Chapter 5

At my signal, Mr. Sterling deliberately introduced Liam to a company.

It was an old, established company, quite prominent in the city. But only I knew that an ethics committee had already begun investigating their criminal activities. They were set to implode within three months, tops.

The company was desperate for cash and was actively seeking clients at inflated prices.

After Mr. Sterling's introduction, both sides immediately clicked.

Liam wanted to use this opportunity to make his first big fortune. The other company wanted to take the money and run.

With the promise of huge profits and the company's long-standing reputation, Liam immediately transferred the eight hundred thousand dollars from the necklace sale into their account as a supply fund.

He signed a long-term cooperation agreement.

He had no idea this was his greed digging his own path to hell.

Liam started frequenting fancy hotels, inviting former classmates and colleagues to lavish dinners, urging them to join his new company, already strutting around like a successful entrepreneur.

Liam's mother even called back home, boasting about how amazing her son was, signing multi-million dollar contracts with nearly a million in profit.

Liam's uncle immediately arrived with his son and daughter. His second aunt arrived with her daughter and son-in-law.

Mrs. Miller instantly declared Liam's uncle's son the Vice President, and his second aunt's daughter the Assistant Manager.

The second aunt was furious. "Why is my daughter only assistant manager?! Liam and I are true siblings! How can outsiders interfere in our family company?"

Her brother, Uncle Ben, slammed his hand on the table, bringing up past favors.

In their heated argument, both families started throwing punches. Mrs. Miller couldn't break them up and had to call Liam.

When Liam rushed home, he found utter chaos. The TV was smashed on the floor, cups and vases shattered everywhere, and the marble coffee table lay broken in two.

Even worse, his second aunt's son-in-law had a bleeding head wound, and his uncle's son couldn't move due to a back injury.

Liam looked at the crying, wailing mess of people and had no choice but to call an ambulance first.

Scarlett, meanwhile, was wide-eyed, staring at the older relatives still shouting obscenities, until she heard Mrs. Miller declare that everyone would take turns being Vice President for six months. Only then did the two groups quiet down.

The second aunt immediately demanded an annual salary of fifty thousand dollars, stating that no money should go to "outsiders." Liam actually agreed without hesitation.

In that moment, a sudden wave of dread washed over Scarlett.

At the hospital, when the doctor asked for the admission fee, Uncle Frank and Aunt Carol immediately turned their eyes to Liam.

Seeing this, Mrs. Miller quickly stepped forward. "Liam, your sister and brother are technically employees of your company now, right? So you should cover their medical bills."

Scarlett finally couldn't hold back. "Carol, the company has a proper hiring process! They have no education, no experience! How can they be senior executives?"

"And as for the medical bills, we can't pay them. They got into a private brawl themselves! What does that have to do with Liam and me?"

Mrs. Miller immediately lunged, slapping Scarlett across the face. "What gives you, a woman, the right to speak on men's affairs?! My son's money goes to whoever he wants! It's not for some abandoned girl kicked out of her own home to decide!"

Liam, too, roughly grabbed Scarlett, his tone harsh. "Scarlett, those are my family! How dare you speak to them like that?!"

"It's just a little medical fee! Once the shipment arrives, we'll have millions in profit! Don't be like your mother, caring only about money and having no warmth!" He glanced at the simple jade bangle on Scarlett's wrist and said impatiently, "Scarlett, I've been entertaining a lot of clients lately, and I'm a bit tight on cash. Sell that bangle to cover the medical bills, and when I make money, I'll buy you an even more expensive one."

Scarlett looked at Liam's entitled expression, and for the first time, her eyes turned cold. "Liam, this bangle was my grandmother's. I will not sell it to support a bunch of leeches."

Liam's family instantly erupted, showering Scarlett with insults.

"You little whore! Who are you calling a leech?! You shameless runaway, back in the day, they'd drown you for less!"

They grabbed Scarlett's clothes, pushing and shoving her. "If it weren't for your mother owning a company, my family wouldn't even want a shameless tramp like you! Now Liam's a big boss, how can a stupid girl like you be worthy of him?!"

Scarlett's face was scratched, her hair ripped, and Mrs. Miller even slapped her several times.

"My son even looking at you is your good fortune! And you dare to look down on our family?!"

Scarlett cried out, calling for Liam. He just stood there coldly, watching. After a long moment, he finally walked forward, grabbed her arm, and tried to pry off the bangle.

"Scarlett, it's just a cheap bangle. Why make such a scene? You brought this on yourself!"

Scarlett struggled desperately, then SMACK! Liam's palm landed squarely on her face.

Scarlett froze, tears streaming down her face like a broken dam. In that moment, her world collapsed into ruins. She wasn't crying over the slap itself, but over her shattered faith in love and her trampled dignity.

Liam didn't coddle her with tenderness as he usually would. Instead, his face was cold as he forcefully ripped off the bangle.

I stepped out from around the corner, my gaze chillingly sharp. "Liam, put the bangle down. I've already called the police."