Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 168

Paula raised an eyebrow and shot me a knowing smile. "Take a wild guess!"

I couldn't even begin to figure out who'd be that daring.

Shaking my head, I said, "You're the only bold person I know!"

Paula raised her eyebrow again, acknowledging her own boldness. "I'm bold, but I'm not dumb enough to ask for trouble! I've met plenty of bold people, but this is the first time I've seen someone so reckless."

Then she dropped a name—Ophelia.

I was floored. Then I remembered the harsh words Ophelia had said last time. Suddenly, it all clicked.

"Ophelia wouldn't be trying to set up Mr. Cook to get some dirt on him and blackmail him into dropping the case, would she?" Even though I got her reasoning, I still thought it was incredibly foolish.

Jason, a top-tier lawyer, had never lost a case. There was no way he would be easily threatened. And using illegal means? That would just hand Jason the evidence he needed on a silver platter.

"Now that her plan has failed, she's in big trouble!" I felt a moment of pity for Ophelia, but it didn't last long.

Paula snorted. "Idiots should know their place. She got what she deserved."

I knew Paula was so indignant because she had almost gotten caught up in the mess today.

I thought for a moment and then smiled. "You helped Mr. Cook out a lot this time. He owes you big time. When he wakes up, he'll definitely want to thank you properly."

Paula didn't seem to care. "I didn't help him for the thanks," she said, rubbing her temples. Staying up late was taking its toll on her. "It was just his luck that I was there. I had just finished a meeting with a client and was dropping them off at their hotel when I saw Ophelia looking all panicked. I got suspicious and followed her, and that's when I saw what she was up to."

"I acted on impulse and almost got myself in trouble. If I had known it would turn out like that, I wouldn't have gotten involved."

Even though she was grumbling, I knew Paula well enough to know that if the situation happened again, she would still step in to help.

But seeing Paula's still-shaken expression, I realized the situation had been more dangerous than I had thought. I patted her hand reassuringly. Even though we had been sitting in the car for a while, her hand was still a bit cold. It seemed she had been really scared tonight.

By the time I dropped Paula off at her place, it was already the middle of the night. I was about to leave when Paula suggested, "It's so late, and driving back tired is dangerous. I was really scared tonight. Aren't you going to stay and comfort me?"

"Alright, Paula, if you're scared, of course I'll stay." I smiled and stayed without hesitation.

Even though Paula acted all cheerful in front of me, she didn't sleep well. I stayed by her side, soothing her until she finally calmed down.

I slowly turned my attention back to work.

Vincent and Glenn were great people. Not only did they help me with my job, but they also taught me a lot as I worked hard to be a good assistant. As a result, I was getting better at my job, and I could feel my own progress.

After finishing work in the afternoon, I drove home.

From a distance, I saw a slender figure standing in front of my house, glancing towards the door as if checking if I was home.

I frowned. Who could this be? Judging by the height and figure, it looked a bit like Ophelia. Could she have realized her plan against Jason had failed and come to me for help?

As I was considering whether to call security to have her removed, the person turned around. It wasn't Ophelia. But she did look familiar!

I parked the car at the gate and got out.

The person immediately looked at me, and as I got closer, I recognized her face.

"Melinda..." She recognized me too, her eyes filled with surprise and nervousness.

"Quinlan?" Because of the lighting and distance, I hadn't recognized her at first. But now, with her familiar voice and closer look, I realized it was my cousin.

Quinlan Turner seemed relieved that I recognized her and was willing to acknowledge her. The unease on her face had now turned into a more cheerful expression. "Melinda, you recognized me!"

Her tone was light and happy. That adorable round face couldn't hide her joy.

"Even though it's been a while, how could I not recognize your cute face? Besides, we're family!" I smiled and led her inside. "Have you been waiting long? You should have called me when you got to Starlight City. It's getting colder, and it's almost dark. If I had come home later, you would have had to wait even longer."

Her hands were cold, with calluses from hard work. Even though she was two years younger than me, her hands felt rougher, like she had aged more. "I'm working in Starlight City now."

Hearing that she had a job made me happy for her. She had taken a significant step in her life.

"Come on, let's go inside and talk!" I entered the code and led her into the house.

She sat on the couch, still looking a bit uneasy and embarrassed.

For a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy for her. I asked with concern, "Where are you working now?"

"I'm a reporter at Echo Magazine."

I nodded, impressed. "Echo Magazine is great. It's well-established and highly regarded."

With its keen eye and sharp insights, the magazine was a leader in sales and reputation.

Hearing my praise, Quinlan gave a shy smile.

I poured her a glass of water, and she took a small sip, still holding the cup nervously.

I didn't rush her, letting her warm her hands with the cup. "Do your parents know you're in Starlight City? Did they send you here to work to pay off debts or for your brother's wedding?"

"No, they don't know I'm here. I haven't been in touch with them for a while," Quinlan explained, her voice tinged with sadness and worry. "I just hope they don't find out."

"They won't. Starlight City is huge. They won't find you, especially if you haven't told anyone," I reassured her.

Quinlan quickly shook her head. "I haven't told anyone except you."

I nodded, feeling a surge of sympathy for her.