My Four Miraculous Treasures

She couldn't strut in sneakers, but they kept her footing steady.

Behind her, Edith's face contorted with fury, creating lines in her thick make-up, like cracks in a porcelain mask.

She took deep breaths, one after another, trying to get her emotions back under control. She was the daughter of the Price Group. She had to be an image of elegance and serenity, never throwing a tantrum like some backwater bumpkin.

-

As Willow exited the company headquarters, she happened to encounter Rachel Stone, who had only just arrived and was getting out of her car.

Recognizing her friend, Willow hurried over. "Rachel, what are you doing here?"

"Why, I'm here to deliver the payment, Willow! Mr. Ward instructed me to make sure the money was in his account by today. I've only got cash on me, though...” Rachel patted the bag she had on her.

Willow frantically caught hold of her hand. "Don't draw attention to yourself!" she hissed. "What if someone decides to rob you?!"

Immediately, Rachel went on full alert. "I'll just go right in and take this to Mr. Ward, then?" she said, her voice hushed with caution.

Willow pushed her back into the car, then got in with her. "Tyson Ward instructed you to put that money into his own account? Did he give you an account number, then?"

Rachel nodded. "Yes. In a text message." She took out her phone, and showed Willow that message. Willow looked, and saw that Tyson had indeed sent her a string of numbers, like you'd find on a debit card.

"You got that money from your mom and dad, right?" Willow said. "You can give it right back to them after this. Here, I'll transfer fifty thousand to you, and then you can transfer that to him, in turn."

Rachel's parents were civil servants, with stable jobs and decent salaries.

Rachel had a paying job herself-but she tended to splurge away her whole paycheck month after month. Willow knew there was no way she'd have fifty thousand of her own money tucked away somewhere, so she must have gotten this money from her parents.

Her best friend had always been there for her, without reservation whenever Willow had been in need. Willow had been deeply touched by her friendship, and wanted to repay it somehow.

A true friend like Rachel Stone was a heaven-sent blessing.

Rachel's eyes flew wide in shock. "Willow, did you do something... drastic?!"

"Something drastic? Like what?"

"Like giving in to Jasper Hughes, so you could ask him for money? Borrowing money from him, to repay a debt to him? Are you thinking straight?!" Ever since Rachel found out about the developments between Willow and Jasper, she'd been vehemently opposed to their relationship. noveldrama

It was clear as day that Jasper was only toying around with Willow. How could she be such a fool?

Willow chuckled. So that was what Rachel was worrying about? "It's not like that! I've got severance pay from the company, you see.”

"What?! They've fired you?!" This was an even bigger shock for Rachel.

Willow nodded and told her all about how she'd been appointed as Jasper's personal aide, only to be fired on her very first day in that new position.

Rachel gave her a big thumbs-up. "Wow, what a brilliant plan that was, Willow! However, there's no longer, any doubt that Jasper never really had any intention of marrying you, after all-otherwise he'd definitely have proposed to you straight away, once he found out you were talking like that to everyone behind his back!"

Even Rachel understood the principle behind Willow's escape plan.

"Let's go," Willow said. "We're never coming back here, ever again."

Rachel started the engine and drove off with her.

Just at that very same moment, Tyson drove up in his Maybach, with Jasper on board. He parked the car outside the company building, just as Rachel was driving past in her own car.