Chapter 4

I met Tyler’s almost furious gaze and slowly curved my lips.

“Why are you so agitated that I’m stopping orders?”

The colleagues around us also exchanged glances, their eyes burning with gossip.

“Yeah, Tyler,” Kyle couldn’t help but speak up, “Liam himself isn’t worried, why are you reacting so strongly?”

“Exactly, anyone would think you were the one who stopped orders.”

The collective whispers were like cold water, instantly snapping Tyler out of his outburst.

The ferocity on his face rapidly faded, replaced by a forced expression of extreme concern.

“I… I’m just worried about Liam, that’s all!”

He raised his voice, as if to sound more sincere.

“Didn’t you say you were only a few orders away from your down payment? The Grandview Towers orders are so hard to get, stopping now means losing out on so much money! I’m just feeling bad for you!”

He looked on the verge of tears, acting as if it were real.

I smiled.

“I’m tired, I want to rest.”

I casually picked up a spot prawn, slowly peeling its shell.

“Besides,” I paused, looking up at him, my gaze pure and harmless, “didn’t you just win a big lottery prize? Hundreds of thousands, right? What if I really am a bit short on my down payment, you… wouldn’t refuse to lend me some, would you?”

The air froze again.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Tyler.

The color drained from his face instantly, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

I put the peeled shrimp meat into my mouth, slowly adding.

“Our generous Tyler, he’d definitely help, right?”

He was put on the spot, scorched by everyone’s gaze, and finally, he squeezed out a few words, almost through gritted teeth.

“Of… of course I would.”

As if afraid I would actually ask, he immediately added, “But, I didn’t win that much, it’s just… just pocket money.”

I looked at the new Celine short-sleeved shirt he was wearing, the globally limited Swiss watch on his wrist, and this table full of lavish dishes that could feed an ordinary person for half a year.

Indeed.

My half a million dollars wouldn’t even last him a few days at this rate.

I thoroughly enjoyed that meal.

Before leaving, I asked the waiter to pack up all the untouched king crab and lobster.

A few colleagues whispered behind my back.

“Oh my God, taking leftovers, that’s so tacky, isn’t it?”

“Seriously, like he’s never eaten before, so embarrassing.”

I heard them but pretended not to, just smiling sweetly at Tyler.

“Tyler, look how much you’ve spent. All these good things, it would be such a waste not to take them. I’ll take them home to eat, you don’t mind, do you?”

Tyler’s face was a kaleidoscope of emotions.

But in front of everyone, he could only grit his teeth and nod.

“No… I don’t mind.”

Back at the company, I nonchalantly placed the packed containers into the communal fridge, completely ignoring the strange looks from my colleagues.

In the afternoon, I knocked on the door of Ms. Davis's office.

“Ms. Davis, I’d like to advance half a month’s salary.”

Ms. Davis looked up at me: “By regulation, it requires a manager’s signature, and it’s all processed at the end of the month.”

I handed her a pre-prepared application form, already signed.

“The manager approved it.”

“And, I don’t want a bank transfer.”

“Cash only.”

If money in my card vanished as if by magic, then cash should be safe, right?

An hour later, clutching a hefty stack of bills in an envelope, I returned to my cubicle.

This was my base salary for the current month and part of last month's commission, fifteen thousand dollars.

I tucked the envelope into the deepest compartment of my bag, zipping it shut.

In my previous life, it was from that half a million that I slowly plunged into the abyss.

In this life, I would climb back up from this fifteen thousand.

But I hadn't even settled into my seat, not even five minutes had passed.

My right eye began to twitch uncontrollably, a sudden, alarming flutter.

*Thump, thump, thump.*

Each twitch more violent than the last.

A deeply ominous premonition instantly gripped my heart!

I quickly unzipped my bag, reaching for that compartment—

It was empty!

The envelope was still there, but the thick stack of cash inside had vanished!

My blood ran cold instantly, every hair on my body standing on end.

I hadn't realized that the deposit transfer method Tyler used on me had no limits whatsoever!

Was he trying to cut off all my escape routes?

I looked at Tyler not far away, a flicker of glee on his face.

I clenched my fists tightly. Good thing I’d already thought of a way to break this cycle!

Five minutes later, I had just returned to the office from the restroom when the police arrived.

Amidst everyone's stunned expressions, I stepped forward directly.