Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 51
Joanna Kennedy squinted. Charlotte Underwood seemed to have just gotten back; she hadn’t even had time to take off her idol makeup, and her face was still glittering.
In her hand, she dangled a silver bracelet that looked somewhat dated.
Joanna was instantly wide awake. Without even putting on her shoes, she walked up to her, her face cold. "Give it back."
Charlotte Underwood clutched the bracelet in her palm and batted her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"My bracelet."
"Yours?" Charlotte feigned surprise. "But I found this in the drawer."
Everyone in the dorm had their own locker, which had a connected drawer that couldn’t be opened without a key.
While Joanna was asleep, Charlotte Underwood had actually snuck over, used her key to open the drawer, and taken out the bracelet.
They lived in the same dorm room. Although Charlotte had moved in less than two months ago, she had more than once seen Joanna staring blankly at this very bracelet.
But Joanna never wore it. Every time, after looking at it, she would put it back in the drawer, treating it like a priceless treasure.
"Charlotte Underwood," Joanna said, "I’ll say it one more time. Give it back."
"I’m not giving it back. What are you going to do about it?"
’What would she do?’
Joanna simply kicked Charlotte Underwood’s stool. Charlotte shrieked in fright, immediately jumping to her feet and scrambling a safe distance away.
"Joanna Kennedy, are you crazy?!"
"Give it back."
Seeing Joanna advance on her step by step, Charlotte backed up until her back was pressed against the window. With nowhere left to retreat, she suddenly thrust the hand holding the bracelet out the window and snarled, "You think I won’t throw it?"
Their dorm room was on the eighth floor. Below was a grassy area; if a small object like the bracelet was thrown down, it would be nearly impossible to find.
Joanna finally stopped in her tracks. "What do you want?"
Seeing that Joanna really wasn’t moving, Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief and mumbled under her breath, "It’s not even worth anything. I can’t believe she cares this much."
She cleared her throat and said, "Take me with you to the dinner tonight, and I’ll give the bracelet back."
"Fine." Joanna didn’t hesitate.
’That easily?’
Charlotte was suspicious. "You’re not tricking me, are you?"
"I won’t," Joanna said. "Now can you give it back to me?"
Charlotte hesitated, almost handing it over, but then shook her head. "No. If I give it to you now, what if you go back on your word and don’t take me? How about this: once we get to the restaurant, I’ll give it to you immediately."
Joanna frowned. "And what if you’re the one who backs out?"
Charlotte looked instantly insulted. "This worthless little bracelet? What would I want it for? You think everyone’s as pathetic and broke as you are?!"
’Two months’ salary, just to be called pathetic and broke.’ Joanna wasn’t sure who she felt sorrier for.
Night fell quickly. Shannon Lewis sent the location: a high-end club. Joanna took Charlotte Underwood with her in a car.
In the car, Charlotte was still busy touching up her makeup. She held a compact mirror, turning it left and right to examine her face from every angle. Only after confirming her makeup was flawless did she put the compact away with satisfaction.
Joanna sat beside her, her face an icy mask. Charlotte, now in a good mood, said, "Don’t you worry. I’ll give you back your precious little treasure soon."
Charlotte was intensely curious and couldn’t help but ask, "Is this bracelet really that important to you?"
She knew for a fact that Joanna had never intended to go to this dinner. It was only because she had threatened her with the bracelet that Joanna had agreed to bring her.
Charlotte had examined it closely but found nothing special about it. It was just a little trinket worth a few thousand, at most.
"Is that any of your business?" Joanna asked icily.
Instead of getting the gossip she was after, Charlotte was rebuffed. She let out a cold huff and stopped talking.
They soon arrived. The club was famous in Aethelburg. It had opened suddenly a year ago and quickly became a favorite haunt for the wealthy.
Joanna escorted Charlotte to the door of the private room. "You can give me the bracelet now, right?" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Alright, alright, I’m giving it back. What’s the rush..."
Joanna took the bracelet, inspected it carefully, then tucked it preciously into her pocket.
She was about to say, ’You can go in. I’m leaving.’
But before she could, Charlotte shoved her into the room.
"You!" Joanna stared at her in shock.
Charlotte gave a contemptuous smile. "Since you’re here, you might as well have some fun. Why leave?" With that, she shut the door to the private room.
The lighting in the room was dim, and the heavy stench of alcohol hit her the moment she was pushed inside. In the faint light, Joanna could see a table littered with empty bottles.
She realized she’d been set up. She turned to leave but was yanked back by the arm.
Ryan Lawson was clearly drunk, and his grip was viciously strong. He pulled Joanna off balance, causing her to stumble and nearly fall.
"Well now, Lawson, look at your charm! Is this little starlet trying to throw herself at you?"
"HAHAHAHA..."
A wave of lewd laughter filled the room.
A smug look crossed Ryan Lawson’s face. He held Joanna fast, refusing to let her go, and warned in a low voice, "Don’t forget why you’re here tonight. Behave yourself and keep me happy, and I’ll forget all about what happened at the banquet."
After his warning, he turned back to the man who had just spoken and announced loudly, "This is Joanna Kennedy! An actress! Beautiful, isn’t she?"
"Beautiful! You’ve got great taste, Lawson, as always. My little mistress is nothing compared to this one..."
The contempt and desire in his voice were completely undisguised.
Malevolent eyes roamed over Joanna’s body.
With so many people around, Joanna knew she couldn’t fight her way out. It would only infuriate Ryan Lawson further.
She took a deep breath and asked, "What do you want?"
"The way you ask that, you make it sound like I’m going to eat you alive," Ryan Lawson said.
The room erupted in another round of laughter.
Ryan Lawson walked to the table and pointed at a freshly poured, full glass of liquor. "How about this," he said. "You drink this entire glass, and I’ll let you go. What do you say?"
Joanna tore her eyes away from the full glass. "I’ll pour it myself."
"Oh? Don’t trust me?" Ryan Lawson’s expression darkened instantly. "It has to be this glass. If you don’t drink it, don’t even think about leaving tonight. There are more than enough of us here to... entertain you."
Everyone in the room understood the filthy threat behind his words. Joanna could feel their gazes on her become even more brazen.
Joanna’s hands tightened into fists. She walked over, picked up the glass, and downed it as quickly as she could.
She had never drunk anything so strong. After downing the entire glass, a flush quickly spread to the corners of her eyes, and a drop of liquor trickled from the corner of her mouth.
The empty glass hit the marble tabletop with a sharp CLINK. Joanna fought back her discomfort. "Can I go now?"
Ryan Lawson’s eyes were glued to her face. He swallowed hard. "What’s the rush? It’s easy enough to leave. I’ll walk you out..."
"I don’t need you to." Joanna slapped away his groping hand. The alcohol hadn’t hit her yet. She strode toward the door.
Ryan Lawson was right behind her. Just as she opened the door, he wrapped an arm around her waist and started dragging her back.
Joanna struggled desperately. Just as she was about to be hauled back inside, the door of the room opposite them suddenly flew open. A man stood at the forefront, his expression as dark as a thundercloud.
In the next instant, Ryan Lawson, who was clutching her tightly, was sent flying by a powerful kick. Before Joanna could even react, she felt a sharp tug on her wrist and was pulled into a warm, familiar embrace.
