Rebecca Quentin’s straight back stiffened slightly, but she didn’t turn around as she walked away.
As soon as Rebecca Quentin left the hotel, she came face to face with Roger Leonard, who was entering the hotel.
Seeing Rebecca Quentin’s brisk pace as she pulled her suitcase, Roger Leonard blocked her way. "Leaving already?"
Rebecca Quentin stopped and said honestly, "He and I have nothing to talk about."
Roger Leonard frowned slightly. "Do you know how hard I worked to persuade Dora, reminding him of your shared past as a married couple..." He had tried his best to create more opportunities for them to meet.
Rebecca Quentin frowned, puzzled. "Why would you help me?" She and Roger Leonard had only met a few times; she didn’t believe he would help a stranger without a motive. Besides, he and Howard Geoffrey were close friends, and he should know that Howard didn’t like her.
Roger Leonard didn’t hide it, saying directly, "Because someone asked me to."
"Really? There’s someone in my world who can persuade you?"
Hearing the pessimism and sarcasm in Rebecca Quentin’s words, Roger Leonard fell silent.
Rebecca Quentin didn’t seem interested in asking who Roger Leonard was talking about. She lifted her chin, maintaining her pride. "I’m sorry, General Leonard, but you’re blocking my way."
"Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride."
"No need. It’s easy to get a taxi during the day."
"I’ll have Miss Ruth buy you another plane ticket..."
At this, Rebecca Quentin stopped. Without looking back, she said calmly, "I’m sorry, I won’t be going to H City. I’m resigning."
Watching her retreating back, Roger Leonard squinted. "Do you think you can find a new job after leaving ’Leonard’?"
He had already warned her that Christine Quinn wouldn’t give up easily, just as she had been so easily defeated by Christine yesterday... She had been protected under her father’s wing since she was little; she might not even have known what adversity was before meeting Dora. This upbringing had cultivated her pure, kind, and guileless personality. But even now, after four years of lying low, despite having grown, she still wouldn’t be a match for the worldly-wise Christine.
Rebecca Quentin naturally knew her past difficulties in finding work were due to Christine Quinn. But even knowing Christine might continue to make things difficult for her in the future, she remained unafraid, stating resolutely, "It doesn’t matter. I’m used to wandering from place to place and can adapt to any environment."
"General Leonard, thank you for your hospitality last night. Goodbye." With that, she strode away.
She had already vacated her rooftop apartment the day before. With her remaining money about to be paid out, and having no home and no funds for a hotel, the only place Rebecca Quentin could stay was a wooden bench on a street corner.
Sitting on the wooden bench, Rebecca Quentin reflected on everything she had endured over the past four years...
She wasn’t afraid of such hardships and bitterness. Even if she hadn’t experienced them before, external circumstances could be gradually overcome through her own efforts. However, the pain and torment buried deep in one’s heart could never be resolved.
At this thought, she couldn’t help but sigh heavily. Looking up at the sky, she prayed for guidance, for a clear path—preferably one that would lead her far away from him.
Just as she was gazing at the sky and praying, her cellphone suddenly rang.
Hearing the familiar ringtone, Rebecca Quentin slowly took the phone out of her bag, staring blankly at the familiar number on the screen.
She had just been thinking about it, and the call had come so quickly. Oh well, the money was ready; might as well give it to him...
She pressed the answer key.
A deep, steady voice came from the other end of the line. "Miss Quentin..."
"I know it’s time. I’ve prepared the money and will send it to you shortly. But please, continue to investigate tirelessly for me."
"No, Miss Quentin, this time I finally have good news for you..." The person on the other end sounded quite excited.
"What?" Disbelieving, Rebecca Quentin suddenly sat bolt upright, her eyes wide.
"Yes, after investigating for you for four years, I finally have a result..."
Rebecca Quentin urged, "Quick, tell me!"
The voice on the line said, "Miss Quentin, I can tell you the results of my investigation right now, but... you might need to add a little more money."
Clearly, knowing how desperate Rebecca Quentin was, the person on the other end was seizing the opportunity to raise the price.
"But I don’t have any money right now..."
"You can find a way. I don’t need much, just three times your usual payment. If you don’t have the money now, I can wait until you’ve gathered it before I tell you."
Suddenly remembering the card Isabella Joanna had given her, Rebecca Quentin immediately said, "Alright. I’ll transfer the money now. Please don’t hang up. Tell me immediately after you receive it."
「Half an hour later.」
At the street corner, Rebecca Quentin was still sitting on the same bench, but her eyes, once full of fighting spirit when she looked at the sky, were now dim and vacant. Not only that, but her clear eyes were now filmed with tears.
If yesterday’s tears were born from the sorrow of mocking her own past foolishness, then today’s tears stemmed from the despair of her current, overwhelming pain and helplessness...
The private investigator’s words echoed in her ears, over and over again—
"Miss Quentin, the man with the eagle pattern on his arm you asked me to follow... After secretly tracking him for these past few years, I finally found out he’s been working for one person all along... His name is Jason Wood, twenty-eight years old, and he’s an assistant and bodyguard to the president of the ’Skytop’ Corporation..."
How could this be? How could it be?
Even now, she couldn’t believe it. Yet, the photo of Jason Wood with that man, sent by the private investigator, was undeniably on her phone. What excuse could she possibly find to convince herself it wasn’t true...?
Howard Geoffrey... just how much did he hate her? How could he be so cruel?
Did he know? In her moments of greatest fear, she had always longed for him to appear like a deity, to rescue her. And yet, in the end, the one who had truly persecuted her was him...
At that moment, an image she never wanted to recall again surged through Rebecca Quentin’s mind—