Chapter 4

The barely concealed triumph in Fiona's voice only made my heart grow colder.

I asked Shiloh for some money for transportation. Then, I changed back into the clothes I had been wearing when I was released from prison.

Shiloh adjusted the mini camera hidden in one of my buttons, then nodded in satisfaction.

When I arrived at the private room at Flora Hall, I walked in without the slightest hesitation. The room was spacious, but there were surprisingly few people inside. Only three members of the Watson family, along with Fiona and Brett, were there.

I was somewhat surprised. From what I had expected, there should have been far more people here.

"Since you're here, have a seat. Tim didn't want too many people around, so we decided to just have a small family dinner," Fiona said.

When I heard her words, I obediently nodded, putting on a meek expression as I quietly took a seat in the corner.

Fiona frowned when she saw me like this, almost looking exasperated.

In contrast, Walter and Tim looked at me with smug satisfaction.

"Fiona, your son really isn't so bad. At least he knows to step up and help you when it matters. If only my son were half as easy to deal with. Then, I'd sleep well at night."

Walter's words brought a smile to her face. She quickly raised her glass. She said, "Oh, you're too kind. Tim's the impressive one. He got into graduate school, after all. He has a bright future ahead of him."

Walter looked very smug when he heard her words.

Seeing this, Tim chimed in to provoke me.

"Why don't we have Louis try to get into graduate school too? Oh, that's right. I almost forgot. He's got a prison record now. He'll live with that for the rest of his life. Looks like he'll never set foot in a school again."

The moment he finished speaking, everyone in the room burst out laughing.

I tightened my grip around my glass, biting down hard on my lip as I kept telling myself to stay calm.

Seeing that I remained silent, Tim laughed even more brazenly.

Then, I knew my chance had finally come. I stood up, picked up my glass, and raised it toward Walter and Tim.

"I was young and foolish before. Now I realize my mother was right. I apologize to both of you. Please be the bigger people and forgive me for what happened."

I walked up to Tim and nodded solemnly, but he didn't respond. So, I sucked up to them even more.

"I also owe Walter my thanks for helping my mother with her career. If he hadn't helped her back then, I wouldn't be where I am today. From now on, I'll do everything I can to help you, Walter. Whatever you need.

"I never understood how harsh the world could be. It wasn't until I left my parents that I learned it firsthand. Three years in prison is a small price to pay. Consider it my way of repaying you.

"From now on, I'll listen to my mother and help her repay the debt we owe you."

After saying all that, Tim finally responded, just as my arm was starting to go numb from holding my glass.

He said, "I'm glad you see it that way. In this world, if you want to survive, you must know who you should stand behind. Take that woman, for instance. I told her to come over, but she kept refusing me. In the end, I still had my way with her."

With that, Tim grabbed my head and forced it down. He mocked, "Ms. Kensington is really ruthless. She willingly sacrificed her son and made him take the blame just to repay my dad for helping her.

"That woman was a good lay. I thought I was going to end up in prison, but I made one phone call to Ms. Kensington, and the whole thing was taken care of.

"You don't have a shred of a backbone. No wonder Ms. Kensington refuses to acknowledge you as her son. Can't say she is wrong for doing so. Anyone could spend those three years in prison. You want to work for my dad? I'll have to see if you're really sincere about it."

Then, he took the glass from my hand and poured my drink over my head. However, when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, I couldn't help but chuckle.

Moments later, a commotion broke out outside the private room. Then, a large group of police officers stormed into the room.