Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Farley, gaining a sudden burst of confidence, blurted out, "Why are you fussing about? Just get Murray out here! We got beef with him!"

The assistant, who was already on edge, furrowed her brows even tighter, ready to call security. Just then, Murray emerged from the conference room. "Mr. Sherwood..." You could feel the relief in the assistant's voice, like she had finally found something to hold onto.

Murray had just wrapped up a business negotiation and spotted two janitors and his assistant blocking his office door from afar.

Hearing the janitors' ranting, and piecing it together with what Beverley had mentioned a few days ago, he quickly figured out who they were. "You go ahead; I've got this," he gestured to his assistant, then opened his office door.

Without a word, Maisie and Farley strutted in.

Murray took a moment to size them up.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

The woman's skin was slightly loose, a sign of aging, with sunken eyes, yet her youthful beauty was still discernible beneath the signs of time. Unfortunately, her sharp chin and thin lips, paired with her darting eyes, painted a picture of someone shrewd and harsh.

Millie shared her features closely; the mother-daughter pair bore a striking resemblance.

As for Farley...

With his weasel-like face and thug attire, he screamed trouble.

While Murray was assessing them, Maisie was also sizing him up.

Tall, handsome, and impeccably dressed, he seemed like a protagonist straight out of a TV drama, albeit with a too-cold gaze that seemed hard to fool...

Her eyes lingered on the watch on Murray's wrist. Though unfamiliar with the brand, the diamonds embedded in it were undeniably expensive. That girl sure knew how to pick 'em!

Swallowing hard, greed flickered in Maisie's eyes, so intense she nearly skipped straight to negotiating a price.

After all, what's a little money to them?

But then she paused, thinking better of rushing. They had come this far; she couldn't ruin it at the last step.

In

Lifting her chin, she took on an air of seeking justice, "You're Murray? You're the one who knocked up my daughter and then ditched her? Thinking you can bully us because we have no one? I'm here for some straight answers today!"

"Answers?" Murray's laugh was cold, not reaching his eyes.

"Yeah! If it wasn't for you, how would she end up like this? You heartbreaker! Leaving my daughter in despair and now-"

Mid-sentence, she instinctively raised her hand, ready to charge, but the chill in Murray's gaze made her recoil, awkwardly lowering her hand.

Seeing this, Farley jumped in to defend, "Who says we're nobody? Am I dead? My sister got played by you, and now, she's miscarried, lying miserable in the hospital. You owe us an explanation at least!"

"This is a society governed by law; everything hinges on legality and decency, I bet you wouldn't want us dragging this through the courts, turning it into a public spectacle!"

Murray observed the duo's performance impassively, his face betraying no emotion. Finally-

"Are you done?" he asked.

Maisie and Farley exchanged looks, then said, "What do you mean?"

Murray cut to the chase, "Just tell me, how much do you want?"