Chapter 14

Gloria wandered from store to store along the street, desperately searching for a job.

She couldn't go back to the dorm anymore, and she had no idea where to go. She was just hoping for a bit of luck.

"Hi, are you guys hiring?" Gloria walked into a clothing store.

A sales associate greeted her warmly, but their expression turned cold when they heard her question. "We're fully staffed, and honestly, we wouldn't hire someone like you anyway. You look sickly. If something happens to you in our store, who's going to be responsible?"

Gloria knew she looked terrible right now, especially with that long scar on her face.

"I'm sorry to bother you." She apologized and moved on to the next store.

She asked at several places, all with the same response.

After yet another rejection, Gloria stepped out of the store and realized it was already dark.

She was utterly exhausted. No matter how reluctant she was, she had to find a place to rest.

After searching for a while, she found a cheap motel.

Gloria booked a room and was about to pay when she realized her money had been stolen, along with her hard-earned phone.

Her head spun.

"Miss, are you ready?" the receptionist prompted.

Gloria shook her head, looking pale. "Sorry, I won't be staying."

Standing at the motel entrance, Gloria broke down completely.

That money had been so hard to earn.

She didn't even know when it had been stolen!

As she berated herself, a drunken man approached her. "Hey, miss, how much?"

Gloria didn't understand at first.

The man leered at her. "Even with that scar, you still look young. How about it? I'll pay you well."

Realizing his meaning, Gloria's first instinct was to refuse, but she swallowed her words.

She had no dignity left.

Homeless and penniless, what did she have to hold onto?

As long as she could make money, she could do anything.

After hesitating for a long time, Gloria finally agreed, but she maintained her pride. "Fine, one night, ten thousand dollars."

The man laughed as if he'd heard a joke. "Ten thousand dollars? A woman selling her body thinks she's a princess? Look at yourself!"

Gloria didn't respond.

Wasn't she once a princess?

She had been the darling of the Russell family, the most famous socialite in Majestic City.

But now, no one recognized her.

"One thousand dollars. I don't want to force you, so you'd better agree yourself." The man grabbed her hand.

Gloria tried to pull away in disgust, but the drunk man held on tight, dragging her toward the motel. "Don't worry, I won't back out. One thousand dollars is fine. It's just because you look young. Otherwise, I wouldn't spend the money."

Understanding his implication, Gloria's disgust nearly overflowed. "Let go of me! Or I'll scream!"

She could sell her dignity for money, but not to someone like him.

The more she resisted, the more excited the man became. "Go ahead and scream! This street is full of people like you. See if anyone cares!"

Gloria was speechless.

No wonder the atmosphere felt strange when she walked in.

As they neared the motel, Gloria gritted her teeth and aimed a kick at the man's groin.

Before she could make contact, the man screamed in pain.

Gloria was stunned.

Sebastian's cold voice sounded in her ear. "Gloria, you never change."

She turned to see Sebastian standing behind her, blending into the night in his black coat.

Gloria instinctively wanted to explain, but she had no grounds to do so.

She didn't know when Sebastian had arrived or how much he had seen.

"Who dares kick me!" The drunk man struggled to get up, ready to confront Sebastian.

Sebastian glared at him. "Get lost!"

His commanding presence was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe.

The man froze in place.

Gloria was also intimidated, but she had more pressing concerns. "Sebastian, are you having me followed?"

Otherwise, she couldn't think of a reason for him to be here at this hour.

Sebastian grabbed her wrist. "You have no right to ask questions. Come with me!"

Gloria stumbled as he shoved her into the car.

Lucas sat in the front passenger seat, pretending not to see anything, his neck stiff. He only asked when Sebastian got in. "Mr. Windsor, where to?"

Sebastian slammed the door and glanced at Gloria. "Find a nearby hotel."

Gloria thought she saw something in his eyes she had never seen before.

She stayed silent, clutching her clothes to keep from panicking.

A few minutes later, the car stopped at a hotel.

It was a Windsor family-owned five-star hotel.

Gloria began to feel truly afraid.

Sebastian gave her no chance to escape, dragging her into the elevator.

"Sebastian, let me explain. This is a misunderstanding. My money was stolen." Gloria said.

Gloria could guess what was about to happen, and she was full of resistance.

She didn't know what had triggered Sebastian.

She was the one who had been awkard, yet he was the one reacting so strongly.

Didn't he despise her the most?

Or was he using this to humiliate her again?

Gloria couldn't fathom Sebastian's thoughts.

Sebastian didn't look back, just tightened his grip on her arm as a warning. "Your job now is to shut up."

An hour ago, he had been working late at the courthouse when he received a message that Gloria had gone to the red-light district.

He thought he wouldn't care, just another troublesome pursuer.

But Gloria's smiling face from three years ago kept appearing in his mind.

Sebastian couldn't sit still.

He told himself he had no feelings for Gloria, just didn't want to see someone who should be proud fall so low.

Sebastian tried to convince himself.

But when he saw Gloria struggling with the drunk man, it felt like a fire had been lit inside him, and he couldn't help but intervene.

Sebastian never lost his composure in public, but tonight was the first exception.