Chapter 209 Jasmine Said She Has No Mother
"You're the one who caused this, right?" Richard said coldly. "I've already called the cops, and they'll be here any minute. You'll have to answer to them, and if my boss decides to pursue this, you could face criminal charges."
"Richard! I'm your mother!" May's shock was palpable, her voice pleading for understanding.
Silence hung heavily between them before Richard spoke again, his tone unyielding. "Do you think the police will let you off the hook just because you're my mom?"
May was left speechless by her son's harsh retort.
"Instead of yelling because you're my mom, you should be reflecting on why you're looking to go back to prison right after being released."
It wasn’t long after Richard finish speaking that the local cops arrived.
"She's been causing trouble here and attacked someone. We have it all on surveillance," the company security promptly explained to the officers.
The police took May away, leaving behind a sense of emptiness, as the rest of her relatives had vanished early on.
Finally, the company was peaceful once more.
Erin stood nearby, watching Richard with a mix of emotions, feeling an inexplicable pang of sympathy.
Richard didn't utter a word as he led Erin out of the company and to a nearby corner store, where he bought a small pudding ice cream. He wrapped it in a napkin and gently pressed it against her face, using it as an ice pack.
Throughout this act of kindness, he remained silent, his demeanor unreadable.
Erin suddenly felt unnerved by Richard's unusual display of care. Richard was being unusually proactive, even taking the initiative to ice her face for her.
"Um…" Erin struggled to find the right words to express her gratitude.
"This is just how it is with my family, as you've seen. We're like the bottom feeders, leeches in the sewers, disgusting bloodsuckers," Richard said bitterly, his sarcasm biting.
Erin's heart skipped a beat, unsure of how to respond to his bitterness.
"I'm sorry… My mom hurt you. Just name the compensation. I'll figure out how to get it to you as soon as possible," Richard pleaded, his desperation evident.
"Richard, I just wanted to help you—to stop your mom from causing more scenes," Erin said, slightly panicked, worried she might have wounded his pride.
"I know, but there's a principle involved. You got hurt; I need to make it right. I'll stay by your side for a year, no salary needed. You can ask me to do anything…" Richard's voice softened, losing its usual coldness.
Perhaps it was having Erin there in front of him, taking that slap intended for him, that touched his heart.
Erin’s eyes sparkled with surprise. "Anything at all?"
Richard's offer to do whatever she wanted delighted Erin, though she wondered what his true intentions were.
Because Richard knew exactly what Erin wanted. She never held back, openly expressing her desires in front of the house bodyguards and butlers, that she wanted to sleep with him…
But Richard felt that the games wealthy people played were too much an affront to his dignity. Yet, if it was with Erin, even on a whim, it wouldn’t matter...
After a long silence, Richard nodded. "Yeah."
"Huh? What made you come around so quickly? Touched by my charm?" Erin hugged Richard's arm excitedly, snuggling into his embrace, feeling the slap was well worth it.
"One year later… let me leave," Richard spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of sadness.
Erin, clinging to Richard's hand, stiffened, then abruptly let him go, her heart sinking with disappointment.
She knew there was a catch with Richard.
Suddenly irritated but unsure why, Erin challenged him. "You don’t like being around me that much?"
Richard remained silent, his gaze distant.
"Or is it because you're still hung up on your ex-girlfriend? Your eternal crush, your first love?" Erin confronted Richard, her voice laced with bitterness.
Richard was still silent, his expression unreadable.
"Think I’m desperate for you? Get lost!" Erin turned and stormed off, her pride wounded.
Richard followed behind her, keeping a protective but discrete distance, his concern etched on his face.
In a huff, Erin got into the car, stomped on the gas, and sped away, leaving Richard behind.
"Erin!” Richard frowned, concern etching his face. He hailed a cab to follow her, determined not to let her go.
When they had first met, Richard had thought Erin was capricious, the kind of spoiled recklessness that came from being raised in a wealthy family, acting wildly without regard.
As Erin drove like a madwoman, passing cars with fury, Richard inexplicably felt a pang of heartache, realizing the loneliness she must feel despite her privileged life.
She held a pivotal role in Ryan's family, yet her life was devoid of sincere friends, loving family members, or anyone she could trust.
Erin had a sharp tongue but a kind heart, making her truly a good woman in her own right.
"Driver, please follow that car. I'm begging you," Richard pleaded with a sense of panic and regret, determined to make things right.
He thought he knew Erin well, wondering why he provoked her.
In a year or when she grew tired of the game, she would leave on her own accord.
Richard understood that with Erin's temperament, one had to go with the flow.
"Is that your friend? She drives fiercely; that's accident-prone," the taxi driver remarked, nearly unable to keep up despite his confidence in his driving skills.
Richard, feeling his anxiety mounting, urged the driver to accelerate. "Master, go a bit faster," he insisted, his apprehension palpable.
Then, chaos erupted. A collision loomed ahead, causing a cascade of halted traffic. Erin, unable to brake in time, collided with the car ahead. The chain reaction ensued as the car behind her failed to stop, resulting in a five-car pileup.
As the driver pulled over, Richard's heart raced with panic, his mind consumed by worry.
Bursting out of the car, his frantic concern for Erin was undeniable.
"Erin!" His worry escalated as Richard felt like he was losing his mind, truly. The thought of anything happening to Erin and what that would do to him was unbearable.
"Do you worry about me..." Erin, trapped in the driver's seat with a bleeding cut on her head, seemed alright since the airbags hadn't deployed.
Richard, trembling, pried the door open, pulled her out, and hugged her tightly.
Erin's eyes reddened as she questioned him again, "Are you worried about me because I'm your boss, or just because I'm Erin..."
Richard, unable to articulate his true feelings, remained silent. His heart heavy with unspoken emotion.
Erin, sensing his hesitation, refrained from pressing further, yet her resentment simmered beneath the surface. They both knew each other well enough to understand the consequences of pushing too far; the delicate balance of their relationship hung in the balance. Seduction seemed to be their only recourse.
"I feel so dizzy, my head hurts, I feel a bit nauseous." Erin leaned on Richard's shoulder. "It really hurts..."
Richard felt a pang of helplessness. "I'll take you to the hospital," he offered, his voice tinged with concern.
"Just hold me," Erin pleaded, clinging to him desperately.
Richard's unease grew as Erin's provocations continued. "And you said you'd be there for a year, for everything. Can't even give a hug, but what about getting in bed?" she teased, her words laced with innuendo.
Richard really wanted to cover Erin's mouth as the traffic cop arrived; with a crowd gathering, she sure had the nerve to speak her mind.
"Can you hold it?" Erin persisted.
Richard covered Erin's mouth, his frustration mounting. "Shut up," he muttered under his breath, mindful of the gathering crowd.
As they made their way to the hospital, Erin's coy demeanor persisted, leaving Richard feeling utterly exasperated.
...
At the police station, tensions remained high. May's altercation with the authorities led to her arrest, leaving Erin to deal with the aftermath.
Fuming, May couldn't get through to Richard, so she had no choice but to contact Jasmine.
"Ms. Wilson, your mother is at the Westwood Street Precinct. Could you..."
"I don't have a mother," Jasmine cut the officer off mid-sentence. "Sorry, wrong number."
The officer was taken aback and turned to May. "The caller said it was the wrong number."
May was shocked. "Impossible! That is the number. Is this little wretch saying it's wrong?"
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