Chapter 432 - 410: Her Life Is That Cheap

Chloe was stunned, with only that sentence repeating over and over in her mind.

She never expected the man would actually ask her to seduce Alan Johnson.

At this moment, a flash appeared in her mind from that night, when Selene Wilson asked her to go to The Empyrean for Lucas Hughes.

Later, she ended up being knocked out, and when she woke up, she was in Alan Johnson’s room.

Suddenly, it felt like there was something, something that connected all of this together.

How could it all be such a coincidence?

Recently, it seems like all these events have been tied to Alan Johnson.

Even the mysterious man now wants her to get involved with Alan Johnson.

Chloe kept replaying the recent events in her mind.

It seemed like it was just missing that tiny bit, just missing that one thing, connect it and all the answers would be revealed.

But, it was always just that little bit off, nothing matched up.

As she was fretting and intensely pondering, the voice of the mysterious man came again from the other end of the phone.

"Heh, Miss Simpson, if you can’t do it, don’t make promises lightly. Rest assured, I won’t actually make you climb into Alan Johnson’s bed."

"Although I have a thousand, ten thousand ways to deal with people, I will absolutely not do something that harms my partners. You just need to put on an act."

Hearing the mysterious man say this, Chloe relaxed her shoulders and instinctively took a breath.

But then, suddenly, she felt it was somewhat strange.

"Why ask me to put on a show, to get close to Alan Johnson? How does this help your plan?" Chloe asked over the phone.

"Miss Simpson, then why are you unwilling to do it?" The man chuckled.

With this question, obviously, Chloe was taken aback too.

Yes, it’s only an act, why wouldn’t she want to do it?

In that instant.

A figure flashed through her mind, and it was none other than Alexander Johnson.

"Miss Simpson, don’t tell me you still have feelings for the Young Master Johnson?"

The person on the other end of the phone seemed to see right through her thoughts.

Chloe couldn’t help but glance around the room.

Remembering that she was now being detained by the Old Sir of Johnson Family in the guest room, and the door was closed, she quickly withdrew her gaze.

Just now, when the man spoke like that.

She really thought that the man was standing right in front of her, seeing through her.

"What? Miss Simpson won’t respond, is that an admission?"

The man spoke again over the phone.

Chloe’s mouth curved into a slight arc: "Alright, it’s just an act, what’s the big deal."

After she said this, the other end of the phone went silent.

As if not expecting her to agree so readily.

As if, just now, those words were merely something said without intending for her to do it.

"Alright."

Finally, the man responded with just a single "alright," then ended the call.

Chloe listened to the dial tone on the other end, feeling a bit odd.

But then felt that she was probably overthinking, so she set down the phone.

For the rest of the afternoon, she did nothing.

Just sat by the bed, facing the window, staring outside.

The whole person seemed to be emptied, yet also filled.

Her thoughts instinctively drifted from her marriage to Lucas Hughes, to winning a cruise prize on their wedding night, to mistakenly entering the room and having a passionate night with Alexander Johnson.

Finally, all the way to now.

To be honest, she suddenly felt disoriented, like a lifetime had passed.

And felt like she might be dreaming.

How did she, someone like her, get involved with the Crown Prince of Capital Circle?

How did she and Alexander Johnson end up at this point?

If she hadn’t mistakenly entered the room that night.

Wouldn’t she and Lucas have already had a child by now?

And life would have been on a different track.

Thinking of this, Chloe suddenly felt she was quite ridiculous.

The root of all this never rested on Alexander Johnson, nor even on her, but on Lucas Hughes.

Heh, to put it accurately.

From the moment she agreed to be with Lucas Hughes, everything was wrong.

She never saw through this seemingly respectable man, who was secretly a despicable brute.

Perhaps, it was because the mysterious man said to entangle herself with Alan Johnson.

Or perhaps, from this moment today, from the moment she agreed.

It seemed to mark the end between her and Alexander Johnson.

Feels a bit hard to let go.

But what good does it do to resist?

She was no longer the naive 18-year-old girl.

Having experienced so much, seen so much of human nature.

There’s no way she would still naively believe a real prince charming would truly fancy her.

That whole Cinderella and domineering CEO story.

Like a one-night stand in novels.

It was always a joke.

In reality, within the business empire, it was always a game of deceit and survival.

Since ancient times, there’s been no honest business.

Otherwise, how could a businessman possibly make money?

And they are the most practical.

The entire Kyohai, the whole elite circle, layer by layer, circle by circle, all intertwined with intricate, subtle connections.

Strong alliances are merely the prettiest rhetoric.

To put it plainly, it’s all about shared interests; you have what I need, I have what you need.

Not to mention those shady dealings happening behind the scenes.

Money, power, lust—they never seem to be far apart, do they?

And all of this originally had nothing to do with her.

She never needed to step into this circle.

She truly just wanted to live her days happily, freely, and joyfully.

Just as her mother, Emily Sterling, wished—peaceful and content, living an ordinary life until a natural end.

But reality...

She was pulled into the whirlpool of the wealthy.

And her mother became the greatest sacrificial victim.

Lost her life, just like that.

That was her dearest, most respected, most beloved mother!

A mother who had no blood relation to her but spent a lifetime loving her!

In the end, because she got swept into the rich people’s vortex, it cost her mother her life.

"Chloe, remember to come home early. Absolutely do not stay out past 8 PM, understand? Girls must be careful outside, make sure to protect yourself."

"Chloe, it’s getting cold; remember to wear more clothes when you go out."

"Chloe, my most beloved treasure, remember that Mom loves you forever."

"Chloe, it’s raining outside; don’t forget to take an umbrella."

"Chloe, I don’t like your Uncle Thompson. Mom just wants to spend life together with you."

"Chloe, it’s alright; as long as you’re happy, that’s all I need."

"Chloe, when are you coming home? Mom made dinner for you."

"Chloe, I’ve dried your favorite fish. Come take it when you get back."

"Lucas Hughes, if you bully my daughter, I’ll fight you to the death!"

Memories flood in like a raging tide, relentlessly crashing.

The heart, too, hurts with relentless madness.

Mom is gone.

No one will remind her to wear clothes when it gets cold again.

No one will wait for her to come home again.

No one will stand up for her when she’s bullied again.

And no one will make her favorite dried fish again.

The window is open, a breeze blowing in from outside.

October’s weather, autumnal and crisp, is Kyohai’s best season of the year.

Every year at this time, Mom would take her to the grove of ginkgo trees outside the neighborhood.

But now...

It’s autumn again, Kyohai’s best season.

The sky remains the same, the ginkgo grove remains the same, but her mom will never return.

"Mom! Ah!"

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Chloe screams in madness.

Why?

Why is Mom’s life so worthless?

Why can these powerful people act recklessly?

Why can Selene Wilson treat human lives like nothing, and crash into Mom just like that?

Yes!

The mysterious man was right!

She must take revenge!

The Wilson Family, the Johnson Family—she won’t spare any of them.

Especially Selene Wilson.

Isn’t she trying to become the Young Mistress of the Johnson Family? Wants to marry into the Johnson Family?

She must not let her get what she desires!

She can’t move against Selene Wilson now.

Can’t bring her to justice, but she definitely won’t let her have it easy.

After all, now she’s in the Johnson Family, isn’t this the best opportunity?

Alan Johnson, Alexander Johnson—she won’t let any of them go.

She must ruin Selene Wilson’s marriage, and avenge Mom!

Only, Chloe never expected that as she finished making her decision and started planning her actions, the door to the room creaked.

"Miss Simpson," it was the Johnson family’s servant.

Chloe glanced at her phone.

It was common for the Johnson family’s servant to come by at this time to deliver dinner.

She didn’t think much and walked over to open the door.

But unexpectedly, it was Soren Johnson wanting to see her.

Five minutes later, under the guidance of the servant, she arrived at Soren Johnson’s study.

When she arrived, Soren was sitting at his desk.

Seeing her, he pulled out a stack of checks from the desk drawer, tore one off, signed a number, and handed it to her.

"Miss Simpson, starting tomorrow, you can leave the Johnson Family. Everything has been investigated; you have nothing to do with it. As for the rumors from a while back, they’ve also dissipated."

"Here’s 5 million. If you plan to live as an ordinary person, this can ensure you a carefree life for the rest of your days."

"I hope once you leave the Johnson Family, you’ll have no further dealings with any of them. Otherwise, you should know very well the capabilities of the Johnson Family."

Soren Johnson held the check and looked at her with eyes full of warning and murderous intent.

Chloe was stunned.

She didn’t expect that just as she finished making her plan, Soren Johnson would come to tell her to leave the Johnson Family.

Staying in the Johnson Family was her best opportunity.

If she truly leaves, approaching Alan Johnson or Alexander Johnson wouldn’t be so easy.

If that’s the case, then why not start tonight?

She decides to act this evening.

"Chloe!"