Chapter 14

Two days later, Jolene had already prepared the herbal medicine for Steven. Dressed in a floral dress with a white jacket, she looked even more radiant than usual as she stood in the living room, ready to leave. "Mr. Welsh, I'm heading out now," she said to Steven, who was sitting in the living room watching TV. "You're leaving so early?" Steven asked, glancing at her. "Yes, I'm going to visit my grandmother first," Jolene replied with a smile. She had received good news about Emma's improving health and couldn't wait to see her. "Alright." Steven watched her leave, noticing the happy sway of her skirt as she walked. As soon as she was out the door, he picked up his phone and called Vance. "We're moving tonight's secret meeting to Coral Palace." … It was 6:00 pm, and the entrance to Coral Palace was packed with cars. A group of students had gathered outside, and the class monitor of the alternative medicine program was taking attendance. A group of female classmates whispered among themselves, "Has Jolene not arrived yet? We haven't seen her since winter break, right? It's been four or five months. Do you think those rumors about her are true?" "She's probably still in bed with some rich old dude." Someone had seen Jolene getting into a luxury car with an older man on campus. "Molly, you're her roommate. You must know something, right? Is it true that Jolene has a sugar daddy?" they asked, eager for gossip. With her refined makeup and designer handbag, Molly said softly, "Don't talk about Jolene like that. She's just doing what she needs to do to survive. Her family is poor, and her grandmother is sick..." "So, she's really with an old man? Gross! I can't believe you're defending her!" "Molly comes from a wealthy family. She's kind, beautiful, and generous—nothing like Jolene. I heard you even have connections with the Welsh family's daughter..." Molly forced an awkward smile at that. Just then, a blue Porsche raced up to the group before rolling to a stop directly in front of them, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "Ethan's here!" A handsome young man dressed in an impeccably tailored white shirt stepped out of the car. He had one hand in his pocket and held his car keys in the other, twirling them around his finger. "Ethan, your car must be worth over a million, right?" someone asked. Ethan chuckled. "My family has a few of them." "Wow, you must be loaded," another remarked. The class monitor reminded him, "Ethan, we've been waiting for you to get the private room. You can share the room number in the group chat for those who haven't arrived yet." Ethan's uncle worked as the logistics manager at Coral Palace, which allowed him to snag a large private room. Most of the students had never set foot in such a high-end hotel before, so they eagerly whipped out their phones to capture the moment. "Right this way, everyone," Ethan said, visibly enjoying the admiration. "Tonight, we're celebrating in style with an eighteen-thousand-dollar setup per table, so don't hold back on the food and drinks." The crowd erupted in awe, showering him with praise. Yet, whispers of jealousy also floated through the group. "Jolene's really lucky. I heard Ethan plans to confess to her tonight." Following a waiter's guidance, they entered Room 201. The extravagant decor left them in awe, and even the meticulously arranged fruit platters exuded an air of opulence. "Enjoy yourselves. I'm going to look for my uncle," Ethan announced, giving Molly a pointed look as he left the room. She followed closely behind, clutching her bag. In the dimly lit hallway, Ethan's expression turned serious. "Are you sure Jolene will come?" Molly leaned against the wall. "She said she'll be here soon. I've already made the necessary arrangements, so don't forget the ten grand you promised me." Ethan scoffed. "You'll get your reward once it's done. But... is it true that she's being kept by someone?" Molly retorted, "You'll find out for yourself tonight. You should be able to tell if she's a virgin." Ethan chuckled, feeling like he had nothing to lose in this situation. "She's here," Molly said, nodding down the hallway. At the end of the corridor, a woman as radiant as moonlight approached. The soft, warm lighting only enhanced her breathtaking beauty, making her presence all the more captivating. Even her shadow seemed to dance gracefully behind her. Ethan's eyes sparkled with admiration as he greeted her warmly, "Jolene." Molly put on a harmless expression before linking her arm with Jolene's and said, "Everyone's here, and we were just waiting for you. Ethan insisted we couldn't start without you." Jolene asked, "Wasn't the meeting set for 6.30 pm?" She didn't think she was late. "Of course, you're always punctual. Now, come on in," Ethan said, opening the private room door in a gentlemanly manner. "I saved you a seat." Jolene took her seat between Molly and Ethan. As she settled in, she noticed the varied expressions of the other attendees—some whispered discreetly while others were more brazen. A bold classmate spoke up, "Jolene, your dress looks like it's from this year's spring collection. It must've been expensive. Who bought it for you?" Jolene answered in her soft, measured tone, "It was a gift from a family elder." Daphne had generously bought her several outfits recently. The person snickered, muttering under their breath about how even an old sugar daddy could be considered an "elder". "Your grandmother from the countryside could afford that, huh…" "Let's save the chatter for later. We need to start ordering," Ethan interjected, shooting a warning glance at the gossipers. No one wanted to risk offending him, so they dropped the topic. As the dishes were served, the group became preoccupied with snapping photos for social media, eager to show off and boast to their friends. No one paid attention to Jolene anymore. Molly poured Jolene a glass of juice and leaned in with a friendly smile. "They're just jealous because you landed an internship at the City Hospital." "Thank you," Jolene replied, holding her glass. "By the way, is your grandmother's illness costing a lot? Do you need money? I have some savings. I could lend you some," Molly offered, always playing the role of the supportive friend when Jolene was around. To an outsider, their relationship might appear close-knit and genuine. "No need, I can manage," Jolene replied softly as she continued to eat her meal while sipping her drink. Molly kept up the conversation, casually refilling Jolene's glass. Jolene didn't notice anything unusual about the drink. It had only a faint hint of alcohol and no suspicious taste. In fact, it was rather pleasant. However, after two glasses, her cheeks grew warm, and her head started to feel fuzzy. Jolene shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts and said to Molly, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." "Sure, it's right next door," Molly responded, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She knew Jolene had a keen sense of smell and was sharp, so she didn't resort to spiking her drink with anything obvious. Jolene staggered out of the room, her legs feeling like jelly. She had to lean against the corridor wall for support. Her phone buzzed in her sweater pocket as she tried to regain her balance. She glanced at the screen and saw "Hubby" flashing on the caller ID. Sluggishly, she answered, "Hi there, hubby." Her voice was soft and delicate, like a vulnerable kitten ready to be taken advantage of. On the other end, Steven's breath hitched, and there was muffled laughter in the background. "How's the gathering going?" he asked calmly. "I... I want to go home. I can't walk," Jolene murmured, rubbing her flushed cheeks. Her tongue felt heavy, and her body seemed weightless. She was far less reserved than usual. She knew that she was drunk and just wanted to leave. The restroom was just an excuse. "Jolene, are you drunk?" "The drink... made me tipsy," she admitted, trying her best to remain conscious. "Wait for me. I'll come get you," Steven said. Jolene nodded like a little chick pecking at seeds. She clung to her phone as she crouched in the corner, looking both pitiful and adorable. Just as Steven was about to hang up, he heard a man's voice on the other end. "Jolene, what are you doing out here?" It was Ethan, his voice full of enthusiasm as he grabbed her arm. "Come on, let's get you some rest. I have a room right next door." "No," Jolene slurred, pulling away from his grip. Ignoring her resistance, Ethan scooped her up into his arms. "Listen, tonight you're mine. Once we're done, you can have anything you want." "Ethan! This is illegal!" Jolene exclaimed.