Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

After all, Pearl had helplessly seen her dearest family's lifeless body, hours after passing away. It must have been a massive trauma for her. "That's almost everything. It's all over now. And I respect her choice." Pearl took a deep breath, her eyes filled with grief.

"But I can tell from your eyes that you find it unacceptable."

Pearl gave a sad smile. "Yeah, that's for sure. Things didn't have to be this bad at first. But someone made it so secretly."

Richard instantly understood Hugo's cryptic warning. "So, you're planning to get back at Hugo?"

Pearl nodded firmly. "Yeah, I want more. I want him to suffer." It wouldn't be any less than the pain she felt inside.

"Why do you suddenly hate him so much?" Richard asked.

pain as she recalled the letter she had found. "Hugo had

raised his brows

here. He wrote her a letter, saying he would continue to treat her but only if she arranged our marriage. It was full of threats and pressure. He even threatened to make sure I never found her if she refused. Naturally, my mother couldn't agree to such blackmail,

felt a surge of anger at the thought of Hugo threatening Beah. His

Pearl and held her tenderly. "Don't worry. It's all over now. He can't

"I know. I don't have the luxury to be weak now." She was determined to fight Hugo and

let him bully you again," Richard vowed, his anger

forcing a smile. "Thank you,

her when he heard that. "Don't be sad. I'm

was the first time Pearl had heard such comforting words from Richard, and it

uncomfortable with her formal gratitude. He saw this as an opportunity to help