CHAPTER 369: AT A PRICE

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Carol's frustration was palpable as she called into the phone, anxiously awaiting a response. She rechecked her phone, hoping to see if the call was still connected, only to find it had been abruptly cut off. With a dissatisfied hiss, she decided it was time to step outside. It had been too long since she last felt the sun's warmth on her skin. Walking over to her wardrobe, Carol sifted through several dresses, pondering where she could go to pass the time. Mentally exhausted and unprepared for work, she opted for a simple black top, deep blue jeans, and comfortable dark slippers. She moved to her dresser to finish getting ready when she caught sight of her reflection. "Oh no," Carol gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth in shock. Carol didn't recognize herself in the mirror—her eyes bulging and swollen, dark patches under her eyelids, her face noticeably puffy. The stress of being blackmailed had affected her appearance in just a few days. She hadn't