Chapter 3 You’re Sick

• She never expected for a hand to suddenly grab her by the collar when she took a step. At that moment, Diane panicked. Just as she was about to yell for help, the bodyguard had already dragged her to the car and shoved her in.
• Thump!
• The door slammed heavily behind her as she crashed head-first into the man inside.
• This unreasonable treatment left Diane livid. Before she could even get up, the man’s hand held her by the chin.
• His palm was slightly chilled. Just like his current expression, it was devoid of warmth. He had a handsome face that would be the envy of anyone, both mortal and immortal alike, but he was also as cold as an ice sculpture.
• “Diane Cornell,” he said, his lips parting slightly. Diane started in surprise, and then she recalled the passing hint of familiarity before she had been pushed into the car.
• Diane was surprised by this and immediately asked, “You know me?”
• The man ignored her question. All he did was look at her, his tone chilly as he spoke. “On the fourth of June, were you the one in Room 608 at Stardust?”
• Diane was quiet. That was a humiliating day for her, and she would never forget it for the rest of her life.
• “What are you getting at?” She stared at him, her frightened heart already trembling like no tomorrow.
• “It’s simple.” He released her jaw, seeming as though he didn’t want to touch her. “I had too much to drink that day. I should have gone to the room next to yours, but your door was open, so I ended up going to your room instead. I initially assumed that you were arranged by my friend, but I only found out today that he hadn’t done anything like that. I’ve come to see you to confirm one thing.”
• “What is it?” In truth, Diane was already stunned by his words, but she still followed along and mechanically voiced her question.
• A frosty gleam glinted in the depths of the man’s eyes. “Are you pregnant?”
• Diane recalled the scene from three days ago, and her heart shivered. “No.”
• “That’s good to hear. I don’t enjoy leaving messes behind.” The man’s movements were swift. With a flick of his hand, he was already holding a check and offering it to her. “This is your compensation. Well, I suppose payment for buying you as well.”
• “What did you say?”
• Diane thought that her ears were playing tricks on her. Meanwhile, the man’s expression was as calm as a serene lake, as though he was talking about something perfectly normal. “I’m going to stay in Fairview City for a while; I was rather pleased with you, so you should understand what I’m hinting at.”
• “To hell with that!” Diane yelled, unable to stand it. “Who are you? Are you trying to get me to be your sugar baby? You already had your way with me without paying attention to your room number, and now you’re trying to buy me. How can you be this thick-skinned…”
• She couldn’t be more furious. She wrenched the check from his hand; without looking at the numbers written on it, she tore it to shreds before flinging the scraps at his face. “You’re sick.”
• He was seriously sick in his head. Did he think he could do anything because he had money? Did he think he could just buy someone as he wished because he was rich?
• Diane was so angry that steam rose from her, but alarm bells were going off in her heart at the same time. She could tell from the man’s aura and the current situation that he was a big shot instead of some common ruffian. Naturally, she was afraid that she would end up having to eat this loss.
• She also should stay away from him to avoid getting dragged into endless trouble in the future.
• After thinking about this, she couldn’t be bothered to continue wasting her breath on him. Then, Diane whipped her head around to open the door.
• The bodyguard was still standing outside when Diane opened the door, but as she got out, he didn’t heckle her; it was as though he had received some kind of order.
• Having gotten out of the car, Diane quickly ran quite a distance away. Once she determined that the car hadn’t come chasing after her, she finally let out a breath of relief.
• Since she had just suffered a miscarriage, that kind of intense running left her stomach in terrible agony. Fortunately, there was a bus stop next to her, so she walked over and rested her weight against the sign pole to catch her breath.
• Before she could gather her wits, her phone rang.
• “You d*mn girl, where are you? I’m at your house.”
• At the sound of her mother’s urging, Diane’s heart immediately leaped back into her throat.
• Judging from Maria Rodbell’s tone, she knew that something else must have come up. Not daring to dally any longer, Diane acknowledged her mother and put her phone away. As she gritted her teeth through the ache in her stomach, she called for a taxi and returned home.
• A hand flew right at her the moment she stepped past the door, striking Diane before it made her see stars. She nearly fell unconscious right there and then.