Jane sighed helplessly, placing her pen on the table. She patiently explained to Patrick, “Those are just fabricated stories by reporters. I never said anything like that. Don’t be jealous, okay? I’ve already instructed the PR department to handle this situation.”
Having been around Jane for so long, Patrick knew what kind of person she was. However, jealousy was a common human emotion, and it couldn’t be avoided. But with his girlfriend offering an explanation, Patrick had to suppress his reluctance for the time being.
He pursed his lips and, after a moment, reluctantly said, “Fine.”
“However,” Patrick squinted his eyes, with a somewhat admonishing tone, “Jane, you are mine for the rest of your life. Don’t even think about other men! You can’t look at anyone else. Got it?”
Jane felt somewhat helpless about her boyfriend’s statement. At times, she found Patrick to be a bit childish, but deep down, she knew that these words, although not sweet, were genuine.
“Alright, alright, I get it. Don’t you have work to do? Go focus on that.”
After hanging up the phone, she looked at the overwhelming news articles on the screen. She couldn’t help feeling both helpless and annoyed. How could Osborn say such things in front of the reporters!
…
“Miss, come down for dinner.”
After coming home, Erica locked herself in her room the entire day until the maid called her for dinner.
Father and daughter sat facing each other, Gregory still wearing a serious expression, unwilling to exchange more than a few words with Erica.
Erica silently picked at her food with her fork, having lost her appetite. Even when selecting vegetables, she did so half-heartedly.
“If you don’t want to eat, go back to your room,” Gregory looked at Erica with a stern expression, speaking in a low voice. The anger in his heart had not subsided, and he couldn’t allow his daughter to continue her willful antics.
“With several projects withdrawn, our company has lost substantial investments – all because of you. If you can eat, then eat properly. Don’t act like a spoiled princess here! Our family is on the verge of bankruptcy because of you!”
Bankruptcy?
Although Erica was full of grievances, she knew she had caused a huge disaster this time. So, when Gregory scolded her, she didn’t retort. However, when she heard the word “bankruptcy,” her eyes widened.
How could this happen? Was the family… on the verge of bankruptcy?
“What are you looking at? It’s all because of you!”
Gregory had been overwhelmed with the company’s affairs and Erica’s actions during this period. Moreover, if it weren’t for Erica’s mishap, his company wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
Growing angrier as he spoke, he pushed away his fork and sat in the chair, fuming.
Erica lost her appetite completely. Pushing her bowl away, she sat on the chair for a while. When she stood up, she said, “I’m going out for a while.”
“What are you going to do? Another trouble? Our family is chaotic enough. Come back!” Gregory, seeing Erica stand up, became agitated and shouted at his daughter’s departing figure.
But Erica didn’t respond. She walked straight out of the door.
She went to the Doyle family.
Florence looked somewhat surprised when she saw Erica, but soon resumed her calm demeanor, sitting on the sofa and flipping through a magazine.
“Why are you here?”
Erica walked up to Florence, staring at her without saying a word. Although she resented Florence for not speaking up when she was taken away by the police, there was something more important she needed help with now.
“… Help me, help my family,” Erica said, choosing her words carefully.
Help her? Florence scoffed inwardly. After all the trouble she had caused, if she helped Erica now, wouldn’t it implicate her in everything that had happened before?
“How can I help?” Florence asked.
Erica swallowed hard, considering her words before slowly speaking, “Because of my recent incident with the police, my family’s business has plummeted, and my dad says we’re on the verge of bankruptcy. Florence, I know the Doyle Group has enough resources to help me. Please talk to your brother and ask him to invest in our company. This way, we can survive, and your family won’t incur significant losses. Help me, help me this time, and I won’t bring up the past, I won’t…”
“Don’t bring up what?” Florence squinted, looking at Erica with amusement. “Don’t bring up what exactly?”
The so-called charge of corporate espionage against her had nothing to do with Florence now, and the police had no evidence. Yet, Erica was foolish enough to use this as a threat?
Really foolish.
Erica froze; her fingers clenched the fabric covering the sofa. “Florence… You’re not willing to admit it, right? Don’t think I won’t talk about Ling and Star Entertainment!”
“Go on.”
Florence seemed nonchalant. Erica was in need of her help now, and since she wanted her family’s business to survive, she had to rely on Florence.
“I have no evidence, and the police can’t arrest me. Moreover, you were just released. I suppose you wouldn’t want to go back again because of this. My family has also been affected by your actions. Why do you think I would help you, Erica? I’ve never seen someone as foolish as you.”
Florence looked down on Erica, her face devoid of any contemptuous smile.
“Someone like you deserves to die.”
“But if you want your family to turn things around, it’s possible,” Florence said, locking eyes with Erica. “This time, help me thoroughly get rid of Jane, and I’ll consider helping your family. Otherwise, don’t even think about it!”
Florence’s voice suddenly intensified as she left these words. She turned away, busying herself with something and no longer paid any attention to Erica.
With herself in prison, the Terry family on the verge of bankruptcy, and Osborn…
All of this was because of Jane. This woman, with her fickle nature, was trying to take away everything from her!
The seeds of long-suppressed anger and jealousy sprouted and took root in Erica’s heart.
Her hatred for Jane had reached its peak.
“Fine, I understand. Wait for my message.”
After saying this, Erica left the Doyle family. Florence watched the tightly closed door, eventually letting out a few cold laughs, not taking it seriously.
Back at home, Erica locked herself in her room again, seemingly oblivious to Gregory’s reproaches.
Her eyes were completely blinded by hatred.
Continuously searching online, Erica looked for reports about Jane and information on the movie “Farewell My Concubine”.