firm grip that had saved her when she was about to fall down the stairs. Surprisingly, the person who had wanted to rescue her had turned out to be Pearl. ¡°You¡¯re a good person¡­ I¡¯ve used you wrongly¡­¡± When Susan made that statement, Pearl¡¯s innocence was proven. ¡°Mom, it was Pearl who saved you.¡± Richard was filled with guilt, thinking about how he had defended Abby and taken her side. ¡°Ah¡­ It was my fault, Rick I wrongly used Pearl and treated her poorly. It was my mistake¡­¡± Susan held Pearl¡¯s hand and tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Madam. You need to rest and take good care of yourself. We can talk more when you¡¯re feeling better,¡± Pearl consoled Susan gently, but just as she spoke, someone opened the door. ¡°Rick, I¡¯m here to see Aunt Susan¡­¡± Abby entered with a basket of fruits but stopped short when she realized that Susan had regained consciousness. Abby¡¯s expression changed dramatically. ¡°Aunt Susan, you¡¯re¡­ awake?¡± ¡°Yes, Abby. Why do you look like that? Is something wrong?¡± Susan regained herposure and asked Abby while smiling. ¡°No, of course not. It¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re awake. I¡­¡± At that moment, Abby stammered, and she regretteding there. She wondered why Susan had suddenly awakened, as Hugo had sworn that Susan would never wake up. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry. I know what you¡¯re afraid of.¡± Calmly, Susan sipped some tea and inquired, ¡°Wasn¡¯t I kind enough to you, Abby?¡± After all, she had been navigating the upper-ss society for decades and hadn¡¯t imagined that she would be treated like this. Now, she had lost all her positive impressions of Abby, and her familiarity with Abby had been reced by vignce. ¡°Aunt Susan, I..¡± Pearl was amused by Abby¡¯s continuous trembling. ¡°Just admit it, Abby. You¡¯ll just get tired.¡± 2/2 Aggrieved, Abby kept her head down. ¡°I really don¡¯tnow what you¡¯re talking about, Pearl. I¡¯m just here to see Aunt Susan. I¡¯ll leave if you don¡¯t want me here. There¡¯s no need to treat me this way.¡± Certainly, everyone understood the hidden meaning behind Abby¡¯s words. She was too ashamed to stay and wanted to sneak away. ¡°Don¡¯t rush off, Abby. Why would you want to frame Missus Susan? You told me she practically raised you. Aren¡¯t you grateful for her?¡± Abby didn¡¯t expect Pearl to be so direct. She panicked when Pearl looked so serious. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do it. It was you who pushed her down the stairs. It has nothing to do with me!¡± She still tried her best to defend herself at that moment. ¡°You¡¯re still unwilling to admit your mistake? Don¡¯t regret it if you¡¯re not forgiven then.¡± Pearl turned to Susan and smiled.¡± Tell us, Madam. What happened that day?¡± ¡°It was Abby who pushed me down the stairs!¡± Wide-eyed, Abby demanded, ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°Evidence? We have an eyewitness right here. What more do you need?¡± Pearl narrowed her eyes, realizing that Abby was bing unreasonable. Sneering, Abby said, ¡°Is everything you say the truth? I have a witness to prove my innocence too.¡± ¡°Alright, go ahead and get one. If you really find your so-called evidence, I¡¯ll apologize to you and never step into Enswood again.¡± Pearl¡¯s harsh words pushed Abby into desperation. Thus, Abby had no choice but to brace herself and make a call. Before long, Hugo walked in, d in his white coat. A fleeting, scheming glint passed through Hugo¡¯s eyes when he realized Susan had awakened, but he quickly put on a gentle smile. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re awake.¡± When Susan saw Hugo, warmth filled her eyes. ¡°I just woke up. Oh, by the way, why did you suddenly ¡°Abby called me and said you woke up. That¡¯s why I came to see you.¡± ¡°Are you Abby¡¯s so-called witness, Hugo?¡± Pearl, upon seeing Hugo, confirmed the conspiracy between him and Abby. ¡°Witness? What witness?¡± Confused, Hugo ignored Abby¡¯s pleading look. Abby immediately grabbed Hugo¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I asked you toe and vouch for my innocence, Hugo. You know I would never push Aunt Susan down the stairs, right?¡± Being a germophobe, Hugo quickly withdrew his hand, ovee with disgust. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it myself, Abby, and I have no concrete evidence. How can I be your witness?¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Hugo¡¯s words were logical and impable. Yes, he was right. After all, he had nothing to do with that incident. Abby asked him toe just to hide her panic and expected that he could bring her hope. But Abby didn¡¯t anticipate that Hugo would harm her instead, even though he had been helping her. ¡°What do you mean, Hugo? Didn¡¯t you promise to always help me?¡± Abby¡¯sposure shattered, a stark contrast to the calm she felt moments ago when she thought Hugo was on her side. Now, incredulity filled her as Hugo had refused to testify for her. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re that close. Plus, everyone knows that you like Richard, and we¡¯re just acquaintances. Even if you imed that we grew up together, we didn¡¯t meet each other much. Why should I vouch for you?¡± ¡°No, you conspired with me to frame both Richard and Pearl. You can¡¯t do this to me now, or else I¡¯ll expose everything about you!¡± Facing away from everyone, Hugo didn¡¯t hide his fierceness as he red at Abby. His voice, cool and steady, was enough to intimidate her. ¡°Do you have any proof? You¡¯ll pay for your schemes, Abby.¡± Finally, with a push from his hand, Hugo nearly made Abby sl*p and fall. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is there anything else you want to say?¡± Pearl¡¯sughter was unmistakable in the silence of the room. ¡°I¡­¡± Abby stammered faintly. No one heard her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a fruit knife on the table, and her l*ps twisted into a sinister grin. In a swift move, seized the knife and held it against Susan¡¯s throat. She chose Susan because it was a little difficult to approach Richard and Pearl, given their alertness. ¡°Abby, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Richard¡¯s voice trembled, struggling to grasp Abby¡¯s sudden breakdown. she ¡°I¡¯ve loved you for years, Richard. Why did you fall for Pearl as soon as I returned? You all sided with her against me, even trying to push me out. She¡¯s deceived everyone, and now I¡¯ve lost everything! This is all your fault!¡± Abby¡¯s voice echoed with a dangerous edge, her focus solely on her vengeance. She wanted to kill Pearl and everyone in front of her. Frowning, Richard made up his mind when he saw that Abby was about to sh Susan¡¯s neck. He softened his tone and said, Abby.¡± Hearing her name spoken so tenderly by Richard, Abby hesitated. ¡°What did you say?¡± she whispered in shock. ¡°Abby, let¡¯s get married.¡± Abby couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. ¡°You¡¯ve finally said it¡­¡± While she was distracted, Hugo lunged and snatched her knife, giving her a kick. In the tussle, the de sliced his palm. Seeing the blood, Pearl quickly tore a strip from a bedsheet and wrapped it around Hugo¡¯s wound, securing it tightly. 17 ¡®Be more careful next time. Make sure that¡¯s treated properly, or it could get infected,¡± Pearl advised Hugo. For a moment, Hugo wondered if she truly cared about him, and he looked at his hand in a trance. When reality snapped him back, he called the security guards over. Defeated, Abby slumped to the ground, tears clouding her vision. ¡°I Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Security quickly arrived, ready to escort Abby to the police station, but Susan intervened. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Let her go. I don¡¯t have the heart to do this.¡± Despite everything, Susan¡¯spassion for the girl she had cherished for over a decade remained. ¡°Our rtionship ends here, Abby. Don¡¯t you ever step foot in our home again.¡± Hugo, with an edge to his voice, added, ¡± Throw her out and make sure she doesn¡¯te back.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The guard dragged Abby away, leaving a tense silence in her wake. Pearl checked Susan¡¯s neck, which was still bleeding, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you alright, Madam?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch. I¡¯ll be okay.¡± Susan said, touched by Pearl¡¯s worry. ¡°Pearl, I realize my past mistakes. I promise not toe between you and Richard. And if he ever wrongs you, I¡¯ll set him straight.¡± She then shot Richard a stern nce as a warning. ¡°What should we tell the Flores family then?¡± Richard asked. He and Abby had an arranged marriage since they were children, and now after what Abby did, there was no way they were going to go through with it. Susan huffed, ¡°Considering how well they¡¯ve raised their daughter, I doubt they¡¯d say a word once they hear about her actions. I¡¯ll deal with them.¡± Hugo clenched his fist, frustrated by how the events had made Richard and Pearl¡¯s rtionship stronger. ¡°Madam, you¡¯re probably not fully recovered yet since you just woke up. We¡¯ll leave you to rest,¡± Pearl said, noticing Susan still looking pale. Susan nodded tiredly andid back down. Outside, in the tranquility of the garden, Hugo smiled and said, ¡°I guess you can be openly together now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes, annoyed with his tone. Hugo lowered his head to hide the emotions in his eyes. ¡°Because I like you too. Now that you two are together, where does that leave me?¡± Pearl retorted, ¡°Enough with the games, Hugo. It¡¯s getting old.¡± Hugo didn¡¯t care about her-he was only interested in the benefits he could get from her. Although he had no idea what they could be yet, he kept persistently chasing her. Pearl knew things were as simple as they seemed. But Hugo was undeterred. ¡°It¡¯s not a game. In over two decades, my heart has only been drawn to one. Don¡¯t just brush me off. Hugo didn¡¯t make clear what he liked about Pearl but his eyes lingered. ¡°1 ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me what you want from me? I might be able to help you with it.¡± Hugo pretended he didn¡¯t hear that and asked, ¡°Would you marry me?¡± Exasperated, Pearl chose to disengage from the conversation. At that moment, Richard stepped in, cing a protective arm around Pearl. ¡°She¡¯s going to be your sister-inw soon, so stay away from her.¡± Hugo scoffed. ¡°Sister-inw? We¡¯ll see.¡± Chapter 182 Chapter 182 What Hugo said affected Pearl deeply. Richard saw her zoning out and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Pearl?¡± Coming back to the present, Pearl met his gaze. ¡°What Hugo said made me feel¡­¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s not that simple too, right?¡± Richard looked into her eyes and read her mind. ¡°He used your mother¡¯s life to threaten me, yet he risked himself by grabbing the knife from Abby to protect her. Do you think he really cares for your mother?¡± Hugo¡¯s actions were unusual, so Pearl couldn¡¯t understand what was on his mind. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s just pretending to grab the knife.¡± Richard sighed. He and Hugo lived together for so many years, but he didn¡¯t lmow Hugo well and didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with thim. However, when Pearl said that, even though he suspected that, he still asked, ¡°Pretending?¡± ¡°Yes, of course he was pretending. Think about it. Why would a child take his mother¡¯s safety so lightly? Do you really think the hospital removing Madam¡¯s breathing tube is an ident? The nurses do rounds daily, and Hugo is the director of the hospital. Who would dare do something like that without his approval?¡± Pearl analylzed the situation and made a good point. ¡°My mom has always been very nice to him.¡± Richard pressed his l*ps together and sounded serious. ¡°I know. Madam loves all her children, but after seeing what Hugo did, do you think he¡¯s a grateful person?¡± Pearl remembered what he said and couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°Let¡¯s observe for a few more days. I¡¯d like to see what he¡¯s going to do next.¡± Richard had lost all trust in the brother he had lived with for decades. ¡°But before that, remember to take good care of Madam. Even if she¡¯s not in danger anymore, you should still be cautious.¡± Richard nodded and suddenly had a bad feeling. ¡°You need to be careful too.¡± ¡°I know. If Abby is going to take revenge, I¡¯ll be ready for her.¡± Richard suddenly remembered something and put his arm around her shoulders. ¡°If she does something stupid, don¡¯t hold back. Do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Pearl felt d hearing him say that. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s going to be the five-year anniversary of Hanzel¡¯s debut. I think he¡¯s going to have a concert on that day. Let¡¯s all go.¡± Pearl remembered Hanzel mentioning it that morning so she nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing we need to do before that.¡± Before Richard could finish, Pearl cut in, ¡°You¡¯re talking about the Lawsons?¡± Richard gave a faint smile. ¡°Yes. Since my mom is safe now, why don¡¯t we take action today? My assistant told me Mister Chet doesn¡¯t have any meetings or appointments scheduled for tonight. Let¡¯s Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. talk to him tonight.¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Pearl burst outughing. ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have ns today anyway.¡± They then called Chet to schedule a meeting. Chet was still a little wary and distrustful of Richard due to the recent deception involving Waldorf Enterprises. However, when he heard that Pearl wanted to meet him, his eyes lit up. This beautiful woman¡­ How nice it would be if he could get his hands on her. Before Pearl could say anything, Chet eagerly agreed to the meeting. In a private room at the restaurant, Chet noticed Pearl sitting not too far away and couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. ¡°Miss Pearl. How can I help you today? Have you finally realized you need my help?¡± Chet said as he reached out his hand towards Pearl. Pearl skillfully evaded his attempt and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss business matters first before we move on to other topics.¡± Chet¡¯s heart raced as he heard her sultry voice. He quickly nodded. ¡°Of course, let¡¯s talk business first before anything else.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to have a proper discussion with you regarding the plot ofnd,¡± Pearl said with a slight pout, appearing somewhat reluctant. ¡°We¡¯re no longer interested in it. Do you think it¡¯s possible for us to cancel the agreement?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Chet hesitated because he didn¡¯t expect Pearl to skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point. ¡°Why do you no longer want it? Is there an issue with thend?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a gold mine beneath that piece ofnd, and since we¡¯re not in the mining business, we thought it would be best to return it to you.¡± Chet¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°A gold mine?¡± Why hadn¡¯t he been informed of this? He had personally inspected the geological reports, and thend was deemed unsuitable for development. Pearl widened her eyes and looked helpless. ¡°Yes, weren¡¯t you aware? We can¡¯t construct anything on it because of the substantial gold deposits. It would disrupt our operations¡­ Why didn¡¯t the surveyor inform you of this?¡± Pearl¡¯s acting skills were so convincing that Chet began to worry. If there really was gold on thatnd, he would miss out on a huge profit. However, if Pearl had deceived them, it would be toote once they signed the agreement. ¡°Then¡­ Can I check the geological records first? If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll buy thend back.¡± Pearl smiled. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be fair, Mister Chet. We were the ones who discovered the gold mine, so thend rightfully belongs to us now. With a gold mine present, it only makes sense for thend¡¯s value to increase, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Why would that be?¡± Chet took a deep breath because he hadn¡¯t anticipated Pearl to be such a tough negotiator. Not only was she not someone he could intimidate, but she was also attempting to outmaneuver him. Pearl continued to smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been in this industry for several decades, so you should be well- versed inndws.¡± ¡°Although I admire you, Miss Pearl, I cannot agree to this. Thend originally belonged to us, and I¡¯m simply taking back what is rightfully ours. How did it suddenly be yours?¡± Pearl leaned back and tilted her head at Richard, ¡°Mister Richard, I believe it¡¯s best for us to forget about this.¡± Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Richard replied, ¡°Well, if Mister Chet isn¡¯t sincere about this partnership, we shouldn¡¯t continue this meeting.¡± He then pretended to stand up after saying that. Chet was worried that he had messed things up and stood up too, speaking to Richard in a hushed tone, ¡°Mister Richard, there¡¯s always room for discussion. When Waldorf Enterprises bought thisnd, you only spent 65 million dors. How about this, I¡¯ll give you 130 million to buy it back. What do you think?¡± Although it pained him, the potential value of the gold mine encouraged him to offer that price. ¡°Just 130 million dors? That plot ofnd is worth much more than that,¡± Pearl expressed her dissatisfaction with the proposed price and shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money. If you¡¯re lying to me, I¡¯m going to suffer a significant loss¡­¡± Chet looked anxious as Pearl¡¯s words troubled him. Pearl stood up too. ¡°Lying? If you think we¡¯re lying, we really shouldn¡¯t work together.¡± ¡°Oh, no, no. I¡¯m willing to pay whatever it takes, alright?¡± Chet ended up giving in and offered 195 million dors to purchase the plot ofnd back ¡°We¡¯ll sign the agreement now to seal the deal then.¡± rms immediately went off in Chet¡¯s head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, Miss Pearl. Didn¡¯t we agree to discuss other matters after our business talk? If you¡¯re genuinely interested in me, we could start a rtionship right away. I¡¯d be willing to offer 325 million or even 390 million dors!¡± Pearl¡¯s smile froze. ¡°You¡¯re really generous, but are you serious about it?¡± Just looking at Chet repulsed Pearl, but to secure his signature on the agreement, she had to maintain her facade. ¡°Of course, darling, let¡¯s get intimate¡­¡± Chet attempted to grab Pearl¡¯s hand and pull her into an embrace, but Richard pushed him away. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, Mister Chet?¡± Chet felt annoyed and was about to respond, but suddenly, he felt dizzy and copsed to the floor. Pearl sighed in relief. ¡°Finally. He¡¯s so disgusting.¡± Richard nodded. ¡°I was surprised he came alone just to have a chance to take advantage of you.¡± He sounded jealous, but Pearl didn¡¯t catch that. She assumed Chet had simply let his guard down, so she smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with our n. We¡¯ll leave him in the hotel room, and then¡­¡± Pearl felt sick at the thought of the way Chet had looked at her. She didn¡¯t realize how repulsive he truly was. Richard left Chet in the hotel room and arranged for a woman to pose provocatively on top of him while he took pictures with his camera. After that, they both found a ce to spend the night, waiting for Chet to wake up the next day. Everything unfolded ording to their n. After Chet woke up, he hastily dressed and prepared to leave. However, when he reached the door, people waiting outside immediately began taking pictures the moment they saw him. He was finally afraid. Just then, his phone rang, and he answered it. Pearl¡¯s clear voice came from the other end, ¡°Did you rest well, Mister Chet?¡± Chet froze, his voice trembling as he responded angrily, ¡°What have you done to me? How could you deceive me like this? Fine, you can keep thend or give it away. I don¡¯t want it anymore. Our partnership with Waldorf Enterprises will end immediately!¡± Mietre Chat Why don¡¯t we talk Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Chet¡¯s expression immediately changed when he heard the word ¡®wife¡¯. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that your wife has quite a temper and can be quite jealous. If she were to find out you slept with another woman, do you think she might ask for a divorce?¡± Pearl found out that although Chet was proud in public, he was afraid of his wife. He was very good at hiding it so no one knew. ¡°You b*tch!¡± Even if he wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, he realized he was being set up. ¡°I can imagine how you must feel right now. But if you tried to deceive Waldorf Enterprises, you should have expected us to seek revenge,¡± Pearl said with a smile on the other end of the phone. Chet ground his teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯ll sign the agreement.¡± The three of them sat down in a VIP room to sign the agreement. The moment Pearl got hold of the document, Chet nced at her phone on the table and attempted to grab it. Pearl stretched out her finger and gently pushed the phone toward Richard. ¡°What are you doing, Mister Chet? Trying to breach our agreement?¡± Caught in the act, Chet awkwardly lowered his head. ¡°Never mind. Now that you have the agreement, can you delete everything?¡± Pearl shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. After the plot ofnd is transferred back, I¡¯ll delete the videos and pictures.¡± ¡°I hope you keep your word!¡± Chet red at them and left. ¡°It¡¯s done, Richard.¡± Pearl smiled cunningly, waving the agreement in her hand. ¡°Yes, thanks to you, we managed to outwit that old man.¡± Richard chuckled. ¡°But you promised me that once all this is over, we¡¯ll be a couple. Is that still true?¡± Pearl felt a little awkward and tried to change the topic. ¡°He¡¯s just easy to trick. Oh, by the way, when are we going to attend Hanzel¡¯s concert? The ticket he gave me is for the twenty-ninth. What date is today?¡¯ ¡°The twenty-ninth.¡± ¡°So his concert is already happening?¡± Pearl, unaware that she was runningte, was eager to leave, but Richard wasn¡¯t pleased to see her so anxious. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org She promised him, yet now she was so anxious because of another man. There was no way he could be d. ¡°Why are you so anxious to see his concert? You like him that much?¡± ¡°What?¡± Pearl was confused. They had it nned and everyone was going together. She shouldn¡¯t be wasting time. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll send the documents back to the office and sort things out. You should go.¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Pearl froze, and before she could react, Richard left. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Her phone suddenly rang. ncing at the screen, she saw Hanzel¡¯s name and promptly answered the call. She heard Hanzel¡¯s cheerful, deep voice. ¡°Pearl, do you have any ns after work? Can youe to my concert if you¡¯re free?¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± The concert venue was packed, and she had to squeeze her way to the front row. After listening for a while, Richard still hadn¡¯t shown up, but she was enjoying the performance a lot and was savoring the moment. Hanzel was quite a good singer and had improved a lot since before. ¡°To thank you for your support, we¡¯ve randomly selected a guest to receive a mystery gift from me.¡± The stage lights immediately focused on her. There was no escape, and everyone¡¯s eyes were on her. Hanzel smiled at her. ¡°It¡¯s Miss Pearl. Could youe to the stage to receive the gift please?¡± Pearl reluctantly made her way to the stage, sensing trouble ahead when she saw he was watching her with adoration in his eyes. ¡°My mystery gift is¡­ a k*ss!¡± Hanzel¡¯s thousands of fans collectively screamed with excitement after he made the announcement. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he pick me?¡± ¡°I want a k*ss from him too!¡± ¡°He¡¯s never k*ssed a girl before. Is this his first k*ss?¡± Pearl looked at Hanzel with an awkward expression. ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t a good idea.¡± Hanzel moved his microphone aside and whispered to her, ¡°I had no choice. It was thepany¡¯s request, not mine.¡± Thepany had only asked for a hug. He had decided to go for the k*ss but didn¡¯t n to reveal that to her. Hanzel smiled and leaned in. ¡°Pearl, this is my first on-screen k*ss. Enjoy the moment.¡± Pearl stood awkwardly as he leaned closer and cupped her face. She couldn¡¯t escape, so she closed her eyes, anticipating the k*ss. However, the k*ss she expected never came. Instead, a k*ss gently touched her forehead. ¡°Ahhhhhhh! He¡¯s so gentle!¡± ¡°So d it wasn¡¯t on the l*ps, or I might die of heartbreak!¡± ¡°That¡¯s so sweet I could die!¡± Hanzel had managed to control his impulses at thest moment and k*ssed her on the forehead instead. He knew he couldn¡¯t rush things, or Pearl might be upset and hate him. Pearl opened her eyes and saw Hanzel smiling at her, feeling relieved that it hadn¡¯t gone further. She slowly returned to reality, only to notice a pair of intense eyes ring at her. She turned to see Richard standing there with a chilling aura, his gaze filled with anger. When did he get here? Pearl looked into her eyes, but he abruptly turned and left. She suddenly felt as if she¡¯d been caught cheating. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Pearl felt increasingly frustrated. She walked off the stage, strangely wanting to exin herself to Richard, even though she didn¡¯t really need to. What could she possibly say? That she had no idea this would happen, and she couldn¡¯t just walk out on Hanzel during his concert? She didn¡¯t want to ruin his performance. Pearl hung her head and tuned out the world around her. All she knew was that Richard was angry at her and ignoring her. When they got home, Pearl finally saw Richard. He was sitting on the couch, working as if he hadn¡¯t seen her at the concert. Pearl tried to start a conversation on a random topic. ¡°You went to the concert today?¡± Richard nodded and didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°Are you angry?¡± she asked. Richard couldn¡¯t help but scoff at her questioning. ¡°Why do you care if I¡¯m upset? Weren¡¯t you enjoying yourself with Hanzel? Pearl¡¯s anger rose. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and Hanzel. Stop jumping to conclusions.¡± ¡°So you think what I saw was just my imagination, huh?¡± Pearl remembered the k*ss and struggled to find the right words. ¡°That was just part of the concert. I was put on the spot¡­ ¡± ¡°Put on the spot? You seemed to be enjoying it.¡± Richard was so angry when he saw the k*ss that he lost all sense of logic. Pearl¡¯s eyes went cold. ¡°Why are you so childish, Richard? This isn¡¯t like you.¡± Those words finally made him realize his own behavior. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for overreacting. I shouldn¡¯t try to control you,¡± he said, then stood up and walked away. Pearl stood there, feeling wronged and hurt. Their strained interactions didn¡¯t go unnoticed by everyone at home and even their colleagues at work. They distanced themselves from each other, avoiding any conversation or eye contact. Christmas approached, and during a meeting, Richard proposed designing couple¡¯s rings to sell for the holiday season. One of the employees, Sophia Arnault, a recent addition to the design team, stood up. ¡°Can I take this project please?¡± She wasn¡¯t usually outspoken, but on this day, she took the lead on the project. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Richard paused and asked, ¡°Can you handle this project on your own?¡± Sophia smiled confidently. ¡°Of course. Pearl came up with an excellent proposal shortly after joining the to give it a try too.¡± She then turned to Pearl and smiled. ¡°Pearl, I wouldn¡¯t be stealing your thunder by doing this, would I?¡± Pearl returned the smile. ¡°What thunder? Go ahead.¡± Someone in the room scoffed. ¡°Pearl is our internationally renowned designer Angel. Who do you think you are?¡± Sophia looked down. ¡°I know I¡¯m not as aplished, but¡­ I want to make my mark in thispany. Also, I¡¯ve heard thepany is willing to give newbies a chance, so I¡¯d like to contribute¡­¡± Richard frowned and said to the person who just spoke, ¡°Is that how we treat new employees here?¡± The person looked away in fear, intimidated by the president¡¯s disapproval. Pearl¡¯s heart felt a pang as she listened to the exchange. ¡°Very well then, Sophia will handle this project. Feel free to approach me if you have any questions. If no one else has anything to add, we¡¯ll conclude the meeting for today.¡± Richard¡¯s tone signaled the end of the discussion. Chapter 188 Chapter 188 After the meeting ended, the person who had mocked Sophia approached Pearl. ¡°Pea, I think the president is ying favorites! ¡± Pearl was already feeling annoyed, so when she heard that, she raised her brows. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°This proposal was supposed to be yours. I don¡¯t know what Sophia did to get such an important task from him. I feel angry for you!¡± Pearl didn¡¯t mind, so she shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who writes the proposal, as long as it¡¯s done well.¡± That person couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°Pea, you¡¯re so naive. You better keep an eye on that fox!¡± Pearl smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. Sophia was just a young woman trying to show her potential. That didn¡¯t make her a cunning fox. Suddenly, Pearl felt dizzy, likely due to the immense stress she had been under recently. She shook her head and took a few steps, but her vision went ck, and she copsed to the floor. Richard saw her through the ss door and immediately rushed to her aid, opening the door to help her up. Pearl appeared unusually flushed, so he touched her forehead, rmed by her warmth. ¡°How could you not realize you have a fever?¡± scolded Richard as he scooped her up, preparing to take her to the hospital. Sophia saw what happened and hurried over. ¡°Mister Richard, what happened to Pea?¡± She sounded genuinely concerned for Pearl. ¡°She has a fever. I¡¯m taking her to the hospital.¡± Sophia looked at him eagerly. ¡°May Ie along? I want to take care of her. She¡¯s helped me a lot recently, so I want to return the favor.¡± Richard nodded, moved by her sincerity. The three of them went to the hospital, and after a thorough check-up by the doctor, Pearl was ced in a room for IV treatment. Richard went to settle the bill, and Sophia excused herself to use the restroom. This left Pearl alone in the room. The door to the room slowly opened, revealing a shadowy figure who cautiously scanned the surroundings. Seeing no one else in the room, the figure approached Pearl¡¯s bed. It was Abby, who had been gone for some time. She appeared weary, as if she had been through a lot. She was wearing a white coat, pretending to be a doctor doing her rounds. ¡°Oh, Pearl, you¡¯ve fallen into my hands in the end, haven¡¯t you?¡± Abby hissed, her face contorted with anger. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done to me. The Waldorfs have rejected me, and my father sent me out of the country, saying I¡¯m a disgrace. It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Abby¡¯s eyes fixated on Pearl¡¯s neck, and she extended her hands, seemingly intent on strangling her. Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside, causing Abby to stop. She adjusted her coat and quickly left the room. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Sophia returned from the restroom and noticed Abby walking out. ¡°We have a different doctor?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ The doctor sent me here to check on the patient¡¯s condition. She seems fine, so I¡¯m heading back,¡± Abby replied, head lowered to conceal her anxiety. Sophia was confused but chose not to press further. She just nodded and went into the room. Abby took a deep breath and quickly left. It was at that moment that Pearl regained consciousness, and as she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Sophia, smiling down at her. her Chapter 189 Chapter 189 ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Sophia said in a chirpy tone, ¡°I came with Mister Richard. You have a fever, so we brought you here.¡± She emphasized that she came with Richard as if they were close. Pearl couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed at this. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Sophia smiled and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You¡¯re the best employee in thepany, so Mister Richard would be worried if you were sick¡± Sophia seemed to imply that Richard¡¯s concern was purely work-rted, rather than personal. Her words carried hidden meanings, and it grated on Pearl¡¯s nerves. ¡°If you care so much about thepany¡¯s sales, why don¡¯t you go back to work? You should show Richard how valuable you are.¡± Pearlcked the patience to engage in pretense with her. Sophia chuckled. ¡°I came here because I didn¡¯t want you two to have time alone, Pearl.¡± ¡°Oh, why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be honest with you. Mister Richard is my target. I¡¯m good-looking and well-educated. Arnault Enterprises is one of the top yers in the textile industry. If not for him, why would I be just a lowly worker?¡± Another woman with an interest in Richard. Pearl couldn¡¯t help but shake her head at how popr he seemed to be. ¡°It seems your rtionship with Mister Richard is on shaky ground. I suspect his interest in you might be fleeting. After that, he might fall for me.¡± Sophia appeared outwardly sweet and harmless, like a rabbit, yet this was how she talked in private. Richard returned after settling the bill. Hearing his footsteps, Sophia instantly appeared as if she¡¯d been mistreated. ¡°If you hate me so much, Pearl, I can leave. There¡¯s no need to make your condition worse because of me.¡± When she heard the footsteps pause at the door, Sophia continued to y up the situation. ¡°I know you never liked me, but I¡¯m just trying to take care of you. I mean no harm.¡± Pearl noticed Richard at the door and maintained herposure. Richard raised his brows. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Sophia dabbed at her eyes and quickly got up, keeping her head low. ¡°It¡¯s fine, nothing happened.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Did Pearl bully you?¡± Richard was a little hesitant. Pearl wasn¡¯t the type to bully anyone, especially when Sophia hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Pearl scoffed. ¡°Why would I dare do that? You¡¯re so good at jumping to conclusions.¡± Richard sensed the hostility in her tone, and his tone changed. ¡°She¡¯s just a newbie. Don¡¯t bully her.¡± ¡°Would you believe me if I said I didn¡¯t do that?¡± Pearl looked at him with a serious expression. Richard seemed momentarily tongue-tied, and after a long pause, he finally replied, ¡°Never mind.¡± Pearl looked down in disappointment. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else you want to discuss, please leave. I¡¯d like to rest.¡± The atmosphere became ufortably tense. Richard heard Sophia sobbing softly beside him and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s step outside, Sophia.¡± Pearl closed her eyes and turned around in bed. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Pearl stayed in the hospital, unable to do much work, so Richard delegated all her work files to Sophia. Pearl could only manage a sad chuckle when she found out. Was he trying to train Sophia to take over her role? She dismissed the thought and focused on resting. When Dustan found out Pearl was admitted to the hospital and that no one was with her, he asked his five sons to take turns visiting her until she could be discharged. As for Susan, she was very concerned for Pearl, and she wholeheartedly supported Dustan¡¯s decision. It was Richard¡¯s tum to visit on the first day, but Pearl was so angry that she couldn¡¯t even bear to look Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! at him. ¡°You¡¯re a busy man, there¡¯s no need for you to visit.¡± Richard¡¯s eyes darkened at her words. ¡°My dad told me to take good care of you.¡± Pearl found that amusing. ¡°Did your dad threaten you with a knife to make youe? You don¡¯t need to force yourself.¡± Richard replied in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m not forcing myself. I¡¯m here on my own free will.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t important. You have a new colleague to take care of in the office. There¡¯s no need to put on a show here.¡± Each time Pearl recalled how Richard had taken care of Sophia, it hurt her deeply. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and Sophia,¡± Richard asserted. Pearl scoffed. ¡°Only you know if that¡¯s true or not. Who wouldn¡¯t like a kind and ambitious girl?¡± Richard¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to hear her say that. Pearl smiled. ¡°Am I making you ufortable? Why are you reacting so strongly?¡± After a lengthy pause, Richard simply said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Good then. I don¡¯t want to identally call you out.¡± Pearl realized she had been careless with her words and stopped. Richard didn¡¯t know what to say to her, so he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the office now. There¡¯s work to be done.¡± ¡°You know where the door is,¡± Pearl replied dryly, hiding under the nkets after he left and forcing herself to sleep. The following day, it was Sean¡¯s turn to visit her. He knew her rtionship with Richard was strained ¡°I Sean had once suspected her of attempting to harm his mother, but he softened toward her when he remembered how she had helped hispany. Pearl simply replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°No? When you¡¯re together, your faces are so sour we could make lemonade,¡± Sean quipped. ¡°Did you suddenly realize I was the better choice, and Richard wasn¡¯t worth your affection?¡± Pearl¡¯s head began to ache. She looked at Sean¡¯s smiling face and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°If you have too much free time, you should go back to work. I don¡¯t want to hear your banter.¡± ¡°Richard is quite heartless. He still has feelings for his ex. It¡¯s quite intriguing,¡± Sean remarked candidly, though harshly. Pearl endured his conversation for a bit longer before politely sending him on his way. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 On the third day, it was Hugo¡¯s turn to visit. Pearl didn¡¯t want to entertain his constant requests to be with him, so she feigned sleep every time he entered the room, avoiding conversation. The following day, Hanzel, despite having a busy schedule, cleared his day just toe see her. He couldn¡¯t help but ask when he saw her lying in bed, ¡°Why did you suddenly get a fever?¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just too stressed with work, or because I caught a cold, but I¡¯ll be alright soon,¡± Pearl said, noticing the worry in his C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org eyes and trying to reassure him. Hanzel frowned. ¡°Why would you be in the hospital for so long if it¡¯s just a fever? What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°The doctor said I¡¯ve been under too much stress. In addition to the fever, I have low blood pressure, which is putting extra strain on my b*dy. That¡¯s why I have to stay here for a few days.¡± Pearl didn¡¯t want to be there for that long either because it was a waste of time. At the same time, she was so bored she didn¡¯t know what to do there. However, the doctor insisted on her staying and wouldn¡¯t discharge her for at least a week. Hanzel sighed. ¡°Alright then. The doctor knows best. You should rest.¡± But then a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. ¡°How are you feeling now?¡± Pearl answered honestly, ¡°I think I¡¯m alright now. I don¡¯t feel anything bad.¡± Hanzel smiled slyly. ¡°Well, how about we go for a walk? Christmas is approaching, and the streets will be crowded at night.¡± Pearl wanted to turn him down, but images of Richard standing up for Sophia shed in her mind, annoying her. ¡°Sure,¡± Pearl quickly agreed. They tidied up the room, and Hanzel had a pair ofrge sunsses to conceal his identity. Since Pearl had be quite well- known, she also wore a mask and shades. Pearl felt much better after being cooped up in the hospital for nearly a week Hanzel took her out for dinner first. They savored kebabs and beer by the roadside, and it was so rxing. Pearl was surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you like this.¡± Hanzel responded with a bright smile, ¡°What, celebrities aren¡¯t allowed to enjoy street food?¡± ¡°Of course not. I was worried your fans might see you here and overwhelm the stalls,¡± Pearl said, bursting intoughter at the thought. Hanzel gazed at her smiling face, and his heart skipped a beat. ¡°I usuallye here alone, but I¡¯m d you¡¯re here with me this time.¡± Pearl raised her brows curiously. ¡°No one wants to join the celebrity for some kebabs?¡± ¡°Would youe with me again?¡± Hanzel asked sincerely. Pearl didn¡¯t hear him at first, so she looked up. However, from the corner of her eye, she noticed two people standing on the side of the street. She couldn¡¯t tell who they were. The woman was standing in front of the man with her head bowed, and her shoulders appeared to be trembling. In the next moment, the woman copsed into the man¡¯s arms, but the man pushed her away. Pearl immediately recognized them-Richard and Sophia Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Pearl¡¯s eyes narrowed. Has Sophia taken up that special space in his heart? They looked intimate. Was this how Richard showed his desire to be with her? His affection was too cheap. A mix of emotions overwhelmed Pearl¡¯s heart, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Hanzel followed her gaze toward Richard, who was standing there with Sophia, and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the girl next to Rick?¡± ¡°An employee,¡± Pearl replied in a t tone and looked away. Hanzel grinned. ¡°They look more than just employer and employee.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Pearl was no longer in the mood for dinner. Hanzel secretly felt pleased seeing how intimate Richard appeared with another girl. As long as Richard gave up on Pearl, he might have a chance. Hanzel suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see some Christmas lightster. You can write your wishes on the decorations, and they say Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! your wishes wille true. A lot of people are doing it¡­ Pearl suddenly stood up and said in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go back¡± Hanzel was shocked. ¡°But we haven¡¯t seen the Christmas lights yet.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to do that anymore. I¡¯m feeling a bit tired and want to rest,¡± Pearl said, looking drained and in a foul mood. Hanzel couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Pea, have you fallen for my brother?¡± He hoped it was just a crush, as that would mean he had a better chance. Pearl denied it. ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?¡± Hanzel challenged, ¡°If you haven¡¯t, why do you care so much? You should just admit it.¡± It might be love, but so what? Richard didn¡¯t love her back. He was merely infatuated, and once that infatuation faded, he would return to his old self and perhaps fall for someone else. Pearl said with a cold expression, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Don¡¯t ask me that question again.¡± Hanzel was about to say something more when Pearl turned and walked away. The next day, it was Mobius¡¯s turn to take care of Pearl. He had always been hot-tempered, but after Pearl helped him, his attitude toward her had changed drastically. Mobius smiled. ¡°Do you want an apple? I can peel it for you.¡± Pearl shook her head. ¡°No. Also, I don¡¯t need anyone here to take care of me. You should go back to school and leave me.¡± Mobius understood she said that out of concern for him, so he replied, ¡°I promised to look after you, so I won¡¯t leave until the day is up.¡± Pearl was about to say something when a knock on the door interrupted her. She looked toward the door and saw Sophia, dressed in a white outfit, looking pure and demure, with a smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯vee to visit you, Pearl.¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve done that. Can you leave now?¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 The obvious rejection didn¡¯t make her back down. Instead, she took a few steps forward. Sophia raised her chin, looking smug. ¡°Pearl, I came to tell you something.¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t help but scoff because she already knew what Sophia was about to say. ¡°What? Did you get a promotion?¡± Sophia appeared pleased and smiled at Pearl. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this. Mister Richard asked me to take over as the new design director. I really appreciate your guidance and support until now, so I came to thank you.¡± Pearl had expected this news, but hearing it still hurt her heart. ¡°Who¡¯s this, Pea?¡± Mobius, looking at this woman whose smile made him ufortable, couldn¡¯t help but frown. Pearl smiled. ¡°This is your brother¡¯s protege, thepany¡¯s new design director.¡± Mobius had already developed a liking for Pearl, and when he saw someonee to unt her sess to her, he couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Tsk, my brother has terrible taste. Why is his design director dressed like a teenager? People might think he has some kink¡± Sophia¡¯s expression turned awkward, and anger coursed through her, but she restrained herself because this was Richard¡¯s brother. ¡°This is just the way I dress. Why do you have to attack me¡­¡± Mobius sneered. ¡°Save your act. There¡¯s no need to pretend here. My brother enjoys seeing you cry, but I don¡¯t buy it. Go cry to him.¡± Unable to bear the humiliation, Sophia abruptly fled from the room, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I thought Sean had the sharpest tongue among your family, but you¡¯re definitely a close contender,¡± Pearl remarked, feeling much better after the incident and immediately liking Mobius more. This young man was very level-headed and good at dealing with snakes. Mobius scoffed. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand people who pretend to be weak.¡± ¡°Anyway, thank you for what you did.¡± Pearl sounded very sincere. Mobius smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. My brother likes you, so I have to protect you.¡± Pearl hesitated before saying, ¡°He doesn¡¯t really like me.¡± Mobius rolled his eyes. ¡°Pea, can¡¯t you see it, or are you just pretending to be clueless? My brother treats you exceptionally well. How could he not care about you? He even said he wanted to marry you. It was the first time I heard him say that about anyone. If that doesn¡¯t prove it, I don¡¯t know what would.¡± Mobius¡¯s words knocked some sense into Pearl. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll head home now. Think about it, Pea.¡± He stood up and said goodbye. After Mobius left, Pearl took some time to collect her thoughts. When sleepiness finally overcame her, she slowly closed her eyes and drifted into a deep slumber. In her dream, she could hear voices near her ears. ¡°Hurry up, she¡¯s about to wake up. Be quiet!¡± ¡°I really wonder who this beautiful woman has offended. Why would someone try to kidnap her and quietly kill her? Tsk tsk, what a waste.¡± ¡°What a waste? There¡¯s no time to feel bad. The client promised to pay us 1 million dors. With that money, you can have any woman you want. Let¡¯s get on with it. Tie her up!¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s get this over with. Her skin is so smooth. Let me touch her¡­¡± Pearl felt herself being lifted and was about to open her eyes to see who was talking. Those people realized she was awake, so they rushed to grab a chloroform-soaked cloth and ced it Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. over her face. She immediately slumped back, sumbing to a deep sleep once more. Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Richard, who hade to visit Pearl, found the bed empty. When he touched it, it was still a bit warm. Richard found it weird because Pearl wasn¡¯t supposed to be discharged yet. Why wasn¡¯t she in her room? Could she have taken a walk outside? Frowning, he waited for half an hour, but there was still no sign of her. His stomach churned with unease, and a sense of foreboding came over him. He quickly dialed Hugo¡¯s number, informing him of the situation and requesting that he review the surveince footage to find out where she went. Hugo¡¯s heart dropped when he heard Pearl was missing. If something happened to her, all his ns would go down the drain. Hugo checked the surveince footage and noticed some suspicious activities. A few people were seen dragging arge piece of luggage, ncing around nervously before hastily leaving the premises. Could it be¡­ He took screenshots of the footage and sent them to Richard. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed three hours of footage, and these two people appear the most suspicious. It seems they ced Pearl inside the luggage and took her out that way.¡± Richard stared at the oversized bag, his heart heavy with dread. ¡°How long ago was this?¡± ¡°About an hour. I don¡¯t believe they left too long ago, but the camera footage didn¡¯t capture their faces clearly. You might need to search for a while,¡± Hugo exined, though his concern was more about Pearl¡¯s value to him than her safety. However, seeing what happened in the footage, Pearl was in grave danger so he had to find a different way to achieve his goals. Richard examined the images of the two suspects and immediately contacted the police. He also sent the information to his assistant, instructing them to gather more details about the men. The police promptly identified the culprits and shared their information. Coincidentally, both men had recently been released from prison and were willing to resort to anything to make some money, leading them to abduct Pearl. They were Louis Maplewood and Wilhem Sachs, both from the city¡¯s rough neighborhoods. Richard sent someone to speak to the suspects¡¯ parents and find out how to get in touch with them. He dialed a number, and when it went unanswered, he tried the other one. Finally, a voice on the other end casually answered, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Louis sat in the passenger seat of the van, nonchntly picking his teeth after enjoying a rotisserie chicken. He didn¡¯t suspect anything when he saw the iing call. ¡°Where are you?¡± Louis looked around and rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s some random ce on the outskirts. How am I supposed to tell you where?¡± Suddenly sensing something wasn¡¯t right, he questioned, ¡°Who is this?¡± There was only silence on the other end, and that¡¯s when Louis realized he had made a mistake. He quickly ended the call. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Damn, this guy¡¯s definitely trying to track down the woman. I almost told him where we are,¡± Louis muttered. Wilhem, the moreposed of the two, smiled and reassured his partner, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Even if they could teleport, they wouldn¡¯t know our location. Worst case scenario, we¡¯ll just go elsewhere.¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Louis smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Pearl, who was still unconscious. ¡°The chloroform is really strong. She¡¯s still knocked out. Do you know who she is? Why wasn¡¯t I aware there¡¯s such a hottie in town?¡± Wilhem smirked. ¡°We just got out of prison three days ago. How would we know?¡± ¡°This chick is smoking hot. Do you think we should¡­. have some fun with her before we do the job?¡± Louis¡¯s excitement was obvious as he imagined what he wanted to do with her. ¡°Cut it out. Look at how pathetic you are.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Their voices were loud, and the rough ride on the road jolted Pearl awake. The surroundings and the tape over her mouth immediately made her realize she was being abducted. However, these two criminals were either inexperienced or overly confident. They hadn¡¯t tied her up, nor had they taken any of her belongings. Pearl dared not make a sound. She watched as they chatted, realizing that they wouldn¡¯t notice her subtle movements. So, discreetly sent a text message behind her back. she Without being able to see the screen, she relied on her instincts to send her location, unaware of the recipient¡¯s identity. After sending that out, she put her phone away and pretended to be asleep again. She had initially thought of fighting back but ultimately decided against it, considering her weakened state due to the fever. When they reached their destination, Pearl pretended to wake up and looked at them with a confused expression. ¡°Who¡­¡± ¡°Oh, our little hottie is awake. I was worried the bumpy road might have knocked you out,¡± Louis said with a perverted grin, attempting to touch her face. ¡°I wonder what you did at your young age to have someone want to kidnap you. Such a shame.¡± Pearl noticed that the two men had no idea who she was, which boosted her confidence. Their guards were down because they didn¡¯t recognize her, seeing her as merely a girl who had incurred the wrath of someone with money. If they had known her true identity, they wouldn¡¯t have easily agreed to take this job. ¡°Who sent you?¡± Pearl inched backward, pretending to be weak. ¡°I¡¯m not just going to spill the beans like that. But then again¡­ why not? You¡¯ll be dead tonight, so it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Louis said, enticed by her beauty and carelessly letting out more information. ¡°Have you ever heard of the Flores family? One of the wealthiest in the city. Miss Abby sent us. I don¡¯t know what you did that made her want to kill you.¡± ¡°Well, what¡¯s stopping you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to, but Miss Abby wants to kill you herself. She¡¯s going to be here soon, so we¡¯re still waiting.¡± Louis seemed to be amazed at how ruthless Abby was. Pearl¡¯s heart turned cold upon hearing this. Not only did Abby harbor a strong enough grudge against her to want her dead, but she also intended to carry out the act herself. Wilhem, seemingly the smarter of the two, smacked Louis on the shoulder and admonished, ¡°Alright, stop revealing anything else to her. Our client wants this kept under wraps.¡± Chapter 196 Chapter 196 ¡°Tsk! Why are you such a coward? She¡¯s just an ordinary woman and can¡¯t do anything. You¡¯re worrying too much.¡± Louis clicked his tongue a few times and cast a sidelong nce at Wilhem As they stood guard in the abandoned garage, they engaged in idle chatter while waiting for Abby, all the while Pearl remained silent. However, Abby still hasn¡¯t shown up, and this worried them. ¡°Is she okay? What¡¯s taking her so long?¡± ¡°Nonsense! Just behave yourself.¡± They started to curse under their breath, worried that they¡¯d have kidnapped Pearl in vain if Abby had suddenly changed her mind, and they¡¯d end up empty-handed. Suddenly, a rhythmic knock echoed on the door, three long knocks followed by two short ones-clearly their predetermined code. Beaming, they eagerly opened the door. Abby, disguised with sses and a mask, quickly entered the room. After a quick scan of her surroundings, she snickered when she found Pearl lying awkwardly on the floor. ¡°Oh, Pearl. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d end up like this one day.¡± Pearl, unruffled, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Abby¡¯s disheveled appearance. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days. Why do you look ten years older, Miss Abby? You¡¯re quite audacious to kidnap me. Aren¡¯t you worried that Richard might hate you?¡± ¡°Hate me? I couldn¡¯t care less about Richard¡¯s thoughts now, Pearl. I¡¯vee to realize that he doesn¡¯t love me. He¡¯d rather love you than me. But it¡¯s difficult for me to ept because I fell for him long before you did, and I love him more. Why does he love you?¡± Abby¡¯s demeanor seemed unhinged. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind, Abby.¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Abby, but she must say something to stall for time and wait for rescue. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s gone mad, not me,¡± Abby retorted, drawing nearer to Pearl and slightly bending over. Then, her expression changed as she noticed that Pearl¡¯s limbs weren¡¯t bound. ¡°What¡¯s this? Why haven¡¯t you tied her up? You can¡¯t let her run away.¡± Louis, frightened by the sudden shift in Abby¡¯s attitude, stammered, ¡°I didn¡¯t tie her up because she¡¯s just a young woman and doesn¡¯t seem very threatening¡­¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. A sinister and malicious glint entered Abby¡¯s eyes. ¡°Tie her up now, or she might attempt something. She¡¯s very cunning.¡± And so, Wilhem found an abandoned length of rope in the garage, casually wiped it clean on his b*dy, and proceeded to bind Pearl. After that, Abby pped Pearl¡¯s face. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it feel awful to be kidnapped, Pearl? What do you want now? Do you want to kneel and beg me to spare your life?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote to stop this, Abby.¡± Abby pped Pearl again, this time with greater force. ¡°Don¡¯t f*cking meddle in my affairs! I wouldn¡¯t be in this situation if it weren¡¯t for you. I¡¯m not afraid of death, and I want to take you down with me!¡± Leaning her head back andughing, Abby didn¡¯t dream of surviving after kidnapping Pearl. Pearl¡¯s l*ps started to bleed from the p. But she chose to remain silent to avoid further enraging the unstable woman before her. With her hands behind her back, she discreetly used the ring on her hand to cut the rope. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling rather proud and superior, Pearl? Why are you pretending to be weak now? How disgusting!¡± Abby grabbed a handful of Pearl¡¯s hair and yanked her forcefully. ¡°Listen closely. This is what you deserve. A person like you should rot in hell!¡± The pain was so intense that Pearl almost shed tears. ¡°Abby, you¡­¡± ¡°Enough! Every time you say my name, it makes me want to kill you even more.¡± Abby took a sharp dagger from her pocket and waved it menacingly in front of Pearl. ¡°I¡¯ve coated this de with poison, and just a single cut can kill you. Do you want to Abby¡¯s words were abruptly cut off as someone forcefully kicked open the door. Startled, Abby turned her gaze toward the intruder, confusion filling her face as she didn¡¯t expect to see Hanzel standing there. ¡°It¡¯s you, Abby!¡± Hanzel, having received Pearl¡¯s distress signal, postponed the shoot and rushed to the scene. He had arrived quickly but was taken aback to find that it was the obedient-looking Abby who had kidnapped Pearl. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you very surprised to see me?¡± Abby was now too impatient to keep up the pretense. Indifferently and impatiently, she admitted, ¡°It¡¯s how I was supposed to be.¡± Hanzel nced around and found two menacing-looking men in the distance. They looked like they knew some martial arts. Furthermore, Abby was armed with a dagger. Charging recklessly could get Pearl hurt, so he hesitated to make a move. Pearl, seeing that it was Hanzel, experienced an inexplicable sense of disappointment for some reason. Her worry for him urged her to say, ¡°Just go, Hanzel. Don¡¯t stay here. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°Is there anything more dangerous than you being kidnapped, Pearl?¡± Hanzel looked at Pearl and asked seriously. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t have time to listen to you discuss which is more dangerous.¡± Squatting down, Abby held the dagger close to Pearl¡¯s face and yed with it. ¡°I¡¯m curious to see what¡¯s so enchanting about your pretty face that it could seduce so many men. What will you do if your face is ruined?¡± The dagger neared Pearl¡¯s face, its chilling gleam threatening. Suddenly, Abby raised the dagger, ready to stab Pearl. Hanzel acted swiftly, rushing forward and kicking Abby¡¯s back. The unexpected impact sent Abby stumbling forward uncontrobly. Abby¡¯s sudden fall gave Pearl a chance to stand up and shake off the rope, having secretly cut it earlier. ¡°Our boss is hurt. Hurry! Don¡¯t let that woman escape!¡± Louis and Wilhem panicked as they realized Pearl was about to make a run for it. They moved to intercept her. But Hanzel knew nothing about martial arts, and Pearl was still weak. They couldn¡¯t defeat the gangsters at all. Seeing Pearl¡¯s frailty, Hanzel took the blows for her, shielding her with his own b*dy. But the two men didn¡¯t go easy on Hanzel and gave him a barrage of blows that left him reeling and on the verge of losing consciousness. Lying atop Pearl, Hanzel struggled to speak betweenbored breaths. ¡°Be careful, Pearl¡­ Watch out¡­ N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Don¡¯t let them bully you¡­¡± Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Bitterness overwhelmed Pearl as she didn¡¯t expect Hanzel to go to such lengths. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org She had always considered Hanzel as more of a fanboy,cking the kind of romantic affection that a man might feel for a woman. But now, she wasn¡¯t so sure anymore, given his current actions. ¡°Come on, Hanzel. Get up and go. I¡¯ll be fine on my own.¡± Shaking his head, Hanzel endured the repeated painful punches on his back, the pain causing blood to trickle from his l*ps. ¡°I¡¯ll never leave you alone here. I want to be with you, and I won¡¯t abandon you¡­¡± Abby crawled back to her feet, gritting her teeth in hatred because of Hanzel protecting Pearl. ¡°How dare you kick me, Hanzel! You¡¯re well aware of the situation between Pearl and Richard, yet you still cling to her. Disgusting!¡± ¡°Let Pearl go, Abby, or my family won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± Hanzel looked up, trying to speak despite his weakened state. But his weak voice only amused Abby, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°How ridiculous! Do I look like I¡¯m afraid of death? Don¡¯t me me if I do something to you today, Hanzel.¡± With a nod, Abby signaled to Louis and Wilhem. ¡°You guys did well. Just wait over there. I¡¯ll transfer your money after I¡¯m done with them.¡± Both Louis and Wilhem were the models of humble ttery now. They were over the moon because of her promise of their reward. ¡°Okay, take your time. We¡¯ll wait over there.¡± After turning around and noticing Hanzel stubbornly lying atop Pearl with no intention of letting go, Abby was consumed by sudden rage. She raised her dagger and stabbed Hanzel in the shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± Hanzel cried out in agony as the intense pain coursed through his b*dy, causing him to curl up and eventually lose consciousness. Pearl¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°This is Hanzel, Abby. You¡¯re so cruel!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Anyone who stops me from killing you must die. Get it?¡± Abby pulled the dagger out of Hanzel¡¯s shoulder and wiped the blood from it with her handkerchief. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s your turn now. Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for this day? I want to see you dead so badly¡­¡± As Abby raised her hand, a stone struck her wrist. Instinctively, she released her grip, and the dagger ttered to the floor. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Abby looked at the door with vignce, but she saw no one there. When she turned back, she spotted Richard standing in the distance, his expression cold. ¡°Rick, why are you¡­¡± In her desperation, Abby knew that she was doomed, but she still became timid at the sight of Richard. ¡°Let them go.¡± Suddenly, Abby understood that Richard was here only to save Pearl, and it filled her with envy. Bending over, she picked up the dagger and pressed it against Pearl¡¯s neck. ¡°Why should I? No, I¡¯m not letting them go! I¡¯m taking them down with me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Abby!¡± Richard had never looked so furious, and it left Abby stunned. ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times that I was nice to you in the past because we were young, and because you were staying in my house. I was forced to be kind to you, or I couldn¡¯t exin it to your father. I¡¯ve never had feelings for you. You¡¯re just my sister, and I¡¯ve never thought of marrying you. ¡°Stop pestering me, and we might still be friends. If you kill Pearl, you and your family will suffer terribly. Do you think you¡¯ll be spared after giving everything up? I¡¯ll make you suffer so much that you¡¯ll wish for death.¡± Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Richard rarely said so much, but fear grabbed his heart at the sight of Abby holding a dagger against Pearl¡¯s neck. He was really afraid of losing Pearl forever. Abby, on the other hand, didn¡¯t expect to feel heartbroken when she heard the words she had rehearsed countless times in her heart. Of course, she was aware of that. She could tell that the only woman Richard loved was Pearl by the way he looked at thetter. Besides, she knew that he only regarded her as his sister. But he was so perfect, like a sculpted masterpiece, that she couldn¡¯t help wanting to keep him by her side. But Pearl had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and ruined Abby¡¯s n. In her panic, Abby had resorted to various schemes to prevent them from bing a couple. She couldn¡¯tprehend why all her efforts were futile, and she had ended up in despair, not only ruining her own family but also incurring the wrath of Richard¡¯s family. It felt like she had gained nothing except pain and heartache. While Abby was lost in her thoughts, Richard seized the opportunity. He wrested the dagger from her grasp and kicked her three meters away. Abby, upon hitting the ground, began to cough up blood. ¡°You¡¯re doomed, Abby,¡± Richard dered. He made a phone call, and within ten seconds, a group of armed forces stormed in. They promptly carried Hanzel out, while Richard helped Pearl to her feet. Staring at Abby coldly, Richard warned her, ¡°The cops will get here soon. You¡¯d bettere up with your statement. There¡¯s no escaping jail this time.¡± Richard¡¯s patience with Abby hadpletely run out, and her wickedness repulsed him. ¡°Have you never liked me, Rick? Even just a little?¡± Abby asked with tear-filled eyes, her voice pleading and hopeful. Seeing Pearl on the brink of fainting, Richard picked her up. Abby¡¯s question made him show an aloof expression as he replied, ¡°Never.¡± With that, he turned and left without another word. Meanwhile, Louis and Wilhem trembled in a corner, unable to believe that the people they had beaten up and kidnapped turned out to be members of the Waldorfs. The Waldorfs were the most prominent aristocratic family in Enswood. Even if Louis and Wilhem had managed to earn a million dors, they might have faced dire consequences. Besides, the cops woulde soon, and they would be imprisoned again even though they had just gotten their freedom. When they heard the sirens approaching, they resigned themselves to their fates and closed their eyes. Abby wiped the blood from her l*ps and stood up. After ncing around, she found that she had nothing except the two trembling men in the corner. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! With a pathetic smile, she stared at the sharp dagger in her hand for a moment. In the next instant, she plunged the dagger into her own heart, blood gushing forth. Her deepest regret was falling in love with Richard. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 The sight of Pearl in his arms made Richard frown. He broke out in a cold sweat, overwhelmed by a sense of remorse for what had happened to her. He rushed her to the hospital and gently ced her on a bed after she had received some basic bandaging. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Are you okay, Pearl?¡± But Pearl¡¯s mind was on Hanzel. The dagger used against him had a sharp, darkened de, and might have been coated with poison. She feared that Hanzel¡¯s condition might be critical after being stabbed. ¡°Take me to Hanzel now. Hurry.¡± ¡°Why are you so concerned about Hanzel now?¡± Richard couldn¡¯t understand why Pearl was so insistent on seeing Hanzel when she had just regained consciousness. He wondered if it was because Hanzel had risked his life to save her. Anxious, Pearl answered, ¡°Something might go wrong with him. Drive me to the hospital now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Pearl. He¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve gotten the best doctor for him. You just need to rest well, and don¡¯t worry about other stuff.¡± Richard¡¯s jealousy red up as he couldn¡¯t bear to see Pearl showing such concern for Hanzel. On the other hand, he was genuinely worried about her fragile state and didn¡¯t want anything to jeopardize her well-being again. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t go for now, but please make sure someone is there to keep an eye on Hanzel. And if anything happens, you must inform me immediately,¡± Pearl pleaded with Richard. ¡°Okay, just rest first,¡± Richard replied, relenting. Suddenly, Richard thought of something and asked, ¡°Why did Hanzel know about this before me?¡± Given that Hanzel had been busy with his film shoots and hadn¡¯t visited Pearl in the past couple of days, Richard was puzzled about how Hanzel had managed to arrive on the scene faster than him, even though he had reviewed the surveince footage. ¡± ¡°I secretly texted him and sent him my location because the kidnappers didn¡¯t take my phone on the way. That¡¯s why he came. Pearl didn¡¯t find anything wrong with it, but Richard found it annoying. ¡°Why did you text Hanzel first when you got into trouble?¡± This unfair treatment filled Richard with envy. Chuckling, Pearl retorted, ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t text you because you¡¯re always busy with work Plus, you have to teach the neer, right?¡± Although it was very sarcastic, Pearl just said it for fun. Besides, she thought she had texted Richard instead. Knowing that she was acting out of spite because of Sophia, Richard¡¯s face was icy. ¡°I told you it¡¯s not like that. Sophia is just my subordinate.¡± ¡°Just your subordinate? Why did you hug her then?¡± Pearl recalled what she had witnessed by the kebab stall-the moment when Sophia had thrown herself into Richard¡¯s arms, and how he hadn¡¯t immediately pushed her away. It had left an impression of hesitation and attraction. ¡°You saw that?¡± Richard was stupefied, as he hadn¡¯t expected that Pearl had witnessed that particr moment. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I saw you rather enjoy hugging Miss Sophia. But you don¡¯t have to exin so much to me because we have nothing to do with each other. It¡¯s none of my business even if you fall in love with her.¡± Although Pearl sounded sarcastic, she was heartbroken while looking at Richard¡¯s face. As expected, she couldn¡¯t easily believe in men¡¯s romantic words. Once the novelty passed, everything would be gone. Richard was struck speechless, stung by her words. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± After saying that, Richard tucked her in and left the ward. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 The surgery room still had its lights on when a doctor exited the room. His expression was grave as he approached Richard. ¡°I¡¯ve got some bad news. The patient has experienced significant blood loss and is in a state of shock. We suspect that the poison may have already spread throughout his b*dy. Uhm¡­ Please sign this form.¡± Richard¡¯s eyes turned icy upon hearing that. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it takes, you must save Hanzel. I won¡¯t sign that, and he must survive this! If anything happens to him, I¡¯ll make sure you quacks pay the price.¡± The doctor¡¯s heart skipped a beat, well aware of Richard¡¯s reputation for ruthlessness. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Okay, we¡­ we¡¯ll try our best,¡± the doctor stammered before quickly returning to the surgery room. Richard gazed at the illuminated signboard above the surgery room entrance. Finally, he decided to call Pearl. ¡°Hanzel¡¯s condition is quite serious. The doctor mentioned heavy blood loss and shock, and the poison might have spread to his whole b*dy. Probably¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say the worst-case scenario. At that moment, Pearl had set aside her conflict with Richard. She leaped out of the bed and hastily put on her shoes. ¡°Tell me where the surgery room is.¡± ¡°The one at the far end of the third floor.¡± ¡°Okay, wait for me. Ask the doctors to help stop his bleeding before I get there. But please don¡¯t move his b*dy.¡± Pearl rushed there as quickly as she could. When she reached the door of the surgery room, she spotted Richard sitting on a nearby bench with his head bowed, lost in thought. ¡°Has the doctore out yet, Richard?¡± Richard shook his head. Pearl had more questions, but the door swung open. It was the same doctor, and he looked a little nervous. ¡°I genuinely want to save him, Mister Richard, but we¡¯ve done everything we can¡­ The poison has gotten worse, and we can¡¯t stop his bleeding at all¡­¡± Eagerly, the doctor asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys sign the form first?¡± He trembled nervously as he spoke. Pearl went over and asked, ¡°Does your hospital have enough herbs?¡± The sudden question stunned and confused the doctor. ¡°Herbs?¡± ¡°Yeah, herbs.¡± The doctor raised his head proudly. ¡°Of course. This hospital is equipped with thergest herbal system in Enswood. We have almost every type of herb.¡± ¡°In that case, can you allow me to enter and perform the surgery?¡± Pearl¡¯s proposal caught the doctor off guard, and his brows furrowed. ¡°Please stop joking, miss. You¡¯re injured yourself, and this is no time for jokes. We¡¯ll do everything in our power to save the patient. Please don¡¯t make a scene here.¡± Frowning, Pearl suddenly came up with an idea. ¡°Have you ever heard of Simon Freeman?¡± ¡°Simon Freeman? Of course, everyone knows that famous and exceptional physician,¡± the doctor spoke with admiration for Simon. ¡°I¡¯m his only disciple.¡¯ || The doctor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 ¡°You¡¯re Simon¡¯s disciple? How is that possible? He started living in seclusion ten years ago. I heard he went abroad and became a professor at a medical college. How do you know him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve studied abroad, so it¡¯s not unusual for me to know him.¡± Pearl then thought, ¡®A professor? Simon was just toozy. He hid in a city abroad for his retirement.¡¯ ¡°I heard that our country still hasn¡¯t found a cure for AIDS. But what if your hospital could make a breakthrough?¡± Pearl dropped a tempting suggestion. ¡°AIDS? Curing AIDS isn¡¯t that simple. You¡¯re still quite young, Miss. Let¡¯s not argue about whether you¡¯re really Simon¡¯s disciple. No one has managed to cure AIDS after all these years. Are you trying to convince me to let you into the surgery room?¡± The doctor mistakenly believed he had figured out Pearl¡¯s n, and it made him feel smug. ¡°No, I¡¯m not lying. There have been recent developments in treating the disease abroad, with records of He won¡¯t die under your care, and it¡¯s an opportunity for your hospital. This could be your chance for a promotion. Even if I fail to save him, Richard is here, watching. Plus, I¡¯ll take full responsibility for it. What do you have to lose?¡± Pearlid out all the potential benefits and drawbacks. The doctor, enticed by the prospects, finally felt swayed by the interests at stake. He looked to Richard as if waiting for the ¡°Let her do it.¡± Finally, the doctor¡¯s anxiety eased. He instructed someone to fetch a surgical gown and mask for Pearl before leading her into the surgery room. The surgery continued, with people entering and exiting the room countless times, bringing in herbs. After about two hours, the light on the surgery room signboard finally turned off. Richard snapped back to reality instantly. He stared at the tightly closed door, eagerly waiting for Pearl and the others. When the door opened, Pearl emerged first. She appeared weak and unsteady, as if she had expended all her energy. However, her expression was inscrutable. ¡°How did it go, Pearl?¡± Looking into Richard¡¯s eyes, Pearl smiled. ¡°He¡¯s okay now.¡± Richard breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m d he¡¯s okay. Let me take you back to your room so you can rest. We can talk more when you¡¯re feeling better.¡± He felt so sorry for her now. ¡°No, I have to stay in Hanzel¡¯s roomter. He could still be at risk of severe blood loss,¡± Pearl replied, declining Richard¡¯s offer. Her refusal made Richard frown. ¡°We can just leave this task to a nurse, or I can get someone from my family. You¡¯re in no condition to be up and about.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Pearl rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m most familiar with Hanzel¡¯s condition right now. I was the one who performed the surgery. Ordinary nurses might not notice if something goes wrong. We could miss the critical treatment window, and that would put him in danger again.¡± Pearl¡¯s exnation was reasonable, but Richard was filled with displeasure. ¡°Why do you care so much about him?¡± Pearl sneered. ¡°He was stabbed by Abby because he wanted to save me. I¡¯d risk my life to save him.¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 ¡°You said you saw me hug Sophia. Can you tell me who you went out with?¡± Richard¡¯s inquiry was met with Pearl¡¯s silence. ¡°It was Hanzel, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Pearl couldn¡¯t waste time arguing with Richard now. She turned and left with the others when Hanzel was pushed out of the room, leaving Richard behind in contemtion. When Pearl arrived at the ward and saw Hanzel¡¯s tightly closed eyes and pale l*ps, guilt surged within her. If only she hadn¡¯t texted Hanzel, he would still be energetically filming on set, not lying motionless in a hospital bed. Pearl had used the best herbs to stop the bleeding and had applied Simon¡¯s detoxification secret form. In theory, Hanzel should be awake by now, but he remained unresponsive. As if in response to her thoughts, Hanzel began to stir. His fingers twitched, and his eyes slowly opened. ¡°Pearl¡­¡± Pearl was in a trance, but she leaned over when she heard him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Hanzel, relieved to see Pearl safe despite her tired appearance, replied, ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just d you¡¯re safe.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes at him. ¡°That¡¯s not a reason for you to risk your life to save me. You¡¯re not a child, okay? You should take better care of yourself. Why did you save someone who¡¯s not even relevant to you?¡± Unexpectedly, Hanzel became serious. ¡°No, you¡¯re not irrelevant. You¡¯re as important to me as my parents, Pearl. Even though you may think I¡¯m not serious about you, as if it¡¯s just a passing fancy, I¡¯ve never seen you as prey. I genuinely care about you.¡± Hanzel¡¯s confession left Pearl bewildered. ¡°Okay, you must still be recovering and not thinking straight. We¡¯ll talk more when you¡¯re fully awake. Are you thirsty? I¡¯ll get you some water.¡± Pearl tried to change the subject. She stood up and was about to leave but noticed Richard standing at the door as soon as she opened it. Richard looked gloomy as if he was in a bad mood. ¡°Watch over Hanzel for me. I¡¯ll be backter.¡± Pearl waved a cup awkwardly and left when Richard remained silent. In the blink of an eye, Richard and Hanzel were the only ones left. Richard, looking displeased, blurted out, ¡°I heard your confession just now.¡± Hanzel, however, didn¡¯t seem the least bit embarrassed. He smiled and replied, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Rick? I simply confessed my love for the girl I care about. I didn¡¯t force her into anything. Why are you mad?¡± ¡°You know that she¡¯s your future sister-inw,¡± Richard pointed out. Hanzel¡¯s l*ps curled into a sarcastic sneer. ¡°I used to believe that you were good for Pearl, buttely, I¡¯ve seen her in a bad mood because of you. I¡¯vee to realize that mypromise was a mistake. Pearl won¡¯t be happy with you.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°How can you be so sure she won¡¯t be happy?¡± Chapter 204 Chapter 204 ¡°Pearl and I saw you hugging another woman. Also, did you evene to visit Pearl when she was sick and in the hospital? Mobius told me that yourpany¡¯s newly promoted design director came to challenge Pearl under the guise of visiting her. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re so lovey-dovey with that woman now.¡± Richard retorted coldly, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°I might not know the whole truth, but I do know that Pearl needs me right now. You¡¯ll just end up making her miserable.¡± Hanzel snorted. ¡°She texted me first this time. One day, I¡¯ll be more important to her than you.¡± Although it sounded childish, Hanzel was dead serious. Realizing that arguing with Hanzel would be pointless, Richard didn¡¯t bother to say much, especially given Hanzel¡¯s confident look. He got up and left the ward. When Pearl returned with the water, Richard was already gone. She asked, ¡°Is he gone?¡± Hanzel casually replied, ¡°Yeah, he left after hearing what I had to say. Too ashamed to stay.¡¯ ¡°Okay, don¡¯t get out of bed and rest well. I¡¯ll take care of you until you¡¯re fully recovered.¡± ttered, Hanzel asked, ¡°You want to take care of me? What about your work?¡± The mention of her work brought a wave of bitterness to Pearl, but she concealed her emotions. ¡°It¡¯s fine. After all, I¡¯ve lost my job, and someone else is the new design director. I have the time and energy to look after you.¡± ¡°I knew that Richard was unreliable.¡± Hanzel muttered through gritted teeth, vowing not to let Pearl sl*p away again. He then looked at Pearl and said, ¡°Just focus on resting here for now. By the way, I have a suggestion for you now that you¡¯re not working. Would you like to give it a try?¡± Pearl, masking her sadness, asked, ¡°What do you suggest?¡± Grinning, Hanzel proposed, ¡°My agent had to take a one-month leave because of family matters. Would you like to be my temporary agent?¡± An agent? Pearl was stunned. Despite owning an entertainmentpany, she had never worked as an agent. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t have any experience in that.¡± However, Hanzel refused to give up. ¡°You¡¯re taking care of me, aren¡¯t you? It won¡¯t be too much to handle it for a little longer, right? You¡¯re the best, Pearl. Look at my injuries. They¡¯re so painful. Can you really send me to the set alone?¡± His acting was so obvious, he couldn¡¯t even muster up a tear. Helpless, Pearl said, ¡°I¡¯ll find you a suitable agent.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m sure nob*dy wants it since it¡¯s just going to be a month. Besides, ordinary people can¡¯t do it given my identity¡­¡± Hanzel grabbed Pearl¡¯s arms and swayed it, begging her. Hearing that, Pearl nodded helplessly. ¡°Okay, I promise. But you¡¯ve got to rest well so you can get out of the hospital sooner.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Over the next few days, Richard never visited the hospital again while Pearl took care of Hanzel. asionally, Hugo paid a visit to Hanzel. Hanzel was unaware of Hugo¡¯s schemes and still regarded thetter as his gentle and quiet brother. The day Pearl went out, Hugo came and chatted with Hanzel under the pretense of checking up on him. ¡°You know what? Abby is dead.¡± Although Hanzel had suspected as much, his heart skipped a beat upon hearing the news. ¡°Abby deserved it. She tried to harm Pearl numerous times, even plotting to kill her. She would just be trouble if she lived.¡± Hanzel trembled with anger as he recalled the things Abby had done to Pearl. ¡°It looks like you care about Pearl so much. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re in love with her.¡± Hugo probed, pretending to chat casually with Hanzel but actually attempting to gauge his feelings. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Hanzel didn¡¯t hide anything from his brother and blurted out his admission, ¡°Yeah, I like Pearl.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re aware of the rtionship between Rick and Pearl. Do you want topete against him?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Hanzel snorted. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Richard hasn¡¯t treated Pearl well, anyway.¡± Intrigued, Hugo probed further, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t believe it, Hugo. He said he likes Pearl, yet he¡¯s involved with another woman. I saw him hugging her. How could a guy like that deserve Pearl¡¯s love?¡± Hanzel didn¡¯t even treat Richard as his brother now and felt like scolding thetter. Hugo, meanwhile, noted the information quietly. After gauging Hanzel¡¯s feelings, he slowly rose from his seat. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. Don¡¯t take it too seriously. Maybe it¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± But Hanzel scoffed. ¡°Even if it¡¯s a misunderstanding, I won¡¯t let go this time.¡± Chuckling, Hugo turned and left. Things have gotten interesting now. If Hanzel decided topete with Richard for Pearl¡¯s affection, Hugo believed he didn¡¯t need to do much himself. Hanzel¡¯s actions alone would make things difficult for Richard. As long as Richard lost, Hugo felt that Pearl would have no choice but to choose him. As for Hanzel¡­ Hugo had never considered him a true rival. Pearl went out to meet Wayne because she wanted to prescribe new medicine for Hanzel. Hanzel had almost recovered, and he just needed onest medicine. While driving by the moat, Pearl heard cries for helping from a crowd that had gathered there, blocking the road. Curious, Pearl got out of her car to investigate. She approached someone in the crowd and inquired, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone fell into the water! It¡¯s a young girl, around seven or eight years old, and it¡¯s been quite some time now,¡± replied a woman in her forties, her gaze fixed anxiously on the water. Frowning, Pearl asked, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone tried to save her if it¡¯s been a while?¡± ¡°Well, this moat is quite deep. Even a skilled swimmer can¡¯t guarantee their safety,¡± exined the woman. Upon seeing the girl struggling in the water, Pearl made a snap decision and jumped into the water herself. The woman suddenly grabbed Pearl¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, miss. You might get yourself killed!¡± With a reassuring smile, Pearl responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Suddenly, the girl in the water ceased her struggling and slowly began to sink below the surface. A hushed murmur swept through the crowd. ¡°Why did she stop moving?¡± ¡°I guess she¡¯s exhausted herself. Oh, what a tragedy.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t anyone saving her?¡± ¡°You go! I don¡¯t know how to swim.¡± Pearl realized that the girl must have experienced a leg cramp or exhaustion. If she didn¡¯t act quickly, the girl would die. With determination, Pearl removed her coat and jumped into the water. Her daring action brought a collective gasp from the crowd on the bridge. ¡°Someone¡­ just jumped into the water!¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Being a great swimmer, Pearl had rescued many drowning children during her time abroad. Although the moat was deep, it was a piece of cake for Pearl. She swam hard to the spot where the girl had been struggling moments ago. Pearl dove into the water, her eyes locked onto the girl, who was slowly descending to the bottom of the moat. With determined strokes, Pearl reached the girl and brought her to the surface, doing her best to keep them both afloat. When the crowd saw that they were fine, they breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Quick, get a stick!¡± Pearl, still catching her breath, couldn¡¯t swim with the girl in her arms, so someone found a long stick among the logs nearby and extended it toward her. With a firm grip on the stick, Pearl was pulled ashore. Once they were onnd, the girl remained unconscious, having swallowed some water. Someone on the shore had called 911, but the immediate concern was reviving the girl. After Pearl performed chestpressions and administered rescue breaths, the girl coughed up a mouthful of water. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. She¡¯s awake!¡± With the girl now coughing and breathing, the onlookers finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling exhausted, Pearl squatted at the side, but her attention was drawn to abel stitched onto the cor of the girl¡¯s clothes. [Jordan.] The girl¡¯s clothes looked expensive as they were exclusively customized high-end clothes. Besides, she was wearing ruffle sleeves and a tassel skirt that was popr in Ancard. Pearl wondered if the girl was from that Jordan family that she knew a little about. The Jordans hailed from Ancard, not Enswood, and were counted among the wealthiest families there. They had a significant presence in both the military and politics, with five generations of top officials in their lineage. Pearl wondered why a child like that would suddenlye to Enswood and identally drown in water. As Pearl mulled this over, a ck Rolls-Royce abruptly pulled up in front of her. A couple got out of the car. The man, in his thirties, had a tall, slender build and appeared younger than his age. On the other hand, the woman possessed an air of elegance and refinement, exuding a gentle demeanor. The couple¡¯s expressions changed at the sight of the girl on the ground. The woman hurried over, her trembling hand reaching for the girl¡¯s cheek. ¡°What happened, Laura? Your father and I couldn¡¯t bear it if anything happened to you!¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Pearl attempted to console the agitated woman. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s alright for now. She¡¯ll recover after a few days¡¯ rest in the hospital.¡± The woman dried her tears and asked, ¡°You are¡­¡¯ ¡°She fell into the water, and I rescued her.¡± Grateful, the woman said, ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re my family¡¯s savior. I¡¯ll thank you properly when Laura wakes up!¡± Pearl dismissed it with a modest response, ¡°No worries. It¡¯s nothing big. ¡± The man, who kept silent nearby, was shocked when he saw Pearl¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ncing at his surprised expression, Pearl replied, ¡°I¡¯m Pearl Leighton.¡¯ ¡°Pearl¡­ Leighton¡­¡± Suddenly, that couple widened their eyes. The man turned to the woman and whispered, ¡°I remember our sister married a man with the same surname.¡± ¡°Yes, she looks so much like her that I thought she might be her daughter.¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 He didn¡¯t have the chance to ask more because Pearl suddenly remembered her urgent business and hurriedly bid them goodbye. ¡°I¡¯m d the girl¡¯s okay. As long as it doesn¡¯t traumatize her, she¡¯ll be fine. Okay, bye.¡¯ ¡°1 The couple hesitated but couldn¡¯t find a way to voice their doubts. Helplessly, they nodded and watched her leave. Pearl went to Cerubleu. Since she was drenched, she went to the office to change her clothes and dry her hair. However, when she stepped into the president¡¯s office, she found Wayne sitting with Richard, engrossed in what appeared to be a business conversation. When Wayne saw Pearl, his expression changed. ¡°Miss Pearl, you¡­¡± Not very surprised, Pearl calmly said, ¡°I came to see you about something. I can leave if you¡¯re busy. Wayne, sensing Pearl¡¯s bad mood, ignored Richard and recognized that they might have a conflict again. ¡°No, I¡¯m not busy. Mister Richard and I were just discussing the uing season¡¯s coboration. We¡¯ll finish up shortly.¡± Richard, on the other hand, silently stared at Pearl. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sit here and wait.¡± Pearl took a seat on a nearby sofa but couldn¡¯t help feeling puzzled as she listened to their conversation. Richard seemed to be engaging in meaningless banter, as if he were stalling to prevent Pearl from talking to Wayne. Frustration building up, Pearl decided to pass the time by ying a mobile game, taking out her anger on the virtual enemies she was fighting. She even pped the table angrily when her in-game soldiers were defeated. ¡°You useless idiots!¡± Both Richard and Wayne were struck speechless. ¡°Look at how lousy you are! How useless! ¡°Hey, who do you think you are, scolding me like that? You¡¯ve been lurking in the bushes for equipment for ages. I have no idea what you¡¯re even doing there! ¡°How much did they pay you? Why are you so useless? It¡¯s ridiculous to have four versus six! ¡°Chop off your hands if you can¡¯t y! How lousy!¡± Despite her best efforts to turn the tide, Pearl was ultimately defeated in the game. Although Pearl¡¯s verbalshing was directed at unrted people, Richard couldn¡¯t help but feel like it was aimed at him. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m leaving. This is ridiculous,¡± Richard said as he got up, but Pearl stopped him. ¡°You were in the middle of a conversation with him. Why are you leaving?¡± ¡°You know why, Pearl.¡± Pearl rolled her eyes at him with disdain. ¡°Why should I care about your reasons?¡± Staring at her, Richard asked, ¡°What brought you to Wayne¡¯s office today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Would you tell me where you¡¯re going if you meet someone else?¡± Pearl rudely retorted. Unfazed by her response, Richard said, ¡°I can always tell you about my whereabouts if you want.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m not interested in your affairs.¡± Her words filled Richard with disappointment. ¡°Alright, couples don¡¯t stay angry for long¡­¡± Wayne suddenly blurted that out, shocking them. Enraged, Pearl demanded, ¡°What did you just say, Wayne?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you guys a couple?¡± Confused, Wayne didn¡¯t understand why Pearl was suddenly upset with him. ¡°We¡¯ve never been a couple, and we never will be.¡± Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Pearl¡¯s words shocked Wayne and caused Richard to keep his head down. Suddenly, Richard felt that there was no point in staying any longer. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now. As for our coboration, let¡¯s proceed ording to the n we discussed.¡± Wayne breathed a sigh of relief once Richard left. ¡°Why did you do that, Miss Pearl? You both have feelings for each other. Why do you have to be so coy and hide your true emotions?¡± At that moment, Pearl¡¯s heart was in turmoil, and Wayne¡¯s words stirred upplex feelings within her. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s my fault?¡± For a moment, Wayne didn¡¯t know what to say since both of them looked bad. ¡°I really don¡¯t know, but C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org it¡¯s obvious that you both care about each other. Why can¡¯t you just be a couple?¡± His words prompted an unexpected chuckle from Pearl. ¡°Have you dated anyone, Wayne?¡± Stunned, Wayne eventually confessed after a long pause, ¡°Yes, I had when I was a freshman. I was only eighteen, and I liked a woman who wasn¡¯t considered pretty in my ss. She was quite ordinary at the time and blended into the crowd easily. However, this girl sacrificed all her money to help me out when I was in trouble with some gangsters over a debt. She held my hand and ran away with me. As time passed, I began to notice her more and always bought her drinks. Although I didn¡¯t find her physically attractive, she had a unique charm, and she could always give me a lot of advice.¡± At that point, Pearl asked, ¡°What happened next? Did you guys get together?¡± Her questions caused Wayne to let out a bitterugh. ¡°No, we didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not, especially when you both had such a deep connection?¡± How could they not get together since they were in love with each other? Taking a deep breath, Wayne continued, ¡°Sheter told me that she had a boyfriend back in our hometown whom she had been dating for three years.¡± Stunned, Pearl didn¡¯t imagine such an oue. ¡°What happened then?¡± ¡°She went home and got engaged to her boyfriend.¡¯ Mncholy filled Pearl¡¯s heart. 11 ¡°I shared that story as a cautionary lesson for you not to miss the right person at the right time. After all, your situation is different from mine. My initial approach was wrong.¡± As Wayne spoke, tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t be sad. You¡¯ll find someone better.¡± 11 But Wayne shook his head. ¡°No, I won¡¯t find someone better.¡± As Wayne immersed himself in sorrow, Pearl struggled to find words tofort him. She sighed. ¡°Is that why you¡¯ve allowed yourself to be adies¡¯ man? I thought you were just like that, but I didn¡¯t realize this was the reason.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve never truly cared for those women. I used them to numb my feelings,¡± Wayne exined with a smile as he changed the subject. ¡°Let¡¯s drop this topic. Aren¡¯t you supposed to prescribe some medication? Let me take you there.¡± After visiting the underground pharmacy, Pearl returned to the hospital. As she arrived at the hospital¡¯s entrance, she identally bumped into a man. That man looked a little familiar. He seemed to be the father of the girl she had saved earlier. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 ¡°Hello, Miss Pearl. I wanted to thank you earlier, but you were in a hurry to leave. It¡¯s probably written in the stars that we meet again. Please, tell me what you want. I can help grant your wish.¡± Stupefied, Pearl chuckled. ¡°I thought you wanted to give me a check.¡± He shook his head lightly. ¡°No, you have an extraordinary aura. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not interested in money.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything I need at the moment. Just consider that you owe me a favor if you really want to repay me.¡± The man nodded, but then a thought struck him. He asked hesitantly, ¡°Would you like to meet Laura? She wishes to thank you after learning that you saved her.¡± Pearl kept her head lowered in contemtion before finally nodding. She apanied him to the VIP ward. Inside, a girl was having oatmeal. When the girl saw Pearl, her eyes sparkled with excitement. Laura was a pretty girl with fair, smooth skin. One could tell that she would grow up to be a devastatingly charmingdy. ¡°Prettydy, did you save me?¡± Pearl nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name, prettydy?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Rubbing her head, Pearl answered, ¡°I¡¯m Pearl Leighton.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lauran Jordan. It means ¡®honor.¡¯ You¡¯re so pretty, and you talk so nicely. I want you to feed me oatmeal.¡± The man became visibly ufortable. ¡°She¡¯s your savior. How could you ask her to feed you? Behave and let your mom do it. ¦° ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I want the prettydy to feed me, or I won¡¯t eat it!¡± Laura abandoned her usual obedience and threw a tantrum, insisting that Pearl feed her oatmeal. ¡°Stop that, Laura!¡± But Laura began crying loudly. Her fake crying amused Pearl. Suppressing herughter, Pearl relented. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll feed you. Stop crying.¡± Laura¡¯s expression changed instantly, her face lighting up. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes,e here and eat.¡± ?? After a few spoonfuls fed by Pearl, Laura took the bowl and devoured the oatmeal in a swift gulp, surprising the two people nearby. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m done eating. Can you y with me, Miss Pearl?¡± Pearl found herself in a predicament. ¡°I have something else to attend toter. Can Ie and y with you next time? I¡¯ll always be here in the hospital, and I won¡¯t break my word.¡± Laura looked disappointed but managed to put on a smile. ¡°Okay, which ward are you in? I¡¯lle to visit you when I¡¯m free.¡± After Pearl told Laura about Hanzel¡¯s ward, she prepared to leave. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. When Pearl opened it, she saw a familiar face. Sophia? Sophia was equally surprised to see Pearl and wondered why she was suddenly at the hospital. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Pearl. I heard about your kidnapping, but I didn¡¯t have the chance to visit you. I¡¯m sure you know a design director has a lot on their te.¡± Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Sophia attempted to provoke Pearl, but Pearl had no interest in talking to her. Sophia continued, ¡°What are you doing here? You¡¯re not a rtive of the Jordans. What business do you have here?¡± She assumed that Pearl was just here to curry favor with the Jordans. ¡°Oh? What are you doing here then?¡± Pearl responded, her tone tinged with sarcasm. Sophia had been waiting for this. She lifted her chin arrogantly and stated, ¡°My family and the Jordans are cousins. My mother is Master Jordan¡¯s niece. So, I¡¯m Laura¡¯s elder cousin. What do you think I¡¯m doing here?¡± She had heard that the eldest son of the Jordans was visiting Enswood with his family today. Unfortunately, his daughter had fallen into the moat and been hospitalized. Sophia had rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news. Her mother had emphasized the importance of befriending the Jordans, one of the most influential families in Ancard and Enswood. And so, Sophia felt that it would be much more convenient to beg the Jordans to do things if she managed to befriend Laura. Hearing Sophia¡¯s exnation, Pearl couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. She found Sophia¡¯s bragging about being cousins with the Jordans rather amusing. With a cold tone, Pearl replied, ¡°I thought you were Master Jordan¡¯s granddaughter. Why bring up your distant rtionship?¡± Sensing Pearl¡¯s displeasure, the man frowned. ¡°Sophia, she¡¯s Laura¡¯s savior. She¡¯s not trying to gain favor.¡± Sophia, now stunned, asked, ¡°So, it was Pearl who saved Laura?¡± ¡°Yes, and you? Could it be you¡¯re an irrelevant cousin?¡± Pearl was ready to leave but didn¡¯t want to continue arguing with Sophia in front of others. Since Sophia failed to gain the upper hand, she smiled and tried to please Laura. ¡°Do you want me to y with you, Laura?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to y with you.¡¯ It appeared that Laura had taken a liking to Pearl and kept her gaze fixed on her. ¡°Don¡¯t forget toe and y with me next time, Miss Pearl. I won¡¯t be staying here for long.¡± She was smart and knew that she wouldn¡¯t stay long in the hospital. Pearl turned and shed Laura a smile. ¡°Of course, I¡¯lle back. Take care, Laura. See you next time.¡± Pearl then lifted her chin at Sophia, who looked stunned and awkward. Ignoring Sophia¡¯s fierce look, Pearl left and returned to Hanzel¡¯s ward. ¡°What took you so long, Pearl? It¡¯s been four hours. I called you more than twenty times, but you didn¡¯t pick up.¡± With his head bowed, Hanzel appeared aggrieved, hoping for someforting words. ¡°I saved a kid on my way and¡­¡± Suddenly, Pearl realized that her phone was missing from her pocket. ¡°My phone might have fallen into the river, but it¡¯s fine. I needed a new phone anyway.¡± When Hanzel heard her story, he was stunned but then became concerned. ¡°What moat? Did you fall into the moat? Are you okay?¡± Pearl¡¯s l*ps twitched. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ Didn¡¯t I tell you I saved a kid? And my phone identally fell into the river.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do such a risky thing again.¡± Hanzel couldn¡¯t hide his worry. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Pearl chuckled. ¡°I know. By the way, I have some new medicine for you. If you take it regrly, you¡¯ll recover faster.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to get better,¡± Hanzel mumbled under his breath. Pearl raised her hand in a somewhat threatening manner upon hearing his response. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. This medicine is quite expensive, and if you don¡¯t take it as prescribed, you¡¯ll have to answer to me.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Massaging his throbbing head, Hanzel relented. ¡°Also, you can look into bing a good manager. Feel free to ask me any questions.¡± He was excited when he found out Pearl was going to be his temporary manager. Pearl didn¡¯t take his enthusiasm too seriously because, as the president of an entertainmentpany, she had a solid grasp of what it took to be a manager. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve spent enough time here today. I need to go home now.¡± Hanzel couldn¡¯t keep her there, so he simply nodded. As Pearl walked out of the hospital, she spotted a car parked nearby, and Richard stood next to it. He didn¡¯t react but just calmly looked at Pearl and asked, ¡°Can I have a word?¡± Annoyed by his apparentposure, Pearl turned to walk away. ¡°No. There¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± Richard persisted, ¡°You haven¡¯t been to the office for a week. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ve forgotten that you¡¯re my secretary.¡± ¦° Pearl scoffed at the irony. ¡°Secretary? There are plenty of people vying for the chance to be your secretary, Mister Richard. Why do you care if it¡¯s me?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll dock one day¡¯s pay for each hour you¡¯ve missed. So far, that¡¯s around fifty to sixty hours.¡± Pearl was appalled. How inhumane was that? ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll resign then.¡± ¡°Sure, but you¡¯ll need to draft a three-thousand-word resignation letter and pay two years¡¯ 11 Pearl was enraged. ¡°Richard Waldorf, you¡¯re viting theborw. I¡¯ll sue you for this!¡± Rickard didn¡¯t care about that. ¡°I know, but I have connections in thebor department and the police force. Plus, I have the bestwyer in Enswood. Your chances of winning are quite slim.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it. You¡¯re the one sending mixed signals, and now you¡¯re the one who doesn¡¯t want to let go. What¡¯s going on in your head?¡± Pearl¡¯s patience was wearing thin. Richard took a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to leave.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little toote for that now?¡± His statement seemed to have a profound effect on Pearl, as she fought back tears. ¡°If I wanted to be the design director, would you rece Sophia and let me take her position?¡± Richard was silent for a moment before replying, ¡°No.¡± Switching her into the role suddenly would create office gossip and hinder the ambition of newbies like Sophia. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more to say then.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean you should calm down. The problem between us isn¡¯t as simple as you imagine.¡± Pearl took a deep breath to hold back her tears. ¡°As for the resignation letter, I¡¯ll email it to youter. Make sure to read it.¡± Richard didn¡¯t have a reason to stop her. His finger twitched as if he wanted to reach out to her but