Chapter 538

The driver began to wonder if this lady had been dumped, thinking about the hundred-dollar fare he had received. As Pearl returned to the Waldorf Residence, darkness had already fallen. All the residents were fast asleep, except for Richard, whose room still emitted a warm glow of light. Entering the room, Pearl found it unoccupied. She turned to leave but collided with a solid chest as she took a step backward. Looking up, she found Richard standing before her, not looking particularly pleased. He carried the scent of cigarettes, and Pearl immediately realized what had happened. "You went to the bar?" she inquired. Richard nodded and didn't say anything. Pearl hesitated before continuing, "You saw everything?" Still wordless, Richard gazed at her, an unsettling intensity in his eyes that made her skin crawl. "I'm going to take a shower. Wait for me here," he instructed calmly, then walked into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the air, and Pearl slowly