Chapter 30: "I Can Help You Get Close to Hodgson"
Nicole's POV
Ever since that day when Hodgson told me to get lost, I hadn't received any news from him.
Days passed one after another, and he seemed to have completely evaporated from my world.
At first, I felt relieved.
This was for the best, I told myself.
I should have kept my distance from him anyway.
His decision to cut off contact was perfect timing, allowing me to focus all my energy on revenge.
To complete the task Doris had assigned me, I went to Hall Group several times, forcing myself to serve Shier and bring him meals.
Each time I went Hall Group, I subconsciously observed my surroundings.
I knew Hodgson also had an office at the company, but since that incident, he seemed to have stopped coming to the group altogether.
When I wasn't visiting Shier, I spent most of my time at the hospital with Vera.
Her health was recovering well. Her complexion improved day by day, and she could even get out of bed and walk around.
Doris still wouldn't allow her to leave the hospital, using "needing rest" as an excuse.
Every time I saw Vera, my hatred for the Percy family deepened.
I had to accelerate my revenge plan.
However, since the last banquet, I hadn't found any opportunity to get close to Molly.
She was a princess who lives high above everyone else and had absolutely nothing to do with my life. I didn't even know where she likes to go, and this feeling of powerlessness made me very anxious.
That morning, when I came downstairs for breakfast, I witnessed a very unusual scene.
Cathy was actually wearing exquisite makeup and had put on a brand-new designer dress.
Ever since she was hurt by Hodgson, she always stayed fearfully in her room, never stepping outside.
But today she looked surprisingly radiant.
I was still puzzling over this when Doris spoke up at the breakfast table.
"Cathy, Miss Molly specially invited you today. This is an excellent opportunity. You must seize it and get closer to her."
Cathy immediately straightened her back and looked at me with a triumphant glance.
"Don't worry, Aunt Doris. I certainly know what to do."
Wendy, sitting on the other side, pursed her lips, her eyes full of jealousy.
As for me, when I heard the name "Molly," my hand holding the knife and fork paused.
Molly invited Cathy? When did the two of them become acquainted?
Cathy's status was nowhere near worthy of Molly's attention.
A terrible thought rapidly formed in my mind.
That night at the banquet, with just a simple investigation, Molly would know that Cathy was the first one to enter Hodgson's room.
When Molly arrived, she didn't see me.
She must have assumed that the woman entangled with Hodgson in the room was Cathy, who had entered first.
So Molly was most likely planning to retaliate against Cathy.
Cathy had no idea of the danger she was about to face. She proudly reapplied her lipstick, and stood up to leave.
After an internal struggle, I put down my utensils, and rushed out after her.
"Cathy, wait!"
"Nicole?" Cathy stopped at the door, turned around, and looked at me impatiently.
"What are you following me for?"
I walked up to her and advised earnestly, "You can't go, Cathy. It's dangerous there."
She looked at me as if I'd just told the biggest joke: "What nonsense are you talking about? Dangerous? Miss Molly personally invited me. What could be dangerous?"
"Have you forgotten what happened at the banquet that day?" I reminded her. "You and Hodgson..."
"Shut up!"
At the mention of Hodgson's name, the smile vanished completely from Cathy's face, and her expression became fierce and venomous.
"Nicole, stop showing off in front of me! Stop being so fake!"
She said shrilly. "You're just jealous, aren't you? Jealous that Miss Molly only invited me and not you! Now I'm the one who's connected with the Percy family, not you!"
Looking at her, blinded by jealousy and anger, I felt somewhat helpless.
After saying this, she let out a heavy "hmph" and turned to leave.
I watched her retreating figure helplessly and sighed.
Well, since she was so stubborn, I didn't need to meddle in her affairs.
I returned to the villa, prepared a nutritious meal, packed it in an insulated container, and planned to take it to Vera.
Just as I closed the lid, my phone suddenly rang.
Cathy's name flashed on the screen.
I frowned and answered the call.
Before I could speak, a heart-wrenching scream came through the receiver.
"Ahhhh!!!"
That sound made all the hair on my body stand on end.
I immediately gripped my phone tightly and shouted into it, "Cathy! What's wrong? What happened?"
"Nicole... save me! Save me!!" Cathy's voice came in fragments, with a crying voice.
I immediately put down the meal container and rushed out of the villa while saying into the phone, "Tell me, where are you?"
Cathy struggled to give me an address. I knew the place, it was a fairly well-known private club in the city.
Then, chaotic sounds came from the other end of the phone, followed by complete silence.
I took a taxi to the private club. Two security guards stopped me.
"Miss, please show your appointment and membership information."
"I don't have an appointment. I'm looking for Miss Molly Percy."
The guards looked at me expressionlessly, "Sorry, without an appointment, no one can enter."
I became anxious. "Tell her I'm Nicole Gerald, looking for her on urgent business."
At my insistence, the guard finally agreed to go in and report.
I paced back and forth, clutching my hands tightly.
After about ten minutes, Molly walked out, her face full of disgust and impatience.
I clearly heard her cursing to the bodyguard beside her: "That bitch! She actually splattered blood on my dress! How unlucky!"
She looked up and saw me standing anxiously outside the door.
"I remember you. You're Shier's fiancée. What are you doing here?" Molly's tone was arrogant.
I quickly walked up to her and pleaded, "Miss Molly, Cathy is my cousin. I know she offended you. I apologize on her behalf. Please, I beg you, let her go."
Molly crossed her arms and let out a cold laugh.
"You're apologizing for her? Even though you're Shier's fiancée, I can't agree to that."
"Any woman who dares to seduce Hodgson will come to no good end! Because of her, Hodgson hasn't been paying attention to me lately! Today I'm just giving her a small lesson!"
She really did mistake Cathy for the woman in the room.
Cathy had become my scapegoat.
Molly was extremely self-centered. The only way to deal with her was to offer her a benefit she couldn't refuse.
And what she wanted most right now was Hodgson.
My mind was in chaos, but Cathy couldn't wait any longer. If I didn't save her, she would die.
I looked up at Molly: "Miss Molly, as long as you spare Cathy, I can find a way to help you get close to Hodgson."