The piercing scream erupted from the woman as she slipped on her own sweat, teetering dangerously close to falling off the roof. It was a moment that hung between life and death. The woman’s mother-in-law cried out hysterically, nearly fainting at the sight of her daughter-in-law’s precarious position.
Dolores’s mind went blank, her entire body tensing until the woman managed to regain her balance.
After a moment, Dolores called up to the woman. “If you come down from there, I’ll refund the money you paid for your house.”
The woman didn’t trust Dolores in the slightest. “Don’t you dare say that just to lure me down! I don’t believe you!”
“I’m not deceiving you. I will give you the money. If you won’t do it for yourself, think about the child inside your belly,” Dolores persisted, trying to convince her.
The woman seemed to be at her wit’s end, her desperation evident. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m standing here for the sake of my child. Do you think it was easy for us to buy a house? We scraped together all our savings to provide a safe home for my child. But can I let my child live in a house that could collapse? What are the chances that we’ll be buried alive under it?”
Dolores understood the woman’s concerns, her worries and fears. Dolores understood because she had experienced it herself. “I understand how you feel. You only want to give your child a good home. I appreciate your concerns. As long as you come down, I promise to give you the money.”
“Why should I believe you? What if I come down and you don’t give me the money?” the woman challenged, refusing to give in.
Dolores moistened her dry lips. “I’m not lying to you. I’m Randolph Flores’ daughter. I won’t deceive you.”
“She’s that unscrupulous business executive’s daughter?”
“You must pay for your father’s debts! Refund my money!”
“Give us back our money!”
The crowd quickly surrounded Dolores.
“Return our money, return our money!”
An agitated man reached out to grab Dolores, but Matthew’s reflexes were quick. He swiftly pulled Dolores into his embrace and glared sternly at the man. The intimidating gaze momentarily stunned him, but he continued his demands. “Pay what you owe. You can’t do this to us!” The man paused and turned to the crowd. “Her father swindled us out of our money. If her father won’t pay up, then she should!”
“That’s right, that’s right, pay your father’s debts. If your father doesn’t show up, then you should pay!” someone else chimed in.
Soon, the entire crowd turned against Dolores, echoing the new demand. The place became unruly and descended into chaos. However, amidst the chaos, the woman was saved by the rescuers, her attention diverted.
When Abbott returned with some men, Matthew and Dolores were already trapped by the crowd, preventing his approach. Nevertheless, with the help of the men Abbott brought and the cooperation of the rescuers, a path was cleared. Matthew led Dolores into the office area of the Flores Group while the crowd remained outside.
As the rescuers guided the woman to safety through the main hall, she caught sight of Dolores through the glass doors and broke free from their grip, running toward her. “You said you’d give me the money!”
Abbott and the security personnel managed to restrain the woman, preventing her from reaching Dolores. All she could do was shout desperately, “You said you’d give me back my money! If you lie to me, you’ll suffer a terrible fate. You earned that money through unscrupulous means and will be cast into hell when you die!”
Matthew frowned and spoke coldly. “Remove her.”
Abbott was about to do just that when Dolores shouted, “Wait!” Dolores turned to Matthew. “I know you’ll think I’m foolish to give her the money. Once I do, there will be endless problems. But who would gamble with their lives if they weren’t desperate? All she wants is to provide a home for her child, and she was unlucky enough to encounter my father. She’s right, if I don’t fulfill my promise to her, I won’t find peace because I truly understand her feelings…”
Dolores empathized with the pregnant woman’s desire to give her child a home, just as Dolores longed to provide her child with a complete family. However, that seemed beyond Dolores’ reach and might never happen in her lifetime. Dolores was petite and frail, as fragile as a gust of wind could carry away. Yet, her clear and determined eyes held an unwavering resolve that caught Matthew off guard.
It was a determination he had never witnessed before, and for a moment, he simply stared at Dolores before turning to Abbott. “Give her the money.”
Abbott immediately understood and turned to the woman. “Follow me.”
At that moment, Randolph rushed over. He had been hiding in the office and emerged upon spotting Matthew and Dolores, his face filled with hope.
“Lola,” he exclaimed, “you came to save me!”
Dolores turned to him, wearing a bitter expression. “How much money do you have?”
Randolph was taken aback by her question, not expecting her to ask about his financial situation. If he had any money, he wouldn’t be in such dire straits.
“I don’t have any money,” Randolph admitted matter-of-factly.
“Really?” Dolores raised an eyebrow, skeptical of Randolph’s claim. How could he have no money left, even if he was forced to repay his debts? “Who can help you if you’re not being honest?”
Randolph’s expression darkened, but he remained silent. Dolores didn’t waste any time pressing him further.
“If you don’t want to say, I won’t force you.” She turned to Matthew. “Let’s go.”
Matthew reached out and gently took her by the waist, nodding in agreement. They left the office area, escorted by the security personnel.
Randolph stood there, stunned, as he watched Dolores about to leave. He clenched his teeth and finally decided to tell the truth. “I have very little left. Besides the house, I had around two million in cash, but Annabelle stole it. I reported it to the police, but they haven’t found her.”
Randolph didn’t want to reveal this truth to Dolores. The daughter he had favored had betrayed him, taking his money and fleeing when he was at his lowest point. Ironically, it was the daughter he had despised who stood before him now, offering help.
His eyes reddened as he fought back tears. “Lola, I was blind. That’s why…”
“Stop, just stop,” Dolores interrupted sharply.
She didn’t want to hear any more of his remorseful words. The more they delved into it, the more pain it would bring her.
“Sell the house. Get whatever money you can and refund as many people as possible,” Dolores suggested firmly.
“But that’s my only asset. I…” Randolph couldn’t bear the thought of parting with his house.
“Do you have any other options?” Dolores yelled angrily. “If you don’t repay those you’ve wronged and repair your reputation, no one can save you. It’s up to you to decide!”
Dolores remained resolute, and Matthew looked at her, feeling the pain she was going through but also impressed by her calmness. He hadn’t expected her to analyze the situation so logically.
After leaving the Flores Group, Matthew returned to the office while Dolores went back to the villa. She didn’t have any work scheduled for the day, and Matthew had insisted that she rest as she didn’t look well.
Dolores lay in bed, exhausted, but sleep eluded her. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, and she couldn’t find any clarity. Frustrated, she decided to get up.
She noticed Coral cleaning the windows and approached her. “Let me help you.”
Coral waved her hands dismissively. “No, there’s no need. Someone will be here soon to take care of it.”
Every week, servants came to perform thorough cleaning tasks at the villa. They would mow the grass, prune the flowers, and tackle areas that Coral couldn’t manage alone. She was a diligent woman who didn’t like to waste time idling around, but certain tasks required additional help, such as cleaning the windows.
Coral led Dolores to the sofa and insisted she relax. She went to wash her hands before asking, “What kind of fruit would you like? I’ll get it for you.”
“Apples,” Dolores replied.
“Okay,” Coral acknowledged before heading to the kitchen.
Dolores sat on the sofa and gazed out the window. She noticed some soapy residue left from Coral’s cleaning. Her mind drifted as she absentmindedly watched the bubbles slowly trickle down the glass.
Suddenly, her phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. Dolores retrieved her phone and saw that it was Sampson’s number. She tensed up. Had he discovered something?
Her hand trembled involuntarily as she answered the call. “Hello.”