She Undervalued Diamonds, He Overvalued Her

The second Selena entered the room, she immediately lunged toward my bed, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Noelle, I was the one who spread those rumors about you online and faked those conversation records! I only framed you because I was afraid of being held accountable for that significant loss. Please don't blame Rick! He knew nothing!

"Could you please beg your sugar daddy–I mean, that mysterious investor of yours? Please call him to save the company!"

Hendrick gazed at Selena, his eyes filled with heartache.

"Elle, Lena simply had a momentary lapse in judgment." Hendrick then turned to look at me and said in a truly nauseating display of self-righteousness, "Since she's being so sincere, can't you be more magnanimous and forgive her?"

I watched their clumsy, awkward pity act with detached coldness. A sneer curled my lips as I asked, "Are you done with your performance? If so, please don't disturb my rest and leave."

Selena's crying abruptly ceased as she shot me a look of disbelief.

Frowning deeply, Hendrick snapped with obvious displeasure. "Noelle Turner! Lena's been very understanding, so why are you still so aggressive?

"Be a little more magnanimous, will you? The company is in danger right now, and with just one phone call from you, everything can be resolved!"

"Magnanimous?" I cut him off from speaking further. "Hendrick Shaw, you're telling me to be magnanimous to someone who spread false rumors about me to frame me?

"You want me to forgive someone who clearly knew the truth, yet still insisted on throwing me under the bus. I almost died!"

With every word out of my mouth, Hendrick paled even further.

"Your lousy performance is utterly wasted on me!" I declared firmly, "I'm definitely not making that call!"

"You!" Rendered speechless at my behavior, Hendrick was so infuriated that his whole body shook. "Noelle, are you truly so heartless that you'd stand by and do nothing as the company goes under?"

Just then, Selena took Hendrick's arm and uttered in a sinister tone, "Rick, forget it. Since Noelle is adamant about not helping us, let's move on to plan B."

A conflicted look entered Hendrick's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ruthlessness. "Okay."

Their exchange had alarm bells ringing in my head, and I instinctively clambered out of the bed to run.

However, Hendrick darted forward, whipped out a handkerchief from his pocket, and pressed it over my mouth and nose.

"Mmph!" I lashed out with my hands and feet, but I was still too frail to win against him.

Seconds later, my vision went dark as I lost consciousness.

An unknown amount of time passed before I woke up in a daze. I discovered that I was lying on a hotel bed, clad only in a black, skimpy dress that was so translucent that it left nothing to the imagination.

I struggled to sit up, but my entire body felt limp and weak.

At that moment, Hendrick's sycophantic voice drifted in from the living room. "Mr. Zinch, I've heard that you like untouched women.

"I've already taken care of everything; she's waiting for you in bed. I'm certain she meets all your standards."

Selena quickly chimed in as well, "That's right, Mr. Zinch. I even changed her clothes into something that I'm sure you'll love…"

Hendrick added urgently, "Then, about that 200 million dollar investment…"

My heart sank as despair washed over me, chilling me to the bone.

Hendrick had actually drugged me and was using me as a bargaining chip to source funds!

"The investment?" Desmond Zinch cut him off, "We'll see after I inspect the goods."

With that, I heard footsteps drawing closer to the bedroom.

Hendrick hastily followed and simpered, "Rest assured, Mr. Zinch, she's definitely top quality!"

Following that, the door was pushed open before Desmond strode inside. His beady eyes, reminiscent of a snake's, rove over my body lustfully.

Behind him was Hendrick, an obsequious smile on his face. "I'll be honest with you—I've never even held my fiancee's hand. I was just waiting—"

However, when Desmond got a good look at my face, the lecherous leer on his lips vanished instantly. The next moment, an expression of sheer terror took over his countenance.

"M-Ms. Turner!"