Chapter 4

The first thing Lucille did once she got better was calculate how much the Dortmans had spent on her over the years.

She sat at her table, adding up all the expenses she had incurred since she joined this household. Everything from her living costs to tuition fees added up to three million dollars.

Her late father’s inheritance and old property were worth two million dollars, and she had saved a few dozen thousand from her part-time work. It seemed she had to find more work before she left to make up the difference.

Lucille’s expertise was photography. With that in mind, she found some freelance jobs online. Before long, she had eight offers for everything from wedding photos to graduation shoots.

She accepted every job and worked from day to night. She was too tired to even stand up straight, yet she did not breathe a word of complaint.

It was because her mother told her Dan had been divorced even before they met. He just never made it in public.

In other words, they had dated and married as consenting single adults. She was never his mistress.

Neither she nor her mother had ever wanted the Dortmans’ fortune. Lucille was planning to leave now, but she did not want River to keep misunderstanding her mother, not when Victoria was staying put.

That was why she had decided to pay back everything she owed her stepfather.

She worked her butt off for a week and managed to scrape together three thousand dollars. Just when she was about to slow down her hustle, she suddenly received a huge order.

Someone wanted her to take some photos at a birthday party. They offered her two thousand dollars for it.

Of course, the high commission came with a price. Apparently, the photos had to impress the birthday girl, and they would only pay up once she was a hundred percent satisfied with them.

Lucille took the offer without hesitation. She needed to gather the money ASAP.

On the day of the birthday party, she arrived at the location with her camera only to see a bunch of familiar faces.

The one in the princess dress and crown was none other than Sophia. River stood next to her in a black suit, and Lucille’s heart jolted when she saw them together.

River frowned when he saw how exhausted she looked. “Why are you accepting jobs like this? Isn’t it your dream to become an award-winning photographer? Our parents give you an allowance, don’t they?”

“I’m an adult, and I like this kind of work. That’s why I accepted the job.”

River’s expression turned colder. He was about to tell her off when Sophia hastily interrupted. “Lucy, River’s just worried about you. Don’t pick a fight with your brother.”

Sophia even hugged her arm and pulled her into the party hall, saying she wanted to see what Lucille’s photography skills were like.

Despite her polite praises, she worked Lucille to the bone. Lucille could not stop for even a second all night, pressing the shutter until her finger went numb.

She took almost five thousand photos, but Sophia still was not satisfied. She insisted on Lucille taking a bird’s eye view shot even though the latter was exhausted.

Lucille carried her heavy equipment to the third floor, put up her tripod, and then aimed her camera at the center stage.

Looking through her camera, she watched River step onto the stage. He personally put the necklace that was allegedly a family heirloom around Sophia’s neck.

Sophia smirked in the direction of the third floor and then jumped into his arms. Lucille knew she was doing this to show off to her.

The entire night, Sophia had done everything to publicly display her affection with River. She brought her glass of champagne to his lips, dragged him to the dance floor amidst cheers from the crowd, and complained that her calves were sore so he would give her a massage…

Lucille had thousands of photos of them like this, close as lovers. She was already numb.

She quickly took a photo of them hugging. Before she could click the shutter again, Sophia stood on her tiptoes and kissed River.

Lucille’s hand paused. Her hollow eyes briefly cleared up, and she focused her lens.

In the HD footage, River froze up too. After three short seconds, however, he pulled Sophia into his arms.

He put his hand on the back of her head and pressed her close, deepening the kiss!