"You know someone's been trying to kill me, and you're just going to cancel my contract like that?" Calin demanded. "Do you think I can't sue the company?"
"When it comes to filing lawsuits, I could say the same thing to you," Saeki shot back. "With all the trouble you've caused, do you have any idea how many losses we're facing right now? The least you could do is leave without creating another scene. Don't forget that you're already facing multiple breach-of-contract claims from canceled endorsements, projects, and sponsorships. I haven't even settled those accounts with you yet."
Calin was about to argue when her eyes landed on a document lying on his desk.
Yeri's name was printed across it.
Snatching up the document, she immediately flew into a rage.
"So this is the real reason you're so eager to get rid of me!" she shrieked. "That vixen actually signed with the company? Saeki Jie, you're truly disappointing! Why don't you just admit that this is all about profit instead of blaming everything on me?"
Saeki run out of patience and without hesitation, he pressed the intercom and called security.
Calin could do nothing except struggle and scream as security dragged her away.
Back in her car, she thrashed about in frustration, feeling as though she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
That day, she went around asking her friends and fellow socialites for favors, including people she previously wouldn't have bothered sparing a glance.
However, news traveled fast within elite circles.
Everyone knew she had offended Shin Keir after attempting to drug him. Not to mention, she had publicly exposed the contract, causing Yeri to be scorned by netizens and dragging KGG into controversy.
Who would dare help her?
Her status as Bryce Gate's fiancée and the well-known hostility between Bryce and Shin only made the situation worse.
The only people willing to extend an olive branch were a handful of degenerate young masters. Most of them had once fawned over her and now saw this as an opportunity to make indecent proposals.
But who was Calin Ricci?
She had spent her entire life bowing to no one. Whatever she wanted, she got with the snap of a finger. No matter how much trouble she caused, someone was always there to clean up after her.
How could she possibly accept assistance in exchange for her body?
No.
She didn't believe she had fallen that low yet. She refused to trample on her pride and dignity any further.
Late that night, she returned home, changed her clothes, and left once more.
Although Neri Medical Hospital enforced strict visiting hours, exceptions were sometimes made for close relatives and family members of VIP patients.
After obtaining approval, Calin headed toward Allen's VIP room.
"Brother Allen..."
The moment she entered, her eyes immediately reddened.
Unlike the time he had first been rushed to the hospital after the car accident, Allen looked considerably better now. Color had gradually returned to his complexion, and he no longer appeared as frail as before.
"Surprised I'm not dead yet?" Allen asked sarcastically.
Calin sniffled, looking hurt as she placed a fruit basket on the table.
"How could you say that about me? I know I was wrong for causing that accident, but you know I had too much to drink at the time. You have no idea how much I regretted it when I woke up from my coma."
"Regretted it enough to ask your brother to tamper with the dashcam?" Allen countered coldly.
He had never changed the dashcam password. If Sergei had been able to access it, then the most likely person who had provided the password was Calin herself.
Calin stiffened, but didn't show it on her face.
Rather than denying it, she suddenly dropped to her knees with a loud thump.
Dressed in a flowing white dress and wearing makeup carefully applied to make her appear pale and fragile, she looked pitiful enough that anyone unaware of her actions might think she was the victim.
"Brother Allen, I know I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong this time!" she cried. "I don't know what I was thinking back then. When I heard that you were in critical condition and might never wake up again, I was overwhelmed by fear and remorse."
Allen was momentarily stunned.
The Calin Ricci he knew had always been proud and dignified. For her to kneel like this was equivalent to throwing away all her pride and pretense.
Seeing the change in his expression, Calin immediately began sobbing harder, trembling and pleading as though the entire world had abandoned her.
Although she had only dated Allen back then to get closer to Shin Keir, she at least knew one thing about him.
He had always had a soft spot for the delicate and pitiful.
Sure enough, Allen frowned. His hand clenched slightly as he averted his gaze.
After waking from his coma, Zoren, Shin, and the others had already filled him in on everything that had happened.
More importantly, Shin had personally helped with his case. The only thing Shin had asked in return was for Allen to pursue legal action against Calin Ricci.
"What exactly do you want?" Allen finally asked.
Calin looked up. Through her sobs, she spoke softly. "I made a mistake and caused someone to die in that accident. It's only right for me to meet the victim's family's demands...we've already discussed compensation."
Allen nodded slowly. "You want me to withdraw my lawsuit against you."
Calin bit her lip and lowered her head. "Whether you withdraw it or not, I'll most likely still serve prison time..."
She went on to explain how she was already facing multiple lawsuits because of her past actions.
However, she deliberately omitted any mention of the servant mother and daughter involved in the homicide case.
She simply wanted Allen to understand that she was already suffering enough and that the weight of the law was already crushing in on her.
Allen closed his eyes. For a brief moment, he appeared to waver.
Seeing this, Calin continued her performance.
"I can't help you. I'm sorry." Allen said firmly.
Calin froze, shock flashed across her face as the words lodged in her throat.
"You should leave," Allen said quietly, turning his gaze away.
As much as he pitied her, he couldn't betray the people who had genuinely cared for him and stood by him when he was at death's door.
Aggrieved and furious, Calin suddenly sprang to her feet and lunged toward him.
"What do you mean?" she shouted. "Aren't I already paying for what I've done? You're still alive, aren't you? What good will suing me do? You're trying to kill me!"
Then her voice rose hysterically. "Brother Allen, do you really want me dead? Are you one of those people who can't wait to see my downfall? Haven't I fallen hard enough already?"
Allen instinctively tried to push her away, but Calin seemed to have completely lost control.
Grabbing at him, she poured out all the grievances and misery she had accumulated over the past few weeks, her long nails scratched across his arms and hands
"My engagement is ruined! My fiancé turned out to be a criminal! My entire family has been dragged down because of him! Don't you know that?"
"Calin Ricci!" Allen shouted. "Get out before I call security."
Only then did Calin stop.
Even so, she collapsed onto the floor as she continued crying.
"Calin, from beginning to end, I don't have the right to interfere or forgive you on behalf of the victims whose lives were destroyed by your choices, don't expect anything from me." Allen said indignantly.
At that moment, several medical staff members heard the commotion and rushed over to check what was happening.
Calin didn't stay any longer and simply gave Allen one last look before turning and striding out of the room.
Allen let out a deep sigh, completely failing to notice the desperation, resentment, and coldness hidden within her gaze.
---
Because of what had happened at the bar, the Zhi couple no longer felt comfortable with Yeri staying outside or alone at the penthouse. As a result, she decided to move back home for the time being.
Besides, she would be graduating in just a week's time.
As for the wedding...
Shin seemed to have finally grown a conscience after seeing how exhausted she was from juggling schoolwork and wedding preparations. He had agreed to postpone the wedding for another six months, allowing her to finally breathe.
Seeing the latest scandal online claiming that she was pregnant, Yeri merely rolled her eyes and tossed her phone onto the corner of the bed.
A moment later, Mother Zhi knocked on her bedroom door.
"You were just discharged from the hospital. Are you sure you're not feeling uncomfortable anywhere? What about food? Are you craving anything?"
Yeri sat cross-legged on her bed, she knew the real reason her mother had come to her room.
"Mom, rest assured, I'm not pregnant. Just ignore whatever nonsense people are saying. Ever since my engagement, all sorts of ridiculous rumors and accusations have been thrown at me. I'm already used to it."
Mother Zhi's expression immediately became stern as she sat down beside her daughter.
"Such a serious matter and you're telling me to ignore it? People are saying you're pregnant. Do you know how that affects your reputation? You can't just let people misunderstand and think you're promiscuous."
Yeri: "..."
In order to reassure her mother, she explained everything that had happened at the bar.
She also added that even if other people misunderstood her, as long as Shin knew the truth, she wasn't worried.
Mother Zhi instantly became furious. "Hadi Keir actually dared to do such a thing?"
"Mom, you know Brother Shin," Yeri said helplessly. "He'll definitely clear my name and restore my reputation, so don't think about it too much."
Although Yeri said so, Mother Zhi wasn't completely reassured.
Ever since becoming engaged to Shin Keir, Yeri had hardly enjoyed a moment of peace.
The media and netizens constantly followed her every move, scrutinizing everything she did.
"I remember how much you disliked being in the spotlight," Mother Zhi said softly. "Now you're even more famous than most celebrities. Are you sure you're alright with that?"
Yeri understood what her mother meant, but fame was only a small price to pay.
Compared to being constantly targeted by Leo Nafplion before, and potentially by others in the future, there was no denying that being with Shin Keir had been the right choice.
Besides...
Didn't she like him?