Lydia Ingram knew the outcome would be , everything was under her control. "But I don’t want to marry you." Monica Usher also had her principles. "I can’t get a marriage certificate with you." She had to uphold her final boundary. "Any other requests?" Lydia Ingram asked, "Just list them all out first." Monica Usher was well aware that agreeing to be his woman meant inevitably having to cater to him and share his bed. "I don’t want it to be public." She clearly stated, "No one in the company can know about our relationship." "Fine." He agreed readily, "No problem with that." "I won’t live at your place." Monica said, "I’ll come three times a month, just call me in advance." "Three times?" Lydia Ingram asked displeased, "What kind of woman does that make you? Twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays." "..." Monica saw his emotional fluctuation and dared not bargain any further, as she still needed him to deal with that big trouble, Grace White. Her silence was taken as acquiescence. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel-fire.ɴet At this moment, the waiter started serving dishes, and Lydia Ingram smoothly changed the subject, "You really know how to pick, the roast chicken at this restaurant is the most characteristic, try it first." Saying this, he cut a piece and placed it on the plate in front of her like a considerate man. "When will you deal with Grace White?" Monica Usher asked, "I have no information about her, only that she’s 55 years old, in Riventhal, and has a phone number." "With a phone number, it’s easy to find someone." Lydia Ingram said confidently, "I won’t have her killed for now, but I’ll control her so she can’t bother you." These words made Monica Usher’s chest tighten, and she looked up at him, "What do you mean?" "You’re not an innocent rabbit." The man answered clearly, "Without her as leverage, how would you obediently become my woman? If I killed her tomorrow, would you still deal with me? What guarantees could you offer?" Their gazes locked, and Monica Usher found herself unable to respond. He was on guard against her, and she was helpless. Her just-calmed heart grew restless again... Grace White was a menace left unchecked, and who knows what mischief she’d cause by staying one more hour! However, Lydia Ingram saw through her worry and fear, "Don’t worry, as long as you’re sincere to me, you’re on my side, everything that harms you is an enemy." He completely tied her down... Monica Usher’s heart sank to the bottom, utterly chilled, she began to realize that her life was completely ruined. And she never thought that the sudden appearance of Grace White was unearthed by Lydia Ingram from her past, the only vulnerability she had! This meal was truly hard to swallow for Monica Usher... On the drive home, she ran several red lights, nearly rear-ending another car. Back home, looking at herself in the mirror, she felt utterly unfamiliar. "Cecily, mommy’s hurt, I’m giving you an address, come and take mommy home, mommy can’t walk..." The woman’s distressed and helpless voice echoed in her mind. Even after more than 20 years, it remained so clear. At ten years old, she dropped her pen and rushed out, braving the heavy rain to find her mother... But when she arrived from afar, anxiously pushed open that door, she saw seven or eight men with predatory smiles on their faces. In the relatively dim light, she saw her mother, disheveled and unkempt, smiling while counting money. "This is my daughter, isn’t she already graceful and elegant? I wasn’t lying! The girl’s tall, her chest has already developed, but she’s a first-timer, please be gentle with her!" The woman introduced with a smile, the cash in her hand not yet counted in full, she stood up and headed for the back door. "Mom!!" Ten-year-old Monica Usher was unaware of the danger, more worried about her mother’s safety, "Where are you going?!" She hadn’t been home for seven days.