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Chapter 9

Author: Lana Mora
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-19 11:05:44

"Really?" Lorraine's eyes lit up.

These thoughts and details could not escape the big shot's sharp eyes.

"Of course."

"I..."

Lorraine really wanted to just say it outright, "I want the fire-red bead that Grandpa once gave to the Gregory family."

After all, she had stayed with the Gregory family for four years, just looking for an opportunity to find out where it went.

She had searched almost everywhere in those four years but in vain. It was strange.

Except for the safe in John's room.

There was no trace of the bead anywhere.

But she also felt it was unlikely to be in the safe.

Because recently the Gregory family had a financial crisis, and John had opened the safe.

She was not there at that time.

But later, from John and Eleanor's conversation, she learned that the safe only had gold, diamonds, and luxury watches.

No one mentioned the bead, and she didn't dare to ask.

For the past four years, her relationship with the Gregory family had always been delicate.

To be precise, all four members of the Gregory family were cunning.

Not to mention John and Eleanor, just look at Sienna and Caleb.

If they found out she was looking for the bead, the chances of getting it back would be even smaller, as it would alert them.

Dawson was a big name currently, and he was the one most likely to help her find the bead.

But Dawson was also far from a good person.

He was doubtful and sensitive, not someone she could talk to easily.

After careful consideration, Lorraine finally decided to name her price.

"Are you going to say it or not?" The man sounded impatient.

"I will."

"Then hurry up."

For some reason, Dawson suddenly felt a bit hot.

Although they were talking about how to repay her, all he could think about was the moment she placed her hand on his lower abdomen.

And he could not control it.

Damn it. He had always thought he wasn't interested in any woman.

"If you really wanted to repay me, then don't touch me."

The man immediately frowned, asking, "What do you mean?"

"I think the meaning is clear. Dawson is extremely intelligent, and he knows exactly what I mean."

"Lorraine, do you think too highly of yourself?"

She stayed silent and watched him quietly.

"Do you know how many women in Amber City are lining up to get into my bed?"

"I'm definitely not one of them."

"You are unbelievably arrogant. I pitied you as an orphan with nowhere to go. Since you cured my eyes, I figured I would grant you a small wish. So what exactly are you trying to say?"

"You told me to name my price, and I did. What are you so upset about, Mr. Mercer?"

"If you despise me so much, you should have agreed right away. It does not affect you at all, does it?" Lorraine provoked.

"Fine. Very well. Remember this."

"From now on, even if you kneel or beg, I won't lay a finger on you," Dawson said angrily, pointing at her.

"As long as you keep your word, Mr. Mercer, that's all that matters."

With that, Lorraine turned and opened the door, walking out.

"Wait."

"Mr. Mercer won't change his mind, will he?" she glanced back.

Dawson sneered, "How could I? Do you actually think you are some great beauty? Why would I be interested in a woman who hasn't received an education? Do I look that desperate?"

"Good." Lorraine exhaled in relief.

"I was just kindly reminding you, Lorraine."

"In the Mercer family, it will be difficult for you to survive without my protection.

"If you don't get pregnant within a year, you will be kicked out."

"One year is enough, thank you."

Lorraine spoke with complete indifference, then turned and walked away.

Dawson angrily grabbed the cup on the coffee table and smashed it into pieces.

No woman has ever dared to speak to him like that. Lorraine? She was overestimating herself.

For the first time in his life, Dawson actually felt insulted by a woman.

He thought he was like an emperor, generously granting her a favor.

He expected her to ask for money, credit cards, luxury goods, maybe even a car, or a villa.

But she didn't. She just told him not to touch her. Who did she think she was?

"Who cares?"

Lorraine had left for some time, yet Dawson was still standing there, muttering to himself.

Lunch was quite good. Although the kindness was fake, it did not ruin the harmony.

Helena and her live-in husband put on an act, pretending to be overjoyed about their nephew's eyesight recovery.

The Mercer family chatted casually, exchanging remarks here and there.

It seemed that no one noticed Lorraine, who only took a few bites before feeling full.

In the afternoon, Lorraine went upstairs to sleep.

Dawson drove out.

At the headquarter of Glory Group.

One of the main companies once under the Mercer family, currently was under Dawson's control.

His aunt, uncle, and other relatives all worked at the company.

There were also some distant relatives, but they were not important.

Inside the president's office.

Dawson sat in his chair, swiftly spinning a pen with his left hand.

A male assistant reported in a low voice, "We neglected it at first, but after you reminded us, we checked it again. The driver who hit your car at that time was Jack Schroeder. Neither he, his wife, nor his parents showed any unusual transactions in their accounts. But we missed other connections."

"Jack was often away from home due to his long-haul trucking job. His wife had been cheating on him for a long time."

Jack's wife, Emily Shaw, had an affair with a man named Danny Ford.

"And according to their neighbors, this affair had been going on for three or four years. They often met up at Jack's house."

Dawson grew impatient. "Get to the point."

"Yes, the point is that three days before your accident, a large sum of 150 thousand dollars was deposited into Danny's account."

"150 thousand dollars?"

"Yes, we have not traced the exact source yet. It came from an unrelated non-local account."

"But Danny is a hooligan with no job."

"His wife divorced him a long time ago, and she took their children with her.

"He shouldn't have suddenly come into that much money, so we believe this was the payment used to bribe Jack."

"Wait, Danny was sleeping with Jack's wife, and yet Jack was willing to risk his life for him? This doesn't make sense." Dawson found it hard to understand the tangled relationships of these people.

"I looked into it. Apparently, Jack had already accepted Danny and Emily's relationship, and the three of them get along just fine."

Dawson was speechless.

"But I don't think Jack knew he was going die."

Dawson fell silent, recalling the accident. The driver had deliberately aimed at his seat.

He was not trying to kill himself; he was trying to kill Dawson.

But Dawson's driving skills were too good. At the last second, he swerved, narrowly avoiding a direct hit.

That saved his life, but after the crash, the air was thick with the smell of methanol.

At first, he assumed it was the smell of alcohol from Jack's drunk driving, but Lorraine suggested it might have been poisoning. That was the moment he realized the plot.

It was a perfectly executed setup. Even if he didn't die, he would have gone blind.

Due to the angle of the impact and the force of the collision, the truck caught fire and Jack was burned to death inside.

Because of this, the Mercer family paid 160 thousand dollars in compensation to Jack's family, which was deposited into Emily's account.

In retrospect, it was clear that this family had taken two payouts, one from the Mercers and another one from Danny.

"This was Helena's doing, wasn't it?" Dawson's eyes darkened.

He had always known just how ruthless his aunt was.

"Not sure yet, still checking."

"Heh, the person who wanted me dead the most was the closest to me," Dawson sneered.

"Mr. Mercer, there is something I have to remind you of."

"Speak."

"Your newlywed wife... Could she also be a spy sent by the Gregory family? It's hard to say who the Gregory family is truly taking orders from."

After hearing this, Dawson couldn't help but picture those clear, pure eyes in his mind.

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