“That guy, what's his background?” Emily turned down her hairdryer to make less noise.
Sandy replied, “That idiot's name is Ronald Richardson. He’s a second-generation official. His dad is a big shot in Sandviken.”
Emily simply responded, “Oh.”
Sandy added, “His swagger at school today wasn’t just because of his dad. Several plots of land on the campus belong to his grandfather.”
Emily didn’t comment further, continuing to dry her hair.
Her phone started ringing. She remained seated, the persistent ringtone echoing in the room.
Sandy, unable to ignore it, picked up the phone from the bed. Seeing an unfamiliar string of numbers, she said, “Unsaved number. I’ll hang up for you.”
Emily paused, &ldqu
After a cool shower, Emily felt somewhat groggy and lethargic. She curled up in her blankets, shifting positions restlessly without finding comfort.Her phone buzzed. A message from Elton Cromwell: "Emily, I'm downstairs. Can you come down now?"Emily forced a smile. How did he always know she was in her apartment?"Okay, wait for me."She climbed out of bed, carelessly picked out some clothes to wear, and, just before leaving, glanced in the mirror. She dabbed a layer of lipstick on her lips, enhancing her naturally pale, almost icy skin and faint lip color, which, without lipstick, always made her look weary and listless.
"Oh."Hearing the slight disappointment in her voice, Murray's lips curled into a smirk.Earlier, Cornelius had sent him Emily's diary and mentioned the trouble Ronald Richardson caused her at school. Initially, Murray hadn't taken it seriously, but he found himself distracted during meetings, increasingly agitated by the thought.He had called Emily over lunch. The girl pretended Nothing had happened, even putting on a show over the phone. Irritated, he had hung up abruptly.Now, caught in the act, she started acting again.Murray's thoughts drifted to the contents of Emily's diary, and he asked nonchalantly, "Do you like him that much?"Emily sighed inwardly, knowing Nothing could be hidden from Murray. She didn't refute but wrapped her arms around his neck and said lazily, "If someone is with you, protecting you when you're most helpless and alone, you wil
Ronald Richardson was gaming in a luxurious suite at a seven-star hotel in Sandviken's CBD, adorned with a high-tech flair, wearing headphones in front of one of the five computers in the living room.The violence in the game did not alleviate his frustration; it only intensified his irritability. Angrily, he flung his keyboard at the computer screen after his teammate was killed, shattering the display.Cursing, Ronald rose from his gaming chair, grabbed a cigarette from the coffee table, and lit it while calling Stacey Zechariah."What do you want?" Stacey answered, her tone unfriendly."Can't I chat with an old friend?" Ronald lounged on the sofa, trying to sound nonchalant."Don’t bother. Jean Harry clarified that she'll never want to see you again." Stacey's cold laughter came through the phone. As friends who grew up together, Stacey wasn’t taking sides, b
Sandy eyed the strikingly handsome man, playfully poking Ronald Richardson's face with a golf club she'd casually picked up from a corner. "He's got a great figure too."The club lingered at the drawstring of his pajamas, teasingly lifting it. The waistband loosened, revealing a well-defined eight-pack.His features were exquisite, his physique broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted."Drag queen?" They exchanged glances and exclaimed in unison.Emily gave an approving 'ok' sign.She pulled makeup from her bag and, following the standards of a beauty vlogger, applied a full face of makeup on Ronald Richardson.Then, she and Sandy dragged him into a devilishly enchanting pose.Once everything was set, Sandy adjusted the lights in the room for the perfect ambiance - some on, some off.Emily unlocked Ronald Richardson's phon
City SThe project negotiation went smoothly, and Murray was in a good mood with the contract signed. Breaking his usual routine, he indulged in some wine at lunch.He was quite tired after a sleepless night and a morning of intense mental exertion.He took a shower in his hotel room, planning to rest a bit before returning to Sandviken.Just as he was falling asleep, his phone rang.It was Cornelius calling.Cornelius briefly reported on what Emily had been up to. Since their last incident where Emily detected their tail, he only had a general idea of her activities. He knew Emily had visited Ronald Richardson, but the specifics were unclear.Murray's instructions were clear: while he was away from Sandviken, he wanted to be informed about Miss Rockefeller's every move."Got it," Murray said and hung up.
After his shower, Murray emerged with damp hair, framing his face and adding a misty allure. His striking features were enhanced by the black satin pajamas against his pale skin, resembling a noble vampire, exuding an air of aristocratic aloofness.Still seemingly adrift in a dreamlike state, Emily couldn't quite ground herself. Her face was flushed with embarrassment at the sight of Murray, wishing she could bury her head in the pillow to hide.While Murray had a strong desire and energy in intimate matters, he wasn't fond of experimenting too much.But today...Emily turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.Murray, amused by her reaction, sat on the bed and coaxed Emily out from under the covers, cradling her in his lap. He teased her earlobe with a whisper, his voice low and suggestive, "You enjoyed yourself just now, didn't you?"Emily feigned ignorance,
Emily's eyelid twitched; today seemed bizarre as if everyone was targeting her.Lydia Sander was the alias she used for her card registration here. It couldn't be such a coincidence.She cast a sidelong glance at Ronald Richardson, who showed no reaction."This is the place."A young man with a face full of fleshy folds, his head tilted and eye askew, blocked the doorway like a small mountain, peering into the room.Upon seeing Emily, he bellowed, "Sis, I've found that vixen!"Ronald Richardson's words to tell someone off were on the tip of his tongue, but the scene suddenly piqued his interest.Pointing at Emily, he asked the man, "Is she Lydia Sander? The vixen?"Holding his phone, the man compared the image, his chubby finger tapping the screen, "Are you blind? Isn't t
As the words were spoken, everyone on the phone and at the scene, except for Emily, fell stunned.Caroline, incredulous, turned to Ronald Richardson and stuttered, "You're a Richardson?"Ronald Richardson leaned back on the sofa, arms casually draped over the back, a picture of relaxed confidence. "Exactly," he said with an easy smile. With a swift motion, he pulled Emily to his side. "Why would she fancy your family's old geezer when she's got me as a boyfriend?"Emily couldn't help but shoot him a sideways glare, even as he put on an act.Caroline's spirit deflated. She looked from Ronald Richardson, tall, handsome, and clearly talented, to Emily, a young and beautiful lady. It made no sense for Emily to reject such a charming young man for an old man.But the anonymous email that had tipped her off, with its recordings and photos, was irrefutably real.Tho