Chapter 76 Be His Girlfriend
No one paid attention to the raving Sabrina.
I watched coldly, feeling only desolation in my heart. If I didn't have the experience from my previous life, facing a similar situation, I probably would've chosen to follow Michael's persuasion and accept this baseless frame-up.
Inadvertently looking up, I happened to lock eyes with Sabrina's utterly venomous gaze. She was unwilling, and she hated me.
I could guess her thoughts, yet I simply couldn't understand. Sabrina was clearly the one who'd done wrong. She first harbored malicious intent, and I merely fought back. Why did she hate me?
"What are you thinking about?"
As I frowned in deep thought, Liam appeared from nowhere and patted my shoulder, interrupting my train of thought.
I looked at him. After hesitating for a few seconds, I still asked my question.
Hearing this, Liam suddenly laughed, looking at me like I was adorably naive. My frown deepened.
"Stop being mysterious. Tell me what you think."
Liam didn't answer, instead pointing to the rest area not far away. "Sit down and talk?"
I followed his finger's direction. That spot was secluded. Other contestants were gathered in the dining area. It was indeed a good place to chat.
Liam and I found seats. He leaned back, sitting in a relaxed posture.
"Let me answer your earlier question first."
Liam interlaced his fingers. "Any person or matter is tied to self-interest. Your actions touched upon Sabrina's interests, so she hates you. If you couldn't prove your innocence, she could've destroyed your reputation and everything you've gained at DI. But you specifically didn't let her have her way, and even caused her losses. Of course she hates you."
"Catherine." Liam's expression suddenly turned serious. "You don't actually think a woman who'd backstab you like that is some kind of good person, do you?"
My heart jolted. His words showed a clear path through my current confused thoughts.
Right, how could I expect Sabrina to have normal values? That would be harder than making the sun rise in the west.
I nodded thoughtfully. Looking at Liam again, I said, "You're absolutely right. Let's put Sabrina's matter aside for now. Why don't we talk about why you're helping me?"
Seeing I was no longer conflicted, Liam didn't make a big deal of it. He glanced around vigilantly before saying, "Let me tell you a story first."
I nodded slightly. Liam began narrating his past on his own.
He and Edward were biological brothers, but after he was born, his parents favored the younger him. Edward grew jealous. When their parents went out, he took Liam out alone and deliberately abandoned him in the suburbs.
Young Liam didn't know the way at all and could barely speak. He was later sent to an orphanage, but he always remembered he had parents.
Through his own efforts, Liam got into college. Anna herself came from a poor background. After learning about Liam's predicament through their club, she helped him considerably.
Through their back-and-forth interactions, Liam fell in love with this upperclassman. But he soon learned she had a boyfriend.
Initially, Liam didn't know that person was Edward. He was still determined to steal her away. By chance, he stumbled upon them.
Liam recognized the grown-up Edward at a glance, but the latter didn't recognize him.
At this point, anger surfaced on Liam's face.
"Edward enjoyed being the favorite for so many years that he even forgot the good deed he did back then. It's really... damned!"
His eyes were full of sinister intent. I hurried to soothe him. "What happened next?"
Liam readjusted his state.
"Later, through Edward, I investigated the current Johnson family. I want not only everything the Johnson family has, but Anna too. I'm determined to have her."
I understood now. Liam wasn't a simple character.
If not for Edward, maybe he would've given up pursuing Anna for her happiness. But his rival just had to be Edward.
With their childhood grudge preceding everything, Liam couldn't tolerate his beloved woman's partner being such a despicable man. So he wanted to take her.
Everything in the Johnson family was rightfully his. And Anna was Liam's personal desire.
I silently sorted through all this, reminding myself to be extremely careful when dancing with wolves.
"So... your purpose in approaching me is?"
I probed cautiously.
Liam looked up, catching my gaze without warning. My heart stopped. It was the feeling of being targeted by a venomous snake. Cold, spine-chilling.
I dug my nails into my palm, forcing myself to stay calm.
Liam curved his lips. "Don't be nervous, Catherine. I've investigated you. I know you've always lived in Sabrina's shadow. I've been watching you at the banquet for a while. You must've seen Sabrina kneeling on the ground, humbly begging Edward, right? Work with me, and I'll make things even worse for her."
His voice was full of temptation. At this moment, Liam was vastly different from his usual appearance.
Alarm bells rang loudly in my mind. My face remained impassive. "Since you've investigated, you should know I can't offer you any help."
Whether fighting for the family fortune or stealing Anna from Edward's side, I couldn't help one bit.
Liam directly rejected my notion. He was like a calm chess player. "Catherine, you're very useful. If Edward hadn't found Sabrina as a shield, perhaps I truly wouldn't need you. But now, I do."
I didn't understand Liam's meaning.
"You want revenge, and I can directly contact Sabrina. Once I completely control the Johnson family, swallowing the Rosewood family will be effortless."
Liam began painting me a beautiful blueprint. I remained unmoved. "What do you want me to do?"
He'd targeted me very early on, even specially investigating my background. He knew I didn't get along with Sabrina, knew I wanted revenge on the Rosewood family. But my knowledge of Liam only stopped at what he'd told me.
This sense of losing control made me anxious.
Liam seemed to see through my doubts and directly stated his purpose.
"Catherine, be my girlfriend."
I looked at him in disbelief.
"Are you insane?"
"I'm not insane. I know Anna has always kept me as her backup option. She still doesn't know about my relationship with Edward. Edward and she have deep feelings. Even knowing Sabrina exists to protect her, Anna still feels insecure. If she knew one day, what would she choose? I do like her, but what I want is to become irreplaceable to her, absolutely not a second choice."
I closed my eyes. I opened them and spoke coldly, "So you want me to be like Sabrina and provoke Anna too?"
Liam's eyes showed approval.
My mind churned with countless thoughts. Liam loved Anna, but more than that, he loved himself. He wanted to destroy all of Anna's illusions and force her toward himself.
What a calculating man.
I heard Liam continue, "My status in the Johnson family now isn't inferior to Edward's. What you want, I can also give you. How about it, Catherine? Want to form an alliance with me?"
Just then, another voice cut in.
"Catherine!"