Chapter 12

“Uh-huh,” Jerome didn’t show much expression.

The boss handed the shrimp to Angelia, and Jerome took it. “What else do we need to buy?”

“Corn and cabbage.”

He took the meat from her hand. “I’ll take the vegetables to the car first. You can buy them and come over.”

Angelia nodded.

She figured Jerome didn’t like others misunderstanding their relationship, so she went first.

She bought corn, cabbage, beef, and dried tofu from the cooked food store.

Back in the car, “I already bought the vegetables at the market entrance and put them in the trunk. If we can’t finish them, we can put them in the fridge,” Jerome instructed.

“Okay.”

Angelia drove back and stopped downstairs.

Jerome frowned and looked around. This was an old neighborhood, and the houses looked rundown. The security was not great. “Do you live here?”

“I rented the house on the third floor,” Angelia said.

Her explanation was to prevent him from thinking that she lived here. By saying she rented it, she meant she could move out at any time.

Jerome’s eyes darkened a bit. “Your husband can’t even afford the down payment?”

“Uh…” She was caught off guard. “It’s not like that. Let me go get the groceries.”

Angelia changed the subject, opened the trunk, and saw that there were a lot of groceries. She estimated that she would have to carry them twice.

Just as she was about to pick up the bags, Jerome swiftly took them out of the trunk. “Go upstairs and open the door.”

“I’ll help you carry some,” Angelia wanted to take the bags from him.

“How can you open the door if you’re carrying things?”

“Oh.” Angelia immediately ran upstairs, opened the door, and put a pair of men’s slippers at the entrance.

Jerome frowned, thinking that her husband had worn them, and felt a surge of disgust. “Don’t you have new slippers?”

Angelia realized that he might have OCD and had not considered it. “Yes, I do. Wait a minute.”

She opened the shoe cabinet, took out a new pair of slippers, and put them at his feet. She took the groceries and went to the kitchen twice.

Jerome looked at her small house, which was not even as big as his study.The furniture is very simple, and the decoration is very plain, but she manages it neatly, and it looks quite comfortable.

His gaze was drawn to the photos on the coffee table, and he picked up the picture frame.

In the photo, Angelia was holding a one-year-old girl sitting on the grass, both smiling at the camera with crescent-shaped eyes, high noses, full lips, and soft facial features.

This little girl is like a mini version of Angelia.

Angelia put all the dishes in the fridge, except for the shrimp, which she cooked.

When she went out and saw Jerome looking at the photos, it was her and Alyssa’s.

Thinking of Alyssa, Angelia unconsciously revealed a motherly tenderness and explained, “That’s my daughter, she’s already four years old.”

Jerome’s eyes narrowed, radiating a cold and gloomy light.

She actually had such a big child with that man.

His heart felt like it was being held by a hand, tight and uncomfortable.

He threw the photo on the coffee table, his face turned iron blue, and sarcastically said, “You’re pretty good at lying.”

“What?” Angelia was stunned and didn’t understand when she lied.

Jerome looked at her and asked, “Didn’t you say you only did it once? Don’t tell me that the man you did it with back then is your husband now.”

Angelia’s gaze trembled, silent, and lowered her eyelids.

She didn’t lie.

She only did it once, and this child was from the rapist.

There were too many right and wrong things back then, too much grievance, too much suffocation.

She didn’t want to remember, didn’t want to say it again to avoid further harm, and didn’t want Alyssa to know her identity.

“Do you want to watch TV? I’ll bring it down for you now, it’ll be quick, about ten minutes.” Angelia said softly, changing the subject.

“No need.” Jerome said coldly, sitting on the sofa and browsing his phone.

In fact, he couldn’t read a single word.Seeing his unwelcoming demeanor, it was obvious that he didn’t want to talk and was probably watching TV.

Angelia went into the kitchen where the shrimp had turned red.

She turned off the gas and poured the shrimp out, about to boil water when the doorbell rang.

Who could it be at this time?

She walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

To her surprise, Amanda Charles was standing at the door.

Angelia’s heart rate increased, worried that if Amanda Charles saw Jerome here, she would assume the worst.

She didn’t want to cause trouble for herself or for Jerome, so she quickly went to the sofa and grabbed Jerome’s hand, whispering, “My mother-in-law is here. Hide for a bit. Don’t come out unless she leaves.”

“What?” Jerome was shocked.

He was used to flattery and had never been afraid of anyone or anything.

Now he had to hide.

Angelia heard the doorbell ring again and hurriedly led Jerome to her room, instructing him, “Keep watch. If she tries to come into my room, hide in the closet. It’s a walk-in closet.”

Jerome was angry and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him.

He placed his hands on her temples and said, “Why hide? Just don’t open the door.”

Angelia thought about it and agreed.

With a click, Amanda Charles opened the door and walked in.

Angelia was surprised, as she didn’t remember giving Amanda Charles a key.

Why was she here when Angelia wasn’t even home?

“Come in,” Amanda Charles said, and two workers carrying toolboxes followed her in.

Amanda Charles looked around and set her sights on Angelia’s bedroom door, walking towards it.

Angelia’s heart was racing, and if she went out now, it would only make Amanda Charles suspicious.

She grabbed Jerome and headed towards the closet.

Jerome stood still, not moving.

She looked at him pitifully, almost pleadingly, “Jerome, please hide.”

He couldn’t resist her cute expression, and with a lump in his throat, followed Angelia to the wardrobe.Her wardrobe may be floor-length, but the space is very small.

Only two people can squeeze in face to face.

His chest was rising and falling, and his breath was all on her face, staring at her eyes tightly.

Angelia didn’t care about Jerome’s gaze and looked outside through the crack in the door.

Amanda Charles entered her room, sneering and looking at the wardrobe.

Angelia’s tense spine became stiff, and her whole body was stretched tightly.

Amanda Charles opened the door of the first wardrobe, and Angelia’s mind exploded with a bang.

When Amanda Charles sees her and Jerome hiding in the wardrobe, how should she explain it?

She can’t explain it!

No matter what she says, it will only confirm her and Jerome’s abnormal relationship, just like five years ago, watching Lillian fall down the stairs and being falsely accused, she couldn’t explain it. She doesn’t know how Amanda Charles will slander and rage.

Amanda Charles opened the door of the second wardrobe, and it was soon their turn.

Angelia grabbed Jerome’s arm, her eyelashes trembling, and she dared not breathe.

Jerome looked at her frightened expression deeply, and he was not doing well, but he was divorced, what was he afraid of being discovered?

Amanda Charles’s phone rang, she answered the call, turned around, walked to the window, and said, “I’m at Angelia’s house, that little girl isn’t here, my people are installing a pinhole camera, which can be monitored and save an hour of video. I want to see what her daughter Alyssa is doing at home, she can’t even have a son… Of course, except for the living room, bedroom, and bathroom, I’m preparing to install them all. If she doesn’t listen to me in the future, I’ll release her naked photos…”

Angelia couldn’t hear what else Amanda Charles was saying, her whole body was shaking with anger.

Amanda Charles really made her sick, no wonder Sammie and she were mother and son, with a dirty and filthy mind.

She turned her head, accidentally touching Jerome’s chin with her mouth.

She looked at Jerome in surprise, but before she could see him clearly, Jerome lowered his head and kissed her lips.No, it’s not a kiss, more like nibbling, biting her, as if venting anger, but not biting her painfully.

Angelia was frightened, she wanted to move back, but there was a cabinet behind her and she couldn’t.

Amanda Charles was outside, and she didn’t dare to make a sound.

Jerome’s kiss became deeper and his breathing became heavier.

Angelia was really afraid that Amanda Charles outside would hear, she tightened her eyebrows, and was about to suffocate, twisting her body to resist.

The more she twisted, the more their bodies rubbed against each other, producing electricity and fire.

Jerome had some strange emotions.

Originally, he was angry that she lived such a miserable life and was still being monitored.

All kinds of emotions were mixed together, and he impulsively kissed her.

However, her tenderness and breath were what he liked.

Even, he still vividly remembered the feeling of wanting her five years ago, which was deeply ingrained in his heart.

Thinking that she was loving someone else, he became even more unstable, and his hand went down from her clothes…

Angelia was both ashamed and annoyed, pushing his hand desperately.

Jerome became annoyed by her pushing, and grabbed her hands and pressed them above her head with a bang.

Angelia looked at Jerome in shock.

Jerome also realized the problem and looked at the cabinet door.

The sound was so loud that Amanda Charles couldn’t have not heard it…

Amanda Charles did hear it.

She hung up the phone, frowned, and quickly walked out, saying to the workers who installed the pinhole camera, “Be careful, don’t damage anything, move things back to their original positions, don’t let anyone find out. I’ll go downstairs and keep watch. When it’s time for you to retreat, you must retreat within five minutes, got it?”

“Yes, madam.”

Angelia heard the door close and breathed a sigh of relief, coming out of the cabinet and staring at Jerome angrily, “What do you mean by this?”

“Do you know what self-respect is?” Jerome asked coldly.”What? Self-love? You kissed me, and I’ve been rejecting you,” said Angelia, not calm, remembering that she accidentally touched his face first. “The previous kiss was not intentional.”

Jerome’s gaze became colder. “Refusing others is supposed to be self-respect and self-love. If you let someone bully you without saying a word, that’s self-abuse. You don’t seem to understand what kind of person can be respected and loved by others.”

“I didn’t say anything because I was hiding in the closet with you, and I couldn’t make a sound,” Angelia raised her voice in excitement.

“Why did you hide in the closet with me? Wasn’t it because you had twisted thoughts and got flustered? I’m just a classmate of yours, or even a guest. There’s no need to hide from me. What were you thinking when you begged me to hide with you?”

“I was afraid of being misunderstood.”

“A clear conscience fears no accusation. As long as you are firm in your thoughts, you won’t be afraid of being misunderstood. Even if someone misunderstands you, it’s their ignorance. But if you misunderstand yourself first, don’t blame others for thinking too much. I don’t think we need to have dinner at your house anymore.”

Jerome walked out openly after opening the door.

Angelia sat dejectedly on the sofa, digesting Jerome’s words in her mind. It was because she cared too much about what others thought that she dragged him into the closet, and it was also her fault for accidentally kissing him. But why did he kiss her? To humiliate her or to teach her a lesson?

Her mind was chaotic and troubled, like a tangled mess of threads. She couldn’t find the thread and couldn’t sort it out.

The worker heard a sound from the room, finished installing the pinhole camera in the bathroom, and walked over to see Angelia. He was stunned for a moment and asked, “When did you come back?”

Angelia looked at the worker, her eyes turning red, and commanded coldly, “If you don’t want to go to jail, tell me how to install it and how to remove it.””Oh, this is not what we are supposed to install, it’s Ms. Charles…” explained the worker, facing Angelia’s cold gaze, and didn’t say anything more.

Shortly after, Amanda Charles came in, looking at Angelia with a sharp and sarcastic expression, “How did you get in here?”

“I rented this house myself, why are you asking me how I got in? I also want to ask how you got in.” Angelia stood up unhappily.

“Can’t I come to my son’s house?” Amanda Charles said arrogantly.

“No mother-in-law installs a pinhole camera in her son’s house. Also, please ask your son where he lives. This is my house, not your son’s. He bought a villa elsewhere, and you can go there if you have time.” Angelia said disdainfully.

Amanda Charles was shocked, “You said he bought a villa elsewhere, where?”

“I don’t know where. If there’s nothing else, you can leave now. Also, don’t invade my personal space, or I’ll sue you. You’re the one without face!” Angelia warned and opened the door.

“What do you mean by your personal space? Everything you eat and use is my son’s. I can come here whenever I want and install whatever I want. I don’t care about your face!” Amanda Charles said sharply.

“Well, I’m sorry if you measure personal space with money. After I got married, I never took a penny from Sammie. So, you don’t even have a place to stand here, please don’t come here again.” Angelia said coldly.

Amanda Charles was furious, “What’s wrong with your attitude? Have you no respect for your elders? What kind of upbringing is this?”

“When questioning someone’s upbringing, at least have your own upbringing first. I don’t think someone who walks on the edge of crime deserves respect. If you call yourself an elder, then show the behavior of an elder before lecturing me!” Angelia retorted.

“You’re so rude!”

Amanda Charles slapped Angelia in the face in anger.

Angelia grabbed Amanda Charles’ wrist and looked at her coldly, expressing clearly word by word, “If you hurt me even a hair, I will find a reporter to talk about what domestic violence is.” Amanda Charles pulled her hand away and pointed at Angelia’s nose, “Don’t be shameless, I’ve never seen such a disgusting person like you. You can’t even have a son and still have the nerve to show face? Did you sell your conscience? Angelia, you wait and see how you roll out of Sammie’s house.”

Angelia let go of Amanda Charles’ hand and left Sammie’s house. She couldn’t be happier and fearlessly said, “I’ll be waiting.” Amanda Charles left in a huff and slammed the door on her way out.

The workers also hurriedly left when they saw Amanda Charles go.

Angelia threw the cameras they had taken down into the trash can and remembered Jerome’s words, “No self-respect, no self-love.”

She had an urge to cry, but… she could only swallow her grievances and no one would care whether she was sad, oppressed, or misunderstood. She took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, held back her tears, and went into the kitchen to do what she had to do.

After cooking some noodles with beef, dried tofu, and chicken feathers, she began to peel shrimp. Her phone rang and she saw it was Walden, so she wiped her hands and answered.

“Angelia, do you know what happened to Jerome? He just checked out of his room,” Walden asked worriedly.

Angelia’s heart sank and a sour feeling overflowed, as if the misty rain of Jiangnan had fallen on her heart, making her feel stuffy. She had done nothing wrong, but Jerome had already labeled her with these tags. What could she do?

“I don’t know, I’m sorry,” Angelia apologized.

“Can you call him to come to the dinner tonight? If he doesn’t come, it will be a big problem,” Walden said kindly.

Jerome already rejected her, so if she called him again, she would really have no self-respect or self-love. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that,” Angelia said.

“You’d better call him over. You can work at Marriott International now because of his connections. If he leaves, the big boss will probably target you. And because of Jerome’s departure, the big boss directly called the finance department and canceled your bonus,” Walden reminded.

Angelia looked uncertainly ahead. “So, I was able to stay at Marriott International because of Jerome’s connections. I always thought I got in through the interview. Since he’s gone, I should leave too. I’ll come to the company to resign later.”

“Angelia, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that the big boss values Jerome and hopes you can invite him back,” Walden said.

“I don’t have that ability, and I’m not familiar with Jerome. But we were classmates for half a year, and I’m sorry, I can’t do anything,” Angelia said dejectedly.

“Don’t be impulsive. I know your grandmother’s illness is a lot of pressure for you. How about taking a week off and coming back to work after a week?” Walden said kindly.

Thinking of her grandmother, Angelia’s emotions gradually stabilized. She still needed to work and make money. Before resigning, she needed to find another job at least.

“Thank you, Wettiner. I understand,” Angelia said politely, hung up the phone, and continued to peel shrimp…

Outside Marriott International

Whitfield put Jerome’s luggage in the trunk, then got into the car and looked back at his boss.

Jerome leaned against the back of the seat, his eyes closed, and his face didn’t look too good.

“Jerome,” Whitfield called carefully.

“What’s the matter?” Jerome’s usual serious voice.

“This, I found it in the bag behind the chair when I was washing the car,” Whitfield said, holding out a silver bracelet. It was the one Jerome’s grandmother gave to Angelia.

She didn’t even take it.

Flames shot up from Jerome’s eyes. He took the bracelet and threw it out the window. His face was dark, and he coldly commanded, “Drive.”

“Oh,” Whitfield started the car.

Jerome looked at the red banner swaying on the car and said, “Wait.”

“Hmm?” Whitfield hit the brakes again.

“Pick it up,” Jerome ordered.

Whitfield’s eyes dimmed for a moment.He knew that this was the bracelet that Mr. Taylor’s grandmother had given to Angelia.

Mr. Taylor had thrown away the bracelet, which meant he had given up on Angelia.

As long as Mr. Taylor gave up on Angelia, his chance would come.

However, he was happy for only a few seconds before the boss picked up Angelia again.

He reluctantly got off the car and picked up the bracelet.

“The bracelet is with you. Without my permission, you are not allowed to tell anyone where it is,” Jerome commanded.

Whitfield nodded in confusion.

Jerome made a call.

Angelia saw that it was Jerome calling but did not want to answer.

He said she had no self-esteem or self-love, and she did not want to be disliked by him.

The phone stopped ringing and rang again, still Jerome’s.

She still did not answer.

Jerome’s face was worse than before, holding the phone tightly, “Whitfield, let me drive.”

“Oh.” Whitfield got off the car carefully, and Jerome got into the driver’s seat and made the call again.

Angelia took a deep breath and answered, “What’s wrong?”

“Where is the bracelet my grandmother gave you?” Jerome asked directly.

“Uh…I put it in the bag behind your driver’s seat,” Angelia recalled.

“No, did you think it was an ordinary silver bracelet? It’s worth more than 20 million according to the market price,” Jerome said.

“20 million?” Angelia panicked. If she really lost it, she wouldn’t have 20 million even if she sold herself.

“Ask Whitfield if he took it,” she said.

“No, I asked him already,” Jerome answered firmly.

Whitfield sitting in the passenger seat had the urge to cry. He saw his boss’s determination to get Angelia, and he could lie so confidently.

“I really put it in the bag behind the driver’s seat,” Angelia said anxiously.

“Who can prove it?” Yes, who can prove it? In Jerome’s eyes, she was a person with bad character, and how could he believe her?

Angelia had a flash of inspiration, “Oh, did Whitfield wash the car?”

Jerome looked coldly at Whitfield and asked, “Did you wash the car?”

“Yes,” Whitfield answered.

Angelia was filled with hope, “Maybe the person who washed the car took it.””Did you see the person washing the car wearing a silver bracelet?” Jerome continued to ask Whitfield. Under the boss’s gaze, Whitfield answered confidently, “No.”

“Did you hear that?” Jerome asked Angelia. Angelia was at a loss for words and said, “Maybe the person washing their hands took it, and Whitfield didn’t notice.”

Jerome sneered, “Even if they did take it, do you think they could produce it without evidence? If they reached out and took it, don’t expect their character to be good.” Angelia felt he was insinuating that she took it and was making excuses to avoid responsibility.

“I really didn’t take it,” Angelia said, feeling uncertain.

“I’ll be at your building in five minutes. We’ll talk then,” Jerome said before hanging up and braking.

Whitfield nearly hit the window as he looked at his boss. “Find me a villa in Columbia that I can live in as soon as possible. You can get out now,” Jerome ordered.

“Okay,” Whitfield replied, opening the car door and watching Jerome’s car drive away. He felt like he had lost his chance to pursue Angelia.

Angelia was in a daze, realizing that her dignity and face were the cheapest things when facing a huge debt. Her phone rang, and she saw that it was Jerome’s. She answered, “I’m downstairs. Come down.”

Angelia walked downstairs, and Jerome had already gotten out of the car, leaning against the car door looking dashing. However, Angelia was not in the mood to appreciate his appearance and walked up to him.

Jerome looked at her face, frowned, and said, “You put on makeup when you see other men, but not for me?”

“Huh?” Angelia was too preoccupied to put on makeup and looked troubled. “I’m almost done with the filling. Have you eaten yet? Come upstairs, and I’ll have the dumplings ready in ten minutes.”

“You’re inviting me up?” Jerome said sarcastically.Angelia lowered her head and twisted her fingers, “I was overthinking, I shouldn’t have been so paranoid. You’re just my classmate, there’s no need to hide, we can be open and honest about it.”

“What were you overthinking?” Jerome asked, not realizing that his anger was slowly dissipating. Perhaps what he was hoping for was her overthinking.

“I feel like we’re…having an affair,” Angelia said the last two words very quietly and embarrassedly.

But being embarrassed couldn’t solve her problem.

“I’m sorry, it’s my own small-mindedness. How could you possibly do such a thing? It’s all my overthinking and melodramatics. I won’t do it again in the future,” Angelia promised.

Jerome looked at her heavily, a thousand thoughts hiding in his vast eyes, and his tone softened unconsciously, “Why are you swearing like a primary school student?”

“A primary school student’s heart is the purest,” Angelia continued his words.

Also the most unreliable!

Jerome didn’t say this sentence and walked up the stairs.

Angelia immediately followed and opened the door.

Jerome glanced at the dumplings on the table and sat on the sofa.

Angelia opened the door to the maximum and carried the prepared dumplings into the kitchen. While boiling water, she also made ten dumplings filled with meat.

Jerome glanced at his daughter’s photo on the coffee table, feeling annoyed, and opened the drawer, throwing the photo inside.

He walked to the kitchen door and leaned against the door frame, watching Angelia busy with thoughts.

When the dumplings were cooked, Angelia turned off the heat, scooped them up, put them in a large bowl, and went to get a bowl. She got burned and pulled back.

Jerome frowned, his eyes flashing with heartache, and scolded her, “Are you stupid? Didn’t you use a towel to hold it before you carried it? Help me prepare a dish of vinegar.”

“Oh.” Angelia opened the cabinet and took out a dish.

Jerome was afraid she would get burned again, so he carried the dumpling bowl out and put it on the dining table.Angelia placed the vinegar dish in front of him and respectfully handed him the chopsticks.

Jerome glanced at the chair opposite him and said, “Sit down and eat with me.”

Angelia nodded and went back to the kitchen to get a bowl and a pair of chopsticks.

She picked up three dumplings and put them in her bowl, eating with her head down.

After finishing, she secretly looked at Jerome.

He looked back at her and asked, “Want more?”

Angelia shook her head and put down her chopsticks.

She gathered her courage and asked, “Jerome, is that silver bracelet really worth twenty million?”

“Do you think I would cheat you, or do you think my grandmother couldn’t afford a twenty million bracelet?” Jerome asked calmly.

“That’s not what I meant, it’s just that…the bracelet, you…your grandmother, gave it to me before…I can…return it…” Angelia stuttered, feeling embarrassed, but she really couldn’t afford to pay for it.

“Not interested,” Jerome sneered. “That was given to my grandmother’s daughter-in-law by my grandmother. Are you her?”

“Then I said I would return it to you before, but you didn’t want it,” Angelia said indignantly.

“It’s not mine, so of course I can’t take it. I let you take it back yourself,” Jerome said in a low voice.

Angelia’s heart sank to the bottom of the valley. If she had known it was a twenty million bracelet, she wouldn’t have taken it, let alone put it in his car without a word. She had no idea it would get lost.

“I think we should report it to the police. Maybe they can find it,” Angelia suggested.

“Already did,” Jerome said, eating dumplings.

Angelia propped her chin and felt a chill down her spine. Her mind was in chaos. Where would she get two million to compensate? She didn’t even have two hundred thousand.

Jerome glanced at her and asked, “More dumplings?”

“Huh?”

“I said dumplings,” Jerome explained. He was particularly hungry today. Normally, he wouldn’t have eaten more than ten.

Angelia held her bowl carefully and asked uncertainly, “Can I charge twenty million for a bowl of dumplings?”

“Ha,” Jerome laughed. He found her pitiful and her words funny. Only she could come up with charging twenty million for a bowl of dumplings.

Angelia was also embarrassed.Jerome said, “I can pay you 200 for a bowl.”

Angelia’s eyes dimmed, “I was just joking with you, no need to pay.”

She knew she was being unrealistic, just asking casually, but she owed 20 million and had a sense of unreality.

She went to the kitchen to continue making dumplings.

Jerome stood behind her, she was small, only reaching his chin.

He felt a strange pity in his heart and his voice softened, “Do you want to go to your grandmother’s today? I have some things to do in Detroit, and I can take you there.”

Angelia turned to look at him, “Aren’t you going to the Marriott International banquet tonight?”

Jerome’s eyes were deep, and he originally had nothing to do in Detroit. He asked back, “Do you want me to go?”

“I heard that they prepared the banquet specifically for you. If you don’t go, it will be a waste.” Angelia explained.

“It’s just using me as a gimmick to improve their hotel’s reputation. What benefits did they give you to convince me?” Jerome turned around and leaned against the pool, facing her.

Angelia shook her head, “There are no benefits.”

“You don’t have to do this job anymore.” Jerome said directly.

“Hmm?” Angelia didn’t understand the meaning of his words, “Why?”

“A few hundred thousand a year, twenty thousand was just a coincidence. You won’t be able to pay off 20 million in a hundred years.” Jerome said coldly.

Hearing the figure of 20 million, she wilted again and whispered, “Can’t you give me a discount?”

“How much, 50% off? You can pay it off in 50 years?” Jerome joked, his eyes shining with a bright light.

Angelia shrugged her shoulders, indeed, even with a 50% discount, she still couldn’t pay it off.

“Come work for me.” Jerome looked at her, “I’ll give you one million a year, plus an additional 200,000 for living expenses. Your salary will increase based on market conditions.”

“One million two hundred thousand a year?” Angelia was shocked.

It wasn’t that she looked down on herself, but she knew her market positioning too well. Currently, she could only make 200,000 a year at most.”Directly deducted one million, what you can get is only twenty thousand per year,” Jerome reminded.

He appeared calm and mature, but in reality, he felt nervous after saying the sentence that invited her to come work for him.

Angelia was also nervous. She felt like he was trying to find a lover.

She knew a woman who was paid fifty thousand a year for being a mistress.

“Um, I only know hotel management and sales, and I won’t do anything illegal or immoral,” Angelia explained beforehand.

Jerome frowned. “You’re just coming to be my assistant. What are you thinking?”

“Oh.” Angelia’s heart raced. She began to think too much.

Right, even if Jerome wanted to find someone, he would look for an eighteen-year-old girl, not her.

“Um, how much does Whitfield make in a year?” Angelia asked carefully.

“Over two million, so you still have room for development,” Jerome replied.

“Really?” Angelia was happy.

Was this the legendary good luck? She still had to pay one million a year, but her other income would be much better than now. She could also learn a lot from Jerome. “When should I sign the contract?”

“When your grandmother is discharged from the hospital. You also need time to take care of her,” Jerome said.

“Jerome.” Angelia patted his back and sincerely said, “You are the most humane CEO. No wonder you are doing so well.”

Whitfield squatted in the corner, drawing circles quietly. Humanity?

Their boss only had a little humanity when it came to Angelia.

Angelia’s phone rang. It was Walden. She answered.

“Angelia, come to the hotel quickly. You’re in trouble,” Walden said urgently.

“What happened?” Angelia asked.

“You’ll know when you get here,” Walden hung up.

Angelia put away her phone and thought about what might have happened.

“What’s wrong?” Jerome asked.

“Wettiner said I’m in trouble and asked me to come to the hotel. I don’t know what’s going on, he didn’t say,” Angelia replied.

“I’ll take you there now,” Jerome said in a deep voice.”But dumplings…” Angelia looked at the cutting board, there were only five dumplings.

“It’s the same even if we eat them later,” Jerome said.

Angelia felt a strange feeling in her heart, the meaning was that he would still eat the dumplings she made in the future.

She didn’t have time to think deeply, going to the hotel was more important.

Angelia saw a banner posted at the hotel entrance from afar.

The banner read: “Angelia is a slut, her life is not decent, and she has gynecological diseases.”

She lowered her eyes, looked ahead coldly, and the only person who could say she had a gynecological disease was Amanda Charles.

Jerome looked at her, “Did you offend someone?”

“Um,” Angelia responded.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance, Angelia took out her phone and took a picture of the banner, then walked into the lobby.

The person who came was not Amanda Charles, but two middle-aged women that Angelia didn’t know.

“Angelia’s life is very messy, how can you let such a person work here? She has gynecological diseases, what if she infects the guests? Can you afford it?” The plump middle-aged woman gasped and slammed the front desk.

Angelia turned on the recording, calmly walked over, lowered her eyes, and asked coldly, “Are you slandering me with gynecological diseases here, trying to damage my reputation and the reputation of the hotel? Are you a commercial spy or a repeat offender?”

“What repeat offender, you can talk, it seems like I’m slandering you. You were still in the hospital yesterday, and you couldn’t even give birth to a child. Who wants to frame you?” The fat woman sneered.

“Who told you that I was in the hospital last week?” Angelia calmly asked.

The fat woman pointed to her own eyes and said confidently, “I saw it with my own two eyes, do you still want to deny it?”

Angelia had a sarcastic tone, “Is that so? What time and which hospital?”

The plump woman stood with her hands on her hips, “You really don’t give up, do you? Columbia Hospital, 7 pm tonight. Don’t even think about finding someone to forge a certificate. Everyone, come and see this woman with gynecological disease. She’s the hotel’s customer service representative. Be careful she doesn’t give you gynecological disease.”

Quickly, a group of people gathered around, pointing and whispering at Angelia.

Jerome parked the car and entered the hotel, overhearing part of the conversation. Yesterday at 7 pm, Angelia was still in Detroit, and he happened to be the witness. He made a call, “Whitfield, contact the Mayor. Someone is slandering me, I need him to help me deal with it.”

“Oh, I see. I’ll contact him now.”

Jerome hung up the phone and walked towards Angelia. The front desk whispered, “Angelia has gynecological disease. I can’t believe it. According to that fat woman, her private life is very messy.”

“I dare not use the hotel’s towels anymore. What if I get infected?” Guests also became worried.

The plump woman was proud and said, “Where is your manager? This kind of employee must be fired, or who would dare to stay in the hotel?”

Jerome walked up to Angelia and looked coldly at the plump woman, “Were you with her at the hospital at 7 pm yesterday? Did your one eye see her there?”

Jerome’s words caused a gasp from the surrounding crowd.

The plump woman looked at Jerome and said sharply, “You’re her lover, aren’t you? No wonder she got gynecological disease. You gave it to her.”

“Ma’am, you can eat anything, but you can’t say anything.” Walden immediately walked out.

“Am I saying something wrong? He admitted it himself. They were together at 7 pm. I guess they went to the hospital together.” The plump woman deliberately spoke loudly for everyone to hear.

“This woman is really beautiful, any man would be attracted to her. If she were a little more seductive, she would be even more perfect,” commented a male guest.

“Are you saying she’s beautiful or am I beautiful?” a female companion asked her male partner, inexplicably angry.

Angelia saw an opportunity and spoke up, “Since you keep saying that I have a gynecological disease and you have such a way with words, I am left defenseless against your false accusations. So, let’s do this. Don’t leave, I’ll call the police and the media, and everyone here can testify. We’ll go to a legitimate hospital for an examination to prove whether or not you intentionally insulted and slandered me.”

“Go ahead, I’m not afraid of you. Your mother-in-law told me herself that you have a gynecological disease, which is why you can’t have a son,” the plump woman blurted out impulsively.

“Ah, Angelia is married,” the hotel staff were all shocked, looking at each other in surprise.

Walden, however, remained calm. During the interview, Angelia had mentioned that she was married, but later on, he saw her always alone and not talking to anyone about her family, so he thought she had gotten divorced.

Soon, the police arrived and Angelia had specifically called the media. A group of people went to the hospital together.

She lay on a small white bed, her legs resting on a rack, with a curtain separating her from the outside world. Three female gynecologists surrounded her.

The doctor was going to insert a tool inside her, which would be painful.

After all, she had only had one sexual encounter with that man five years ago, and was too embarrassed to cry out in pain.

“Relax, otherwise it won’t go in. Are you married?” the doctor asked professionally.

Angelia’s face turned pale and then red again. She replied, “Yes.”

“Endure it a little longer,” the doctor said gently.

After they took several samples, the three doctors personally took them to the laboratory to ensure that there were no mistakes. Along with them were the police, reporters, notaries, and the two middle-aged women.Angelia did not go and sat in the doctor’s office waiting for the results.

A cup of hot coffee was handed to her.

Angelia looked up and saw Jerome, and her face involuntarily turned red.

“Thank you,” she said.

Jerome looked at her and said, “With a husband who rarely comes home and a mother-in-law who causes trouble, you are living a terrible life.”

“I can handle it,” Angelia smiled.

“Handle it? Your solution is to bring the police and reporters to the hospital for an investigation. The truth is not always the most important thing. Bored people will spread rumors according to their own desires. Rumors are more prevalent than the truth. They won’t listen to your explanation, let alone believe it,” Jerome said in a deep voice.

“At least I will make those who spread rumors pay the price,” Angelia replied.

“Then why don’t you get a divorce?” Jerome asked, his eyes dark and powerful like a whirlpool.

Angelia instinctively avoided his gaze and lowered her eyes.

She wanted a divorce, but Sammie had power and money and used Alyssa to threaten her.

She could have nothing without Alyssa.

“For the sake of the child,” Angelia said firmly.

Jerome’s eyes dimmed, and his tone became sharp.

“Are you afraid your child will lose his father’s love? Or do you think your child can grow up strong in this environment without any psychological trauma?”

Angelia heard his implication and disdain.

“I know what I’m doing,” she said.

“What are you doing?” Jerome raised his voice and said disdainfully, “Swallowing your pride, being insulted, taking care of your family alone, even your private space has to be monitored without freedom. Is this the life you want? Don’t you think you’re being masochistic?”

His tone stimulated her self-esteem, and she felt embarrassed and even a little impulsive.

“Whether I am being cheap or not is my own business. If you don’t understand the situation, don’t randomly accuse my life and choices. Besides, you are just my future boss. I don’t think a boss has the right to interfere in my personal matters and criticize my life.” Angelia retorted coldly.

With one sentence about being a future boss and another about having no right to interfere, she cleanly severed their relationship. He really had no qualifications, not even a position of concern for her.

His eyes seemed to be stained with ice, cold like a cliff, and all emotions cooled down. “Indeed, I was meddling too much.”

He turned coolly and walked towards the door.

Angelia’s heart clenched, with an impulse to call him back.

But…

What was the point of calling him back? Could he change her current situation?

Nothing could be changed. She couldn’t divorce, and life had to go on.

She felt his concern, but he was ultimately someone outside of her life. Besides being her future boss, there was no other possibility.

Wait, what other possibility was she thinking of? Was her mind swelling and becoming confused?

She tapped her head, not wanting to let herself think wildly, and simply walked out…

The report came out.

The police even searched Angelia’s medical records online and confirmed that she was physically healthy with no gynecological diseases.

The fat woman was dumbfounded and walked to the side with her phone, calling Amanda Charles. “I’m telling you, Amanda Charles, what’s going on with you? Your daughter-in-law just went to the hospital for an examination, and she has no problems at all. You’re making me defame her, and she’s getting the police and reporters involved. She’s going to sue me.”

“How is that possible? Hold on, Sammie happens to be at home, let me ask.” Amanda Charles hung up the phone and walked angrily to Sammie, questioning, “What’s going on with your wife?”

“What’s going on?” Sammie munched on an apple, lazily watching TV.On the TV, there was a passionate kiss scene between Read and an actress. It was strange that he didn’t seem jealous at all. Amanda Charles didn’t seem to care about Sammie, as she snatched the apple from his hand andthrew it in the trash can. She even deliberately blocked his way and said angrily, “Angelia doesn’t have any gynecological diseases. The person who accused me is slandering me.”

“Mum, why did you go bother Angelia?” Sammie said with disdain.

“I didn’t go bother her. She was too arrogant. I installed a pinhole camera where she lives, and she told me to get lost. How can she be a good daughter-in-law?” Amanda Charles said confidently.

“You installed a pinhole camera where she lives?” Sammie couldn’t believe it and stood up.

“She’s a sneaky person. If I don’t install it, how can I know what she’s doing?” Amanda Charles said.

“Why didn’t you ask me about this first?” Sammie was also upset.

Amanda Charles became even angrier. “What’s your attitude now? Do you want to make me angry with you and your wife? She lied to me that she had a gynecological disease and didn’t want to have children. Now, she wants to sue your friend Elaine. It’s all because of you.”

Sammie was in the wrong and had no confidence. Since he failed in kidnapping Angelia last time, he had found someone through his grandfather to connect with people in the system.

“Mom, don’t worry. I recently got to know a guy who is quite capable. I’ll ask him to suppress this matter first,” Sammie said.

“Hurry up. Elaine has been my best friend for decades,” Amanda Charles urged. Sammie made a phone call and said with a smile, “Hello, Chief of Police, this is Sammie. The thing is, Elaine may have done something wrong today. I hope you can make a big deal small and a small deal smaller.”

“Are you talking about her slandering a hotel staff member with a gynecological disease?” Chief of Police asked.

“Oh, yes. Elaine is just straightforward and impulsive. She didn’t have any bad intentions. It’s just a misunderstanding,” Sammie explained.”I’m afraid it won’t work. It’s best to have the parties involved withdraw their charges. Angelia brought a reporter and recorded the conversation. I can’t calm things down here. I’m sorry.” Chief of Police spoke frankly.

“Understood. Thank you, Chief of Police. I’ll invite you for dinner another day.” Sammie smiled and hung up the phone.

“What did he say?” Amanda Charles asked anxiously.

“Angelia recorded the conversation. It’s only useful if she withdraws her charges.” Sammie frowned.

“Then what are you waiting for? Ask her to withdraw the charges immediately,” Amanda Charles commanded.

Sammie called Angelia.

Angelia saw that it was Sammie and hung up the phone directly.

Sammie called again.

Angelia was annoyed and answered, “What do you want?”

“I heard that you’re going to sue my mom’s friend again. Let the person go quickly,” Sammie said impatiently.

“Huh.” Angelia sneered, “You and your mom are really the same kind of people. Your illegal and criminal methods, as well as your shameless personality, are all inherited from her, aren’t they? Why don’t you have any decency left?”

“Angelia, I warn you not to go too far. If you offend me and my mom, you won’t have a good time,” Sammie warned.

“If you offend me, you won’t have a good time either,” Angelia raised her voice in anger.

Sammie softened his tone, “Okay, we’re all family. There’s no need to make things so ugly.”

“Family? When your mom sent people to my hotel to slander me, did she treat me like family? When my grandmother was seriously ill and asked you to come over, did you treat me like family and only wanted to be with Read?” Angelia’s tone was firm.

“What do you want then? Do you want to send my mom’s friend to jail? You know my mom’s personality. She won’t let you go,” Sammie said.

“I want to see how she won’t let me go!” Angelia hung up the phone directly.

Sammie called again, but Angelia didn’t want to answer and hung up.

Another call came in. Angelia saw that it was an unknown number and adjusted her mood before answering, “Hello.”

“Angelia, it’s me…” Angelia heard Sammie’s voice and rolled her eyes, hanging up the phone directly.”Wait, don’t hang up. I have something to tell you,” Sammie guessed that Angelia was going to hang up and spoke urgently.

“What else do you want to say, want to say, didn’t say, I don’t want to listen. Do you think I’m easy to bully, so you can be more and more excessive every time, even come to my workplace to cause trouble just to hope that I will be fired by the company!” Angelia became more and more angry as she thought about it.

“My mom won’t do it again, I promise. If she does something like that again, I will cut off my relationship with her. Angelia, think about it. She can’t retaliate against you, but she might retaliate against Alyssa. You are mentally strong, but Alyssa is different. After all, she is only a four-year-old child,” Sammie said.

“What do you mean?” Angelia realized his implication and her eyes turned red. “Sammie, I warn you, if you come to me for anything, I will fight you to death if Alyssa loses a single hair.”

“So it’s better to make peace. If you don’t hold a grudge, my mom is in the wrong, and I help you, she will be good to you and Alyssa in the future. She knows you’re tough this time, so she won’t bully you again,” Sammie advised.

Angelia didn’t say anything, clenching her fists tightly, her nails turning white. She really wanted to sue Amanda Charles’ friends and let those who bullied her suffer the consequences of their actions, receiving legal punishment.

But reality was too cruel and could grind away a person’s backbone, pride, and principles until nothing was left.

“Angelia,” Sammie called out.

Angelia felt choked up and her nose turned sour. She adjusted her emotions, held back her tears, and gritted her teeth, “Remember, this is my last concession. If there’s another time, I won’t let you guys off.”

“Got it, hurry and have them release the person,” Sammie said happily.

Angelia had no choice but to withdraw her complaint.

She walked out of the hospital and Elaine walked up to her, full of herself: “Some people, they were pretty tough just now. My friend Amanda Charles called and she didn’t just obey like a dog. Look at how cheap you are, you deserve to be looked down upon.”

“I don’t need them to respect me,” Angelia said coldly.

“Hmph, that’s because no one sees you as a human, just a biting animal that can only be killed and eaten,” Elaine sneered, rolling her eyes and walking off with her head held high to the parking lot.

Jerome sat in the car, looking deeply at Angelia.

She stood still, her chin stubbornly raised, holding back tears.

But seeing him made her feel even more stifled, as if a stone was pressing down on her chest and making her uncomfortable.

Was she a coward, loving her husband so much but not speaking up when she was so wronged? She didn’t stand up for herself, but he did for her. He took out his phone, called a lawyer, and sued Elaine for defamation in his name through legal channels.

After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone and drove away.

Angelia saw Jerome’s car and was slightly stunned.

Had he just left? She remembered he left a long time ago.

If he knew she had withdrawn the lawsuit, he would definitely despise her, look down on her, and think she had no self-respect or self-love…

Her heart felt even more sad than before, as if a heavy fog had settled in, and besides sourness, there was also bitterness.

“Angelia.” Walden appeared out of nowhere and called her.

Angelia regained her senses and respectfully said, “Wettiner.”

“Get in the car, I have something to tell you.”

Regardless, she had to explain to the hotel manager, so she got into Walden’s car.

“Will Jerome be attending the evening banquet?” Walden got straight to the point.

Angelia shook her head. “I’m not sure, he didn’t tell me.””What was the reason for him leaving the hotel this time, and will he come back? When will he come back? Did he mention how much he intends to invest in the resort?” Walden continued to ask.

“I am just his room manager, at most we were classmates for half a year, how could he tell me these things?”

“Between you two, there isn’t anything…I mean, he seems to really like you,” Walden said tactfully.

“Manager, you are thinking too much. Jerome has made it clear to me that I am not his type, he doesn’t like me. Besides, I have decided to resign,” Angelia replied.

“You are innocent, but resigning at this time seems more like running away,” Walden frowned.

“I am leaving anyway, I don’t care about what others think. If I stay, I will be criticized, which is not good for the hotel’s reputation,” Angelia had made up her mind.

“You have to give me time to hire someone before you leave. Kate is still abroad, and June has been fired. If you leave, I really won’t have anyone,” Walden said.

Angelia thought about it, and Walden had been good to her, “Then please hurry and hire someone, Wettiner.”

Soon, they arrived at the hotel entrance.

Angelia followed Walden to the hotel, and the banquet had already started.

She went to the dressing room to change her clothes and came out to the banquet hall. At a glance, she saw Jerome standing by the window.

He was just holding a glass of wine, and her heart beat faster inexplicably. She didn’t expect him to really come back.

“Is that man Jerome?” Sammie’s voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

Angelia looked at him in shock, “What are you doing here?”

“Last time I saw you working hard on marketing, I invested 100,000 and helped you achieve your goals,” Sammie looked at Jerome and walked towards him.

Angelia had a bad feeling. She was too familiar with his hunter-like eyes. She grabbed Sammie’s hand and said, “Follow me.”

She led Sammie into the empty men’s restroom and warned him, “Jerome is not a man you can mess with. Don’t go after him.” “I can touch even idol stars, why can’t I touch him?” Sammie said arrogantly.