Cecilia Gu couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her eye.
It had been a long time since anyone had said something like that to her.
Back before she met Charles, everyone thought she was easy to bully. They'd use excuses like, 'Cecilia, you're so nice, you don't mind helping out, right?' Then they'd dump work on her that wasn't hers.
Back then, just to survive, she would take on work that wasn't hers, no matter how much she hated it.
But that was a long time ago.
She's not that timid little office worker who always got bullied anymore.
And now this Dale is still trying to test her with these tricks—should she call Dale smart or stupid?
Still, her goal today was to find out who was behind Dale, so she pretended not to notice Dale's probing and casually said, 'Miss Dale, since you trust me so much, why don't we sit down and have a proper chat?'
Dale was delighted when Cecilia didn't refuse. She gathered her skirt and sat down in front of Cecilia, saying, 'I know you're close with Mo Zixuan. I really had no choice but to come to you today.'
Cecilia couldn't help but rant in her head. If you know I'm close to Zixuan, and you still want my help, are you out of your mind?
Cecilia kept her calm, unshakable smile. "I believe Miss Dale must have her own reasons, which is why I'm here to listen. I heard that Miss Dale worked really hard to get into a university in France. That's impressive. But I'm a little confused—since you could go to France, and with your qualities, wouldn't it be easier to find a local rich guy? Why go out of your way to chase Julian King? Sure, Julian's great, but he's already married. What he can give you is limited. Can you help me understand this, Miss Dale?"
Dale's expression changed slightly, a hint of panic rising inside her.
Wasn't Cecilia supposed to be some traditional woman shut away at home, totally clueless about the outside world?
How could her questions be so sharp?
Dale suddenly felt she might've been set up by Mrs. King.
The Cecilia described by Mrs. King was nothing like this!
Cecilia didn't rush, just sat there calmly, her gaze deep and meaningful.
Dale avoided her gaze and said, "It's different. I have feelings for Julian. Back in high school, he protected me so much—I always had a crush on him. Honestly, when I came back this time, I didn't plan to end up with Julian. I just wanted to see him again."
"If you just wanted to see him, how did you end up falling for him?" Cecilia asked calmly. "And you know you can't compete with Mo Zixuan, so falling for a married man—I'd think a mature woman of thirty wouldn't give her heart away so easily, right?"
"Mrs. Yin, what are you trying to say?" Dale's fingers unconsciously clenched.
"Since you want my help, Miss Dale, I think I need to know what you actually plan to do, right?" Cecilia kept smiling, looking calm and open. "Otherwise, why should I help you?"
"I..." Dale struggled for a moment, realizing there was no point in lying. The sharp-eyed Mrs. Charles Yin in front of her wasn't someone she could fool easily.
Dale finally steeled herself and decided to share part of the truth: "Yes, Mrs. Yin, you're right. There are other reasons I went after Julian King. Mrs. King was the one who first found me and gave me money to pay for my family's medical bills. I needed money—desperately. So after the King family helped me, I did what Mrs. King asked and approached Julian. I didn't resist because I do like him. For people from my country, marriage can be both a blessing and a curse. Just having a child can earn you a big sum of money. For me, it's a deal with no losses. I'm not hoping to be the King family's young mistress—I just want the money!"
Cecilia's lips curled up slightly. Good, she's finally telling the truth.
Well, at least this trip wasn't a waste.
"Mrs. Yin, I won't threaten Mo Zixuan's position. I just want to have a child, get some money, and then I'll disappear forever. Mo Zixuan is the eldest Miss of the Mo family—her status is unshakable, so why would she be afraid of someone like me? My child will call her mother in the future. She doesn't have to do anything, and she'll get a child for free. Isn't that a good deal?" Dale said through gritted teeth.
Cecilia rubbed her forehead.
What a messed-up way of thinking.
Cecilia remembered what Charles had told her last night and immediately asked seriously, "Miss Dale, as a mother, giving up a child isn't easy. No matter the country, ethnicity, or even species, it's hard. You make it sound simple, but I don't believe it. If you can't give me a stronger reason, I won't help you."
After she finished, Cecilia hinted to Dale, "The King family's business is their private matter. I'm just an outsider—it's not my place to interfere. If you just want a child for money, why Julian? You could pick someone else in the King family and get money too, right? If you don't like one generation, there are the second and third. From what I know, Julian's oldest nephew is nearly fifty, and his oldest grandchild is already in their twenties, at their prime. Wouldn't choosing them work just as well? Whatever Mrs. King can give you, others can too. Miss Dale, what I need is a real reason, not just excuses."
Dale's face really changed this time.
"How did you know?" Dale blurted out.
Cecilia's eyes lowered slightly.
Just as expected!
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Charles guessed it again!
There really is someone advising Dale from behind!
"As Mrs. Charles Yin, the current mistress of the Yin Family, surely you don't think I'm some sheltered woman who knows nothing, right, Miss Dale? If I were clueless, how could I manage the entire household?" Cecilia slowly raised her eyes to Dale. "Compared to the Yin Family, the King Family is nothing. Mrs. King is a truly sheltered woman—what could she possibly teach you?"
Dale's face instantly went even paler.
After a moment, Cecilia spoke again: "I can help you, but I can also destroy you. Even though this isn't the Yin Family's home turf, you should understand—if the Yin Family can shine in someone else's territory, taking down whoever's backing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. Miss Dale, still don't want to tell the truth?"
Dale was trembling all over.
She was wrong!
She never should've messed with Cecilia!
She must've been crazy to believe that old lady!
That old lady said Cecilia was just a spoiled rich girl who didn't know anything and was easy to fool.
But now, is she easy to fool at all?
Cecilia had been watching the whole thing, totally clear-headed.
Ridiculous—the King family really thinks they can control everything!
Foolish!
So foolish!
"Miss Dale, since I'm willing to give you this chance today, I won't make things difficult for you," Cecilia continued. "Of course, you also have the right to stay silent and keep the truth hidden. I won't say anything about that. But then, I can't guarantee you'll get out of here unscathed. To be honest, while we were on our way here, Mo Zixuan's family already spent a hundred million hiring several teams who are heading this way. I don't need to remind you who they're after, do I?"
Dale started shaking even harder.
Dale couldn't sit still anymore. She suddenly knelt in front of Cecilia, begging, "Mrs. Yin, please save me!"
Cecilia lifted Dale up. "Today is just a regular dinner, not some deadly trap. No need to be so nervous, Miss Dale. I'm easygoing, so I came to talk to you myself. Of course, after today, if someone else comes to talk, things might not be so relaxed."
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" Dale was terrified by Cecilia, trembling as she spoke. "A man called me and told me what to do! He said if I followed his instructions, he'd give me a lot of money and help settle my family, even get me a great job! I didn't dare refuse! The one time I did, the next day I found a bloody rabbit in my dorm. He was warning me! I was scared! I had no choice! Later, when Mrs. King found me, I just went along with it! This was all that man's idea—it wasn't my fault!"
"Who is that man? What's his name?"
"I don't know. He always comes to me—I can't contact him." Dale said, trembling. "He told me I have to break up Julian King and Mo Zixuan! If I do that, he'll let me and my family go! I really have no choice, Mrs. Yin, please save me!"
Cecilia let out a gentle breath and asked, "If that man stood in front of you and spoke, could you recognize him?"
Dale thought about the voice and nodded. "I could! His voice is strange, like he's trying to disguise it, but his accent gives him away."
"Oh? Accent?" Cecilia smiled. "What kind of accent?"
"It's a local accent." Dale answered painfully. "It's the unique rolled sound of this region—totally different from anywhere else. Only people who've lived here their whole life have it!"
Cecilia finally smiled, satisfied.
She'd finally completed her mission for today.