Chapter 9 Meeting Again

• Mabel had no idea what choice Miranda would make, but if it were her, she wouldn't risk offending these scions over a song. The men in the VIP rooms at Club Royale all had significant backgrounds—how could they tolerate a mere server defying them?
• If Miranda didn't show these young gentlemen some respect, they certainly wouldn't let her off easily.
• These scions had seen all kinds of women before. They thought Miranda looked innocent and beautiful, and asking her to sing was their way of giving her an out. If she obediently sang the song and left, they wouldn't bother her again.
• It seemed her attempt to help Miranda was in vain, and now, she had caught the attention of the men in the room.
• Mabel thought to herself: Hurry up and clean, then leave. The longer she stayed here, the more unpredictable things would become. She had just tried to help Miranda, and if that offended the guests in the room, she might get dragged into the mess as well. It's best to leave this room as soon as possible.
• “Oh? Playing hard to get, are we?” A voice, playful yet mocking, rang out. “Don't want to sing? Fine! Drink that bottle of liquor on the table and you can go.”
• “I won't drink! I'm not one of your hostesses!”
• “You won't drink?” someone mocked, chuckling. “I'm afraid it's not up to you. If you work at Club Royale, whether you're a server or even a janitor, if the guests make a request, you have to comply, right?”
• When Mabel heard the word “janitor,” an ominous feeling washed over her. A second later, her gut feeling was confirmed.
• “Hey, you over there. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Ms. Janitor. What do you think?”
• The fire had reached her. I never should have meddled. I shouldn't have tried to help Miranda.
• Mabel regretted it deeply.
• “Hey, I'm talking to you, Ms. Janitor.”
• Mabel had no choice but to nod.
• The playful voice laughed gleefully and said to Miranda, “Did you see that? Even the janitor knows her place better than you do.” He grabbed the bottle of wine and slammed it onto the table. “Drink it. Or we'll get Mikayla to come.” Mikayla Sanders was the woman who had interviewed Mabel for her job.
• At the mention of Mikayla, Miranda started to panic. Her family was poor, and she had taken the job at Club Royale because it paid well. If Mikayla got involved, she could lose her job.
• “Don't get Ms. Mikayla!” Miranda grabbed the bottle of liquor from the crystal table. “I'll drink!” Tears started to fall before she even took a sip.
• “Wait a second.” A low, slow voice sounded from the darkness. Mabel, with her back to the shadowy corner, heard the voice and immediately began trembling uncontrollably.
• Fear crept into her eyes, and her breathing grew heavy.
• “Turn around,” the voice commanded from the darkness.
• Mabel's legs felt like they were weighed down with lead. She couldn't move. She kept telling herself: He's not talking to me.
• “I'll say it again. Turn around, Ms. Janitor.”
• Mabel felt as if someone had punched her heart. She knew she had no choice but to obey. Her teeth chattered as she shivered, the heavy clothing on her body making it even harder to turn around.
• The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and everyone began to sense that something wasn't right.
• The playful scion who had been teasing earlier now whistled in delight. “Looks like we've got something interesting here.”
• A man sitting on the sofa barked, “Caydence, shut up and don't interrupt the show.”
• “Wow, Simon Bennett, you're really wicked to the core.”
• Fear consumed Mabel as she fought the urge to run.
• Three years in prison—one thousand and ninety-five days and nights—she had survived in utter torment. After crawling out of that hellish place, she dared not entertain any thoughts of Xavier. All that remained was the deep fear and dread of him, etched into her very bones.
• Whatever feelings of infatuation and love she once had for the man had long been buried, sealed away forever in the darkest corner of her heart.
• “Lift your head,” the man ordered, slow and deliberate. Mabel, acting almost on reflex, followed the command instantly.
• The room was dim, and the man sat hidden in the shadows. She hadn't dared to look closely when she first entered, which was why she hadn't noticed him.
• Xavier sat in the corner of the sofa like a king, his long arm resting elegantly on the armrest. He supported his chin with the back of his hand, appearing every bit the gentleman. Yet behind those gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were like a hungry wolf's, staring at her as if ready to tear her apart at any moment.
• Time had done nothing to mark Xavier with age. If anything, the years had only refined him, making him even more captivating.
• His face, bathed in the dim light, seemed to glow with a golden hue. He sat there exuding an aura of undeniable charm that captivated everyone around him.
• Mabel dared not look at him for more than a second. She immediately buried her head deep into her chest, hiding behind the heavy layers of clothing.
• “Heh!” Xavier let out a cold laugh, his voice filled with danger. “It's been a while. Are you not going to greet me?”