Sadie looked at Josie seriously.

Chad looked nervous.

When Sadie realized this, she smiled. "Of course I don't mind. Feel free to make yourself at home."

"I made dinner, Sadie. I know you're on a diet right now, so I made a diet meal specially for you," Josie said.

Chad pulled Sadie into a seat. "Look at how thoughtful Josie is. She even prepared a diet meal for you.

"By the way, I'm planning to hire Josie as my secretary. It would be convenient for us to go to work and come back together. You wouldn't mind it, would you, Sadie?"

Sadie sneered in her heart. Chad did not even bother to make up a good excuse.

"Do whatever you want," she replied coldly.

Chad was so engrossed in his happiness over Josie returning to the country that he did not notice Sadie’s change in behavior.

Josie served the table with dishes, placing them in front of Chad and herself. After serving everything, she plopped a salad bowl in front of Sadie.

She made it sound like it was a considerate act on her part. "This is the diet meal I made for you, Sadie. These are all green, leafy vegetables. They're good for you."

Josie proceeded to place more food onto Chad's plate, ignoring the look on Sadie's face.

"I made these dishes specially for you, Chad. Give them a try!"

After that, she said to Sadie, "Don't be shy, Sadie. Eat up!"

Her words sounded sarcastic to Sadie. Josie had taken over her own home so confidently and brazenly.

Josie's so-called ‘diet meal’ consisted only of a few vegetable leaves that were not even cleaned properly. The leaves still had dirt on them.

Sadie put down her fork. "Where did you learn to make this diet meal? You've really saved a lot of time on it."

Josie's eyes turned red. She said quietly, "I'm so sorry, Sadie. Please don't be mad. I just made it just like everyone does.

"I checked with Chad, and he said you enjoyed a good salad. I bought this specially for you. If you don't like it, it's fine. I'll make a new meal for you. I'll be sure to make something you're happy with."

Chad started to frown. He looked at Sadie unhappily. "Josie didn't do it on purpose, Sadie. She's not a nanny who is here to cook for us. It's not nice of you to accuse her like this.

"Just apologize to Josie, and we'll let bygones be bygones."

Sadie looked grimly at Chad.

Why had she never noticed Chad being so blind and brainless before?

She did not want to continue acting with them, so she glanced coldly at Josie. "You can leave if you feel upset about this."

With that, Sadie returned to her room.

Chad had no idea why he was feeling a little at a loss when Sadie left.

Josie immediately had other ideas. She sat brazenly in Chad's lap while her hands moved slowly down his abdomen.

"You're going to leave that old woman at the altar on your wedding day, right, Chad?"

Chad took some time to take her words in before promising, "Yes, I will."

Little did they know, Sadie had heard everything when she walked out to get some water.

She was holding one half of a couple's cup when she saw the scene. She flung it into the garbage bin.

Sadie had rejected all invites out that night as she had heard that AIDS patients should not drink. She locked herself in her room and went to sleep.

That evening, Chad came to Sadie's room.

"That was rude of me tonight, Sadie. I shouldn't have made you apologize to Josie. I'm sorry."

Sadie sighed when she heard his apology. Chad was good at acting according to the situation.

When Sadie did not reply, Chad turned on the room's lights.

She was forced to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was the hickies on his neck.

Sadie looked away. "I'm not mad at you. I'm just a little tired. You should sleep in the guest room for now."

Chad started to notice the change in Sadie.

"Are you upset, Sadie? You've been really cold to me today."

Sadie asked instead, "How about you? Were you being loving to me?"

Chad was taken aback. He frowned and replied, "Of course. You're the apple of my eye."

Sadie used to love his sweet talking, but all she felt now was disgust.

"Stop overanalyzing the situation. I'm not feeling well today, so I'd like to rest early. You should go back to your room."

When Sadie got him to leave again, Chad finally told her the reason he was there. "I have a business meeting with Mr. Umbridge tonight, Sadie. You know how difficult he can be. If you're not there, I might lose the contract."

Mr. Umbridge was from the real estate industry. He was known as a heavy drinker and a lecher. Even Sadie could not escape from being harassed every time they had dinner with him.

Chad ignored that she was not feeling well and still wanted her to socialize with him.

Her tired heart ached from the realization.

"I'm exhausted today. I don't feel like drinking."

Chad looked slightly shocked. He did not expect Sadie to reject him right away.

He tried to hold back his temper as he cajoled Sadie. "I'm sorry to brush your health aside, Sadie.

"But Mr. Umbridge holds the power to develop the land in your hometown. He is in contact with a major stock farming owner and plans to level the graveyards to build a pig farm. That's the reason why I'm eager to get the project. At the very least, I can help retain some memories of your home."

This took Sadie aback.

She could turn away from anything but her mother's grave. She had a right to that land. She could not allow this to happen.

While she was thinking about this, Sadie glanced at Chad. There was a chance that he did care about her.

Chad's thin lips tightened. "You should get some rest, Sadie. I'll talk to Mr. Umbridge and figure out a way to get the project."

"Wait! I'll go with you. Give me half an hour to prepare." Sadie got out of bed and dressed up within half an hour.

When she walked out of the bedroom, she saw Josie outside as well. Josie had put on exquisite makeup and looked like she was going to attend an event that night too.

Chad explained, "Josie is my secretary, and she needs to gain more experience. I'll be taking her along with us tonight to learn from you, Sadie."

"You've always helped Chad in business negotiations, Sadie. Let me share this burden with him now. You can stop worrying about it from now on."

Sadie was preoccupied with ways to convince Mr. Umbridge to stop the project, so she ignored Josie's words.

When they arrived at the venue, Chad pulled Josie away when she was about to sit next to Mr. Umbridge. He berated her angrily.

"Have some sense! That seat was never meant for you. It belongs to Sadie."

Chad moved to the side to reveal Sadie behind him. He gave her a slight push.

She sat right next to Mr. Umbridge.

Mr. Umbridge smiled widely at her. His expression was lewd. "You really have your ways, Mr. Simmons. I heard Miss Ellis has been recuperating at home for a while, but you still managed to get her to come here."

Chad was delighted at being praised. "You're much too kind, Mr. Umbridge. Sadie came to reconnect with you when she heard you were coming."

Mr. Umbridge was a plump man. He looked Sadie over lecherously. "How about a drink, Miss Ellis?"

Before Sadie could reply, Chad immediately answered. "She'd be delighted to drink with you."

Chad ordered a case of vodka for Sadie. He smiled and said, "We'll make sure you have fun tonight, Mr. Umbridge."

After that, Chad whispered to Sadie, "It's up to you to protect that piece of land now, Sadie. Don't mess this up."

Sadie was slightly taken aback and smiled bitterly.

Chad used to get upset when others gave her trouble while drinking. "I'm so sorry you have to suffer because of my incompetence, Sadie. You'll never have to humiliate yourself and drink with these men once I become successful."

He had gained traction in the business world now, but he had become even more adept at using Sadie to socialize for business.

Sadie looked down. She could not help thinking about how ironic this was. She pushed away the glasses on the table, picked up the case of vodka from the floor, and put it on the table.

"It's pretty slow to drink by the glass, Mr. Umbridge. It would be insincere of me to start small. How about drinking by the bottle?"

Sadie did not become the top social butterfly of Seaport because of her beauty alone. She had brains and great emotional intelligence.

Men would always become full of themselves when their careers took off.

Men who proclaimed to be self-made always desired to conquer women. They had no interest in submissive women who gave in to their every whim.

The more rebellious and uncontrollable a woman was, the more they admired them.

"You have a great spirit, Miss Ellis. If you can finish this case tonight, you'll get the contract."

Sadie did not waste any time. She grabbed the vodka and guzzled down bottle after bottle.

She started to feel tipsy when she felt the burning sensation in her stomach.

Chad quickly grabbed her. "You can hardly stand, Sadie. Can you still drink?"

The alcohol had gotten to Sadie. She humiliated herself by asking, "If I can't do it, are you willing to let Josie take over?"

Chad looked at her with clear eyes. "Don't be absurd, Sadie. She's not good enough to take over drinking with Mr. Umbridge."

That made Sadie feel horrible. She smiled self-deprecatingly.

When Chad saw her smile, he felt a tinge of unhappiness.

Late that night…

Sadie finished every bottle of vodka. Mr. Umbridge applauded her as he heaped praises on her.

"You really live up to your name, Miss Ellis. I can't outdrink you. I admit defeat!"

Sadie finally smiled. "That means we'll get the contract for that land development project in South City, right?"

Mr. Umbridge looked bewildered when he heard her. "What land in South City? Are you drunk, Miss Ellis? Mr. Simmons is here to talk about City Hall's refurbishment."

Was this meeting not about her mother's grave? Chad lied to her!

Sadie's arm weakened, and the empty bottles smashed on the ground.

She glanced around. Chad and Josie were gone from the private room.

Sadie brushed aside Mr. Umbridge's surprised questions and apologized for remembering the wrong details because she was drunk. She asked to leave for the washroom to throw up.

Mr. Umbridge nodded understandingly, dismissing her.

Sadie could hardly walk when she left the room. She headed straight for the washroom.

She really wanted to throw up.

Sadie did not expect to hear a satisfied man's moaning coming from the female stall next to her.

"Chad, you said…

"You said you wanted me to replace Sadie in getting to know these VIPs. Why did you separate me from Mr. Umbridge?"

The crisp clanging of the metallic door locks echoed around them. The man laughed softly and huskily.

"You silly thing! Mr. Umbridge is a known lecher. I brought you here to learn to talk business, not let an old man molest you."

Josie's seductive moans got increasingly passionate. "I knew you loved me the most, Chad. Would Sadie get revenge on me if she found out it was my idea for you to trick her tonight?"

Chad was silent for a few seconds before replying, "She won't know it was you, but it doesn't matter even if she does. Sadie is so in love with me that all I need to do is beckon her, and she’ll come running.

"Besides, she's already thirty years old. It takes someone youthful to be a social butterfly. Who else can she go to besides me? Those old men who ravaged her for an entire night?"

Josie's laughter echoed in the washroom. "Chad, let's get married on the day you leave her at the altar!"

Sadie could not bear to listen any longer. Their conversation was too disgusting.

She stumbled out of the washroom.

It was raining late that night. Sadie walked through the rain, feeling numb.

She knew what kind of person Chad was.

However, she was still stupid enough to believe his lie tonight. She even dared to think he still cared a little about her.

In the end, it was nothing but his scheme. He was unscrupulous enough to squeeze every drop of value she had for his gain.

Sadie had drunk a lot and got wet in the rain. She had gone through an emotional rollercoaster, and she finally fell apart as she passed out on the ground.

Many people passed by, but none of them stopped to help her.

A limousine drove by slowly and eventually stopped next to her.

The back door opened, and a young man in casual attire got out of the car with an umbrella in his hand.

He passed the umbrella to his driver, who jogged over to him.

The man knelt on one knee to carefully pick Sadie up in his arms.

His driver quickly shaded him with the umbrella and opened the car door for him.

The man carried Sadie into the back of the car. He wiped away the rainwater and dirt from her face without hesitation and took off his coat to put it on her.

He leaned close to look at Sadie's pale face. There was fury deep in his eyes.

It took him five minutes to finally give instructions softly.

"Take her to the hospital. No need to mention me."

"Yes, Mr. Walker!" His driver quickly started the car without daring to glance at the rearview mirror.

He was a personal driver sent to Blake by Old Mr. Walker.

The driver had been working with Blake for two years. He had witnessed Blake's playboy antics and ruthless business executions.

He had never seen his powerful boss, who could have anything he wanted, rush to a little city by sea in one day just to tear up over a woman covered in dirt and rainwater.