Chapter 71: I'm Giving You One Last Chance
Nicole's POV
Damn it!
Why is Hodgson here?
Is he following me?
My mind went into chaos, and I instinctively wanted to turn and run.
But Hodgson was faster. He grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me into the car.
The car door slammed shut behind me with a loud bang.
"Trying to run?" His voice was low and dangerous.
Before I could speak, I felt the man beside me tense up.
I followed his gaze and saw Hodgson staring sharply through the car window toward the restaurant entrance.
Derek and Matthew had just walked out of the restaurant and were now standing at the door, seemingly talking about something.
Hodgson's eyes instantly turned dark and terrifying.
His hand tightened, almost crushing my wrist.
The next second, he yanked me toward him, biting my earlobe as he said through gritted teeth.
"Nicole, I told you not to let me catch you flirting with other men!"
I struggled desperately. "It's not flirting! We were just having dinner!"
"Dinner?" Hodgson grabbed my face, his eyes sharp as knives.
"Are you saying you're not deliberately getting close to Derek?!"
"Last time it was Ethan, this time it's Derek. Nicole, you really know how to use people."
His words suddenly made me panic.
What does Hodgson mean by that? What does he know?
I guiltily looked away.
"Hodgson, I don't know what you're talking about. I already explained everything clearly about last time."
"What about this time?" His fingers gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him.
I said with feigned composure.
"Last time at the auction, I bought a necklace that happened to be Derek's mother's relics, so he had his assistant contact me. That's why we met at the restaurant."
"Liar!" Hodgson suddenly roared.
His rage made my whole body tremble.
I quickly denied it. "No! I'm telling the truth!"
Hodgson's breath became extremely dangerous.
His eyes bore into me as if trying to see right through me.
"The five million I gave you... you never gave it to Julie, did you?"
I jerked my head up, my heart clenching violently.
Damn it! How does Hodgson know?
I suddenly sensed something was wrong, my voice trembling.
"What did you do to Julie?"
Hodgson didn't answer me. His finger moved to my lips, roughly rubbing across them with his thumb.
"You used my money to buy that necklace to get close to Derek, didn't you?"
He paused, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Nicole Austin."
He called out my old name.
In that instant, my mind roared, and the whole world went quiet.
I couldn't even hear Hodgson's voice anymore.
My heart pounded wildly, my hands and feet turning ice cold.
It's over.
Completely over.
What should I do?
Hodgson knows everything about me. I don't even have a chance to make excuses.
My adoptive father's situation, Austin Corporation, my purpose for approaching Derek...
He knows it all.
"If you don't deny it, I'll take that as confirmation." Hodgson said coldly.
He released me and leaned back against the seat.
"Drive." he ordered the driver.
I lost all my strength, my whole body going limp against the car seat, sinking into despair.
I don't know how long the car drove. It felt like an entire century had passed.
The car drove on and finally stopped in front of Hodgson's apartment.
Hodgson pulled me out of the car.
All the way, I didn't dare look at him.
I could only stare at the floor, my heart beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of my chest.
As soon as we entered, he pushed me onto the bed.
"Tell me, Nicole, what else are you hiding from me? Speak!"
His voice was full of rage, his eyes frighteningly manic.
I almost lost the ability to speak.
"Your adoptive father embezzled public funds and jumped to his death, and you?" Hodgson said through gritted teeth.
"You're getting close to Molly, getting close to Derek... what are you planning to do?"
I bit my lips tightly, saying nothing.
Hodgson seemed completely infuriated by my silence.
He kissed my lips fiercely, with a punishing force that almost devoured me.
I pushed him desperately, but couldn't budge him at all.
His tongue domineeringly pried open my teeth, wantonly plundering every inch of air in my mouth.
I felt intense pain on my lips... he had bitten them.
The pain jolted me awake.
I used all my strength to push him away, and all the emotions that had been building up inside me completely broke through at this moment.
I broke down crying.
"Hodgson, what choice did I have? I need to avenge my father! He was innocent!"
"He never embezzled any public funds. His death was so unjust!"
My voice was hoarse and desperate, tears streaming down uncontrollably, blurring my vision.
All this time, all the pain, anger, unwillingness, and helplessness suppressed in my heart erupted completely in this moment.
I cried until my whole body shook, covering my face and curling up into a ball.
Hodgson was breathing heavily, stopping all his movements.
The look in his eyes was complicated... anger, heartache, and emotions I couldn't understand.
After a long while, he reached out and gently wiped the tears from my face with his thumb.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" His voice softened a bit, no longer so violent.
I looked up, tears still flowing.
"Because you're going to marry my enemy." I choked out.
"Molly is from the Percy family. You're cooperating with Percy Corporation. You're going to marry Molly."
Hodgson frowned and suddenly sighed.
"Didn't Eric tell you that I've already called off the engagement with Molly?"
Eric had indeed told me this before, but I didn't believe it.
It wasn't until Derek confirmed it just now that I knew it was true.
Hodgson had really publicly refused the engagement with Molly.
But now, hearing it from his own mouth felt completely different.
My heart was struck hard by something, an indescribable emotion churning in my chest.
"From beginning to end, I never planned to marry her."
Hodgson cupped my face, speaking each word deliberately.
His voice was firm, his eyes sincere.
I suddenly didn't know what to say.
Hodgson looked at my dazed expression and sighed again.
He pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on the top of my head.
"Nicole, I'm giving you one last chance. As long as you speak up, whatever you want, I can give it to you."