Chapter 124 Virgil Emerged
Late night in a dingy bar.
Nicole sat in a corner in plain black sportswear. The other women were all dolled up, making her look out of place, almost like a thief.
She had no idea how long she'd been waiting when a wave of alcohol breath hit her.
Nicole looked up sharply to see Virgil sitting close, his cologne overpowering.
"Ashley, you're still as stunning as ever," Virgil said with a sly grin, his eyes shamelessly roaming over her.
Nicole shifted away, feeling goosebumps.
Back in Mythorica, she used to hang out with Virgil, loving his sweet talk, his muscles, and his tricks in bed.
But now, seeing him again, she felt nothing but disgust. 'How desperate was I to fall for this loser? He can't compare to Edward at all.'
"When did you come back? What are you doing here?" Nicole asked coldly.
"Looking for you. With you, I feel at home." Virgil leaned in, his hand creeping up her thigh, "Next time, wear a skirt. This is so inconvenient."
Nicole gritted her teeth and grabbed his hand, "What do you want from me?!"
"I want you," Virgil paused, then smiled, "and some money."
"I already gave you a breakup fee! Isn't that enough?!" Nicole's voice cracked with anger.
"There are wins and losses in gambling. The money you gave me isn't enough. I know you're about to marry the president of the Wellington Group. If you want a perfect wedding, you should meet my demands, right?"
'He's blackmailing me!'
Nicole felt her heart drop, "Even if you tell my fiancé about our past, so what? He loves me and won't care! Everyone has a past. You can't threaten me with this!"
"True, but no man would accept that his fiancée had a child with another man, especially out of wedlock," Virgil said, taking a sip from her glass.
"You have the nerve to bring that up?!" Nicole's scalp tingled at the thought of the child, her eyes red with hatred, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for the risk of losing my fertility, I would never have had the child!"
"We were having fun, and you agreed, right?" Virgil grinned, hooking her trembling shoulder, "The child is proof of our love. Without her, we wouldn't be meeting again."
"How much do you want?" Nicole's face was pale, her tone icy.
"Five million dollars," Virgil demanded.
"My family isn't what it used to be. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?"
"You don't have it, but Edward does." Virgil sneered, "Five million dollars is nothing to him. He spoils you, so he wouldn't refuse if you asked."
Nicole's eyes were wide and red with anger, but she suddenly felt calm.
A plan formed in her mind.
Nicole suddenly changed her attitude, leaning against Virgil, looking pitiful, "To be honest, my marriage with Edward is already on the rocks. He told me a few days ago that he wants to break up and doesn't want to marry me anymore."
"What? Why?!" Virgil looked more anxious than Nicole did.
Virgil heard the Adams family was nearly bankrupt, too. He came to blackmail Nicole because she had Edward backing her. If they really broke up, his trip from Mythorica to Mugden would be a waste. He won't be able to pay off his gambling debts, and he might not even have money for a return ticket! 'Am I supposed to risk my life in underground boxing? No way!'
"Because Edward's fallen for someone else," Nicole said, tears streaming down her face. "He doesn't love me anymore. What can I do? You want money, but I can't even protect myself now. How can I give you anything? Even if you kill me, I can't get it for you!"
"Isn't there any other way?" Virgil was desperate, almost wishing he could marry Edward himself.
"If that woman didn't exist, maybe he'd look at me again." Nicole cried, her eyes flashing with a fierce light.
"You want me to deal with her?" Virgil made a throat-slitting gesture.
"As long as she can't interfere with my marriage to Edward, I'll give you whatever you want." Nicole's cold hand caressed Virgil's cheek, her eyes seductive. "Not just five million dollars, even fifty million, I can give you."
'Fifty million dollars?!'
Virgil's greed and lust surged, and he pressed Nicole against the wall, slowly unzipping her jacket. "Who is that woman? Tell me."
The next day, in the president's office of the Wellington Group.
Edward held a cup of cold black coffee, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window, his eyes cold and intimidating.
"Outrageous! What is Patrick up to?!" Bart picked up the appointment letter for Tiffany to be the vice-chairman of the board, crumpling the paper in anger. "Tiffany, who climbed up by cozying up to men, what leadership skills does she have, what outstanding contributions? How can she be the vice-chairman of the board?"
"Patrick gave her the Starhaven project to pave her way into the board," Edward said darkly, taking a sip of coffee. A sense of frustration welled up in his chest, making it hard to swallow.
"Does Patrick still not trust you?!" Bart was indignant. "Everyone knows about Caleb's health, even traveling with a wheelchair. How could he inherit the family business? No matter how much Patrick dotes on him, it won't help! You're also his biological son, why does he keep tripping you up? He's supporting Tiffany just to keep you in check! What kind of father schemes against his own son like this?!"
"Enough, Bart." Edward lowered his eyes, his brows furrowed. "I know you're looking out for me, but don't say these things outside this room."
"Edward, what do we do now?" Bart asked, frustrated.
"There are some things I didn't want to reveal so soon. But since Patrick insists on pushing it this far, I have no choice but to respond accordingly," Edward said.
At that moment, his phone vibrated. Edward glanced at it. It was Eric calling.
He was already annoyed, not wanting to answer, but the persistent buzzing was irritating, so he swiped to answer.
"What?"
"Edward, I got dumped. Can you keep me company tonight?" Eric's voice was weak and listless.
"Get lost." Edward coldly spat out, about to hang up when Eric urgently shouted, "Evelyn dumped me! This time she's serious, she even put a knife to my throat! It's over, my love has completely said goodbye to me!"
Edward listened without a change in expression, a slight curve forming on his lips, and he said,
"Serves you right."
