Chapter 77: not weak
Michelson mansion.
Madam Perry, also known as Pearl, stood helplessly in front of a familiar room while carrying the expression of someone who had completely given up on life.
Before she could even take another step backward, she felt someone push her from behind.
"Go in!" the old woman ordered happily.
Pearl stumbled forward before quickly turning around to glare at her. "What are you doing?"
She was honestly too tired to argue at this point. Since morning, she had been dragged everywhere against her will. First, she was kidnapped into the mansion. Then she was reunited with people she hadn’t seen in years. After that, she had been forced to attend lunch and dinner as if she had never left in the first place.
And now, she was being delivered to Paul’s room like an expensive package.
The old woman frowned immediately. "Why are you so afraid of him?"
Pearl pointed at herself in disbelief. "Shouldn’t I be afraid?"
"No!" the old woman answered confidently.
Pearl stared at her silently for several seconds before nodding slowly.
Of course, it wasn’t surprising she would say that. After all, she wasn’t the one living with that scary man.
"He is just like that," the old woman continued while waving her hand dismissively. "He’s cold to everyone. Why are you acting as if he’s some dangerous villain?"
Pearl almost choked on her own saliva.
Dangerous villain?
Wasn’t that exactly what he was?
She had known Paul for years. One look from him was enough to make people question whether they had offended all their ancestors.
She still remembered how terrifying he looked whenever he became angry. Thinking about it was enough to give her a headache.
The old woman sighed helplessly before grabbing her hand.
"Pearl, he only hates you because he wants to believe he hates you."
"Mother..." Pearl called helplessly.
"No! Listen to me first." The old woman interrupted immediately. "He can hate everyone in this world, but I don’t believe he hates you."
Pearl laughed in disbelief. She wondered if they were talking about the same Paul.
The old woman smiled mysteriously before whispering, "You can even hug him to shut him up."
Silence.
Pearl looked at her quietly before slowly moving backward. She wasn’t afraid of death, but she wasn’t interested in dying tonight either.
"Hug him?" she repeated in disbelief.
The old woman nodded happily. Pearl smiled awkwardly. "Mother, are you trying to send me to heaven early?"
The old woman rolled her eyes immediately.
Before she could continue speaking, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Both women looked over at the same time.
Paul had returned.
He was still dressed in his black suit from work. His cold expression remained unchanged as his sharp eyes landed on the two women standing outside his room.
He paused briefly before frowning slightly. Then his eyes landed on his mother.
"What are you doing?" he asked calmly.
The old woman smiled innocently. "Nothing."
Paul raised a brow before looking at Pearl standing beside her with a helpless expression on her face.
His expression immediately darkened. "Mom...Why are you forcing a scheming woman on me?"
Pearl widened her eyes in disbelief before pointing at herself. "Scheming woman?"
Paul ignored her while the old woman coughed awkwardly before trying to explain herself.
"Actually—"
"If you’re bored, I can ask Father to accompany you shopping tomorrow," Paul interrupted calmly.
The old woman quickly shut her mouth.
Pearl’s face darkened immediately. She could tolerate many things, but being called a scheming woman was definitely not one of them.
She glared at him angrily. "If not because of your parents, do you think I would be here?" she asked coldly.
Paul looked at her calmly without saying anything.
"Being with you in the first place wasn’t my fault!" she continued angrily. "I was a victim too!"
Paul remained silent as if her words had nothing to do with him.
Pearl took a deep breath before looking at the old woman helplessly. "Mother, please set me free."
The old woman was stunned.
Pearl forced out a smile before continuing, "Please let Paul marry someone he likes."
Then she pointed at herself. "And I already have someone I like too."
The smile on the old woman’s face disappeared immediately.
Shock filled her eyes. "What?"
Even Paul, who was expressionless from the beginning, paused slightly before looking at her.
Pearl didn’t notice his gaze as she sighed softly. "It’s already been years. We should stop forcing something that isn’t meant to happen."
The old woman’s eyes immediately became teary.
She had been waiting for this daughter-in-law for years only to hear such heartbreaking words.
Pearl sighed helplessly before looking at Paul.
He simply looked at her for a few seconds before turning around and walking into his room as if he didn’t care about their conversation at all.
Not long after, the bathroom door closed behind him.
Pearl smiled bitterly.
See?
This was exactly why she ran away all those years ago.
The old woman sighed sadly before waving her hand helplessly. "Forget it. I won’t interfere anymore."
Pearl smiled softly before hugging her briefly.
"Thank you, Mother."
After escorting the old woman away, Pearl quietly made her way toward the kitchen. She suddenly felt thirsty after today’s drama.
After pouring herself a glass of water, she sighed happily.
Nothing was more comforting than cold water after surviving several life-threatening situations.
Just as she finished drinking, a cold voice suddenly sounded behind her.
"Why are you here?" Pearl frowned slightly before turning her head.
Alan stood not too far away while looking at her coldly.
Pearl remained silent for a few seconds before turning away indifferently.
She picked up her cup and started walking away.
"Wait!"
Pearl stopped walking before looking back at her coldly.
Alan frowned slightly when she noticed the indifference in her eyes.
Pearl looked directly into her eyes before speaking calmly. "I don’t care whether you hate me or not." Her expression slowly became colder. "But be careful of your tongue."
Alan was stunned.
Pearl continued calmly, "I won’t tolerate this bullshit."
Without waiting for another response, she turned around and left quietly.
Alan remained standing there in silence while watching her back disappear into the darkness of the hallway.