Thalia went straight from the hospital to Sinir <i>& </i>Klein to work overtime, organizing Mark’s case materials in preparation for filing a workce injury im when the Department for Work and Pensions opened on Monday.


    After working all afternoon, she’dpletely forgotten her promise to see Asher in the evening.


    When Asher called, Thalia was still reviewing case documents.


    “Lia, where are you? <b>I’ll </be pick you up.”


    “What?” Thalia snapped back to reality. “Oh! I forgot to tell you, I’m workingte at the office.”


    “Workingte?” Asher sounded puzzled<i>. </i>“Weren’t you shopping with Charlotte and Victoria?”


    Thalia tilted her head, holding the phone between her shoulder and ear while typing. “No, I received an urgent case and had to rush back to work.”


    “Have you eaten?” Asher asked.


    “Not yet.”


    “I’lle pick you up for dinner. The work can wait until tomorrow–it’s getting quitete.”


    Thalia nced at the time in the corner of herputer screen. “All right, I’m at the firm. You cane directly here.”


    Asher replied, “Good. Wait for me. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”


    “Mmm.”


    After hanging up, Thalia leaned back in her office chair, staring absently at the case materials on her


    screen.


    Mark’s case wasn’t particrlyplex, and the chances of winning were high.


    But judging by the factory’s attitude, they would certainly be reluctant to paypensation.


    This was abor dispute, which meant the first step wasbor arbitration.


    After arbitration, if the factory contested the decision, they could still file awsuit.


    The litigation process wasplicated and lengthy. Although the final oue would most likely be favorable, Mark couldn’t afford to wait.


    He needed the money for treatment, and Teresa needed it too.


    Today Thalia had covered their medical expenses, but that was far from enough.


    Given the siblings‘ current situation, even their basic daily needs were an issue.


    She rubbed her temples and called the person in charge of a charitable foundation.


    She donated fifty thousand pounds to the foundation, instructing them to focus on helping the Bormen


    siblings.


    Then she transferred another sum to Lucy, asking her to find a cook specifically responsible for preparing three meals a day for the siblings.


    Lucy excitedly called back.


    “Twenty thousand pounds! That’s twenty thousand! Ms. Winters! Not two thousand, but twenty thousand!” Lucy eximed. “Hiring a cook doesn’t require nearly that much!”


    Thalia’s tone remained even. “Their three daily meals and the cook’s sry wille from this money. I’ve already taken care of their medical expenses. You can use the rest to buy them clothes, shoes, and daily necessities. In any case, thank you for your help.”


    Lucy was nearly crying with excitement. “Ms. Winters, you’re truly an angel! Thank you on their behalf.


    You must be a saint!”


    Thalia felt a pang in her heart and sighed. “This is all I can do.”


    Lucy quickly replied, “It’s more than enough! You’ve already done so much!”


    “I hope it helps them…”


    Meanwhile, Asher had driven barely five minutes toward thew firm when he received a call from the manager at his facility.


    “Sir, there’s an emergency! Something’s happened to Vanessa!”


    12-17


    Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Hters


    Asher frowned, his tone cold. “What’s happened?”


    Thalia finished organizing the case materials and shut down herputer. By the time she went downstairs, it was already half past eight.


    She waited for a while before Asher called.


    Thalia answered.


    “Where are you?”


    “I’m sorry, Lia. I can’t pick you up tonight. Please go home first–I have an urgent matter to handle.”


    Thalia asked, “What’s wrong?”


    “It’s difficult to exin quickly. I’ll tell you in person when Ie to see you after I’ve dealt with this.”


    “All right then.”


    After hanging up, Thalia went to the underground car park.


    She still hadn’t had dinner and was feeling quite hungry.


    She drove to a nearby restaurant and had a quick meal before returning to her building at around ten


    o’clock.


    Thalia parked her car and pressed the lift button.


    At her door, just as she unlocked it with her fingerprint, she heard someone call her name from behind.


    “Thalia.”


    It was Drake.


    He stood in the hallway wearing a dark gray coat, his features handsome, with a faint smile on his face.


    Looking rather presentable, actually.


    Seeing Drake suddenly appear, Thalia frowned. “Drake, what are you doing here?”


    Instead of answering, Drake asked, “Where were you today? Why are youing home sote?”


    Your Gold Digger is Actually A True B


    Thalia’s frown deepened. “How is that any of your business?”


    Drake shrugged. “Just concerned about you.”


    “Not necessary.”


    Thalia didn’t want to say another word to him and pushed open her door to enter.


    “Thalia, do you know where Asher is tonight?”


    Thalia paused mid–step.


    Drake’s voice continued from behind her: “He’s with Vanessa Miller right now.”


    Seeing Thalia stop, a triumphant gleam shed in Drake’s eyes. He continued slowly: “He didn’t tell you? Well, of course not. How could he possibly tell you he was meeting Vanessa?”


    Thalia turned around, looking up at him. “Drake, did youe here just to stir up trouble with these absurd insinuations? Do you honestly think I’d believe you?”


    Drake curved his lips into a smile, appearing quite pleased with himself.


    “I know you won’t believe me.” He took out his phone and opened a recording. “Listen to this before you


    decide.”


    “Asher, I truly nearly gave up on living. Do you know that throughout this terrible month, you were my only hope for survival? Just thinking of you gave me the courage to go on…”


    “Every day I told myself I had to persevere. I had to live to escape that ce. Only by living could I see you again. If I died, I would never see you again…”


    “Asher, please, I beg you, stay with me a little while. I’m nearly mad with it all. Every time I close my eyes, I see those monsters viting me. The pain in my heart is a thousand times worse than any physical


    pain…”


    “Won’t you talk with me a bit longer? Even if you just scold me… Don’t go, don’t leave me, don’t… I truly… truly wanted to see you so badly… You are the only light in my life!”


    It was Vanessa’s voice.


    The more Thalia listened, the tighter her chest felt.


    She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white, her expression shifting noticeably.


    13.17


    Your Gold Digger is Actually A True


    Drake moved closer, bending slightly to meet her eyes. “Asher never told you that Vanessa was abducted over a month ago, did he? You probably thought she was still in detention awaiting trial?”


    “What did you say?” Thalia’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising.


    Her reaction satisfied Drake.


    He’d guessed correctly.


    The ckwood family had indeed suppressed the news, and Thalia knew nothing about Vanessa being


    abducted.


    Drake felt quite pleased.


    He straightened up, his tall frame of over six feet looming over Thalia imposingly.


    Drake’s eyes held a mocking light. “Come on, you really think that woman chased after Asher for ten years and he felt absolutely nothing? Ha! Thalia, you’re still so naive. You don’t understand guys at all.”


    Thalia lowered her eyes without speaking, her thoughts unreadable.


    Drake continued: “Vanessa was indeed taken by the police on the day of your engagement ceremony, butter she imed to be pregnant. On the way to the hospital for examination, she was abducted.”


    “Think about it–who in London has enough power to snatch someone from police custody in broad


    daylight?”


    The answer was obvious.


    In London, the ckwoods were the most powerful family.


    <b>(</b>3)


    13-17