Chapter 3

Pearl glared at me in fury. "You think you're worthy enough to even utter Ms. Carter's name? Don't you dare spread lies that you're involved with her. Are you trying to get me killed?"

Richard and his buddies were equally outraged, glaring at me with raw hostility.

"Alex, do you have any idea how hard we fought just to get the chance to pick up Mr. Foster today?"

"Ms. Moran's family became a vassal to Carter Corp last year. All our business is tied up under the Carter name now, and we're completely at Ms. Carter's mercy. Only by staying on Ms. Carter and her husband's good side can the Moran family secure its position."

"Are you trying to get us all killed by spreading rumors about Ms. Carter here?"

"Everyone knows Ms. Carter treasures her husband above all else and despises this kind of gossip. If word gets out to her and reaches Mr. Foster's ears, every single one of us is doomed!"

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, turned slowly, and locked eyes with Pearl.

Rage surged through me, pushing my sanity to the brink. I clenched my teeth and fought to keep from exploding right there. After all, any scene I made would only end up tarnishing Catherine's image.

Richard shot me a venomous look and pointed straight at my face. "Alex, you ungrateful leech. Ms. Moran agreed to take you in, so don't push your luck and act so damn entitled.

"Just because you hold a grudge against Ms. Moran doesn't give you the right to pull a stunt like this to get back at her!"

Hearing those words felt like being dragged back five years.

No matter what I did, Richard would twist my intent and feed his version to Pearl.

At first, Pearl would scold Richard for it. Eventually, though, she began swallowing his narrative and throwing the blame back at me.

Just like what she was doing right now.

"You're really an ungrateful leech!"

This time, however, she didn't keep screaming like she used to.

Pearl pulled out a check for 30 thousand dollars and held it in front of me. "For old times' sake, I won't hold this against you. Take the money and buy yourself some decent clothes. If you don't want to drive, I'll find you an office job in a few days."

I shoved her hand away, snatched my cufflink back from Richard, and gave her an ice-cold glare. "Keep it. I pride myself on staying clean, and I don't mix with filthy women."