Cherry Miller walked out from inside, looked at Howard, and said, "Are you looking for me?"
Howard looked at Cherry Miller in front of him, a moment of confusion flashing across his face before he asked in a low voice, "Cherry Miller, aren't you going too far? Even if Cassie doesn't know any better and did something she shouldn't have, shouldn't you, as the adult, be more forgiving? Why do you have to push her so hard?"
Cherry Miller laughed.
How amusing.
Howard came here just to question if she'd gone too far.
Did he ever ask Cassie if she was going too far?
In the eyes of a sycophant like him, is everything the goddess does always right?
She had given Cassie chances over and over, warning her again and again.
But did Cassie ever listen?
Not only did she ignore her, she acted recklessly and even tried to hire someone to hurt her.
Doesn't know any better? What a joke.
Cassie isn't that much younger than her, is she? In fact, Cassie might even be a bit older.
So the younger one is supposed to give way to the older one?
Howard really has the nerve to say that out loud!
Since Howard knows this was something that shouldn't have been done, why didn't he stop it?
And now that Cassie is hurt, he comes looking for trouble.
So, if Cherry Miller were the one hurt, would Howard go after Cassie for it?
Of course not.
Howard would just swallow his pain and be happy for Cassie.
Ha, what a sycophant.
Cherry Miller knew there was no point reasoning with someone like Howard, who had no sense of right or wrong.
So Cherry looked at Howard with a face full of surprise. "What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean."
"Stop pretending! You tricked Cassie, told her you'd meet today, but halfway there, someone knocked her out and put her in your car, then sent her to Fortune Garden! Now Cassie has been kidnapped and filmed—are you happy now?" Howard's veins bulged on his forehead as he clenched his fists tightly.
He really wanted to beat Cherry Miller up to vent his anger for Cassie.
But he didn't dare.
Cherry Miller had bodyguards with her.
Cherry Miller smiled. "So you're saying Cassie rode in my car, then got kidnapped? At Fortune Garden? As far as I remember, only Cassie and I knew I was going there. So how did the kidnappers know someone would be at Fortune Garden? And you say I had someone knock Cassie out—do you have any proof? Oh, by the way, my assistant just reported to the police this morning that my car was stolen and they're still looking for it. As for you saying Cassie and I agreed to meet at Fortune Garden at noon today, I have no idea what you're talking about. We clearly agreed on noon tomorrow! My schedule is clearly arranged for today—I'm here for the salon talk. If you don't believe me, check the official website of Yin Enterprises. My itinerary is public. If you're going to lie, at least get your facts straight, okay?"
Howard was completely stunned!
He thought Cherry Miller would point at his nose and curse him for blindly helping Cassie do evil.
He thought Cherry Miller would scold them, saying they deserved it for trying to hurt someone and ending up hurt themselves.
He thought Cherry Miller would gloat, mocking them for overestimating themselves and failing miserably.
But what he never expected was Cherry Miller's triple denial!
Cherry Miller sighed, "Wait, are you saying something happened to Cassie? And it's related to my car? Cassie is just too mischievous. If she wanted my car, she could've just asked! I would've lent it to her for a few days, no problem. Why go through all the trouble to steal it?"
"She didn't, she never—" Howard tried to protest, but Cherry Miller cut him off.
"Her memory must be terrible. We clearly agreed on noon tomorrow, so why would I go to Fortune Garden today? Maybe she was meeting someone else there today?" Cherry Miller's ability to lie with a straight face was truly impressive.
"She didn't, she never—"
"What a pity, that something like this happened. Looks like I should make a suggestion to the mayor to improve our city's security measures, to better protect our citizens. Especially to strengthen safety management for out-of-town visitors, and ensure every domestic and international tourist in Newport City is safe." Cherry Miller said righteously, "You don't have to be so moved, it's just what I ought to do."
"She didn't, she never—"
"After all, we're acquaintances. I'm really sad and regretful that this happened. As for Cassie stealing my car, let's just forget about it. I won't hold her responsible. Just ask her to return my car when she has time. You don't need to be so grateful—treating foreign guests kindly is what every citizen should do. Besides, our families have some business dealings, so of course I won't pursue Cassie's responsibility." Cherry Miller looked magnanimous and considerate, completely shocking Howard.
He's seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless.
"You just said something happened to Cassie... Do you need my help with anything? I can recommend some good hospitals and excellent doctors..." Cherry Miller said, looking genuinely concerned.
Howard looked at Cherry Miller as if he were constipated—he really couldn't say a single word.
What could he say?
Cherry Miller didn't play by the rules—she cut right to the heart of it and kept herself completely out of the mess.
Howard had no evidence to prove any of this was related to Cherry Miller.
Because Cherry Miller had been at this salon forum all morning.
There were thousands of people who could vouch for her.
The entire population of Newport City—over fifteen million people—could vouch for her.
Even if Cassie wanted to pin it on Cherry Miller, there was absolutely no evidence.
"Cherry Miller, you're really something." Howard gave Cherry a long, deep look. "I've never met a woman like you."
"Thank you for the compliment." Cherry Miller replied with a professional smile. "Sorry, I have another speech to prepare for. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. Please tell Miss Casey I truly sympathize with her situation."
"You—" Howard stepped forward, but before he could do anything, Cherry Miller's bodyguards were already behind her, protecting her.
"Goodbye." Cherry Miller gave Howard a long, deep look, then turned and left.
Howard stood there, his face burning as if he'd been slapped several times.
Coming here today was nothing but self-inflicted humiliation.
Cherry Miller's level—Cassie could never even hope to reach it in this lifetime.
Losing to her wasn't unfair.
Howard returned to the hotel, where Cassie looked at him expectantly.
But Howard avoided her gaze, not daring to look at Cassie.
Cassie's expression changed instantly. She grabbed Howard, "You didn't go see Cherry Miller? Didn't you say you'd stand up for me? Didn't you say—"
"Cassie!" Howard interrupted her. "You're no match for Cherry Miller. Just give up."
"No way!" Cassie shrieked, clawing at Howard wildly. "Why should I give up? She said it herself: fair competition! How am I supposed to compete now? She's ruined me!"
Howard lost his temper, grabbing Cassie's shoulders. "If you hadn't tried to hurt Cherry Miller, how could you have ended up defeated? Cassie, wake up! This is Newport City, this is China! You can't just run wild here!"
"I don't care!" Cassie kept screaming. "I love Ethan, I want to marry him!"
Howard helplessly grabbed his hair, feeling like he was about to explode.
"Fine, if you won't listen to me, I'll take revenge myself! Even if it costs me my life, I'll drag Cherry Miller down with me!" Cassie screamed, completely losing control.
Howard hugged Cassie in pain.
How could he let Cassie destroy herself along with Cherry Miller?
No matter what, as long as Cassie was alive, that was enough.
He didn't care if Cassie had been hurt or humiliated. He was willing to spend the rest of his life with her.
"Cassie, calm down. You need to calm down."
"I can't calm down! Howard, you don't understand! I have no hope of being with Ethan anymore! Cherry Miller ruined everything for me! I can't forgive her!"
"Cassie, if I help you get your revenge, will you give up on Ethan Yin? If Cherry Miller can never marry Ethan Yin, will you come home with me?"
"Yes!" Cassie gripped Howard's arm tightly, shouting madly, "Howard, do you have a way? Can you ruin Cherry Miller? I want to destroy her, completely destroy her!"
Howard suddenly thought of the USB drive Ken Miller gave Cassie.
Cherry Miller was so anxious about that USB drive—so, was there something inside that could threaten her?
Howard, thinking of this, left Cassie behind, rushed back to his room, took out the USB drive Cassie had asked him to keep, and turned on his computer.
Howard had learned some decoding from a hacker before. The files on the USB drive were just basic code, nothing sophisticated, so Howard used his knowledge to quickly open the files.
After Howard finished reading the file, he sat in shock for a long time.
The video was extremely chaotic, but you could still make out the faces of the people in it.
The woman's features looked a lot like Cherry Miller's, but she wasn't Cherry.
Who could she be?
Howard instantly fell into deep thought and instinctively searched the Yin Group's official website.
When his eyes landed on Cherry Miller's photo on the official site, he subconsciously compared her features to the woman in the video.
Suddenly, he had a bold guess.
Could it be that the woman in the video was blood-related to Cherry Miller?
Was that why Cherry Miller was so nervous?
Howard immediately began searching and investigating Cherry Miller's connections.
Thanks to the almighty internet and convenient search engines.
Howard actually managed to find some useful information.
When the housekeeper's photo appeared on Howard's screen, he instantly understood why Cherry Miller wanted the USB drive so badly.
Because the leading lady in the video wasn't anyone else—it was Cherry Miller's biological mother, the current head housekeeper of the Miller family!
"So that's it." Howard stared deeply at the photo, muttering to himself, "Cherry Miller, you forced me. Don't blame me—it's all or nothing now."