Chapter 3

"Get out. I don't want to see you anymore." Racquelle took the salmon congee from my hands and dismissed me coldly. "Alright." I nodded and dragged my exhausted self back to the adjacent ward. Yet, I could truly rest when lying down. As general manager of the Smith Group, I still had to handle the mess left behind by Racquelle, who didn't lift a finger at work. As I pulled out my phone, my assistant gave me a ring, saying, "Mr. Smith, I need Ms. Smith to sign some documents, but I can't reach her..." I was all too familiar with this situation. "Send the documents to me. I'll take care of it." Gerald Smith—that would be Racquelle's biological father and my adoptive father—had assigned these projects to Racquelle to train her to lead the Smith Group. But much to his disappointment, she spent all her time wrapped up in her romance with Vernon, with no interest in learning anything about the business. Whenever something urgent required her attention, she would call me to offload everything before going to enjoy herself. Ironically, I had benefited from this neglect. By now, most people in the industry knew of me. Because of my name and reputation, I could secure a good position even if I left Smith Group one day. When I finished reviewing the documents, it was already 1:30 am. As I was about to head to the bathroom, I heard Racquelle's furious shouting from the next room. "Dad, I'm already 20 years old. I'm an adult now! Why keep that useless idiot around? Are you trying to spy on me? Why should I care if he lives or dies? I hope he drops dead so I won't hear him buzzing around my ears. It's so annoying! "I really don't get it. Why do you trust him so much? Who's the biological child now? Me or him?" The next moment, she stormed out of the room. When she saw me, she immediately slapped me across the face. My ears rang, and a wave of dizziness swept over me. "How dare you eavesdrop on my conversation!" Rubbing my stinging cheek, I replied evenly, "I was just passing by." "Hah! Who do you think you're fooling, Joshua? You came to our family just because we're wealthy, right? Trying to make a move on me and become my fiance, huh? Let me tell you—you're not worthy!" She cursed me out with hatred before turning and leaving. I calmly watched as she left. In the ten years I had spent with the Smith family, Racquelle had shown her spoiled, domineering side to the fullest. To get rid of me, she once stabbed herself with a knife and accused me of trying to harm her. She had even put sleeping pills in my drink. At the worst time, I had to get my gastric lavaged four times before I stabilized. Relatives and friends looked down on me, despised me, and scorned me for willingly becoming her lapdog just for money. I was a lapdog without dignity, one that Racquelle couldn't drive away no matter how hard she tried. However, I knew I had no way of affording Julianna's steep medical bills, and her rare illness left me helpless. I gave up ten years of freedom for her chance at life, and I had no regrets. At least this cruel existence would end in one more month. Once I was out of the Smith family, I would finally have my own life. As for Racquelle... I would never spare her another glance.