Chapter 3

Caroline POV

In the club's break room, a talk show played on TV.

On screen, Ruby's eyes brimmed with tears.

"That bullying incident three years ago gave me severe depression. If Gavin hadn't been by my side the whole time, I might have already..."

She held up a doctor's diagnosis, showing it to the camera.

I sat in the corner eating a cold sandwich and glanced up at the screen.

That date.

Ruby had been partying all night at a karaoke bar and posted a nine-photo grid on Instagram.

"Miss Ruby is beautiful inside and out. That person who bullied her deserves to die." A coworker beside me sighed.

"It's fake." I swallowed the dry bread and said flatly.

"What's your problem?" The coworker rolled her eyes. "She showed the diagnosis on camera. You're just jealous of her good fortune."

I said nothing more.

In this world where capital controls the narrative, truth is the cheapest commodity.

All I could do was make money.

Tonight's private room hosted a billionaire.

William was famously wealthy, generous with money, and known for playing rough.

When I entered, Gavin was there too.

He'd come to negotiate business, sitting across from William with a very humble posture.

Seeing me enter, Gavin's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

I looked straight ahead and walked directly to William's side, skillfully pouring drinks, my body brushing against him intentionally or not.

"Master William, this glass is for you."

My voice was soft and seductive as I tilted my head back and downed a glass of hard liquor in one gulp.

William watched me with interest, his gaze roaming over the exposed skin at my neckline. "That tolerance-you've practiced?"

"As long as it makes Master William happy." I smiled and reached to pour another drink.

A hand suddenly cut in, pressing down on the bottle.

Gavin's face was like ice, his voice cold enough to shatter. "William, she's not worthy of toasting you. Don't let her dirty your glass."

William raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between me and Gavin, then he suddenly laughed.

He pulled me into his embrace with one arm.

With his other hand, he pulled out a thick stack of bills and stuffed them into my neckline.

The green bills pressed against my skin with a temperature of humiliation.

"I like the thorny ones." William looked at Gavin provocatively. "Does Lawyer Gavin control this too? What, feeling protective?"

Gavin stared at William's hand on my waist, dark storms churning in his eyes.

"Master William misunderstands."

He shot to his feet.

"My fiancée doesn't like me dining at the same table as this kind of person. Says it's disgusting."

With that, he gave me one cold look. "Call it a night."

The gathering ended unpleasantly.

I leaned against the wall, head down, organizing the bills in my neckline.

Gavin emerged from the private room and saw this scene. His steps halted.

"You've gotten quite practiced at earning this kind of money."

He walked up to me, his tone full of mockery. "You really are cheap to the bone. You'll sell anything for money."

My hands paused while counting the bills.

I raised my head and looked at him calmly.

"I earn money through honest work. That's cleaner than lying and framing people to climb up. And cleaner than certain blind, heartless people."

"Caroline!"

Gavin's expression changed dramatically as he grabbed my chin.

"Still slandering Ruby? Seems yesterday's lesson wasn't enough."

He leaned closer, his eyes sinister. "Watch your mouth, or I'll make sure you can't stay in this city."

With that, he released me in disgust, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands as if he'd touched something filthy.

I watched his retreating back, clutching the bills tightly.

Three thousand dollars total.

Enough for Jason's living expenses.

Just then, my phone rang.

I answered, and an anxious doctor's voice came through.

"Is this Jason's family? Your brother's right hand has tissue necrosis from a medication reaction. He needs surgery now."

A dull buzz filled my ears. "How much will it cost?"

"Surgery and follow-up treatment will cost one hundred thousand dollars. If we don't operate immediately, his right hand will be permanently damaged."

One hundred thousand.

The money in my hands fluttered to the ground.

The voice on the phone kept urging. "Family needs to come pay and sign as soon as possible. Any later and it'll be too late!"