Chapter 2

I dragged my feet out of the hotel room, my mind spinning as I tried to piece together how I ended up here after leaving Gaston's place. The events were a blur, and frustration gnawed at me. Just then, my phone rang, breaking my train of thought. It was my cousin, Judy.

"Big sis," Judy said softly from the other end, "let's meet and have a chat over coffee."

"Really? I don't have anything to discuss with you, so get off my phone," I snapped, the anger from earlier still simmering inside me.

Judy, unfazed, smiled through the phone. "What if it concerns your brother?"

My eyes widened at the mention of my brother. What is Judy suddenly talking about? "Did you mean Kyle? What about him?" I asked, my voice filled with expectation and a touch of desperation.

"Meet me at Drunk Statue Bar across our neighborhood. I'll meet you there," she said, and then hung up.

I dropped the call, my mind racing. Kyle? What could this be about? I hurriedly boarded a cab and left Empress Hotel as if I had never been there, my thoughts now focused solely on my brother and what Judy had to say.

>ENZO<

I watched from my window, sipping coffee, as she hurriedly left the hotel. Last night, she had made me feel something different, a feeling I hadn't experienced in ages. I wondered who she was to leave such an impression on me.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Ryu Ken. I picked up without saying anything, waiting for him to state his message.

His voice came through gently and in barely audible whispers. "Well, I... I... am sorry. My boys just told me that they gave you another girl, different from the one I ordered for you. It's not intentional, but that girl is wrong. I hope you haven't done anything to her?" he asked.

I squeezed my face in irritation. The girl they gave me was the wrong one? Then why did she leave such an impression on me?

"No need," I replied curtly. "Have someone track that lady who was in my room and monitor all her movements." I hung up before Ryu could say another sentence.

I must know where she was going in such a hurry, and I have to find out more about her personal information.

>AT THE BAR<

When I reached the bar, Judy was already waiting for me in the VIP corner. The area was decorated more lavishly than the rest of the bar, and Judy fit right in with her expensive makeup and a diamond necklace that spelled out her name, "JUDY" Dancing on her neckline.

She wore a body-hugging pink gown and a pink wig styled in a curly bun.

Seeing me, she smiled and offered me a seat. "Here, big sister, make yourself comfortable."

I glared at her with disdain, rejecting the seat and standing by the table with my arms crossed.

Judy, unbothered, gracefully dipped her hand into her handbag and pulled out a check, placing it on the table.

"Big sister, I know you're older than me and this seems disgraceful, but take this 10 million dollars. I believe it's enough to take care of you for the rest of your life," she said, adjusting her dress.

"I know that Kyle's surgery costs too much and you're only depending on your small clothing store. It's hard for you. With this money, you can have Kyle's surgery and elevate your clothing store, living a good life."

I looked at the check on the table, hissing but saying nothing.

"Sis, let's just be open and frank with each other. I know you overheard Gaston and I's conversation last night," she said, patting her belly. "I am really pregnant with Gaston's child, and I want to keep the baby."

She held my hand affectionately, with cunning flashing in her eyes. "You have to renounce your engagement with him, or else my child and I won't be recognized as part of the Veriland family."

"You know Gaston is at the peak of his career. Nothing must go wrong. Remember, he's a celebrity. So I hope, sister, that you can go to the Veriland family and ask for the engagement to be called off."

I smiled sadly. Even though Judy was running her mouth carelessly, I wasn't really angry at her. I had already vented my anger.

Facing Judy, I smiled sarcastically. "You're so dumb. All that you're doing here—did Gaston know about it?"

When Judy mentioned her pregnancy, I could tell from Gaston's expression and voice that he was not really happy about it. The child was an accident. He is an actor and needs to win an award for Liverpool's Best Actor. He had to keep his behavior off-camera to avoid tarnishing his image. He can never go public with Judy.

From Judy's expression, I knew she had done this on her own without letting him know she was trying to buy me off.

Judy put on a brave face and countered, "You better know your limits. I am offering you this so you won't lose twice. Gaston is already mine; he can never be yours. So take the money and lose the man. It can never be otherwise."

Listening to her words, my brain clouded like a misty forest. The gravity of what she just said made my eyes widen in fury. How dare she talk to me in such a manner?

Just because she got pregnant with Gaston's child doesn't mean she will get the man. Gaston clearly loved me. Whatever happened between him and Judy was a mistake, seeing his shocked and displeased expression last night.

As if propelled by something greater than me, I raised my hand and slapped Judy. The sound echoed, sending shivers down Judy's face.

Judy held her face and looked up. "Big sister, what—"

Before she could finish her sentence, I slapped her left cheek with even more force than the first.