Chapter 29 "I've Been With Shier for Three Whole Years."
Nicole's POV
Hodgson grabbed my chin and demanded, "Why didn't you answer my calls? Who gave you the nerve?"
I was forced to lift my head and meet his eyes.
"Speak!" he commanded.
"I..." I opened my mouth, unsure what to say for a moment.
I was really angry with him these past two days.
But I couldn't let him know that I had overheard his conversation with Mr. Barry, and even more importantly, I couldn't let him know that the Percy family was my enemy.
Hodgson was too clever. If I showed hatred toward the Percys, he would definitely investigate to the bottom of it.
My revenge plan would be completely exposed.
"It's Doris. I didn't come home the night before, and she got suspicious, so she's been watching me very closely these past two days."
I lowered my eyes, adding a trace of grievance to my tone.
To prevent him from giving me a harder time, I could only use Doris as a shield.
Hearing my explanation, Hodgson's fingers loosened slightly on my chin, and his expression softened.
"Did she find out anything? Did she punish you?" Hodgson's tone became much gentler.
"No," I shook my head, deliberately putting on a pitiful look. "She just scolded me and warned me not to mess around outside."
After speaking, I carefully observed his expression.
Hodgson's brow furrowed slightly, but the suspicion in his eyes completely disappeared.
He believed my words.
I breathed a sigh of relief and immediately wanted to leave.
"Hodgson, thank you for helping me resolve this crisis. I should go back now. "
As long as Wendy couldn't get any information from the salespeople, I could relax completely.
After this, I had to keep my distance from him.
I couldn't harbor any more fantasies about him. If he really married Molly, we would be enemies.
This relationship would only get worse and worse. It was better to cut it off completely now.
But Hodgson smiled. He released my chin, but the hand gripping my wrist didn't let go.
"What's the rush? There's still a good show coming up." He pulled me back to watch what was happening inside the store.
Wendy was still arguing with the saleswoman.
That watch was the only evidence in her hands that could bring me down, so naturally she wouldn't give up easily.
"I don't care what privacy policies you have! I must know who bought this watch! Do you know who I am? I'm the daughter of the Gerald family!"
Wendy's voice was shrill and gave me a headache.
Her unreasonable behavior finally annoyed the saleswoman.
"Miss," the saleswoman's tone turned cold, "this watch is quite expensive. You didn't steal it, did you?"
As she spoke, she swept Wendy from head to toe with an undisguised look.
"It seems you don't look like a customer who can afford our products."
This remark was like a slap across Wendy's face.
What Wendy cared about most was face and status. This contempt made her instantly furious with embarrassment.
"What? You're talking nonsense! Of course I didn't steal it!"
Her face flushed red with anger. To prove her innocence, she blurted out, "This watch was a gift from my fiancé! The watch had a small problem, so I brought it to the store to be repaired!"
Hearing "repair," the saleswoman immediately switched to a professional demeanor and displayed a perfect smile.
"Very well, miss. If it's just for watch repair, we'd be happy to serve you."
Wendy had been forced to this point and has no way out.
She reluctantly handed over the watch through gritted teeth.
The saleswoman took the watch into the back workshop and emerged a few minutes later with an inspection report.
"Miss, hello. The inspection and repair fees will be three million dollars. Additionally, the watch band shows slight wear, and we recommend replacing it as well."
"What? Three million?!"
Wendy's eyes widened and her face contorted. "Are you sure you didn't miscalculate?"
"Of course not, miss. Because this watch is a globally unique custom design, all parts and repair services are of the highest standard." The saleswoman explained with a smile.
Every cent Wendy had came from my biological parents.
Although they doted on this adopted daughter of theirs, it was far from enough for them to casually produce this sum of money.
My heart stirred, and I glanced at Hodgson beside me. He was smirking, his eyes full of interest in watching the drama scene.
He had designed this trap from the very beginning, waiting for Wendy to jump in herself.
With Wendy's vain and prideful personality, there was no way she would admit after being looked down upon that she couldn't afford this amount.
"How could I possibly let such a good opportunity slip by?" Hodgson whispered in my ear.
Sure enough, after a brief moment of shock and panic, Wendy forced herself to calm down.
The saleswoman smiled again and reminded her, "Miss, will you be paying in cash or by card?"
Wendy cleared her throat and said stubbornly, "Repair the watch first. When it's ready, notify me, and I'll naturally come pay then."
With that, she turned and walked away, her high heels clicking rapidly.
Watching this scene, I felt an indescribable satisfaction.
I withdrew my gaze and calmly said goodbye to Hodgson.
"Hodgson, I need to go back."
The smile on Hodgson's face immediately disappeared, replaced by obvious displeasure.
"Nicole, I helped you solve your problem, and this is how you repay me? Keeping a cold face from start to finish for whom?"
My heart trembled, and I could only continue using my previous lie to put him off.
"I can't stay out too long. Doris already suspects me. If she discovers I'm alone with you, she'll punish me."
"Damn it! So what?" Hodgson cursed under his breath.
"You do whatever she tells you to do? Don't tell me if she ordered you to sleep with Shier, you'd do that too?"
A nameless fire rose in my heart, accompanied by a deep sense of grievance.
He clearly knew what kind of person Shier was, and he knew how Shier had humiliated me. How could he say such a thing?
I could only lower my head and avoid his gaze.
"...But in the end, I'm still Shier's fiancée."
We both had our respective future partners and should be mindful of boundaries with each other.
My hesitation fell in Hodgson's eyes but took on a different meaning.
The anger in his eyes intensified, and his grip on my wrist tightened several degrees.
"Nicole, do you still have feelings for Shier?!"
The words "No, I don't" came to my lips but I swallowed them back.
I took a deep breath.
"Hodgson... I accompanied Shier for three years. Do you know what that means?"
"Shut up!"
Hodgson suddenly pushed me away with such force that I staggered back a step and nearly hit the wall.
His face was full of undisguised disappointment and anger.
"Get lost! Now, get out of here!"