There were so many company employees walking in and out of the gate, giving them a curious look and making Cristelle embarrassed.
She didn’t want any trouble. She knew she must leave this place as soon as possible.
Rose suddenly stood in her way. Her long nails sank into Cristelle’s skin as she grabbed her shoulders, “What the heck are you doing? Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear Mom saying she wanted to talk to you?”
The pain made Cristelle lose her temper, “What the heck do you guys want? You just want my money, right? I’ve spent every single penny on something! There’s nothing left. You won’t get anything from me! So just fuck off!”
“What?!” Ingrid shrilled, “How could you! You little bitch! What did you spend the money on?!”
Cristelle laughed coldly. “It’s none of your business!”
“You! You little slut!” Ingrid was trembling, “It’s 1 million! How… How could you…”
“Mom, she’s a fucking liar! She couldn’t have spent them all so fast. She still has two little bastards to feed. She must still have the money!” Rose clawed at Cristelle, refusing to let her go.
“I’ve told you. You. Won’t. Get. The. Money!” Cristelle snapped back, “Let me go!” She was going to be late for work.
“What the heck are you guys doing? How could you do this in front of the gate? Where’s the guard?” A female’s voice shrill, “Get them out!”
The guards came in their direction angrily. Ingrid and Rose noticed the guards, knowing they would get themselves in trouble. So they just turned away and ran off.
Cristelle rubbed at her upper arm, panting, “Thank…”
She suddenly froze as she saw that woman who called the guards for her.
It was Juliette.
Juliette also looked quite embarrassed. She lowered her gaze and smiled at Cristelle, “You’re welcome, really.”
With that, she turned around and clacked away in her heel.
Cristelle had never expected Juliette’s help. Why would Juliette help her? Juliette also helped her during the competition. Or she wouldn’t have made those people shut up.
Cristelle tried to catch up. She really wanted to talk to Juliette.
But Juliette suddenly stopped, looking back, smiling sheepishly at her, “Sorry… I shouldn’t have said nasty words before about you.”
Cristelle faltered. And then, a big smile appeared on her face, “It’s okay. It all has passed.”
Cristelle went to her office and sat down.
Two of her colleagues came to her, sounding curious, “What happened by the gate, Cristelle? Are you okay?”
Cristelle shook her head, “No big deal. Everything’s alright.”
She didn’t want people to know her private issues.
Her colleagues went back to their seats, looking disappointed.
Fritzi summoned Cristelle to her office, “Are you alright lately?”
Cristelle admitted, “I’m actually in a bit of trouble right now. But I can handle it.”
If they still insisted on harassing her, she would call the police.
Cristelle looked quite calm. Fritzi thus thought things were not serious, “Good. You’re free to go. But make sure to let me know if you need my help. I can always lend a hand.”
“Thanks,” Cristelle smiled and went back to her work.
Fritzi ordered some pizza during the lunch break. Cristelle’s phone rang at that moment. She fished the phone out and saw an unknown number. She thus hung up. But a message burped in a second later. Cristelle clicked open the message and saw her two babies. Cody held Candace tightly as if he had tried to protect his little sister.
Cristelle’s phone dropped off.
The sound startled everyone in the office.
“What happened, Cristelle?!” Fritzi asked.
She couldn’t say a thing as she picked up the phone and dialed the number back, her heart caught in her throat.
The phone was picked up at the second beep.
“Who are you? What did you do to my babies?!” Cristelle was almost screaming.
“Cristelle, just relax. It’s me, Auntie Ingrid,” Ingrid laughed, “I’m at your house right now. Do you want to re-discuss the 1 million with us?”
Cristelle could hear Candace was crying through the phone, and it broke her heart.
****
She dashed to the elevator directly without answering any questions. Fritzi and other colleagues failed to keep up.
She was walking so hastily that she bumped into a wall of muscles. She looked up and saw Linford. She only nodded shortly and stepped into the elevator.
“Cristelle!” Fritzi finally caught up, but the doors of the elevator had slid close.
“What happened?” Linford frowned.
Fritzi was panting, “I don’t know. Cristelle picked up a phone call, and she just ran off. I don’t even know what happened to her, but it looked like something urgent.”
Linford thought for a pause and called Alfred instantly, “Go check out Cristelle for me. Tell me if anything happened to her.”
Fritzi smiled, “Mr. Bradley, you don’t appear to care about other employees this much usually.”
Other workers exchanged a knowing look and smiled.
Mr. Bradley was so intimidating. No one dared to make fun of him except Fritzi.
“What? Are you jealous? Do you need me to care about you more?” Linford’s tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Fritzi panicked abruptly, “No… Let’s just stay the same.”
Ding!
Alfred’s email came in on Linford’s phone.
He clicked it open, and his face dropped, stepping into the elevator instantly.
The other guys all froze.
What happened to Mr. Bradley?
Did anything go wrong?
****
Cristelle called the police on her way back. When she reached her apartment door, she heard Candace was crying.
“Candace! Candace!” Cristelle pushed the door open, only to find her house had been turned upside down. All kinds of stuff were scattered everywhere. Candace was sitting in the middle of the mess, crying her lungs out.
“My baby… Mommy is back. Hush, honey.” Cristelle pulled her baby in, kissing her hair. The noise in the bedroom was deafening. Someone was opening and closing her closet doors, rummaging through her things.
Candace was trembling in her arms. Her chubby hands clung to her neck, sobbing against her chest.
Cristelle felt her heart was broken. She patted Candace’s back and brought her to the bathroom, taking her dress off and putting a clean one on, asking with a hushed voice, “Where’s Cody?”