Chapter 5 The Heiress

Irene smiled and turned to leave. "Wait! Miss Irene!" A voice called out from behind. Irene turned to see Marta enthusiastically waving her arm. "Miss Irene, thank you so much for saving my sister. We're very grateful. May I ask what kind of work you do now?" the man next to Marta asked. Irene shook her head. "It was the right thing to do, no need for thanks." Marta chattered, "Irene, would you be my bodyguard?" Irene frowned slightly, and the man said, "I apologize, Marta speaks without thinking. I hope she didn't offend you." Marta hugged Irene's arm and shook it. "Irene, please be my bodyguard! We get along so well, I can take you to eat delicious food and have fun every day!" Irene chuckled, "Why are you so eager to keep me around?" "Because you remind me of my older sister," Marta whispered. "She passed away a long time ago. Seeing you feels so familiar." Irene looked at Marta's sweat-drenched hair and bruises and gently touched her hair. "Thank you for liking me, but I already have a job I enjoy. I'm sorry, I can't quit." Marta looked down, disappointed. "Well, alright, Irene, if you ever change your mind, please come find me. I'll always welcome you!" She gave Irene a big hug. Walter, the assistant, arrived just in time to witness this scene. Isn't the girl hugging her the adopted daughter of the Kashi family? The one who openly defied her fiancé on the street? How does the young miss know her? And even hugging her? The young miss usually gets angry if anyone touches her. Walter was puzzled, but when the two women looked at him, he quickly composed himself. He knew Irene, but Irene probably didn't know him. Walter bowed slightly. "Miss, the young master is waiting for you in the car. You need to see a doctor for your injuries immediately." "I know." "Doesn't my brother have anything to say? Irene just saved me!" Walter deeply bowed to Irene. "Thank you, Miss Irene, for saving our young miss." He then handed Irene a metal briefcase. "The young master thanks you, but he has urgent matters to attend to and can't bid you farewell in person. He asked me to apologize on his behalf." Irene glanced at the briefcase. "How much is in here?" "Miss Irene, this is fifty million." Irene's pale fingers lightly brushed the silver surface of the briefcase, and Walter watched knowingly. Suddenly, Irene pulled her hand back. "I don't want it." Walter was stunned, looking at Marta, unsure what to do. Fifty million! Fifty million just turned down? From what he knew, this Irene had been cut off by her foster parents for a while. "Miss, the young master is still waiting." Marta ignored him, hugging Irene's arm and pouting. "My family isn't just about throwing money around! Irene, you're right to refuse. Once I'm better, I'll pick out some handbags for you. You'll love them!" A luxury car slowly approached, the window slightly lowered, revealing Marta's brother. He was on the phone, holding a computer, his posture elegant and movements refined. Irene hadn't paid much attention to Marta's brother's appearance before, but now she was a bit curious. When the window lowered briefly, she caught a whiff of gunpowder and a hint of blood. Something had definitely happened in that car, maybe an assassination or a robbery. Who knows? Walter urged again, "Miss, the young master has been waiting a long time." Marta nodded slightly, then turned to Irene with a big smile. "Irene, wait for me, okay?" She walked to the luxury car, returning shortly after. "Miss Kashi, please accept this money. The young master is very grateful that you saved the young miss." "You know who I am?" Irene raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem grateful, more like you want to distance yourself from me." At that moment, Marta returned. "Irene! This is the most tasteful thing I could get from my brother! Do you like it? He didn't want to give it up!" She handed over a watch with a starry sky dial, encrusted with fine diamonds, luxurious but tasteful. If Irene wasn't mistaken, this was a new model launched by the world's top watch company, Rockia, in '22, priced around seventy million. Seeing Marta's expectant expression, Irene laughed. "Thank you. I'll take it home and treasure it." She hugged Marta and left. Walter quietly sighed in relief. That Miss Kashi offended her foster parents and fiancé and was currently "on the run." Associating with her would definitely be trouble. The afternoon sun was scorching. Irene's long hair shimmered under the sunlight, her tall figure looking particularly beautiful, walking gracefully. The man in the car looked up from his work, catching this scene. Marta pouted as she got into the car, making the man laugh. "What's wrong? Still upset?" "Brother, don't you think Irene looks a lot like our sister?" "Maybe a bit, but she's not our sister. Don't treat others as substitutes; it's disrespectful." Marta coldly looked at Walter. "What was that attitude toward Irene? Did you think we didn't notice?" Walter pursed his lips, sweat forming on his forehead. No one in the family dared to provoke Marta. Raised with her siblings' love, she always acted like a spoiled child with them, but she was a little devil to everyone else. She didn't care about anyone, not even the nanny who raised her. Walter bowed his head. "Miss, this Irene doesn't have a good reputation in City A. I'm afraid being seen with her will affect you." "Affect? I think you're trying to avoid punishment! My brother told you to stay with me, and this is how you do it?" The man interrupted Marta. His wrist was exposed, showing pale skin against his dark suit, making him look particularly distinguished. "Alright, tell me why you were kidnapped." At this, Marta fell silent, curling up in the back seat, wanting to disappear. The man chuckled. His lips were rosy, with a slight smirk, his fair cheeks and golden hair matching Marta's, but unlike her innocence, he looked like a Greek god—noble and cold. "Let's go." "Stefan! I want dessert!" "Don't push it," Stefan glanced at the now obedient girl, smiling helplessly.