Hazel Sinclair was also confused. What had the original owner of this body done to drag Leon Sterling down?
Jill Kensington had always believed Hazel would be a burden to Leon Sterling, urging them to divorce every time they met.
"You should divorce Mr. Sterling and go back to the Sinclair Family. I’ll be the one to help Mr. Sterling make his comeback." Jill was still fixated on getting them to divorce.
To be respectfully addressed as "Mrs. Sterling," to have endless money, to leap across social classes and no longer have to struggle daily for peanuts.
No more working herself to death just to earn money for a house and pay off a mortgage. The very thought of that life made Jill tremble with excitement.
"I’ll be his perfect supportive wife. He and I are the ones who are truly compatible," Jill said smugly.
In her last life, she was someone who could actually talk to Leon Sterling. She knew his preferences, his tastes, and his habits. She refused to believe she couldn’t win him over in this life.
But if the two of them refused to divorce, wouldn’t her rebirth have been for nothing?
Jill could only say it again, "Just divorce him already."
’So I can take your place and enjoy a life of happiness.’
"You say I’ll drag Leon Sterling down. How am I going to do that?" Hazel Sinclair asked, crossing her arms as she looked at her.
"You spend money like water, making him suffer. And not only that, you’ll find another man and make him a cuckold," Jill retorted, then realized she had said too much.
’Is that it?’
’Those aren’t exactly unforgivable sins. I thought she was going to say I’d steal and sell Leon Sterling’s core company data, or actively sabotage his career.’
"And how are you so sure I’m going to cheat?" Hazel asked slowly.
Hearing this, Jill panicked internally. ’Oh no.’
’I’ve said too much.’
She immediately stiffened her neck and tried to backtrack. "You just have the look of someone who can’t sit still. You’ll definitely cheat in the future."
With that, Jill turned and shouted to the few people who were on break, "Time to get back to work."
"You, go join them on the stream."
Hazel Sinclair stood in the live-streaming studio, holding a red handbag with a smile on her face.
The female host next to her was chattering away, her mouth going like a machine gun, yet every word was perfectly clear.
Hazel couldn’t get a word in edgewise. She could only stand to the side, holding the handbag like a living prop.
She kept a smile on her face and joined in to hype up the audience whenever it was needed.
"Alright, family! Link number three, in three... two... one! The link is up! Go, go, go! This is the absolute best price you’ll find. Miss this, and you’ll regret it!"
As the host launched into her closing pitch, Hazel silently swapped the red handbag in her hands for a different style and placed another one in front of the host.
After a whole afternoon of shouting and talking along with them, Hazel’s voice was completely hoarse by the time it was over.
Her voice was raspy and dry. She went to Jill and said, "I’m heading out."
Hearing her strained voice, Jill glanced at her, pulled open a drawer, and tossed over a box of throat lozenges.
"Take some when you get back. Don’t ruin your voice," Jill advised.
Hazel caught it, popped one out in front of Jill and put it in her mouth, then handed the box back. "Thanks."
Jill wasn’t done for the day; she still had to sort through the data and sales figures from the morning stream.
After leaving the company, Hazel found a shared bike nearby, scanned the code, and started riding.
It was a twenty-minute ride back to her apartment. She made a mental note to buy a mini car for commuting.
But if she bought a mini car, she wouldn’t be able to take it with her when she faked her death and disappeared. ’Forget it,’ she decided. ’I’ll just get a used electric scooter. I won’t feel bad about ditching it later.’
When she got back to her apartment complex and found a place to park the bike, a man in a sharp suit appeared before her as she was about to head inside.
"Miss Sinclair, could we talk?" Vincent Hawthorne asked, a faint smile on his face.
His eyes swept over Hazel, and he found himself thinking that this woman was stunningly beautiful.
In the past, she had been a recluse, rarely seen except for a few banquets she attended with Leon Sterling.
This was Vincent Hawthorne’s first time seeing Hazel Sinclair up close. She was indeed as beautiful as a goddess. No wonder the men in their circle were so obsessed with her.
Whenever anyone talked about Leon Sterling, the conversation eventually turned to this woman—with regret, with a desire to replace him, with a wish to lock her away for themselves, with a fantasy of making her their mistress.
But in the end, all those fantasies died because of the Sinclair Family behind her.
Since they couldn’t make a move on their own, what if Hazel Sinclair came to them willingly?
That would be a different story altogether.
"I don’t think you and I have anything to talk about." Hazel knew who this man was; the original owner’s memories contained information about him.
Vincent Hawthorne. The man who stole Leon Sterling’s company and ruined them, reducing them to their current state.
’Anyone who stops me from enjoying the good life is my enemy!’
’And the man in front of me was, without a doubt, the biggest enemy of all.’
"You’re the one who put us in this situation. What do you think we have to talk about?" Hazel said, her face cold.
"If you come with me for a bit, I’ll lift the blacklist on Leon Sterling. I’ll also give you and your husband five million. How about it?" Vincent Hawthorne said, his hands in his pockets, radiating confidence.
It was a huge temptation. Surely Hazel Sinclair wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Five million. Hazel, indeed, couldn’t refuse.
Besides, if he lifted the blacklist, Leon Sterling could use that five million to start a new company.
Start a company, build it up, make it strong, and then kick this arrogant man standing before her to the curb.
The offer was tempting, but what was the price?
Vincent Hawthorne had never approached her before. For him to show up now, he must be plotting something malicious.
Just as Hazel was hesitating, the System spoke up.
[Host, hurry and agree. This is a critical plot point in the novel.]
The System’s sudden appearance made Hazel feel like the trap was even deeper than she’d imagined.
"What, is Miss Sinclair not satisfied with my offer?"
"Then how about we make it six million?" Vincent Hawthorne asked, still as confident as ever.
[Host, if you refuse again, I will have to initiate punishment mode.]
Hearing the System’s words, Hazel was shocked. ’This System has a punishment mode?!’
[Please agree to his request.] The System repeated itself.
To avoid being punished, Hazel gritted her teeth, looked at Vincent Hawthorne, and said, "Fine, I’ll go with you, but transfer the money to my account first."
"The moment the money arrives, I’ll go with you."
’It would be truly tragic to go with him, get taken advantage of, and not even get the money in my account.’
"Fine."
Vincent Hawthorne agreed and took out his phone to call his assistant.
A few moments later, a text message notification popped up.
Hazel tapped on it and saw that six million had been deposited into her account. She put her phone away, looked at him, and said, "Alright. I’ll go with you."