Chapter 106 I Refuse
His words left Cecilia's mind completely blank.
The entire world exploded into brilliant yet deadly fireworks in Cecilia's mind. The debris fell piece by piece, burning away her last shred of hope and dignity until nothing remained.
How dare he!
How dare he put on such a tender, affectionate act and say such twisted lies right in front of Mabel!
Mabel was the first to recover from the enormous shock.
Her bloodshot eyes moved back and forth between Rufus and her daughter Amelia with a complicated expression.
Mabel could tell that Rufus was no ordinary person. But she could also sense the overwhelming resistance and pain that Amelia felt when facing him.
"Sir," Mabel's voice was somewhat hoarse. She released her grip on Cecilia's hand and instead stepped forward half a step, placing her slightly trembling daughter behind her.
This was a mother's instinctive protective gesture.
"We're just ordinary people, we haven't been through much." Mabel spoke slowly but firmly, word by word. "But I know my own daughter. When she doesn't want to do something, no one can force her. We may be poor, but we don't need to sell our daughter for money to pay for medical treatment."
Mabel's words rang out powerfully, instantly silencing the whispers around them.
Cecilia's body trembled violently. From Mabel's thin back, she saw protection as solid as a mountain. The heat in Cecilia's eyes was almost impossible to control.
Rufus was unfazed by Mabel's words. Not even a ripple crossed his handsome face.
He nodded slightly at Mabel, his movements still elegant and proper.
"Mrs. Martinez, you've misunderstood." Rufus spoke, his voice steady and magnetic, carrying an irresistible persuasiveness. "My feelings for Amelia are genuine. I promise to respect all her wishes."
Rufus paused, shifting his gaze to Cecilia behind Mabel. Those unfathomably deep eyes held a whirlpool that others couldn't understand.
"It's just that the situation is special right now, and Mr. Martinez's condition is urgent. We can communicate about everything else slowly."
Rufus positioned himself extremely humbly. His words were airtight, showing his sincerity while considerately attributing all conflicts to "special circumstances," subtly placing the hat of refusing to communicate on Cecilia's head.
Then Rufus made an even more irrefusable proposal.
"Mrs. Martinez, you and Amelia have been keeping watch for a day and night. You must be exhausted and hungry. Let me take Amelia out to get something to eat and rest. Dr. Heilmann's team will take over immediately here. You can be completely at ease."
Rufus was speaking to Mabel, but his eyes never left Cecilia.
Mabel indeed hesitated.
She looked at Amelia's exhausted, haggard face, then at the group of foreign experts already coordinating with Lon. The scales began to tip.
Though Rufus's background was unclear, he had indeed solved their urgent crisis. And his attitude toward elders was impeccable.
"Amelia, what do you think?" Mabel turned around and asked tentatively.
Cecilia's nails dug deep into her flesh. The sharp pain kept her barely conscious.
She couldn't have a falling out with Rufus in front of Mabel. That would only make Mabel, who had just experienced such emotional upheaval, even more worried.
Rufus had calculated this precisely.
He could always pinpoint all of Cecilia's weak spots with precision.
"Fine." Cecilia squeezed out a word from her throat.
Cecilia stepped out from behind Mabel. Without looking at anyone else, she coldly said to Rufus:
"Let's go."
Cecilia needed to talk with him alone.
This money, this favor she never wanted to owe, she needed to find out exactly what it would cost to repay it.
A victorious smile quietly appeared at the corner of Rufus's lips.
He politely bid farewell to Mabel, then led Cecilia away under everyone's complicated gazes.
The air outside the hospital carried the coolness of early autumn, but it couldn't dispel the heat in Cecilia's heart.
A black car silently glided up in front of them. The driver got out and opened the rear door.
"Where are we going?" Cecilia stopped and didn't get in the car.
"To eat." Rufus's answer was matter-of-fact.
"I have no appetite." Cecilia's voice had no inflection. "Mr. Chapman, let's be straight with each other. You went to all this trouble—freezing Charles's account, bringing in Sylvanor experts, and then putting on that affectionate act for my mother—what exactly do you want?"
Cecilia didn't want to pretend anymore.
Rufus turned his head. He wasn't angered by her sharp questioning. Instead, he looked at her with interest.
"What I want—haven't you always known?" he asked back.
"The money, I'll pay you back." Cecilia's tone tightened with effort. "The surgery fees, the expert costs, everything—I'll pay you back every cent. Name your price."
"Pay back?" Rufus sounded like he'd heard the biggest joke. A low laugh rumbled from his chest. "Amelia, what will you use to pay me back? Go find that damned Charles again?"
"Then what do you want?" Cecilia stared at him. "You want me to pay you back with myself? Rufus, I'm telling you, I'm not merchandise! Don't even think about it!"
She'd rather die than return to that cold Chapman Mansion!
Rufus's laughter stopped. He stepped forward, his tall figure instantly looming over her with overwhelming pressure.
He raised his hand, his slender fingers gently gripping her chin, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes.
"Amelia, you always think of me as so dirty." His fingertips caressed her skin, the movement gentle, but his words were bone-chillingly cold. "I'm a businessman. Businessmen don't make losing deals, but we also believe in fair transactions."
"I don't need you to pay me back with your body."
Cecilia froze.
"But you can't give nothing either." Rufus released her hand, resuming his aloof, superior demeanor. "Once your father's condition stabilizes, come work at the Chapman Group."
Work?
Cecilia's mind went blank for a moment, completely unable to follow Rufus's logic.
"I'll have Louis arrange a position for you in the executive office. As for salary, it'll be enough to cover your father's ongoing recovery costs, and enough for you to slowly repay the debt you owe me."
Rufus's words sounded so reasonable, even merciful.
He was giving her an "opportunity" to solve all her problems. A respectable job that would let her care for Robert while repaying her debt through her own "ability."
But Cecilia only felt a chill throughout her body.
Work at the Chapman Group? Under Rufus's nose?
That sounds nice!
Who knows what other motives Rufus has? She'd already experienced his methods!
Rufus never cared about money. What he wanted naturally couldn't be money either, but to keep her firmly under his control, making her live under his shadow every moment, never knowing peace!
"I appreciate Mr. Chapman's kind offer."
Cecilia spoke word by word, giving her answer with absolute clarity.
"I refuse."