Chapter 245 Intimidate
Finished
He turned to her and said coldly, “You’re cracking pistachios out here, but couldn’t bother to grab a trash bag? The whole hallway’s covered in shells–how’s anyone supposed to walk through this mess?”
Ruth thought to herself, It’s just some shells, not like it’s mud. What’s the big deal?
But she didn’t dare say it out loud. Instead, she forced a smile and said, “Sorry about that. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Next time?”
Blake’s voice wasn’t loud, but there was a chilling edge to it that sent a shiver down her spine. Ruth’s fake smile froze. “I–I won’t do it here again. No more seeds,” she stammered.
His voice dropped even colder. “Clean it up now. Or are you waiting for me to do it?”
Ruth didn’t want to, but she had no choice. “Can I borrow a broom from your place?” she asked meekly.
“I don’t have one. You made the mess–you figure out how to clean it. Worst case, use your hands.”
Ruth’s face flushed red, then drained pale.
Humiliated beyond words, she still didn’t dare talk back.
All she could do was crouch down and start picking up the scattered shells by hand, brushing them into a pile little by little.
Blake stood above her, watching without a flicker of sympathy. Once she’d cleared a narrow path, he finally stepped over it and walked to his door.
Ruth’s eyes followed him—and her brows furrowed when she saw him unlock the apartment across from Caroline’s.
Wait… wasn’t he living with Caroline?
Didn’t those two live together?
As the realization hit her, a twisted joy lit up her face.
I knew it, she thought triumphantly.
Caroline may have a pretty face, but that’s all she’s got going for her. Like the CEO of Sherwood Group would really take her seriously?
At most, he was just fooling around with her out of boredom.
In the end, Caroline was nothing but a side piece who could never show her face in public.
I’ve got to tell Helen about this. She’s going to love it.
Just then, Caroline and Maia returned–and the first thing they saw was Ruth crouched in the hallway, picking up the shells with a smirk on her lips.
“Mom? What are you doing?” Maia called out from down the corridor.
Chapter 245 Intimidate
Ruth’s head jerked up. When she saw Caroline there too, the grin froze on her face.
60%
Finished
She obviously couldn’t tell the truth and give Caroline a chance to laugh at her, so she scrambled for an excuse. “I came to find you,” she said quickly, “but saw a bunch of trash someone dumped outside your door, so I figured I’d clean it up for you.”
Caroline glanced down and spotted the snack package poking out of Ruth’s pocket. She could pretty much guess what had happened. Smiling sweetly, she said, “Well, thanks a lot! I wonder who was so inconsiderate. If I ever find out, I’m letting my dog loose on them.”
Ruth froze. “You have a dog?” she blurted.
“Yup. Big one, too,” Caroline said with a perfectly straight face. “We got her for security. She’s really mean. If
you’re planning on coming in, beif she bites you, I’m not taking responsibility.”
Caroline had already guessed Ruth came looking for Maia to ask for money again. The whole dog story was a bluff to scare her off–for good.
But there was never a dog to begin with.
Sure enough, Ruth’s pupils shrank in panic.
She hurriedly stuffed the shells into a plastic bag, then rushed to Maia, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her toward the elevator. “Come with me. I’ve got something to say.”
If Caroline really had a dog, there was no way she was stepping inside.
And standing in the hallway to ask for money? Out of the question. What if Mr. Sherwood from across the hall heard and stepped in again?
Better to get far away–then no one could stop her.
Maia, frail and unprepared, couldn’t resist her mother’s grip and stumbled along.
Caroline followed them.
Normally, she would’ve respected the boundary between mother and daughter—but Ruth wasn’t a normal
parent.
Caroline was genuinely afraid that if Maia couldn’t cough up the money, Ruth might actually kill her.
Ruth dragged Maia all the way outside the building to a quiet little park nearby.
When she realized Caroline had followed them, her expression darkened. “Why are you here? You’re worried Maia doesn’t have the money and want to pay it for her?”
She glared at Caroline like she was the root of all her problems. If Caroline hadn’t taken Maia away last time, Maia would still be working for her, earning her money, not disobeying her like this.
Just thinking about the money she’d lost made her grind her teeth in anger.
But since Caroline had Blake backing her, Ruth didn’t dare confront her head–on.
Before Caroline could say anything, Maia cut in, breathless, “Mom, Caroline’s already helped me a lot. This has nothing to do with her.”
