He did not want her to worry about this anymore.
The next day, Christopher went to the hotel where Vanessa was staying without telling Janice about it.
He waited at the coffee shop on the second floor of the hotel. Soon after, Rob brought Vanessa downstairs.
When Vanessa saw Christopher, she instantly tensed up and stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move an inch.
"Sit down." Christopher pointed to the seat across him.
Only then did Vanessa approach him and sit down carefully. However, she did not dare to look up.
Christopher glanced at her and said, "How are you doing staying in the hotel?"
Vanessa was stunned for a moment. She probably didn’t expect that Christopher would talk to her so calmly.
Her brother-in-law had always been really cold in all her memories.
She was rather surprised and nodded weakly.
Christopher continued, "What do you think about what your sister told you yesterday?"
Vanessa was not surprised to hear him say that. She had long guessed that he was here for this matter. She paused and said, "I don’t want to go back."
Christopher nodded. He then picked up the coffee with his slender fingers and took a sip. Then, he put his cup down and said, "Well, you can try to state your conditions."
Vanessa was stunned for a moment before slowly raising her head to look at Christopher.
"Any conditions?" She asked.
Christopher replied, "Of course, as long as it’s within reason."
Hearing this, Vanessa pursed her lips and thought about it carefully before saying, "I want to go and work at your company."
Christopher had not expected her to ask for this.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Your sister needs to approve this, but she should not be worrying about such things right now."
His rejection was obvious.
How could Vanessa not hear the refusal in his tone?
A hint of coldness flashed through the depths of her heart. Christopher had said that
he needed Janice’s approval, but wasn’t that because he thought lowly of her for selling her body?
She knew that they were not so kind.
Janice played the bad cop while he played the good cop. Did they really think she was a child who could be easily tricked?
She did not act obsequiously anymore and showed her true nature. She crossed her arms in front of her and leaned back into the sofa, scoffing as she said, "Chris, we don’t need to talk if you are going to be so insincere about it."
"Insincere?" Christopher narrowed his eyes.
Vanessa said, "That’s right. Do you really think I don’t know about your little tricks?"
She sneered. "It’s just that my hypocritical sister wants to show off how filial she is, and you just happen to want to play the role of a model husband. In this case, why are you so stingy about letting me have a job at your office?"
Vanessa’s words were filled with mockery.
Having worked out there for several months, she had seen all kinds of people and experienced all sorts of things.
How could those rich men be sincere?
It was just an outward display of affection.
She didn’t believe that Janice would be so lucky. Besides, she’d never felt that there was anything special about Janice.
She didn’t know how ridiculous these words sounded to Christopher.
A trace of contempt flashed through his eyes. Instead of explaining, he stood up and straightened the handmade suit he was wearing and said, "Since that’s what you think, there’s no need for us to talk anymore."
He turned around and made to leave.
Vanessa was shocked. She immediately stood up and said, "Since that’s the case, I can leave now, eh?"
Hearing this, Christopher stopped and turned around. "No."
He looked regal and dignified.
...
Vanessa trembled. She swallowed what she had wanted to say and instead asked, "Then... how long are you two going to lock me up here for?"
"Until you figure things out. But I have to remind you that every day you stay costs 10,000 dollars. How long can you stay here for?"
"What? You want me to pay for the room myself when you are the ones who locked me up here?"
Vanessa found it hard to believe what she had just heard.
Christopher said, "Do we need to lock you up here? You can leave this place and no one will stop you."
He left and walked away coolly with a sinister smile.
Vanessa left the hotel right after Christopher did.
She walked out of the hotel, looked back at the entrance of it, and spat. She thought to herself, "This shabby place costs more than 10,000 dollars a day. She wasn’t a sucker who had too much money to spare."
Just as Vanessa was about to leave, she was met with a group of women in their thirties or forties, all wearing famous brands, rushing towards her. They looked menacing and obviously did not have good intentions.
In the beginning, Vanessa did not realize that they were coming for her. By the time she noticed, it was already too late.
She was surrounded by several women.
Vanessa knew that she was screwed when she looked at the angry women. She turned around and wanted to run but someone grabbed her hair.
"You bitch! How dare you seduce our husbands! I’ll tear you apart today. Girls, let’s beat her up!"
As soon as the leader gave the order, everyone rushed over. Some pulled at Vanessa’s hair, some scratched her face, and some stripped off her clothes. They pressed her to the ground in an instant.
Vanessa was pressed to the ground, unable to use any strength at all. An intense pain spread throughout her body and she screamed pitifully.
"Stop it, stop it!"
Unfortunately, her shouts were of no use at all. Instead, they were met with an even more ruthless beating.
Not long after, Vanessa’s entire body was covered in wounds.
Her hair was a mess, and a big chunk had been torn out. Her clothes were also in tatters, she might as well be naked.
Only her face, which she had kept covered, was untouched. She looked pathetic.
The wealthy women left after beating Vanessa up. Before leaving, they even said viciously, "Don’t let us see you in Tomaville again or we will beat you up every time we see you."
Vanessa had nowhere to go now.
This was how life was like in her industry. When one was doing well, people would surround you.
But once the wealthy women were out for your blood, you would no longer be able to work in the industry again.
Vanessa put her arms around her head, embarrassed. She finally understood why Christopher had said what he said earlier.
She lived in the shadows alone for a couple of days until she could not hold on any longer. That was when she thought of calling Christopher.
"Christopher, please help me. I am willing to go and see Dad. Please save me."
Christopher had been expecting Vanessa’s call.
He said, "I can send someone to save you, but you have to do as I say."
Vanessa only wanted to preserve her life at this moment. She could not think about anything else.
After hanging up the phone, Christopher said to Rob, "Go and bring her back to the hotel."
"Okay," Rob turned around to execute Christopher’s order.
Christopher glanced at the time. It was time to go back and have dinner with Janice.
When he got home, Janice happened to be walking downstairs. She was holding on to a small clutch and was dressed neatly. It was obvious that she was heading out.
He asked, "Are you going out?"
...
Janice nodded. "The people at the house called today saying that Dad’s not feeling well. I was worried and wanted to go and take a look."
Hearing this, Christopher put down his briefcase and said, "I’ll go with you."
Janice nodded in agreement and Christopher accompanied her to the Gladwell’s family home.
When they walked in, the doctor was also there.
When Janice saw the doctor, she immediately approached him.
"Doctor, how is my father?"
The doctor said regretfully, "Mr. Gladwell’s cancer cells have already spread throughout his body. I’m afraid..."
"Afraid of what?" Janice asked hurriedly. "I’m afraid it will be in the next few days." Janice’s legs went weak when she heard this.
Although she already knew that there was not much time left, when the time came, she still found it hard to accept.
Christopher reached out to hold her tightly in his arms and comforted her. "Janice."
Janice leaned against Christopher’s chest. She calmed down before moving to go to Malcolm’s side.
Malcolm did not look any different but he was already nearing the end of his life and might pass on anytime.
When Janice saw how Malcolm looked like, she felt extremely sad. However, she had no choice but to pretend as if nothing was wrong.
"Dad."
Janice walked over and called out softly.
Malcolm sat on the recliner with his eyes slightly closed. When he heard Janice, he slowly opened his eyes and looked over.
When he saw that Janice was here, he held onto the armrest and struggled to get on his feet. However, Janice stopped him.
"Don’t get up. Lie down."
Malcolm laid back down and said, "Janice, I might not be able to see the birth of your child."
He smiled regretfully.
Obviously, he already knew about his current situation.
Janice had held back from crying. However, upon hearing what Malcolm had said, she could no longer contain her tears.
She remembered that Christopher had told her before that when she wanted to cry, she should raise her chin as high as possible to let her tears flow.
However, no matter how hard she raised her chin, she could not stop her tears from falling.
Christopher watched from the side and held her in his arms. His heart ached and he tried his best to comfort her.
But at this moment, his words were powerless. No one could stop the sadness that Janice felt.
"Don’t cry, Janice. Take care of yourself. I’m very satisfied with how long I have lived." Malcolm comforted her.
Janice knew that she needed to calm down at this moment, but she couldn’t stop crying.
Finally, after a long struggle, she broke away from Christopher’s embrace. She wiped her tears and said, "I will be fine."
Malcolm felt some comfort at her words.
He looked up at the aging roof, his expression becoming dazed for a few seconds. Then he turned his head and asked, "Janice, where is Vanessa?"
There was a flash of desire in his eyes.
Janice knew that this was his last wish. They could not wait any longer.
Even if Vanessa did not want to see him, she would drag her over no matter what.
Janice chocked back her tears and said, "Don’t worry. I will definitely bring Vanessa to see you." She stood up slowly.
When she reached the courtyard, she said to Christopher, "My dad is dying. I can’t wait any longer. I’m going to the hotel to see Vanessa."
Christopher looked at her tear-stricken face and reached out to gently wipe her tears away. He knew that she had been thinking hard about this matter for the past few days.
He said, "I know. Leave it to me."
Janice nodded. "What if she doesn’t want to come?"
Christopher replied, "Don’t worry. I have a way to make her come here willingly."
Janice didn’t continue her questioning after hearing this.
Anyway, she had already made preparations to kidnap Vanessa.
Christopher comforted her for a while before calling Rob to make arrangements.
The next morning, Rob brought Vanessa over.
Before arriving, Christopher had specially instructed Rob to take Vanessa to the hospital for treatment.
Fortunately, there were no wounds on her face. As for her body, it was covered by clothes, so it was impossible to find anything amiss without looking carefully.
Janice stood in the courtyard and watched as Vanessa entered the property.
Vanessa walked towards them step by step, and it did not seem like she had been forced to do so. Rather, it seemed like she had come willingly.
Although Janice was a little confused about how Christopher had gotten Vanessa to come, now was not the time to ask about it.
She walked up to Vanessa and pulled her aside. She instructed, "Dad is dying. No matter how unwilling you are, don’t show it. Just let him spend the next few days happily."
Vanessa’s emotions grew very conflicted when she heard that.
At the banquet, she had repeatedly rejected Janice’s proposal to bring her to see their father.
However, she could no longer hide her true emotions after entering this place.
She was not a heartless person.
Who would want to wander out there if one could have a home?
What’s more, those men had always been insincere to her, and no one was willing to give her a little warmth.
She needed those material things. However, she was also a living person and needed the warmth of kinship even though she had once scoffed at it.
But after experiencing the cruel reality, the love from her family that she once disdained felt unusually warm.
She slowly said, "I understand."
Her attitude was much better than before.
Janice was greatly relieved.
Soon after, the two of them arrived in front of Malcolm’s bed.
"Dad, I brought Vanessa here. Look at her."
Malcolm laid on his bed. He had been in pain all night and was very weak.
Hearing Janice’s voice, Malcolm slowly opened his eyes and looked over. When he saw Vanessa standing in front of his bed, his dim eyes instantly lit up.
"Vanessa..."
He was a little excited and wanted to sit up.
Vanessa, however, plopped to her knees.
"Dad, I was wrong."
As she spoke, she leaned against the bed and burst into tears.
Malcolm did not have any strength left in his body. However, he still reached out his trembling hand to stroke her hair and said, "Vanessa, don’t cry. I have forgiven you."
The more he spoke like this, the more Vanessa cried.
She had not realized what she had done wrong when she took the money and went abroad.
She only thought that she was going to live a life she yearned for.
It was not until she had spent all her money and had no choice but to sell her body that she realized that she was wrong.
However, now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to continue on the wrong path.
Every night, she thought about asking about Malcolm’s situation.
But she didn’t dare to.
She was no longer the Vanessa Gladwell from before.
She was a woman who sold her body to pleasure men. How could she still face her father?
As such, she was resistant to visiting Malcolm when Janice went to look for her.
She had said things she had not meant.
Done things she did not want to.
People always say that regret would come when one was at the end of his rope.
Vanessa truly regretted it now.
The more Vanessa thought about it, the louder she cried.
Janice, who was standing by the side, could not help but hide in Christopher’s arm and sob silently.
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