Chapter 4

"Andrews, thank you for standing up for me. I was really terrified just now."

He came back to himself, dotingly flicking her nose. "What kind of compensation do you want?"

Ramon's gaze fell on the necklace in his hand. She smiled, took it, and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Andrews' face instantly changed.

Ramon immediately looked wronged, her eyes turning red. "Was this necklace very important to you?"

She made a show of reaching for the trash can. "Then I'll help you pick it up... After all, it's seven years of feelings. Even though she did this to me, I don't want to make things difficult for you."

Andrews pulled her back, his heart aching beyond measure.

"A piece of junk necklace, it's nothing compared to you. Don't dirty your hands. You have that black card, don't you? Buy whatever you like."

Ramon's tears turned to laughter immediately. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. "I don't want your money; I love you."

"Yes, yes, I want to spend money on you. If you don't spend it, my heart aches."

Only then did she shyly bury her head in his chest.

Three days later, I was released from the police station.

It wasn't Andrews who came to meet me, but his assistant, who drove me directly to a private club's VIP room.

Pushing open the door, under the lavish lights, Andrews and Ramon were surrounded by a group of people in the center of a sofa.

They were feeding each other a cherry, mouth-to-mouth, kissing passionately.

The cheers and whistles around them were threatening to blow the roof off.

I don't know how long it was before Andrews finally noticed me.

Seeing my pale, gaunt face and the still-fading red marks on my wrists, his expression darkened.

"How did you get like this? Did someone bully you inside?"

Before I could speak, Ramon covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Pegula is such an actress! Everyone knows you're Andrews' pet, who would dare touch you?"

"Are you trying to make Andrews feel sorry for you, looking like that?"

Andrews, who had been about to get up, sat back down at her words.

"Since you know you were wrong, come over here and apologize to Ramon."

Ramon nestled in Andrews' arms, swirling the scarlet wine in her glass.

"Actually, I'm not that petty."

"But you insulted my parents and almost ruined my future. I just can't swallow that."

She paused, then feigned surprise, covering her mouth. "Oh, I forgot. You're an orphan, grew up in a welfare institution, no parents to teach you manners. It's normal you wouldn't understand these things."

I lowered my eyes, saying nothing.

She pushed her wine glass onto the coffee table, her chin slightly raised. "Apologize."

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry."

Ramon shook her head. "What good is saying it? That's not sincere enough."

She pointed to a row of various strong liquors on the table. "Drink all of these, and I'll forgive you."

I looked at the bottles, instinctively glancing at Andrews.

Years ago, to help him with client entertainment, I drank until I had a perforated stomach and was in the hospital for a month.

After that, he never allowed me to touch a drop of alcohol again.

He knew better than anyone that alcohol was no different from poison to me.

But the man before me merely exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather.

"Pegula, it's just a few drinks. It's not that serious. I know your alcohol tolerance."

My heart was clutched by an icy hand, the pain making it impossible to breathe.

I picked up a glass and tilted my head back, chugging it down.

The spicy liquid burned like fire from my throat to my stomach. Immediately after, a sharp, twisting pain shot through my recently healed lower abdomen.

I bent over in agony.

"Pegula's alcohol tolerance is so good, one glass isn't enough." Ramon smiled with feigned innocence.

"How about you down this whole bottle too? That would show real sincerity."

My face was ashen. I looked up at her.

Ramon immediately turned to Andrews, looking wronged.

"Andrews, I was insulted, threatened, and almost had my future ruined by her. Now I just want her to drink a bottle of wine to make amends. Is that asking too much?"

"Of course not." Andrews stubbed out his cigarette, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Pegula, I want to protect you, but you really went too far this time. Listen to Ramon. Once her anger cools down, we'll turn the page on this."

I slowly nodded.

Clutching my abdomen, which felt like it was being sliced open, I picked up the bottle of the strongest whiskey on the table.

"A few drinks? How is that enough to atone?"

"I'll down this whole thing, that's what you call sincerity."

The moment the bottle hit the floor with a heavy thud, I couldn't hold on any longer. I spat out a mouthful of blood.

I collapsed weakly to the ground.

Ramon shrieked, jumping back. "Pegula, you don't need to be so dramatic! It's just a bottle of wine. Are you carrying a fake blood pack around to stage an injury?"

Andrews was also convinced by her ridiculous lie. He frowned impatiently.

"Alright, stop acting! Ramon has been generous enough. How long do you plan to keep this up? Aren't you ashamed? Get up!"

I said nothing, just looked up, staring silently at him.

The woman closest to me suddenly shrieked. "Blood! There's blood all over her dress! Oh my God, her wound has burst open!"

I met Andrews' face, which had instantly drained of color, and let out the first truly sincere smile I'd had in days.

"Is the compensation you wanted enough now?"