Chapter 4

The crowd surrounding us wasn’t just from our office anymore. People from other companies on the floor had gathered to watch.

"I knew there had to be a reason. No one would just cut off their parents for ten years for no reason."

"Oh, sweetheart, don't carry this alone. How much do you owe? Let your parents help you pay it off so you can go back to being a family."

"Exactly! Family is your safe harbor."

The tide of public opinion shifted instantly. My mother had never expected me to be a better actress than her.

Trapped by her own public persona, she could only grit her teeth and ask, "How much... do you owe?"

I hesitantly raised one finger.

"Ten thousand?" she asked, instantly looking relieved.

I kept quiet, keeping my face buried in my hands, looking utterly devastated.

"How much? A hundred thousand?"

I still didn't say a word.

This time, she went completely silent.

I reached out, desperately grabbing her sleeve, begging, "Mom, you have to save me. The collection agency is coming this week. My salary only covers what I borrowed from Olivia. I don't want to go to jail. Please help me."

She had come here to morally blackmail me, but now I had turned the tables and blackmailed her instead.

Seeing this, Brenda couldn't sit still.

"Come on, Hazel. You buy designer bags and shoes all the time, don't you? If you're so deep in debt, why do you still buy such expensive things?"

"And didn't you borrow money from Olivia just to buy the latest iPhone?"

Immediately, the comments section flared up again.

[Is this girl lying about the debt just to avoid paying for her dad's medical bills? How toxic! Truly ungrateful.]

[Her coworker literally exposed her! Look at her clothes and accessories, they definitely aren't cheap.]

[Having a daughter like this is a curse. She only cares about her own luxury lifestyle while leaving her parents to die.]