"Did you receive the agreent?" The call was quickly connected, and Henry Preston’s voice was clear and penetrating.
"I received it, what do you an?" I asked.
"I showed this agreent to my parents, they have no objections, this is what I owe you." Henry answered, "I probably can’t make up for the physical and ntal harm I’ve caused you, but materially, I’ll do my best to compensate you."
Henry never shortchanged any woman he was involved with materially, even those rumored actresses without confird relationships.
So his reputation in this regard was almost unanimously positive.
I knew I should sign this agreent, how could I be foolish enough to reject money? But once signed, it would seem as though his compensation for the hurt he caused had been maximal, and I shouldn’t have any resentnt or anger left.
"Let think about it, are you sure you won’t regret it?" I neither agreed nor refused, just asked back.
"Hmm, nothing to regret, call once you’ve signed, and I’ll co to get it." After Henry finished his reply, he hung up.
Just as I hung up, my dad ca back ho.
He noticed the agreent in my hand and asked a couple of questions, and I briefly explained the situation to him.
Whenever Henry was ntioned, my dad’s face turned sour. He took the agreent, glanced over it, then snorted, "Hmm, generous in this aspect, but unfortunately, this is the only aspect where he behaves like a human being."
I didn’t know how to respond.
"Zoe, this matter is for you to decide. Our family can more than support you, even if you were to remarry and bring a son-in-law ho, your mom and I can manage. It’s not the money we want, it’s dignity and respect. You’re entitled to this money, but refusing it shows your backbone, I understand both choices."
My dad spoke with a bit of fervor.
Throughout his life, he was principled, valued face, and never yielded to humiliation for money. He originally didn’t want to run the family business, fearing people would think he was abusing his position to give it an unfair advantage.
But unfortunately, my mom’s family had been in business for generations, and when she married my dad, she already managed a moderately sized, thriving company, so it was impossible to just shut it down after marriage.
So it continued to grow, becoming more prosperous.
Even my uncle’s family was brought into the business world by my mom; later they chose to enter the overseas market.
"Alright, I told Henry, I’ll hold onto the agreent for now, I’ll think it over." I nodded.
"Yes, think it through. I’m just worried people will think our Hathaway Family got a lot of money from him and accuse us of greed and causing trouble. People are unpredictable!" My dad sighed.
Once my mom had finished cooking, she called us to eat. Today, my dad happened to have ti to co back for lunch, and the al was hearty.
I looked at my parents’ graying temples and slled the aroma of the food in the air, feeling a bit dazed, wishing I could be reborn back to the age of seventeen when I first fell for Henry?
Back when my parents were still young, and I was a youthful girl, everything could truly start anew.
After lunch, my dad went back to work, my mom arranged to play mahjong with friends, and I lay on the sofa watching a drama and unknowingly fell asleep. When I woke up, it was already evening.
There were two or three missed calls on my phone, all from Joel Sutton.
I hadn’t answered, so he sent a ssage on WeChat: "Miss Hathaway, I know a great place to relax, would you like to try it out?"
Ever since Joel found out I was back, he had been contacting almost every day, and we tactfully avoided ntioning his forr embrace.
I replied: "Sure, send the address."
Joel, probably waiting for my response, replied quickly, and after receiving the address, I inford my mom and went out.
Joel was already waiting by the roadside. When he saw , his eyes lit up as he walked over, "Miss Hathaway, you ca."
"Yeah, where’s this good place you know?" I asked with a smile.
He scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, "We have to walk a bit; there’s no bus to that place."
"Let’s walk then." I replied.
Joel led as we chatted along the way, but I felt sothing was off, and sure enough, shortly after, we arrived at Whispering Gardens, a wellness club owned by Henry Preston.
The expenses here were high. If Joel was really inviting to relax, a few months’ wages would be gone.
"Sutton, let’s go sowhere else." I suggested, not wanting to go in.
"Miss Hathaway, don’t worry, our manager brought here for a foot massage a few days ago. It was quite nice, and he gave two discount vouchers for a spa. You should try it out." Joel’s eyes were bright, "I know you don’t need these, but places that I find good to eat and fun, I want you to try too."
I felt touched and a bit helpless; Joel should know it’s impossible between us, but he’s still paying in his own way.
"Alright, let’s give it a try. The only other ti I ca to Whispering Gardens was nearly when Crystal Dawson and Silas Lockwood almost had a fight."
This was the second ti.
Once we entered, soone ca up to us, asking if we were mbers. Joel shook his head, "No."
Becoming a mber requires capital verification, which he couldn’t possibly have.
The server eyed Joel’s attire and quickly assessed he was a poor kid, there was a hint of disdain in the gaze, but the smile remained polite as they asked what services we needed.
Joel took out the vouchers from their boss, sowhat shyly saying, "We just want to use these two vouchers."
The server took a look at them, then gave a peculiar look.
They wouldn’t recognize because the club has several shareholders; aside from high-level managers, many staff working here don’t even know who the actual owner is, let alone recognize the owner’s ex-wife?
But for those interested in gossip, they might have seen these recent trending photos of making sowhat familiar.
"What’s the matter?" I calmly looked at the server and asked.
"Sorry, Sir and Madam, all our therapists are booked today, so we can’t accommodate for now." The server’s face maintained a smile, but I detected disdain.
Joel had a simple heart and rely wanted to introduce to a place he found enjoyable, unaware of the harsh realities, where people truly fall into hierarchies.
His boss had money, so they could enjoy freely upon entering.
But he had no money and could only bring two discount vouchers.
At this point, Joel subtly picked up on the intentional snubs, and his youthful face showed a hint of embarrassnt and awkwardness.
"Facials, body treatnts, spa, massages, aromatherapy, and so many more services, you’re sure every single therapist is fully booked? Are you sure?" I coldly asked.
"Yes, I’m sure." The server’s smile dimd slightly.
I glanced at the pin on her chest with a delicate little tag that read number 17.
Unwilling to argue with such a minor character, I led Joel to a nearby sofa to sit down, "Call your manager over here."
Number 17 stood beside us with a smile, neither serving water nor responding, let alone moving.
Joel’s face was full of embarrassnt, "Miss Hathaway, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have chosen this place. How about we go sowhere else instead?"
This ti number 17 spoke up, "Indeed, Madam, there are many affordable places for you to go; this place may not be suitable for you two."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, slightly impatient as I said, "I told you to call your manager over, don’t you understand plain speech?"
Just then, a few more figures entered from the outside. Henry Preston, wearing a navy blue shirt and gray trousers, tall and slender, was accompanied by a few slightly older, well-dressed n, likely business associates.
Upon seeing Henry, number 17 imdiately left Joel and , swayed her slender waist, and hastened over to greet them sweetly, "Good evening, gentlen, what services would you like?"
Henry spotted at once, his gaze then fell on Joel.
Naturally, Joel held so resentnt towards Henry. Though he previously took Joel’s girlfriend, since things had moved on and learning about Azure Vaughn’s actions, there was now only a hint of vigilance on his face.
By contrast, Henry’s gaze carried more hostility, like ice-turned projectiles, full of pressure.
"Miss Hathaway, let’s go." Joel clasped my hand as he stood, "No need to cause trouble because of ."
Yet I sat back down and spoke again, "Is Whispering Gardens so ridiculously competent? What kind of deity is your manager, unfit to even et briefly?"
Number 17’s face stiffened, showing displeasure as she said, "Madam, I’ve inford you, today we can’t perform any spa services, and yet you’re causing a scene!"
"If you continue disrupting our club’s business, I’ll have to call the police!"
Noticing our conversation, Henry’s brows furrowed slightly before he beckoned another server and instructed him to first bring his friends over for so refreshnts.
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