[Chapter 65]
It was already dark by the time David arrived at River City.
He would have arrived way earlier had he not been held up on the road.
Exhausted, he returned to the South River International Residence and opened the doors to his home.
Only for him to see Pearl with reddened eyes about to leave.
"Huh? Miss Pearl? What's wrong? Are you going out?"
Then he spotted the people standing behind Pearl. "Who are they?" Pearl felt her chest tighten when she saw David.
'Didn't he go home for the holidays? Why's he back so soon? And now of all times too.'
"My apologies, Mr. Lidell. These people are my family members. They came over to visit me from home, s o l thought I'd bring them here to sit down. I'll show them out right away." Pearl replied nervously.
She was afraid that David would be angry. Anyone would be upset to know that random people had come into their four-hundred-million-dollar house while they were out.
"Where are you going so late at night? There are plenty of rooms here, why not just stay the night?" David asked.
Pearl had overthought the seriousness of the issue. Houses were meant to be lived in anyway.
There were many rooms in this house, and it could most certainly house these six guests.
David did not mind housing them.
"No, no, it's alright, Mr. Lidell. I already arranged hotel rooms for them, so I'll be…"
Billy interrupted Pearl, "You must be this damned girl's boyfriend, huh? You're already living together, so might as well get married as soon as possible! We might just be an insignificant family, but there are still proper rites to perform! We're not asking for much, just ten million dollars, and a house and car for your brother in River City. It doesn't have to be too expensive, and if you can afford such an expensive house, I'm sure these requests mean nothing to you, right?"
David was stunned,
'Damned girl?
'Is he talking about Pearl?
'What kind of father calls his own daughter that?
And he's mistaking me for Pearl's boyfriend!
'But considering that we do live in the same house, I guess it makes sense that people think we're living together?
'Ah, there's no clearing this misunderstanding, is there?
"But ten million dollars, and a house and car in River City? Why does it feel like he's selling his daughter off?
David glanced at Pearl but did not say anything.
Pearl's chest heaved and she stared at her father with fear. Tears fell without stopping down her face as she shouted, "Dad! Stop with that nonsense!"
"How is that nonsense? You're already living together, what's not clear here? Who else will marry you if he doesn't make you his wife? How do you expect us to live with dignity back at home?" Billy refuted.
"Uh, sir? I'm just Miss Pearl's boss, I'm not her boyfriend," David could not help but say.
"Boss? What kind of boss lives with their employee? You just don't want to take responsibility, do you?" Billy asked.
David was rendered speechless!
Not only had the misunderstanding not been resolved, but he had also made himself a target.
Realizing that Billy was not going to listen to whatever explanation he had, David stayed silent.
"Dad! Please just stop talking already! Are you trying to screw me over?" Pearl shouted at Billy with tears i In her eyes.
"Pearl! Dad's helping you here!" Sam interrupted.
He was elated now.
Now that his dad had asked his sister and brother-in-law to buy him a house and car in River City, he might actually get those things.
Not to mention that the ten million dollars would one day be his too.
Once he had a house, a car, and savings, he would not need to work at all. Instead, he could just drive around and take in the city view.
Minnie and her parents were also excited. If Billy's demands were met, they would be more than happy to let their daughter marry Sam. They would return home with pride if their son-in-law had ten million dollars as well as a house and car in River City.
Pearl looked at her parents' and brother's expressions. There was not a shred of guilt at all for causing her pain and turmoil.
They were only ever here for the money. If David happened to be broke, Pearl knew her family would do everything to get them to break up.
This was why they were so ready to "sell their daughter" and get a large sum of money from David when they realized that he was wealthy.
All they cared about was money. As long as they had money, what happened to Pearl was not their concern.
In this instant, Pearl suddenly understood.
Ever since she was born, she had been nothing more than a method for her family to get what they wanted.
Pearl had no one to blame but herself. She thought that family mattered most, so she only left a small portion of her earnings for herself and sent the rest back home.
It was at this moment she realized that she was just a piece of plankton in the sea, with nowhere to go and nowhere she belonged.
Her heart grew cold.
Without another word, Pearl turned and walked into the elevator.
All she wanted was to leave this place.
David could feel that something was wrong with the situation, so he quickly followed and squeezed into the elevator just as the doors were about to close.
With the two of them gone, Sam and the others shared a confused look. They did not know what to do.
In the end, they decided to leave the house as well since it was not theirs. Pearl's threat worked, as they did not want to be mistaken for thieves and get thrown in jail.