Today, Lucie Barton worked at Regal Club until midnight.

Finally off work, she attempted to hail a taxi on the roadside when a black Range Rover pulled up in front of her.

As the car window rolled down, Lucie was met with the gaze of a stern-looking man.

"Need a ride?" he inquired.

Scott Barton had been a classmate of Lucie's cousin and had attended the same middle school as Lucie.

An hour earlier, while Lucie was serving wine in the VIP room, she had spotted Scott with her cousin, and they appeared quite close.

Lucie's cousin had a history of bullying her since childhood.

Lucie wanted to say no at first but then hesitated, eventually nodding. She opened the car door and settled into the back seat.

Scott glanced at her through the rearview mirror and asked, "Where to?"

"Lowerim Village, please," Lucie replied, fastening her seatbelt.

Lowerim Village was a ghetto in Jedon City where one could rent a place for as little as 130 dollars a month.

Scott said nothing and drove away.

They were silent all the way.

About twenty minutes later, Scott pulled over near a group of modest buildings.

Lucie thanked him and stepped out of the car.

While ascending the stairs to her apartment building's entrance, Lucie noticed Scott was still there.

She turned to look into the car and met his gaze.

"Would you like..." Lucie hesitated before finishing her sentence, "...to come up and have some water?"

Scott raised an eyebrow and accepted the invitation.

He retrieved a pack of condoms from the storage compartment and then exited the vehicle.

The two rode the elevator to the top floor, where Lucie's apartment was located. Upon opening the door, Scott placed his hand on her waist, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Lucie flinched, feeling the warmth of his hand through her lightweight chiffon shirt.

Just as the door closed, Scott pinned her against the wall and leaned in closer.

Within moments, he initiated a passionate kiss.

Short of breath from Scott's kiss, Lucie recalled what happened yesterday.

Her boyfriend unveiled a half-naked sculpture named "Lucy" on a platform, meant as a surprise for her.

The sculpture was named after his muse, Lucie.

As Lucie stood before it, all eyes were on her, making her feel as though she were exposed and under scrutiny.

Lucie had visited her boyfriend's apartment looking for him, only to discover him in bed with another woman.

Soon, Scott's kiss snapped her back to the present. She realized she was panting and reciprocating his passion.

Scott was more enduring in bed than most men, and he displayed patience and gentleness.

Lucie found the experience enjoyable and felt minimal discomfort.

Scott didn't release Lucie from his embrace until dawn. When she headed to the bathroom, her legs were shaky.

After a while on the toilet, Lucie took a shower. Upon exiting the bathroom, Scott was already dressed, his usual composure intact. There was no sign of a wild night.

"Virgin?" Scott asked coolly.

He leaned against the sliding door separating the living room from the balcony, basking in the morning sun, and lit a cigarette.

Scott was undeniably handsome, a fact that had left an impression on Lucie since she was in the 7th grade, while he was a high school senior.

The morning light accentuated his strong jawline, and he squinted his eyes as he exhaled smoke leisurely. Lucie couldn't tear her gaze away from him.

"You can leave if you're finished," Lucie muttered, avoiding direct eye contact.

Scott chuckled softly and turned to her. "Interesting way to put it."

He strolled into the living room, dropping the cigarette into the same disposable cup from the previous night before exiting.

As Scott paused at the door, something crossed his mind. He glanced back at Lucie and said, "Oh, by the way, don't forget to take your pill. I got carried away last time."

Lucie looked up at him and nodded, saying, "Of course, don't worry."

After freshening up, Lucie descended the stairs, heading to the hospital to visit her younger sister, Phoebe Barton.

A familiar figure exited a car and hurried to intercept Lucie outside her apartment building.

It was Clayton Levine, Lucie's former boyfriend. He reached out and implored, "Lucie, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Lucie shrugged off his hand, glared at Clayton, and replied icily, "Excuse me, you make me sick."

Lucie had blacklisted him after their breakup just yesterday, and she was puzzled how Clayton had discovered her address.

"Lucie, this is unfair. We spent a whole year together, but you never let me get close. How can you blame me?" Clayton grew agitated.

Lucie sneered, "I'm sorry. We're no longer together, so there's no need for us to talk."

With that, Lucie turned away, and this time Clayton didn't attempt to stop her.

Lucie boarded the bus bound for the hospital.

One year ago, due to Lucie's lapse in attention, her autistic sister had been in a car accident and had remained in a coma since.

At the time, the car involved was old and uninsured, and the owner was so destitute that he couldn't afford to cover Phoebe's medical expenses.

The medical bills had piled up, and Lucie had just brought the 1,300 dollars she earned the previous night at Regal Club to settle the debt.

Phoebe's condition was primarily the result of a brain injury, and the chances of her waking up were slim. The doctor had advised Lucie to consider letting go or risk being burdened by debt.

But Lucie couldn't bring herself to abandon Phoebe.

Every time Lucie visited her father in prison, he would inquire about Phoebe's well-being.

Lucie was determined not to give up on Phoebe, even though she couldn't afford a better room or a professional caregiver.

Lucie had to hurry because she had a tutoring session scheduled. So, after cleaning Phoebe and massaging her hands and feet, Lucie left quickly.

Lucie recalled that there was a pharmacy near the hospital where she could purchase her medication.

She went there and discovered that a single tablet cost her 4 dollars. "That's quite expensive," she muttered.

Lucie then waited at the bus stop.

She placed the tablet in her mouth and, as she reached for the water she had brought from home, her gaze fell upon a black Land Rover stopped at a red light a few meters away.

Through the clear car window, Lucie witnessed the girl in the passenger seat throw herself at the driver and kiss him.

Lucie found the man's profile familiar, reminiscent of the events of the previous night.

Suddenly, the tablet in Lucie's mouth tasted unbearably bitter.

She shifted her attention away and swallowed the tablet with a gulp of water.

***

Later in the afternoon, Lucie received an interview invitation from Sleight Technology.

The company was a leader in the tech industry in their city, and securing a position at Sleight Technology was the aspiration of every recent graduate in Jedon City.

However, Lucie's motivation was different.

Her father had been the Chief Financial Officer of Sleight Technology before a financial scandal erupted seven years ago. He had been made a scapegoat to protect others, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence and a 200-thousand-dollar fine.

He told Lucie that he was innocent.

Lucie believed in him.

This was why Lucie wanted to join Sleight Technology, hoping to uncover evidence that could help her father's case.

Following the interview invitation, Lucie requested a day off from her job at the club so she could prepare for the interview scheduled for the next day.

It was past ten at night when Lucie was about to take a shower, and she received a notification – a friend request.

Lucie checked it and saw the name: Scott Barton.

"Could it be him?" she wondered.

Lucie wasn't certain, but she accepted the request.

Instantly, her phone chimed with a message from Scott.

"Wanna come over?"

***

Scott was quite capable. When Lucie was with him, she could totally unwind.

So, after thinking it over for a bit, she finally said yes.

Scott came to pick up Lucie.

Before hopping in the car, Lucie asked Scott, "Could you just crash at my place?"

She wanted to get a good night's sleep after her long day without messing up tomorrow's morning interview.

Scott's knuckles were tapping on the steering wheel absentmindedly. In the dim light, his deep black eyes sparkled. He looked at Lucie by the car door and grinned, saying, "Your place is a bit small; you know."

Lucie hesitated, biting her lip.

Watching her, Scott suddenly changed his mind. He turned off the car and got out.

Lucie was amazed by his decision.

Scott walked around the car towards her and said, "Get in!"

As soon as he said it, he headed toward the apartment building, and Lucie nervously followed.

Once inside the house, Scott passionately kissed Lucie.

Lucie dodged and stammered, "I've sweated a lot today and haven't showered yet."

Scott eased his grip slightly and smirked, "I don't mind."

Lucie looked down, staying quiet.

Scott stared at her for a few moments, then chuckled, suggesting, "Shall we go together?"

Lucie quickly shook her head. "The bathroom is too small."

"Small spaces can be exciting. Come on." Scott picked up Lucie like a child and headed straight for the bathroom.

***

After spending over two hours in the bathroom, Lucie was exhausted. In the end, Scott had to drag her out, and she was in tears.

She was completely worn out.

Scott placed Lucie on the couch and went to find a hairdryer to dry her hair. While he was at it, Lucie fell asleep on the armrest. The hairdryer buzzed above her head for about ten minutes, but she didn't wake up.

After putting down the hairdryer, Scott couldn't help but laugh when he saw how deeply Lucie was sleeping.

Scott couldn't resist leaning down and lightly biting her luscious red lips.

Lucie made a soft sound and slapped Scott's face.

Instantly, Scott's expression darkened.

Without any mercy, he took off Lucie's towel and forcefully woke her up.

Lucie was frightened, crying and begging intermittently.

Finally, after her soft pleas, Scott was satisfied.

He carried Lucie to the bed.

As soon as Lucie lay down, she fell asleep, while Scott was wide awake and not at all sleepy.

The desk lamp was on, the computer was running, and there was a notebook on the desk.

Scott walked over and casually picked up the notebook. It was neatly filled with pages, all about things related to Sleight Technology.

Scott moved the mouse, and the computer screen lit up, displaying Sleight Technology's official website.

Suddenly, Scott smirked.

He turned around, glanced at the deeply sleeping Lucie on the bed, and then left after getting dressed.

***

Lucie's interview was set for 10 a.m.

She woke up early and visited the hospital, spending time with her younger sister before heading to Sleight Technology.

Finding Sleight Technology's office building was a breeze. It had been built a few years ago and had a unique style, even earning the nickname "sky city," becoming a landmark in Jedon City.

When Lucie arrived, the receptionist checked the list of interviewees and guided her to a waiting area outside the HR department.

There were more than a dozen people in the lounge, dressed sharply. Compared to them, Lucie felt like a high school student.

Not only did she look young and inexperienced, but her outfit was also a bit outdated.

Fortunately, Lucie had prepared well, and the first round of the HR interview went smoothly.

After others finished their interviews, they were told to wait for further instructions.

Lucie expected the same, but unexpectedly, one of the HR department managers called her over.

"Are you Lucie Barton?" The HR manager, a woman in her thirties, examined Lucie from head to toe with a critical eye.

Lucie nodded. "Yes, that's me."

The female manager raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's your connection with our vice president?"

Vice president?

Lucie shook her head. "I don't know him."

The female manager snorted, her cold gaze barely concealed. She then said to Lucie, "Follow me."

Afterward, she walked straight to the elevator, leaving Lucie puzzled. Lucie quickly followed behind.

When they arrived at the elevator, the elevator door made a soft sound and opened. The female manager was about to enter when she saw who was inside and froze for a moment. She immediately respectfully called out, "Mr. Barton, Ms. Hoover."

Scott's face remained calm as his gaze shifted from behind the female manager to Lucie. He nodded slightly and said, "Hello."

"Well, Mr. Barton, this is Lucie Barton, the student you specifically requested," the female manager said with a smile.

Immediately, the female manager's face lit up as she nodded and bowed to Scott. She then turned to Lucie and said, "Lucie, this is the deputy general manager of our company. Why don't you greet Mr. Barton and Ms. Hoover?"

Lucie stood still like she had been struck, staring at Scott in the elevator. It took her quite a while to regain her senses.

"Scott, who is she? Why did you specifically request her? She seems pretty dumb and looks like a minor,"

Yvonne had her arms around Scott's. Leaning on him, she examined Lucie before pouting discontentedly.

Scott smiled and gently caressed Yvonne's long hair with his hand. "She's my classmate's sister who just graduated and is looking for a job. I'm just helping her out."

"But not just anyone can enter Sleight Technology, right? Even though your classmate asked you to take care of her, you couldn't randomly agree!" Yvonne grumbled.

Scott smiled and looked at Yvonne with a gentle gaze. "Why? Are you afraid I'll be interested in her?"

"You would never," Yvonne immediately denied. "With her skinny figure, she's definitely not your type. You like someone like me."

As Yvonne spoke, she straightened her impressive chest.

Lucie finally snapped out of her daze, watching the two inside the elevator openly flirt with each other.

Lucie looked down and forced a smile.

She knew Yvonne, who was the cherished daughter of the prestigious Hoover family in Jedon City.

But the woman who sat in Scott's car yesterday was not Yvonne.

Scott curved his lips meaninglessly and suddenly changed the topic. "Lucie's quite outstanding, always ranking first in the Department of Foreign Languages of Jedon University every year."

"Hmph!" Yvonne dismissed it. "A bookworm."

"Lucie, what are you staring at?" The female manager noticed that Lucie had been standing there in silence and pulled her aside.

Lucie showed a faint, gentle smile on her face and greeted the two in the elevator. "Mr. Barton, Ms. Hoover, nice to meet you."

"Come in." Scott finally looked at Lucie and spoke.

Lucie nodded and stepped in.

The female manager did not follow them. With a beam, she watched the elevator doors close.

Soon, the elevator quickly ascended.

Yvonne continued to cling onto Scott's arm. She looked up at him with a face full of admiration and adoration and chatted with him, while Lucie stood in the corner of the elevator, completely ignored.

In just a few seconds, the elevator made another soft sound and arrived at the 67th floor.

After Scott and Yvonne stepped out of the elevator, they walked straight to the office. Lucie stayed behind, not entering Scott's office.

Lucie waited outside until half an hour later when Yvonne came out.

Seeing Lucie standing dazedly in the resting area, not even sitting on the couch, Yvonne felt quite satisfied. She walked over with crossed arms and got close to Lucie before warning Lucie in a voice only they could hear. "Let me tell you, Scott is mine. If you dare to seduce him, I'll kill you."

Lucie hung her head and didn't say anything.

Yvonne coldly hummed and walked away, full of content.

"Are you Lucie? Mr. Barton asked you to go in," another woman said as she approached Lucie.

The woman smiled at Lucie and said, "I am Mr. Barton's secretary."

Lucie looked at the genuinely friendly woman and gratefully beamed. After thanking her, Lucie knocked on Scott's office door.

Inside, Scott was busy reading some documents. He replied without looking up, "Come in."

Lucie entered and immediately noticed the lipstick marks on Scott's white shirt collar.

They weren't there in the elevator just now.

"Mr. Barton," Lucie said softly after a glance.

"Have a seat." Scott still didn't look up.

However, Lucie didn't sit down obediently. She just stood there.

After a while, Scott finally raised his head, his deep black eyes shimmering like flowing light as he stared at Lucie without blinking. He curled his lips and said, "It seems like your legs are no longer sore."

Lucie's hands hanging by both sides tightened slightly into a fist, but they quickly relaxed. She looked up at Scott calmly and asked, "Mr. Barton, what can you give me if I'm with you?"

"Ha!" Scott laughed at the straightforward Lucie. "What do you want?"

"Money," Lucie replied.

Scott laughed again. "Would 1,600 dollars be enough each time?"

"No need." Lucie's voice was firm. "160 dollars will do."

"160 dollars each time," Scott repeated and raised his eyebrows. "It looks like you'll have to work hard every day to afford your sister's medical expenses."

Lucie was speechless.

***

Lucie's father was imprisoned, and her mother ran away, with no news found.

Lucie's younger sister, Phoebe, was severely injured in a car accident.

Then, her grandmother had a heart attack and died.

Phoebe was still in a coma. She might pass away at any time.

Lucie didn't expect that Scott would know her situation so well.

But she wasn't sure if Scott knew why her father was imprisoned.

Scott asked Lucie if she wanted to be his secretary and stay by his side, or go to the Business Department she originally applied.

Lucie hesitated for a second and chose the Business Department.

Lucie was afraid that if she stayed around Scott all the time, he might lose interest in her in a few days.

And then she wouldn't get what she wanted.

So, Lucie went to the Business Department to deal with overseas business and became the lowest-level business assistant.

Her immediate superior was a manager in the Business Department, a man in his thirties.

Seeing that Scott's secretary personally took Lucie to the Business Department, her superior could imagine something and was enthusiastic towards Lucie.

Lucie was very clear that everyone's enthusiasm and friendliness towards her was because of her connection to Scott. So, she was very careful in every aspect, striving to never let anyone down.

On the same day, Lucie completed all the procedures for her job and would officially start working the next day.

At almost 5 p.m., she walked out of the office building of Sleight Technology, feeling as if she was still dreaming.

She looked up at the magnificent building, which had 68 floors, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Lucie knew that it was because of Scott that she was able to easily step into this dream place for countless graduates.

Therefore, Lucie was even more aware that she must not slack off for a single minute in her future work.

She must work harder than anyone else.

Lucie stood in front of the building for a while. When she turned around and walked towards the subway entrance, ready to go to Regal Club to work, her phone vibrated in her bag.

Lucie ignored it and entered the subway station.

Lucie's work at Regal Club was scheduled from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

In the past two years, Regal Club had thrived in the business and could be considered as the biggest money-making hub in Jedon City. So, among Lucie's current multiple jobs, it was the highest paying one and had the strictest requirements. Lucie never dared to be late or leave early.

Just as Lucie arrived at the subway platform, the subway train arrived, and it happened to be the one she was going to take, with Regal Club as the final destination.

Lucie got on the subway and found a seat at the very end. Leaning against the handrail, she closed her eyes to rest.

Lucie slept until the terminal station. When Lucie arrived at Regal Club, it was time for the employee dinner. Duty manager, Ada Bibby, invited Lucie to eat together, and Lucie didn't refuse.

After finishing the meal, it was just about time for Lucie to get changed and start working. She locked all her belongings, including her phone, in her designated locker. Therefore, she was completely unaware when her phone started ringing loudly at 10 p.m.

Lucie carried high-end liquor and shuttled between different private rooms.

"Lucie, add two bottles of Louis XIII to room 3808 and deliver them as soon as possible." Just as Lucie came out of a room, Ada instructed her through the intercom.

Ada knew Lucie's situation and always took care of her.

Lucie agreed and immediately went to deliver the drinks to room 3808.

The private room was dimly lit, with several men and women having a great time.

Lucie lowered her head and tried to minimize her presence. She knelt beside the tea table, placed the two bottles of Louis XIII down, neither too loud nor too soft, and then said, "Enjoy your Louis XIII, everyone."

After speaking, Lucie was about to leave.

"It's you, Lucie. Damn it!"

Suddenly, a burst of furious shouting came from behind, making Lucie tremble and instinctively pause her footsteps.

It was Clayton!

Realizing what was happening, Lucie wanted to run away.

But it was too late.

As soon as she lifted her leg, Clayton, with a flushed face from drinking, suddenly pounced on Lucie. In front of everyone's astonished eyes, he grabbed her ponytail and violently swung her to one side.

"Ah..."

Caught off guard, Lucie stumbled, and then her head directly hit the wall.

Suddenly, she felt dizzy, and her head throbbed, making it difficult to breathe. She could only stabilize herself by leaning on the wall with her hands.

"You slutty bitch, I've been devoted to you for a year, and you wouldn't let me touch you. Now you're working in a place like this."

Clayton had drunk quite a bit of alcohol and at the moment, he seemed like a lunatic. He charged towards Lucie again and grabbed her ponytail, cursing her with anger, "Tell me. Have you slept with rich men? Your pussy must have turned rotten, yet you still pretend to be innocent in front of me."

With her hair being forcefully pulled, Lucie felt as if her scalp was being lifted up, and the pain made it difficult for her to breathe.

She struggled to grab her ponytail back from Clayton's grasp while shouting loudly, "Clayton, we have already broken up."

"Break up?" Clayton clenched his teeth and gritted, "You want to break up just like that. Who do you think you are?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand to slap Lucie's face again.

In an instant, a loud "smack" resonated throughout the private room. Lucie couldn't dodge in time and was slapped, causing her to be stunned. On the side of her face that was slapped, it felt as if millions of bees had swarmed into her ear, buzzing and occupying her entire brain.

Lucie could barely think, and the only thought in her mind was that the man who was pulling her hair crazily was not Clayton.

Clayton used to be gentle and considerate in front of her.

But now Clayton slapped Lucie without reason. Unrelenting, he raised his hand again to continue hitting Lucie.

However, before his hand could land, someone stopped him.

"For the sake of a woman, is it worth making such a big fuss?"

Clayton turned to look at the person who stopped him, about to lose his temper. Immediately, he became cowardly when he recognized who it was. "My dear cousin, you don't understand how despicable and shameless this woman is. I used all kinds of sweet words to coax her for a whole year, but she wouldn't even let me kiss her. Instead, she came here to serve other men."

Jeremy Newell smiled and said, "You shouldn't have spoiled her."

"You're right. I shouldn't have spoiled her. I'm going to kill her now."

Clayton grabbed Lucie's ponytail and pulled her out.

Lucie's scalp was so painful that she couldn't struggle. To reduce the pain, she had to cooperate and walk out voluntarily.

At this moment, she finally realized that Clayton had been pretending in front of her.

The real Clayton was a complete scum.

Fortunately, Lucie never slept with him.

"Be careful. Don't cause any casualties," Jeremy reminded from behind.

"Jeremy, don't worry!" Clayton responded and directly left.

Ada happened to come out from the private room and saw Lucie's hair being dragged. She was shocked and immediately came over to stand in front of Clayton, smiling, "Sir, what happened? Did Lucie...?"

"Who the fuck are you? Get lost!" Clayton shouted.

Under the influence of alcohol, Clayton's despicable nature was exposed. Except for Jeremy whom he relied on, he didn't care about anyone else. He could harm anyone, so before Ada finished her sentence, he directly pushed her away.

Ada didn't expect Clayton to be so disrespectful. She was pushed, and her high heels twisted, making her fall to the ground.

Seeing Ada, who fell on the ground in pain, Lucie suddenly grabbed Clayton's arm, opened her mouth, and fiercely bit down.

"Ah!"

Clayton immediately let out a scream, and his eyes turned fierce and red, completely crazy.

"You bitch, how dare you bite me!" Clayton roared and released Lucie's ponytail before kicking her in the belly.

Clayton kicked Lucie with full force, so Lucie staggered backward, unable to stabilize herself. Finally, with a loud bang, her back hit the wall, and she stopped.

It hurt so much.

Instinctively, Lucie covered her belly with both hands and slid down the wall, her face quickly turning pale.

Clayton looked down at his own arm which was bloody and almost torn off, and his eyes instantly turned bloodshot. He was completely going insane.

"You bitch, I'm going to fuck you tonight!"

Clayton rushed towards Lucie and lifted his leg to kick her once more.

"Ah!"

Unexpectedly, before Clayton's leg landed on Lucie, someone kicked him and directly sent him flying.

Clayton let out a scream and fell heavily to the ground, unable to recover from the pain for a moment.

Scott looked at pale-faced Lucie, who held her belly in pain. Without saying anything, he bent down, picked her up horizontally, and left quickly.

"Bastard, stop right there."

Clayton finally figured out what was happening. Seeing Lucie being carried away, he pounced on her, grabbed Scott's leg, and shouted, "She is my girlfriend! Give her to me!"

However, before Clayton could finish, Scott kicked him directly onto the door of Room 3808.

Guards and waiters rushed over and saw the scene, but they didn't know who had more power between Scott and Clayton. So, they just watched without daring to help, afraid of getting in trouble.

The people who were having a good time in Room 3808 finally noticed that something was wrong outside and got up one after another to check the situation.

Clayton struggled to grab Jeremy's leg and begged in extreme pain, "Jeremy, that man ... tried to ... take Lucie away. Kill him!"

Jeremy followed Clayton's direction and looked over. When he saw who was holding Lucie, his whole body trembled. Jeremy kicked Clayton away and walked quickly toward Scott. With a smile, he bowed and said, "Mr. ... No, Uncle, you should have told me you would come to Regal Club."

Everyone was dumbfounded.

What was going on?

"Should I report my itinerary to you?" Scott's stern face became even colder, scaring everyone around him.

"...No need!" Jeremy quickly shook his head and waved his hand. "If you had instructed me, I would have arranged everything for you."

Scott didn't want to listen to Jeremy's flattering words. He looked down at the painful Lucie in his arms. Then he pointed his chin in Clayton's direction. "Keep an eye on your people. If you let him mess around, he might be done for."

After saying that, Scott turned around and strode away with Lucie in his arms.

Scott wanted to take Lucie to the hospital, but Lucie refused to go.

Scott asked her why.

Pale-faced Lucie bit her lip, looked at him, and said, "I have no money." It seemed that it took a lot of effort.

Going to the hospital would involve a lot of examinations, which might cost hundreds of dollars.

Scott sneered. Without saying anything, he stepped on the accelerator and drove straight to the hospital.

However, Lucie stubbornly held onto the seat belt and refused to get out of the car.

Scott rubbed his forehead and suddenly had the urge to bite her neck.

"Do you still want to work at Sleight Technology?" Scott gritted his teeth and threatened directly.

Lucie bit her lip and looked at him, afraid to say a word. Half of her face was white, and the other half was red.

The red half was from being slapped by Clayton.

Scott's patience had reached its limit. He bent down and entered the car. Then he somewhat rudely unfastened the seat belt still attached to Lucie, carried her out, and kicked the car door shut before carrying her into the emergency building.

"It doesn't hurt much now. I'll go back to drink some hot water and rest tonight," Lucie said while hugging Scott's neck, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Drink some hot water?" Scott looked at Lucie and sneered. "Do you think drinking hot water can cure any injuries?

Lucie didn't respond.

She lowered her head and said nothing.

As expected, the doctor asked Lucie to do several tests.

When the results came out, the doctor read them and said, "There is mild soft tissue damage in the abdomen. After going back, use a hot water bag or hot towel to apply to your belly. Rest for a few days and avoid physical activities.

After the doctor finished speaking, he put away the test report and handed it back to Lucie before adding, "Okay, you can go back now. There's no need for medication in this situation."

Lucie took it but sat there without moving, looking so embarrassed.

Scott glanced at Lucie, turned around, and was about to leave.

But as soon as he moved, his sleeve was caught by something.

Scott turned around and saw Lucie looking at her with flushed cheeks. "Um... it seems like my period came."

Period?

Scott was stunned.

"Ha..." the doctor laughed and said, "I knew it. The injury wasn't serious. It's just menstrual pain! But it's common for girls to have menstrual pain. Remember to keep warm in the future. Don't only care about appearances, but also temperature. Don't eat cold things during your menstrual period, and that's it."

Lucie looked at the doctor while clutching her belly. Her eyebrows were furrowed. "But doctor, it really... hurts!"

It got worse.

"Then I'll prescribe you some painkillers, and you can go home and drink some hot cocoa to make yourself feel better." the doctor said while writing prescribing medication.

Scott stared at Lucie, and his face was cold.

However, after the doctor prescribed the medicine, Scott still went to pay and took the medicine for Lucie.

Lucie sat outside the doctor's office. Holding her belly, she felt like she was going to faint from the pain.

Scott came back with the medicine. Unexpectedly, he held a cup of warm water in one hand, which was poured into a disposable cup.

Lucie naturally knew it was for her.

She forced herself to thank Scott, took it, and took a sip.

Scott's face looked displeased, but he still handed Lucie the painkillers according to the dosage.

Lucie took them and thanked Scott again.

"Let's go."

After glancing at her, Scott said coldly and then left.

But Lucie didn't dare to move.

Scott walked a few meters and felt that she didn't follow, so he stopped and turned around.

Under the bright hospital lights, Lucie's clear and pitiful eyes were fixed on him. Biting her lip, she asked, "Can you ... buy some sanitary napkins?"

Scott was lost for words.

He stared at her, and his face became even colder.

He didn't say anything and just walked away.

Lucie thought Scott wouldn't come back.

She sat for another ten minutes, waiting for the painkillers to take effect. When her belly stopped hurting, and there were not many people around, she stood up and prepared to leave.

However, as soon as she lifted her leg, Scott's tall and handsome figure came into her sight.

This time, he was holding a black plastic bag in his hand, and the bag looked quite full as if it contained a lot of things.

Scott was wearing a well-tailored black suit, and even his sideburns were meticulously taken care of. The cheap colored plastic bag in his hand didn't match his current image at all.

But the scene was still so beautiful and harmonious, quite pleasing to the eye.

Inevitably, a smile hung on the corner of Lucie's lips.

"I'll give you another ten minutes," Scott walked over and handed her the black plastic bag.

"Thank you!" Lucie took it and hurriedly went to the restroom.

Scott didn't just buy Lucie tampons; he also got her panties and a pair of floral trousers, believe it or not.

You know, lots of middle-aged women in small towns rock those trousers.

Yeah, they might not be the prettiest, but they're definitely an upgrade from Lucie's dirty dress.

Lucie was so darn tired that she dozed off just two minutes after getting in the car.

She was half asleep, and this warm feeling washed over her belly. That discomfort just vanished, and her furrowed brow slowly relaxed.

When she finally woke up, it was already the next morning.

As she slowly blinked her eyes open, she found herself in a pretty spacious bedroom with no main light on.

The bedroom had this modern, luxurious vibe, all decked out in gray. Sunlight was streaming in through those blue curtains that hadn't been drawn yet, filtering through a layer of white tulle.

Lucie stretched and realized she was lying on this massive leather bed with a ridiculously comfy mattress.

Then, out of the blue, a cellphone started buzzing softly.

She followed the sound and spotted a cellphone on the nightstand to her left.

The problem was, it wasn't hers.

It seemed to belong to Scott.

Lucie started wondering if she'd crashed into Scott's bed.

While she was pondering this, the bathroom door opened from the inside.

Lucie jumped, sat up, and checked out what was going on.

Scott had just hopped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, and was busy towel-drying his hair.

He caught sight of Lucie, paused for a second, went back to his usual poker face, and headed for the walk-in closet.

Lucie didn't need a rocket scientist to tell her that she was indeed in Scott's bed.

Right then and there, she threw the covers aside and made her way out of bed.

As she shifted her weight, she felt something wet on her bottom.

She thought, "Oh my goodness, could it be..."

Lucie immediately glanced down at her behind...

Let's just say she was beyond embarrassed.

Yep, her period decided to make a grand entrance.

To avoid any further mishaps, she scrambled out of bed.

But in her rush, she didn't watch her step and ended up on her knees on the floor.

She let out a yelp.

Instantly, pain shot through her.

In the walk-in closet, Scott, who had picked out a shirt and was putting it on, heard the commotion and strolled out.

One look, and he saw Lucie, almost collapsed on the floor, her face twisted in pain, and those telltale dark stains on his once-gray sheets. He frowned slightly and crossed over.

As Lucie slowly looked up, she couldn't help but notice those long, strong legs in front of her. Her face, already red from embarrassment and pain, now turned a shade of crimson.

"I... I'm really sorry."

With Scott standing there, Lucie felt so mortified that she wished she could vanish into thin air. "Um... I'll wash the sheets for you."

Scott glanced down at her, his lips curling into a slight, enigmatic smile. "Is that all?"

Lucie thought for a moment. "I'll transfer you the money for last night's medical bill, the tampons, and those trousers."

Scott, who had been fixing his collar, snorted at that. Then, after a pause, he grabbed a man's bathrobe from the bench at the end of the bed and handed it over. "Go clean up first."

Lucie bit her lip, took the robe, and said thank you before getting up and heading for the bathroom.

Once inside the bathroom, Scott eyed the dark stains on his sheets and frowned. He decided it was time for a change.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Lucie was about to slide open the glass door of the shower when she saw Scott push the bathroom door open and walk in.

Lucie jumped and quickly raised her hands to cover herself.

But there wasn't much she could cover.

Scott was rocking nothing but a shirt and a pair of white boxer shorts.

He leaned over the sink, looked at Lucie with a satisfied grin, and suddenly asked, "You mentioned giving me some cash, right?"

Lucie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, looked up at him, and asked, "How much?"

Scott smiled and crooked his finger at her. "Come here."

Lucie clenched her teeth, pulled open the glass door, and stepped out. She grabbed a towel to cover herself and walked over to Scott.

"We talked about 160 dollars."

Scott looked at the petite woman in front of him who barely reached his chin. She was slim, tiny, and curvy. His eyes lit up uncontrollably, filled with desire.

He raised his hand, slowly raised Lucie's chin with his slender fingers, and rubbed her red lips with his slightly coarse thumb. His voice suddenly became hoarse and low. "Use your mouth, and I'll pay you 800 dollars. What do you say?"

Lucie felt sick and ended up throwing up.

She brushed her teeth and took another shower. When she got out, the clothes, bag, and cell phone that she had left at Regal Club last night were on the couch in Scott's bedroom.

She changed her clothes and unlocked her phone.

There were seven missed calls and a lot of unread messages.

She checked them and found three of the missed calls were from Scott around ten last night.

Two of the unread messages were also from Scott.

They were sent just after five o'clock yesterday afternoon.

Scott: "Pack up your things."

Scott: "I'll pick you up at 10:00 p.m."

So Scott arrived at Regal Club after he went to her rented apartment last night, didn't find her, and couldn't get through to her on the phone.

Fortunately, he came.

Otherwise, Lucie shuddered to think what the mad Clayton would have done to her.

Suddenly, the cell phone vibrated in her hand.

Lucie took a look.

It was an unfamiliar local number.

Over the years, she had often worked several jobs at the same time to earn money, and it was normal to receive unfamiliar calls.

So, without thinking, Lucie answered the call.

"Lucie, you bitch. You're quite capable. You actually slept with Mr. Barton. Did you dump me because you hooked up with him? How long have you been sleeping with Mr. Barton? Did you cheat on me a long time ago?"

Immediately, Clayton's crazy yelling sounded.

Without waiting for her to say a word, he roared, "Lucie, take a good look at yourself. Who do you think you are? Do you think that Mr. Barton likes you?

"Stop daydreaming. Mr. Barton just takes you as a plaything. When the novelty wears off in a few days, he will abandon you, and then I'll kill you.

"If you..."

"Clayton, if you dare to hurt me again, I'll have Scott kill you first."

Without waiting for Clayton to shout again, Lucie gritted her teeth and threatened him. She directly hung up the phone and then quickly blacklisted the number.

She was really foolish in the past. She was actually coaxed by Clayton into being his girlfriend for a year.

Thinking about it made Lucie feel sick.

Lucie took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down before going out of the bedroom.

As a result, as soon as she went out, she smelt the fragrance of cocoa.

She followed the smell and saw Scott standing at the stove in the open kitchen, cooking cocoa over a low flame.

Suddenly, a warm current went through Lucie's heart and then her whole body.

"Come over here and watch it." Scott turned back, glanced at Lucie, who was staring blankly at him not far away, and called out to her expressionlessly.

"Okay," Lucie responded, rushing over and taking the stirring spoon from his hand.

Scott stepped back to make room for Lucie, took a tissue, and wiped his hands while saying, "You don't need to go to the office today. Go back to get your things packed and move in here. You'll live in the guest bedroom.

"And..."

"I'm not moving."

Scott's voice paused. He turned around and was about to continue when Lucie's soft yet stubborn voice sounded behind him.

Scott stopped and looked back at her.

Lucie looked at him, her eyes clear and polite. "I'm fine living in my own place."

Scott let out a low laugh, turned around, curled his fingers, and pressed down on his brow as if controlling his temper. A few seconds later, he looked askance at Lucie, who was close at hand, and said, "Isn't your time precious?"

Lucie looked at him, pursed her rosy lips, and did not speak.

"And you want to make more money and maximize your time," Scott said, lifting her chin with his long fingers and asking her, "Do you want me to always wait for you at your shitty place?"

Lucie was speechless.

"By the way, I've quit your job at Regal Club. It's not suitable for you," Scott continued, withdrawing his hand.

"Scott, by what..."

"From now on, I'm your boss no matter if you are on or off work," Scott interrupted her mercilessly.

Lucie looked at him, bit her lip, and thought about it. She then replied, "You have to pay me for my work in off-duty hours."

Actually, she was quite afraid.

Clayton knew where she lived. What if that crazy guy went after her?

She was alone, and she definitely wouldn't be able to deal with it.

Scott raised his eyebrows, interested. "How much?"

"160 dollars an hour as long as I'm in this apartment," Lucie said.

Scott smiled, took out his cell phone, and opened the Line chat box with Lucie.

Lucie didn't know what he was up to.

But soon, the cell phone in her pocket kept ringing.

She did a double-take, immediately took out her phone, and tapped it.

In the Line chat box with Scott, he transferred 8,000 dollars to her 10 times.

"80 thousand dollars in advance." Scott finished transferring the money, put away his cell phone, rubbed the top of Lucie's hair, and admonished, "Work hard from now on."

Lucie was lost for words.

The password for Scott's flat was 941122.

In case she might forget it, Lucie put it down in her notebook.

Coming out of Scott's flat and looking at the bustling scene in front of her, Lucie finally knew that his apartment was located in the most expensive area in Jedon City, and the flat of more than 300 square meters where he lived was worth more than 50 thousand dollars per square meter.

It was Apartment 1 of Jedon Bay, the most luxurious mansion in Jedon City.

Looking at the luxurious mansion behind her again, Lucie turned around and got on the bus to the hospital.

Lucie moved Phoebe from an ordinary ward to a VIP ward and hired a nursing assistant for Phoebe.

By the time Lucie had gotten everything arranged, it was noon.

After grabbing a bite to eat on the side of the road, Lucie went back to her rental house to pack her things up.

Lucie had finished her graduation thesis defense and would officially graduate from college soon. So, to move to Scott's place, she had nothing else to pack except her computer and usual clothes.

Lucie wasn't going to give up the rental, because she thought in that case, if Scott got tired of her and kicked her out, at least she would have somewhere to go.

All Lucie's stuff just fitted into a suitcase.

When Lucie pulled the suitcase downstairs and was walking to the subway station, her phone vibrated in her bag.

Lucie took her phone out and saw that it was Jeffrey, her senior in college, calling.

Jeffrey was two years ahead of Lucie, majoring in broadcasting and hosting. Now he was already the most famous radio host in Jedon City.

"Hello, Jeffrey." Lucie immediately answered the call.

"Lucie, how was the graduation thesis defense the other day? Did it go well?" Jeffrey asked, smiling with concern.

"Not bad!"

"Great!" Jeffrey, on the other side of the line, changed the topic. "Are you free from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.? If you are available, how about having dinner together? There's something I want to talk to you about."

"What's wrong, Jeffrey?" Lucie asked.

"Don't worry! I have some good news. I'll let you know when we meet." Jeffrey didn't tell Lucie anything at the moment.

After some hesitation, Lucie replied, "OK. Then please text me the address."

"OK."

When Lucie hung up, she immediately received the address of the restaurant Jeffrey had booked, and it was near where he worked.

Lucie did a navigation check and found out it would take her over an hour to get there by subway.

Lucie looked at the time again and saw that it was already past three o'clock in the afternoon, so she decided to go straight to the restaurant.

Unexpectedly, when Lucie arrived, Jeffrey had already arrived and was sitting by the window waiting for her.

Seeing that Lucie was dragging a suitcase, Jeffrey rushed over to offer a hand.

"What's wrong? You're moving?" Jeffrey took the suitcase from Lucie's hand and asked.

Lucie nodded with a smile. Then she changed the topic. "I'm afraid I might be late, so I pulled my suitcase over."

Apparently not bothered, Jeffrey pulled Lucie's suitcase over, smiled, and led her to the seat by the window. Then he handed her the menu and said, "Here is the menu. Let's order first and talk while we eat."

Lucie smiled, took the menu, and ordered two dishes, and then she handed the menu back to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey ordered two more dishes.

"Jeffrey, you said you had something good to tell me. What is it?" When the waiter walked away after they took the order, Lucie took a sip of tea and asked with a smile.

Jeffrey also took a sip of tea, and his smile was indescribably gentle. "Lucie, do you remember that audio novel we recorded together six months ago?"

"Yes." Lucie nodded with bright eyes.

Seeing how calm Lucie seemed, Jeffrey burst into laughter. "So you certainly haven't logged on to the platform recently to see the number of streams for the audio novel, right?"

Lucie shook her head and asked with curiosity, "What's wrong?"

Jeffrey smiled, "Then you log in and have a look now."

Hearing what Jeffrey said, Lucie immediately took out her phone and clicked on a well-known audio app across the country to check the audio novel she recorded with him six months ago.

Lucie was stunned.

It was completely out of her expectations.

It had already got 206 million views.

"Jeffrey..."

"Nice surprise, isn't it?" Jeffrey asked happily.

Lucie nodded with her eyes full of joy. "It's more than a surprise!"

This audio novel Lucie and Jeffrey had recorded was just a short one with over 300,000 words. It was really surprising to have this number of views.

"Here is another surprise." Jeffrey took another sip of tea and calmed himself down. "Just this morning, the staff of the platform contacted me and offered to sign with us."

"Sign with us?" Lucie didn't quite get what that meant.

"Yes!" Jeffrey nodded solemnly. "Now that the audio novel has got so many views, the platform will naturally come to us and ask us to sign a contract. And once we sign a contract and the audio novel we recorded is charged for listening, the platform will start to share the profits with us, and we will make money."

"Really?" Lucie was overjoyed.

In the beginning, Lucie had never thought about making money through her voice, but Jeffrey said that she had a beautiful voice and asked her if she was interested in recording a novel with him, which would not take much time.

At first, Lucie agreed because she thought it was a good chance to learn something new.

After all, Lucie thought the more skills she could master, the better.

And to Lucie's surprise, now she could make money with her voice.

"Of course, it is true!" Jeffrey said as he took out a contract from a nearby file pocket and handed it to Lucie. "Here's the contract. I've already negotiated with the platform. The revenue will be split forty-sixty. The platform gets 40% while we get 60%. And then we will go fifty-fifty."

Lucie took the contract and began to read it excitedly.

Although such a contract was new to Lucie, she could understand it well.

Jeffrey then said, "See if there is any problem with it. If it's all right, we can sign the contract today."

"OK. No problem."

Just as Lucie looked up at Jeffrey with joy and excitement, on the road not far from the restaurant, a black Bentley slowly stopped because of the red light in front of it.

In the back seat of the Bentley, Scott was looking down at his phone. Suddenly, Yvonne beside him leaned over and pointed to the restaurant by the roadside outside the window. "Look, Scott! Isn't that your classmate's sister?"

Hearing that, Scott turned to look.

Through the two clear glass windows, Scott saw Lucie sitting by the window, looking happily at another man, and his deep black eyes slightly darkened.

"Yes," Scott responded indifferently, turned away, and continued to look at his phone.

Yvonne raised her eyebrows and asked, "Do you think that handsome guy sitting across from her is her boyfriend?"

Scott lowered his head and snorted, "If you say so."

The staff of the audiobook platform said that according to the current views of the audiobook they had recorded, if they charged for it, the monthly income would not be less than 16 thousand dollars.

If the platform promoted this audiobook, the income would be higher.

In this way, Lucie could get at least 5,000 dollars every month.

Plus, Lucie had other income. Then she could cover Phoebe's medical expenses in the VIP ward for a month.

Jeffrey said that if the audiobook could make money, it would prove that the listeners really liked their voices. Then they could spend more time working with the platform again to record other audiobooks and make more money.

It was a really good start and even a wonderful cycle.

When they became more famous, their income would naturally rise.

Lucie did not want to fantasize about the future. She only wanted to be practical and do a good job to earn all the money that she could earn now.

On the way back, Lucie was so happy that she bought herself a cup of coffee for the first time to celebrate.

She had drunk coffee before, but that was bought by others.

Most of the time, she knew she couldn't afford to buy coffee for them, so she turned it down.

She only added a little sugar to today's coffee, but she felt it was so sweet. She was very happy.

Her life, finally, was moving in a good direction.

She drank the coffee for more than an hour until she dragged her suitcase back to Apartment 1 of Jedon Bay's gate. She threw the empty coffee cup into the garbage can next to the gate.

"Who are you? Stop!"

Just as Lucie was dragging her suitcase and following a woman who came back from a grocery store toward the gate, a security guard suddenly rushed over and stopped her.

Lucie was stunned and looked up at the security guard, asking confusedly, "What's wrong?"

The security guard looked Lucie up and down. "Who allowed you to follow her in?"

Lucie laughed, "I live inside."

The security guard frowned at her words and sized her up again. "Which apartment do you live in?"

"Apartment 6701 on the 67th floor," Lucie replied.

Seeing that Lucie answered without nervousness, the security guard was unsure of her identity. He thought for a moment and said, "Okay, then you can have your face scanned and go in."

Saying that, the security guard backed away a few steps, allowing Lucie to let the machine scan her face.

Lucie thought, "I have to have my face scanned to get in?"

It was the first time Lucie knew about such a rule.

Apparently, the camera scanned her face, but there was no response. The gate was still tightly closed.

"It proves that you are not an owner here. Hurry up and leave." The security guard began to drive her away with impatience.

"I'm indeed not an owner here. I'm a new maid here," Lucie told the guard.

"You're a maid?"

The security guard looked at Lucie again and became friendly. "Then ask your employer to come downstairs and lead you in. Record your face in the security system or call the butler to come and lead you in. Anyway, you definitely can't go in without anyone leading you."

Lucie thought about it, nodded, backed away to the side, and sent Scott a Line message.

She didn't have his cell phone number.

She waited ten minutes or so, yet he still hadn't replied.

It was almost 8 p.m. now. Lucie wondered if he was still busy working.

After hesitating for a while, she sent Scott a Line call request.

But he didn't answer until it was hung up automatically.

Maybe he really was still working.

Lucie pulled her suitcase, sat down in front of the steps next to the fountain, and sent another Line message to Scott: "I'm waiting for you outside the gate of the community. If you're back, come downstairs and pick me up."

After the message was sent, her cell phone vibrated.

Thinking that Scott must have replied, she quickly checked it.

However, it was not his reply.

It was a message from Jeffrey.

Jeffrey said that the audiobook platform recognized both of their voices and was eager to collaborate with them on a second audiobook. The platform had even chosen some novels for them.

Jeffrey sent five novels over to Lucie, saying that she could pick one, take a good look at it, and try to record it.

It was good to make money anyway, not to mention that she just needed to spend time and use her voice. She didn't have to take any risks.

Lucie immediately agreed and carefully read the five novels Jeffrey had sent her.

Probably because she read them too attentively, Lucie completely forgot the time.

A cool wind blew in the night, bringing the gushing pool water down to her body. She felt cold and shivered, which pulled her back to her senses.

She took a glance at the time. It was actually already past midnight.

"No one is coming to pick you up. Just leave. Don't spend more time here."

The security guard saw this thin and quiet girl wait alone for more than four hours until after midnight. Yet no one came to pick her up. He suddenly felt she was pitiful.

Lucie glanced at the security guard and checked her Line again.

Scott did not reply to her.

Maybe he was too busy to see her message.

Lucie wanted to make another Line call to him.

But her fingers paused in the air.

Suddenly, her nose twitched, and she wanted to cry.

She thought, "I'm nothing more than a prostitute for Scott, not even a fuck buddy, so how can I take myself so seriously?"

"Okay, thank you." She nodded, took her suitcase, and turned to leave.

"Lucie."

Suddenly, the gate not far away opened, and a familiar voice came from the doorway.

Lucie stopped in her tracks with a slight frown.