Chapter 10 I Will Return It to You

Caroline blinked in disbelief. In a flash, she understood.

She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Reuben's number.

"Yes, Ms. Shenton?"

Caroline asked urgently, "Did Mr. Jordan pay for my mother's medical bills?"

Reuben responded, "Yes, Mr. Jordan didn't want me to tell you. He transferred 140,000 dollars into your mother's account as soon as he arrived at the hospital yesterday."

Upon receiving the confirmation, Caroline immediately dialed Evan's number. "Mr. Jordan, where are you?"

Evan's tone remained cold. "What do you want?"

"I will return your 140,000 dollars to you!" Caroline declared firmly.

Evan sneered dismissively. "Come to Villa Rosa."

With that, he abruptly ended the call.

Caroline held onto her phone, deep in thought. After a moment, she made up her mind and headed out of the hospital.

*

When she arrived at Villa Rosa, Caroline stepped into the darkened villa. She searched around the wall for the light switch.

Before she could reach it, a familiar presence enveloped her, and she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist.

Without warning, she was lifted off her feet and carried toward the sofa by Evan.

Anxious, Caroline struggled against his embrace. "Mr. Jordan! I came here to discuss returning the money!"

Evan remained silent.

It was only when he placed Caroline on the sofa and forcefully pushed her down that he spoke in a deep, commanding voice. "Quiet!"

His words lingered heavily in the air as Evan deftly unbuttoned Caroline's bra, his lips descending upon her with a dominant kiss.

In the aftermath of their intimate encounter, Caroline endured the lingering soreness in her body and hastily covered herself with her clothes. Slowly sitting up, her voice was low and filled with bitterness.

"Aren't you concerned that Daniella will be jealous if she finds out?" she asked.

Evan casually lit a cigarette, the smoke curling between his lips. "That's none of your business," he replied.

Biting her lip, Caroline mustered her courage and said, "I will return the 140,000 dollars to you."

Evan exhaled a cloud of smoke. His gaze pierced through her as he sneered, "And how do you plan to repay me? With your body?"

Feeling a deep sense of humiliation, Caroline clutched her clothes tightly. With a firm voice, she said, "That's my own business."

Evan's lips curled into a sarcastic smile as he spoke, his words dripping with condescension. "70,000 dollars is your commission, and the other 70,000 dollars is payment for our little session just now. Since you claim to care only about money and not relationships, all you need to do is obey me to get what you desire. You have no right to question any decision I make!"

Caroline felt as if she had been slapped by an invisible force. The sting of his words resonated deeply within her.

Indeed, in his eyes, she was merely someone who valued money above all else. What right did she have to resist and stand up for herself?

*

On Friday, after handling some work at the company, Caroline purchased some food and headed to the hospital to be with her mother.

On the way there, she received a call from an unknown number.

As soon as she picked up the call, her father's panicked voice pierced her ears.

"Carol! Come and save me! They're going to chop off my fingers! Please, save Daddy!"

Caroline's expression changed drastically. Before she could respond, the unsettling laughter of an unfamiliar man filled the line. "Miss Shenton, is it? Your father lost 14,000 dollars in our casino today. You see, he doesn't have the money to repay us, so we had no choice but to call you."

"I don't have the money!" Caroline clenched her teeth, her anger evident in her reply.

Even if she possessed the funds, she would never surrender them!

Her father's selfishness and his relentless cycle of indulgence had become unbearable!

"No money?" The man's laughter grew louder. "Then, let's proceed!"

In the next moment, her father's agonized screams echoed through the phone, "My fingers! My fingers!"

Caroline's body tensed, and her complexion grew increasingly pale.

She had believed the perpetrators were merely issuing threats. She never imagined they would carry out such a gruesome act!

"So, will you reconsider repaying the 14,000 dollars?" the man taunted once more.

"I don't have that much! Please, can we negotiate...?"

Before Caroline could complete her sentence, a chilling order was given, "Chop off his hand."

Her heart sank as she listened to her father's despairing cries, filled with terror and helplessness.

A surge of fear and desperation coursed through her veins, and she urgently pleaded, "Stop! I'll give you the money! Just send me the address, and I'll come right away!"

The man's laughter echoed sinisterly. "Very well, I'll send it to you. If you fail to show up, your father will be left crippled and worthless."

As the call ended, Caroline clutched her phone tightly, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Despite her father's faults, she couldn't bear to witness his life being taken away before her eyes.

Checking her bank balance, which held less than $14,000, she hesitated for a moment before making a difficult decision. She had to reach out to Evan.

*

Meanwhile, at the opulent Fies Casino—

Within an extravagant VIP room adorned with luxury and decadence, several young men lounged around a lavish table, accompanied by stunning hostesses at their sides.

In the center of it all sat a man exuding an air of elegance and regality. His face basked in the enchanting glow of shimmering lights, as if he were touched by a divine radiance, captivating all who beheld him.

The woman by his side clung to his coat, her gaze fixated on his profile with unwavering devotion. Each beat of her heart intensified her infatuation, drawing her deeper into his spellbinding allure.

Daniella understood all too well that as long as she stood beside this man who was capable of wielding power over the entirety of Angelbay City with a mere gesture, she would forever be shielded. No one would dare to threaten or mistreat her in any way.

The allure of boundless wealth and unending glory proved irresistible to her. How could she not be enticed?

No matter what, she had to find a way to become the sole woman by Evan's side!

Just as Daniella reached for a cigarette to offer it to Evan, she felt a vibration emanating from the coat resting on her arm.