Chapter 31: Cathy's Secret
Nicole's POV
After hearing the name "Hodgson," Molly's expression visibly softened.
Then she narrowed her eyes suspiciously and scrutinized me again.
"You? What method could you possibly have to help me get close to Hodgson?"
Her gaze made all the hairs on my back stand on end.
I forced myself to remain calm and said, "Because of Shier, I have some understanding of the Hall family and Mr. Hodgson."
"Miss Molly, Mr. Hodgson has been abroad handling the family's overseas business all these years and only recently returned to the country. I heard that Mr. Barry thinks very highly of him and intends to have him fully take over the family business."
Half of this information came from Shier's daily complaints, and half was my own speculation, but it sounded authentic enough.
I watched Molly's expression. She seemed somewhat interested.
This pampered young lady obviously didn't understand much about power struggles between men or business strategy, but when it came to anything about Hodgson, she had plenty of patience.
While she was listening intently, I continued to entice her.
"So, in the long run, Mr. Hodgson is the future person in power at Hall Group. Even if Shier is fortunate enough to enter the company now, he'll still have to work under him in the future."
"If I can help you regain Mr. Hodgson's affection and make him change his mind about you, I hope that in consideration of this favor, you could have Mr. Hodgson give Shier more support in the company in the future."
My words were watertight.
After finishing, I even bowed my head slightly, putting on an appearance of having to humble myself before her for my fiancé's future.
Sure enough, Molly's face showed an expression of "I see."
In her eyes, I was nothing more than a dog wagging its tail and begging for her favor for my fiancé's benefit.
This positioning gave her an enormous sense of superiority.
"Ha," she let out a contemptuous sneer, "Nicole, you really are a clever woman, knowing where to place your bets."
But she didn't immediately agree.
"However, there's still one thing I don't quite understand. Shier is Mr. Barry's only grandson. Logically, he also has the right to inherit the Hall family fortune. As his fiancée, why aren't you helping him fight for it, but instead coming to help me?"
Molly's rather sharp questioning left me momentarily speechless.
I really didn't know the specifics of what was going on inside the Hall family.
Clearly, Shier's father was the eldest son, yet Mr. Barry valued Hodgson the most.
The relationships involved were too complex; I simply didn't have time to research them.
I could only bite the bullet and say something flattering: "Miss Molly, you're overestimating Shier. His abilities are far inferior to Mr. Hodgson's."
My flattery of Hodgson clearly pleased Molly greatly.
To her, every man in the world should pale in comparison to Hodgson.
"Of course, no one can compare to Hodgson." She immediately lifted her chin proudly.
"Alright then, since you're so sensible, tell me, what specific plan do you have?"
"Mr. Barry's birthday is coming soon. The Hall manor will definitely hold a birthday banquet. You can use the pretext of delivering a birthday gift to Mr. Barry to visit legitimately."
"On such an occasion, Mr. Hodgson will naturally be present. If you take the initiative to show goodwill, won't that ease the relationship?"
I had heard this news from Eric a few days ago.
I believed Molly would find out sooner or later, but by revealing it to her now in advance, it became a favor from me.
Molly looked at me approvingly: "Not bad, your information is quite well-informed. It seems you've really put in a lot of effort for Shier."
"Since you're so sincere, I'll reluctantly spare Cathy's miserable life. But you'd better remember what you said today. If you dare trick me, you know the consequences."
Hearing her relent, my tightly wound nerves finally relaxed sharply.
"Thank you, Miss Molly."
She had the bodyguards let me in.
I followed a bodyguard through a long corridor, down a flight of stairs, to a dark, damp basement.
As soon as the door opened, a thick smell of blood hit me in the face.
Cathy was lying on the cold cement floor. The expensive dress she wore had been torn to shreds.
Her hair was messily plastered to her face, with wounds on her mouth and forehead.
Her whole body was curled into a ball.
My heart tightened, and I rushed over quickly.
"Cathy? Cathy, wake up!"
She seemed to hear my voice and opened her eyelids with effort.
"Nicole..." Seeing it was me, her fearful eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
I helped her up from the floor. She had almost no strength at all, and her entire weight pressed on me.
"Just hang on a little longer, I'll take you to the hospital right away."
I borrowed a car from Molly and drove Cathy to the hospital where Vera was.
After a series of examinations and tests, the doctor told me that Cathy had multiple external injuries and a mild concussion, but fortunately, no internal organs were damaged, and there were no serious wounds on her face.
I sat by the hospital bed until late at night when Cathy finally woke from her unconscious state.
She looked at me, tears silently sliding down the corners of her eyes.
"I really regret not listening to your advice..."
"It's okay, Cathy," I handed her a tissue and comforted her, "It's all over now."
"No, it's not..."
She shook her head, tears flowing even harder, "Nicole, you don't know, I've offended the Percy family. I'm finished... From now on, I'm no longer a socialite in high society, and to Aunt Doris, I'm completely worthless."
Her words made my heart sink.
"When I was in danger today, the first person I called was Aunt Doris. I begged her for help, but she refused."
"How is that possible?" I said in shock.
Although I knew how much Doris valued profit, Cathy was, after all, the child she had raised since childhood.
"She said this was trouble I caused myself, and I should solve it myself and not implicate the Gerald family."
Speaking of this, Cathy suddenly let out a bitter laugh, "She was just afraid I would ruin the relationships she had painstakingly cultivated."
Cathy wiped away her tears and, as if making some kind of decision. "Nicole, let me tell you a secret."
I asked in confusion: "What secret?"
"Nicole, I'm not actually part of the Gerald family at all."
I gasped: "Why?!"
She said slowly: "I'm just a child Doris adopted from an orphanage in some small place. She gave me the 'Gerald' surname and raised me from childhood, having me learn all sorts of skills to please men. I'm just a tool she uses to curry favor with the powerful."
"To put it bluntly, I'm nothing more than a prostitute who can sleep with men at any time."