Chapter 7

In the company’s break room, Juliette stretched out her hand, blocking Quinn’s path.

“Quinn, stop pretending. You know very well that Valerian has already fallen for me. So why are you still clinging to the title of Mrs. Montero?” Juliette’s voice dripped with venom.

“The one pretending all this time, hasn’t it always been you?” Quinn’s gaze swept over the jewelry adorning Juliette’s neck.

Juliette’s eye twitched, her back straightening with pride.

“What are you so proud of? I’m Valerian’s lifesaver, there’s nothing I can’t have!” She ran her fingers over the necklace at her throat, her tone sickeningly sweet. “He gave you one yesterday, too, didn’t he?”

Quinn’s expression faltered ever so slightly.

“Let me kindly remind you, yours was nothing more than one of my leftovers.” Juliette’s lips curved into a smile. “Not only that, but my photography exhibition was funded by him, and he secured this internship for me.”

“As long as I shed a few tears and play the helpless girl, he’s willing to lay the world at my feet.” Her eyes glinted with cruel triumph. “Quinn, what do you possibly have to compare with me?”

Quinn’s fists clenched so tightly that the coffee scalded her palm, yet she did not flinch. She fixed her gaze on Juliette, a faint smile curving her lips.

“Indeed, I can’t compare. After all, you are his lifesaver.”

“Then why won’t you leave?” Juliette’s teeth ground together, her voice sharp. “No one can stop me from climbing higher!”

“Soon.”

Quinn paused, her tone soft as she continued, “I’m about to become a field reporter. Maybe, in this lifetime, I’ll never see him again.”

“Really?!” Juliette’s eyes gleamed with delight.

Quinn paid her no mind and walked away without another word.

In front of an abandoned warehouse, a colleague looked at her nervously.

“Quinn, how about letting someone else handle this?”

“We’ve planned this for so long, and confirming the location wasn’t easy. How can we give up now?” Quinn frowned, her voice firm.

Lately, scandals of egg donations and illegal sales had surfaced across the city. She and her team had combed through shopping mall restrooms, yet every phone call they made was met with wariness.

Disguised as a university student, Quinn had finally traced a criminal group and resolved to go undercover to expose them.

Before entering, she discreetly pressed a button.

The sight inside was appalling: the doctor without even a mask, the filthy sickbed, the crooked needles scattered carelessly.

Seeing the girl beside her drenched in sweat, Quinn’s fists tightened.

Just as the needle was about to pierce the skin, the doctor caught sight of the reflection in Quinn’s glasses. Cursing, he yanked her up.

The next second, a gunshot split the air.

Police and colleagues swarmed in, and the room dissolved into chaos. A needle pressed against Quinn’s neck.

Her colleague tried to negotiate softly for her release, but the doctor’s eyes lit with sudden malice. With brutal force, he plunged the needle in.

Quinn collapsed into darkness.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the villa.

Before she could rise, the sound of loud crying reached her ears.

“President Montero, what should I do? I didn’t mean it! I just wanted to reveal the truth. I never thought it would cause Mrs. Montero to suffer online abuse!” Juliette pouted miserably at Valerian. “What should I do? Will Mrs. Montero scold me? Will the company fire me?”

“No, it’s already over. You didn’t mean it.” Valerian stroked her head with a pained tenderness.

“No… no, that won’t do. If I did wrong, I should be punished. President Montero, punish me, otherwise I won’t feel at ease…” Juliette sobbed.

“Alright, little girl, punishment it is?” Valerian’s gaze lingered on her moist lips, his eyes darkening before he kissed her.

Ambiguous sounds swirled through the room, but Quinn’s mind held only the words online abuse.

She sat up, her voice hoarse.

“What online abuse?”