Chapter 2 Being Beaten Instead

By the time Annie finally entered the hotel, Mason was nowhere to be seen. The hotel receptionist refused to tell her which room Mason was in. Just as Annie was about to lose her cool and launch a tirade, an alluring, unfamiliar voice spoke from behind her. “Tell her the room number.” Myles leaned on the counter. His eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, locked onto Annie, who was so frantic she was on the verge of tears. This woman was undoubtedly an interesting one. “Y… yes, Mr. Jennings,” stammered the receptionist. It was a coincidence that this particular hotel was under the Jennings Group flagship. Among all the Jennings Group employees, very few did not recognize Myles Jennings. Annie was one of the few. “Miss, Mr. Quinn is in Room 8006.” “Thank you.” Annie stood there soullessly. She paid no attention to what was happening until she vaguely heard the receptionist lady reveal the room number. Only then did she belatedly mutter a word of thanks before walking toward the elevator. Myles calmly followed her. His face was almost unbearably attractive, with sharp angles that seemed to have been carved from a knife and eyes as deep as obsidian. Anyone who saw him never failed to be hypnotized by his imposing manner. Annie was the first exception. It was the first time Myles met anyone who dared to ignore his existence more than once, and a woman at that. A kind of creature he had never dealt with. Furthermore, there had never been a woman who was completely unaffected by his presence when in an enclosed space with him. This perked a hunter-like curiosity within him. The flustered Annie subconsciously walked to Room 8006’s door but she hesitated to raise her hand to knock for a long time. Mason’s warmth and consideration that she was used to endlessly flashed through her head. She found herself suddenly unwilling to believe the scene she had seen earlier. ‘Maybe my eyesight has gotten worse?’ Annie took a step back, retracting the hand she had extended. That must be it, she must have seen it wrong. “Your boyfriend is with another woman.” However, as Annie turned to leave, this sentence suddenly sounded in her mind, making her shudder and returning to her senses. ‘No, Annie Lane, you must not be so weak! If Mason had the gall to betray you, you have to face it bravely even if you cry to death!’ Knock knock knock! Myles, who was still being ignored, watched her troubled figure coolly, full of anticipation for the show that was to come. “You… Sophie?” Annie had been very flustered, and her heart was in her throat, but when the room door opened to reveal the familiar face, Annie felt as if ten thousand horses trampled over her heart. Sophie Lane was Annie’s little sister from the same father but a different mother, but their experiences in life were as different as heaven and earth. Sophie had a nice home, a nice car to drive, and good food to eat. She got everything she wanted, and she had the temper of a sly little barbarian. On the other hand, Annie lived with her mother in a cheap rental, and her mother had been forced to wash their neighbors’ clothes to earn enough money to put her through school. Compared to Sophie, Annie was a negligible piece of filth that had fallen to the ground. “Mason, come see who’s here!” Mason and Sophie?! Annie stood rooted to the spot like a fool, yet she was still somewhat looking forward to exposing Sophie’s lie. That was right, she was definitely lying to her. Sophie loved picking on her ever since they were little. Despite her and her mother’s life being tight enough, Sophie still often patronized her sister's patchy rental home and flung the freshly washed and dried clothes to the ground to stamp on, making a point to show off her own excellent life while she was at it. To Annie, Sophie Lane was not her sister. She was an enemy who coincidentally shared her blood. “Mason Quinn, give me an explanation! Why are you here with Sophie Lane? Do you know how many times I’ve called you? You bastard!” Annie lost control of her emotions and reached out a hand to grab Mason. However, Sophie stopped her and slapped her ruthlessly across the cheek. “Annie…” Hehehe...When Annie heard Mason call her name so warmly again, she was going to die laughing. Mason had spent a year courting her. They dated for two years. Those three years just for him to fall into the hands of another woman. Annie felt like an idiot. “Mason, are you feeling distressed, by any chance?” Sophie was still holding Annie’s arm tightly as she shot a defiant look at the man beside her. Her determination to get what she wanted was strong. “Annie, you should go,” Mason said. “I already know about you and Ethan. Let’s break up. I don’t want to see you anymore.” Mason’s expression was composed. Annie lifted her head disbelievingly to look at this man who had pampered her for three years and never once touched her. She did not understand. Why would he become like this? “There’s absolutely nothing between me and Ethan. Mason, can’t you believe me?” Faced with Annie’s pleading, Mason firmly shook off Annie’s hand, staring at her with disgust. “Annie, you don’t have to explain any further. I’ve never liked you. The person I love is Sophie. Leave. Stop embarrassing yourself.” When he thought about Sophie’s promise of half of the Lane family’s property and having his business skyrocket, Mason forced himself to spit out these cruel words to get rid of the woman before him who was now an obstacle. “Annie, why are you so thick-skinned?” said Sophie. “Just like that good-for-nothing mother of yours, only knowing how to seduce others’ boyfriends! I’ll speak plainly to you. I forged that picture of you and Ethan, but the reality is that today’s Valentine’s Day, and I’m with your boyfriend. Also, you got a permanent position at Jennings Corp. today, but I can force you out tomorrow!” Myles, who had been silent and staying out of sight, frowned when he heard those last words. Jennings Corp.? Could this foolish girl who had been thrown aside be a Jennings Corp. employee? Moreover, this Sophie Lane woman had so outspokenly run her mouth that she could cause waves at Jennings Corp. as she pleased. He would truly like to find out who really had that ability.