Chapter 4

The entourage behind Eric was simultaneously familiar yet foreign to me. Donning a haute couture dress, Fiona held onto Eric's unassuming but expensive sleeve. Everyone flattered them, basking them in adulation. Hurriedly, I lowered my head to apologize. That was when I saw a pair of heels studded with crystals. "Oh, some pauper is trying to get acquainted with a rich man to get ahead in life. Do you smell the stench of poverty on her, everyone? It stinks!" Fiona covered her nose in disdain and chuckled coyly. Without a word, I kept my head lowered and retreated. However, there was a loud slap, and I felt a sharp pain as my cheek burned brightly. Fiona approached me and snickered. "Where's the manager? How can they hire such an ignorant person? Is the hotel able to compensate us if she can't control herself and steals from us? Hurry and throw her out!" Eric pursed his lips, staring at me in surprise. Jealousy flooded Fiona's eyes, and she pushed me to the ground before stepping on my chest hard. Excruciating pain hit me, and I curled up unwittingly, gasping in pain. "Stop staring at my brother with your filthy eyes. Get lost!" Fiona laughed smugly, though her tone was filled with endless fury. Eric frowned, but the heartache in his eyes was replaced by iciness in a second. The manager, Gerard Hudson, wanted to take me away, worried that I would be hurt again. Snorting, Eric told Gerard to move aside and pulled me up by grabbing my wrist. "Ellie Welsh, did you come all the way here after me for the sake of money?" It was then when a mocking gasp of surprise escaped Fiona's mouth, and she cleaned my face with a tissue. "Goodness, it's Ellie. As an overseas graduate, you have no need to humble yourself and serve people here." After she said that, silence blanketed the entire hall, and unfriendly gazes surrounded me. "So, that's Ms. Welsh. Back then, she abandoned Mr. Welsh heartlessly. Is she doing so badly that she has to beg for money now?" "Look how pathetic her life is. She deserves it." "Mean people are scheming. Nobody appreciates kindness which comes late." Someone shoved me toward Eric, and he extended his arms subconsciously, but he suddenly took a step back, and my body flung toward the corner of a table uncontrollably. I was struck with a piercing pain, blood and tears flowed simultaneously, but I couldn't feel any pain. Silently, I wanted to leave, but Eric blocked my path. He looked down at me from above. "You want money, don't you? Fiona is allergic to alcohol. Why don't you drink in her stead?" He dragged me into a lounge and ordered three boxes of strong liquor, covering the table. "30,000 dollars for a bottle. We'll pay you as much as you can finish." Fiona stuffed a bottle of alcohol into my palm. "Drink it. Don't try to fool us with some excuse." Ignoring her, I stared at Eric's solemn face and sniggered. "Are you sure you want me to drink?" Surprise flashed past his face, and he paused for a second.