Chapter 4 The Whitmore Name

Preston quickly cut his friend off.

He still wanted to keep me on a leash.

After all, I had not yet "paid back" the money for him.

"What are you talking about?" Preston forced a calm smile. "Nora is just scared she won't be able to pay the money back."

Then, he looked at me as if he were doing me some great favor. "Nora, stop making a scene. I won't be able to help you if you quit now."

He kept talking about how I should repay the money as if I really owed someone a debt.

My lips curled into a bitter, broken thing.

Just as I was about to speak, Mia grabbed my arm and played the generous peacemaker.

"It's only a little money," she said. "I'm not exactly desperate for it, so take your time paying me back, Ms. Whitmore."

Then, her eyes slid toward Preston, and her tone turned sour. "Preston and I grew up together. I'd probably be married to him now if I hadn't spent the last four years abroad."

She looked back at me with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Since you're Preston's girlfriend, I don't mind buying more drinks from you. Consider it as me looking out for him."

So that was why she hated me so much.

I never once thought that we were on opposing sides. However, I now understood that she saw me as the woman who had taken her place while she was gone.

After Mia finished speaking, she ordered someone to bring over the most expensive liquor in the club.

I tried to leave, but her grip kept me there. It didn't matter how hard I tried to struggle as I could not break free.

I told her coldly, "I already said I've resigned from my job, and that I've ended things with Preston."

My gaze moved over them.

"As for who actually owes you money or whether that debt even exists at all… I'm sure all of you know the truth better than anyone."

My words caused everyone's faces to turn stormy.

Preston looked at me with a flash of guilt.

Then, someone muttered that I was only making excuses because I did not want to pay the money back.

That seemed to give Preston the opening he needed. A trace of mockery appeared on his face.

A few bottles of liquor were soon brought over.

I glanced at them and knew at once that Mia had chosen the club's most expensive bottles. Each one was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mia ignored what I had just said and pointed to one of the bottles. "Here's the deal, Ms. Whitmore. I'll buy every bottle you finish. However, I won't be paying a single dime if you can't finish the whole thing."

Before I could stop them, someone popped a bottle open with a loud crack.

Mia was still gripping my arm, and several of Preston's friends came over to hold me down.

Preston looked at me and spoke in that faux gentle voice I had once trusted, "Nora, just drink it. You'll get the commission if you drink them."

Then, he sighed and made a show of being patient."Mia is the eldest daughter of the Sterlings. She doesn't care about this little bit of money, but you can't keep refusing to pay her back."

His eyes softened in a way that made my stomach turn. "Once the money is paid, we can still work hard together."

Preston said all of that without the slightest shame. I had never seen someone so shameless until today.

I had stopped hoping he would speak up for me.

After all, he was the cause of all my misery.

I glared at him and confronted, "Preston, are you still acting? Do you really think I don't know this nightclub belongs to you?"

His expression stiffened.

I continued, "Do you think you're the only one who can hide an identity? Remember, my last name is Whitmore. Don't tell me you've never heard of Whitmore Group—"

Before I could finish, Mia grabbed a bottle and shoved the mouth of it between my lips. The burning liquor choked me instantly, and I started coughing hard.

She grabbed my hair and did not let go.

Instead, she leaned close and hissed viciously, "What were you going to say? That you're the heiress of Whitmore Group?"

Her eyes were full of contempt. "That's the woman my older brother has been in love with for years. Why don't you take a good look at yourself before you lie? Someone like you dares to pretend to be the Whitmore heiress?"

Unlike Mia, who was still acting arrogant and fearless, Preston had gone pale when he saw a tall, sharp-looking man striding toward them, fury in every step.

Preston knew exactly who he was, but Mia knew him even better.

"Let her go!"