Alistair Forrest felt a sudden chill run through him. But he was a man of the world who never lost his composure, even in defeat. So, he calmly returned Nathaniel Nathan’s gaze, a hint of a smile in his eyes. Nathaniel Nathan’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a dangerous glint.
Vera Xavier didn’t notice their subtle exchange. She looked at Susan Caldwell and said, "If you were worthless, you wouldn’t be the daughter of the Minister of Comrce. In that case, this would be fraud, and I’m afraid you’d have to take another trip to the City Bureau."
Susan Caldwell glared at her, unable to hide her fury. ’If Vera really sends to the City Bureau,’ she thought, ’I’ll have to use Dad’s connections to get out. And once they start investigating, the fact that I bribed Chief Lewis to deal with Vera will co to light. I can’t let the perfect image I’ve built up in his eyes be destroyed, no matter what!’
But the situation she now faced was extrely difficult. She would absolutely never kneel to Vera Xavier. That left only one option: pay Vera Xavier ten million. However, the allowance she’d saved over all these years was nowhere near that amount.
She bit her lip and said, "I don’t have that much money on ."
"No problem. You can write an IOU," Vera Xavier said with a smile. "I’m very accommodating."
Hearing this, Susan Caldwell wanted nothing more than to march over and slap Vera—provided she could actually win in a fight against her.
Vera picked up the written bet and said, "Just write the IOU on here. State clearly that you lost the bet, are unwilling to eat the stones, and will pay ten million in exchange."
Susan Caldwell was seething. She glanced at Leo Wright, who was lying on the ground, unable to get up. Then she looked at Alistair Forrest’s two bodyguards, and finally at Nathaniel Nathan—the man she was infatuated with, who nevertheless had deep ties to Vera Xavier. She knew she was at an absolute disadvantage today.
She took a deep breath and, with great reluctance, added a line to the bet: "I am willing to pay ten million to settle the gambling debt." She finished by signing her na.
Vera took the paper, blew on it, and said with a smile, "Add a repaynt date. Otherwise, if you just owe the money and never pay up, I won’t have any way to make you."
Susan Caldwell shot her a vicious glare. Vera just bead and said, "You were just saying one should be broad-minded. I think that’s excellent advice. So, I’ve generously decided to give you a whole year to pay it back. How about that? Aren’t you touched?"
’Touched, my ass!’ Susan wanted nothing more than to rip her to shreds.
Vera laughed and said, "Go on, write it down. Weren’t you just saying you were tired and needed to rest? A delicate beauty like you wouldn’t look very pretty with dark circles under your eyes. What assets would you have left to seduce n with then?"
Susan Caldwell: "..."
’I’m going to faint from pure rage,’ she thought. ’How can such a despicable woman like Vera possibly exist in this world?’
She suppressed the rage in her heart, added the repaynt date to the IOU, and then gave Vera a cold stare.
Vera took the paper, picked up a pen, and said, "You ntioned earlier that you’re the daughter of the Minister of Comrce. I find that a little hard to believe. But I did take a picture of you just now. In one year, I’ll go to the Minister of Comrce’s ho to collect the money you owe . If it turns out you aren’t his daughter, then I’ll be taking your picture and this IOU straight to the police."
"You’ve gone too far!" Susan Caldwell raged.
She couldn’t even begin to imagine that scenario!
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