Chapter 74: Barry's Affair
Nicole's POV
Hearing those words, I froze in place.
Barry knew about my relationship with Hodgson?
I had hidden it so well, never having any intimate contact with Hodgson in public.
Even Doris didn't know about this. How had Barry discovered it?
I stood up abruptly, my head still feeling somewhat dazed.
"Did you tell Barry?"
Hodgson didn't deny it. He leaned back slightly.
"The day you were injured and hospitalized, Barry came to the hospital."
I was stunned, my mind instantly flashing back to that day's events.
I had been shot by the assassin Wendy had sent, and it was Hodgson who had taken me to the hospital.
When my consciousness was hazy, I did seem to hear Barry arguing with Hodgson.
I had always thought it was a hallucination, but it turned out to be real!
"You clearly had ways to keep it from him!" I demanded, my voice filled with anger and confusion.
Hodgson stood up.
"Yes, I had ways."
"Then why didn't you?!"
"Because I didn't want to."
Hodgson leaned his upper body toward me.
"Nicole, you're my woman."
My chest tightened.
This man was always like this, so domineering, never asking for my opinion.
"So, Barry arranged for me to be your secretary, but actually as your mistress? While on the surface, I'm still Shier's fiancée?"
As I said this, an indescribable sense of humiliation welled up inside me.
Hodgson didn't deny my speculation. He reached out to touch my face, but I dodged him.
"To protect you and keep you by my side, I agreed to take over Hall Corporation." Hodgson's tone was calm.
"As for Shier, you don't need to worry. He'll be out of the picture sooner or later."
Listening to his words, a wave of sorrow suddenly surged in my heart.
So, in Barry's eyes, I was now a bitch who had seduced both his son and grandson.
I was somewhat angry at Hodgson's arbitrariness.
"Hodgson, why do you never ask for my opinion? Ask if I'm willing?"
My voice trembled slightly, whether from anger or grievance, I didn't know.
Hodgson narrowed his eyes. "Nicole, what are you dissatisfied with about being my woman?"
"Dissatisfied?" I laughed. "Hodgson, do you know that you've never asked what I want?"
"I give you money, power, protection..."
"But I never asked for any of that!" I interrupted him, my voice rising. "Do you think that's being good to me?"
Hodgson's expression turned cold. "Then what do you want?"
"I want dignity. I want people not to see me as a woman clinging to power, not to see me as a bitch who seduced you."
"Nicole..."
"But you can't give me that. You don't understand me at all!"
I suddenly felt somewhat powerless.
Hodgson was too domineering. No matter what I said, he wouldn't understand.
I let out a long breath and turned away, not wanting to look at him anymore.
Hodgson walked behind me, his hands resting on my shoulders.
"Nicole, don't you want revenge?"
His voice sounded in my ear, carrying a hint of temptation.
"Coming to Hall Corporation, you'll have many opportunities to get close to the Percy family."
My body stiffened slightly.
"So what?" I sneered. "Are you threatening me with revenge to make me accept this arrangement?"
"It's not a threat. I'm just reminding you that this is also an opportunity for you."
Hodgson easily grasped my weak spot.
Yes, I wanted revenge.
If I could enter Hall Corporation, I would have the chance to access more core members of the Percy family, the chance to find the truth about what happened three years ago.
As long as I could get revenge, none of this mattered.
So what if I was treated as a mistress?
So what if people looked down on me?
I had already endured so much humiliation. Did one more time matter?
"I understand. I'll report to Hall Corporation."
Hodgson's hands tightened. He turned my shoulders to make me face him.
"Nicole, don't be like this." His voice rarely carried a trace of tenderness.
I raised my face and forced a smile.
"I've just figured it out."
Since Barry acknowledged my behavior, I would just pretend not to know.
After leaving the dining room, I returned to the room I had stayed in before.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my thoughts in turmoil.
Too much had happened tonight. I needed time to process it all.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a young maid walked in.
"Miss Nicole, Mrs. Lola asked you to go to her room."
My heart tightened.
Lola wanted me to see her?
My heartbeat suddenly quickened.
The shadow Lola had cast over me hadn't completely dissipated yet. What did she want with me?
Various possibilities flashed through my mind.
But soon, I dismissed this thought.
It shouldn't be that.
Lola was terrified of Barry.
And just now, Barry had arranged for me to work at Hall Corporation, which was a signal to Lola.
At least on the surface, Barry valued me highly.
She wouldn't dare make a move against me at this time.
"I understand. I'll go right away." I said to the maid.
The maid nodded and left the room.
Hall Manor was very large, and Lola's room was in another building.
I walked slowly along the corridor, feeling uneasy.
As I passed a corner, I suddenly heard the sound of intense arguing ahead.
I stopped and listened carefully.
It was Barry and Keith's voices.
I instinctively lightened my steps and hid in the shadows of the corridor.
"You're not being fair! I'm also your son. Why do you favor Hodgson? Is it just because he and I don't have the same mother?" Keith was complaining to Barry.
My breath caught.
Not the same mother?
What did that mean?
Barry's voice rang out, very serious, even carrying a trace of coldness.
"You know it well enough. Your mother can never compare to my real wife."
My eyes widened. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Keith sneered. "I know. My mother was just a whore! But didn't you still have an affair with a whore?!"
"Shut up!"
A crisp slapping sound rang out.
My whole body trembled, and I quickly covered my mouth, not daring to make any sound.
The room fell into brief silence.
My entire body was tense, my brain racing.
So this was the secret Hodgson had wanted to tell me at the seaside villa.
Keith and Hodgson didn't have the same mother.
Keith's mother was the woman Barry had an affair with.
I was thinking about whether I should leave when Lola's voice suddenly sounded behind me.
"Nicole, what are you doing here?"