“Proof?” Charles let out a cold laugh. “Fine. You want it, you got it.”
Then he raised his phone. On the screen was a screenshot of a chat, its content showing me begging the other person to help me find a man, saying I wanted to earn money with my body and other vile things.
And the one I'd been chatting with was that doctor I'd only just added.
Before I could even process it, Charles had the bodyguards bring the doctor over.
The moment the doctor arrived, he waved his hands in a panic, scrambling to distance himself. “Mr. Sanchez, please, you have to see clearly. I honestly thought she wanted to discuss her condition with me, but I never imagined she'd be this shameless, this cheap! Wanting to trade her body for money……”
I opened my mouth, and the words I wanted to say to explain were shut down by the cold, indifferent look in Charles's eyes.
He didn't believe me.
Back when I was working a part-time job and got framed for stealing money by a customer who'd failed to grope me, he was the one who'd stepped up, standing alone in front of more than a dozen people, telling me firmly and loudly. “I believe you! You're not that kind of person at all! They're the ones with rotten hearts. They didn't get what they wanted, so now they're slandering you, dragging your name through the mud!”
From that moment on, Charles became my whole world.
I followed Charles with my whole heart, even willingly took the savings I'd brought from the Pruitts and poured them into his startup, and even when it all came to nothing in the end, I had no regrets.
And now, there was no place for me left in Charles's heart. Even if I talked myself hoarse, he wouldn't believe a single word.
I stayed silent, saying nothing more.
But Charles took it as a guilty conscience, disgust rising in his eyes. “Louise Mason, well done.”
With that, Charles turned and walked away, and something calculating flickered in Prudence's eyes.
For some reason, I felt that something bad was about to happen.
So I hurried to check out of the hospital.
I'd barely gotten home, less than three minutes, when the door was kicked open.
Charles gritted his teeth, his voice thick with hatred. “Louise Mason, didn't I tell you not to go after Prudence? She's just a pawn to open up the AI market for me. Why can't you ever listen?”
“What did she say this time?” I looked at him, my eyes empty.
Even if I fled to the ends of the earth, one frown from Prudence and it would be my fault.
Charles's face was cold. “You degrade yourself, and then you actually try to ruin Prudence's good name. Louise Mason, what more do you have to say?”
“If I say it wasn't me, would you believe it?” I sighed, speaking helplessly.
Charles's gaze dodged away. “Does it matter whether I believe it? There are witnesses and evidence.”
At that, Charles paused, and his tone suddenly softened. :
“Louise, just bear with it a little. A bit of suffering won't kill you. Once I get the Pruitts' core technology, I'll love you properly, and I'll remarry you.”
With that, Charles called over three or four bodyguards and gave them the order. “Strip off her clothes, take nude photos, and sell them for a dime apiece.”
Then Charles turned and left.
I looked at the bodyguards closing in, and my heart went cold.
It felt more like an invisible blade had run me through, every breath tearing with pain.
I was forced down against the floor, and faintly I heard someone speak. “Hey, Mr. Sanchez changed his order. He says we're to sleep with her, record that kind of video, and put it up for auction later.”
Hearing this, the others froze for a few seconds, and I seized the chance, struggling with everything I had. The moment I spotted a gap, I spun around and bolted for the door.
A rush of force came at my back, and I was kicked to the floor.
Ignoring the pain in my body, I scrambled up and kept running, half stumbling, half crawling.
I'd just made it out into the street when a speeding car came at me and sent me flying.
In the instant before my eyes closed, I thought I saw Prudence's face, smug and taunting.
