“What?” A frown instantly formed on Sebastian’s face, and he immediately rushed in the bathroom.

There was nobody in the bathroom, but on the wall, a line of words written in blood was left. ‘Mr. Ford, despite our substantial differences in terms of social status, I wouldn’t want to marry you, farewell!’

The handwriting was neat and sharp, which revealed the writer’s unyielding trait.

Sebastian was stunned by it.

Could his investigation result on her be wrong?

A few seconds later, he gave an order. “Search the back of the mountain!”

He could not let his mother have any regrets before she died.

At the back of the mountain, holding onto thorns and vines to go down, Sabrina managed to escape the search from the Ford family by hiding under a dense vine, despite having her clothes torn.

She stayed there till nightfall and went around the mountain by climbing over.

Early morning on the following day, she went to the Lynn Residence again. Lincoln Lynn and Jade Sullivan were shocked and panicked when they saw Sabrina.

“You, how did you escape from prison?” Jade asked with a guilty expression.

Sabrina said mockingly, “Mrs. Lynn, I have been released after serving my full sentence.”

“You still shouldn’t have come to our house. You’re dirty and smelly, it’s too pungent! Get out of here quickly!” Jade forcefully chased Sabrina out of the house.

Sabrina could not be bothered to even look at Jade. She only looked at Lincoln and asked, “Uncle Lynn, your family knew very well why I was imprisoned back then, right? Four days ago, you came to visit me in jail and told me if I followed the address given and stayed with a man for a night, you would give me a sum to save my mother. So, I stayed with that man, but my mother died.”

Lincoln felt guilty but argued, “Everyone has their fate! I was kind and wanted to save your mother, but your mother died too soon! Could you blame me for that?”

Sabrina glared furiously at Lincoln.

She had to pierce her nails into her flesh, only then could she suppress her urge to rush up to Lincoln and bite him to death. This is because she did not have the capabilities to investigate whether her mother’s death had any relations to the Lynn family yet.

She gritted her teeth and asked calmly, “Where was my mother buried?”

Lincoln answered in vague tone, “Of course she was buried in the soil cemetery back at your hometown! I have paid for your living expenses and studies for eight years. Do I still need to buy a premium cemetery plot for your mother? You ungrateful person, leave now!”

As Lincoln closed the door, he tossed a thousand dollars and said, “This was for your service that night.”

A stab in Sabrina’s heart could be felt every time that night was mentioned.

Even she felt miserable, she still raised her chin high and stubbornly said, “If someone had to pay, shouldn’t it be that man who needed to pay me? Since he is dead, then there is no use for it! Besides, I'm not a call girl! The reason I promised you was, firstly, to save my mother, and secondly, to repay your kindness for nurturing me. So from now on, our debt is cleared!”

Eight years living under the Lynn family’s fence was enough!

She would never return to the Lynn family in the future.

If she were to be back, it would be to avenge her mother.

As he watched a tattered-looking Sabrina leave the house with such determination, Lincoln suddenly felt a dull pain on his chest.

Jade immediately scolded him furiously, “Why? Do you feel sorry for her and her mother? Lincoln Lynn, don’t forget she cursed my daughter to death! They were born on the same day. Why does she get to live, and my daughter died right after birth?”

Lincoln said, “I… I am not feeling sorry for her. The most important thing now is that she is out of prison. If she knew the man that she had slept with did not die but became the head of the Ford family, then we are going to be in big trouble!”

Jade sneered and said, “She didn’t even know who she slept with. What are you afraid of? The most important thing now is to let Sebastian marry our precious daughter. If Selene had Sebastian’s child, nobody could bully us again.”

Lincoln sighed and said, “Old Master Ford takes family backgrounds very seriously, I’m worried that he would dislike Selene for being our adopted daughter.”

Jade laughed with a hint of craziness. “Dislike? Sebastian is an illegitimate child. He didn’t even have the eligibility to inherit the power, but he still managed to take over the whole Ford Group overnight.”

“As long as Sebastian believes that Selene was the girl who sacrificed her innocence to save him, then nobody could stop them from getting married. Lincoln, you just wait for our precious daughter to marry into South City’s number one wealthy family and be Sebastian's wife!”

Lincoln nodded happily.

The sorry feeling that he had for Sabrina disappeared without a trace.

At that moment, Sabrina had already walked more than 100 meters away. Then, as she was about to turn into the main road, a showy bright-red sportscar blocked her way.

Selene Lynn came down from the car in heels and came to Sabrina arrogantly. “Isn't this the broke woman who had been begging at our house for eight years? Sabrina? How many men have used you, and you still haven’t showered? Your odor is killing me. Came to beg at my house again? You’re already selling your body anyway. Why are you still so thick-skinned…”

Slap! Sabrina raised her wrist and hit Selene right across her face.

Selene instantly had a clear five finger print on her face.

She touched her face, and put her fingers to her nose and sniffed them. Not surprisingly, they smelled.

She was filled with anger and roared, “You…You dare to hit me?”

Sabrina’s tone was dull and impatient. “It’s great now─ you are just as dirty and smelly as me.”

She turned around and left as soon as she finished her words.

Her coldness shocked Selene. Selene was so stunned that she did not chase after Sabrina to fight.

Sabrina came to the dirtiest and most seedy place in South City and rented a bed to rest temporarily.

She wanted to find a job in South City so as to save up some money to return to her hometown, but no employers were willing to hire her because she had been in prison before. In order to get a job, she spent some money to get a fake identification card and assumed the identity of Layla Young.

After a few days, she managed to get hired as a waitress at a fine dining restaurant under the pseudonym of Layla Young. The wage was little, but Sabrina was very satisfied.

Three weeks later, she was promoted to be the waitress that was dedicated to serving the VIP rooms because of her hard-working, sweet and gentle appearance.

“Layla, differ from the lobby dining area, VIP rooms were filled with esteemed guests. Hence, you have to be careful not to make mistakes.” The manager called Sabrina by her pseudonym and explained to her carefully.

Sabrina nodded and said, “I know.”

Another week passed, she did very well at work.

During her spare time, a few other waitresses chatted with Sabrina.

“You’re so lucky, Layla. You got promoted to serve the VIP rooms in such a short time. However, with your height of 170 centimeters, tiny face, and long legs─ let alone a promotion to be the VIP room waitress, you would have no problem becoming an air stewardess, model or even enter the entertainment industry.”

Sabrina pursed her lips and walked off with her head bowed.

The few colleagues extended their warmth but were met with a cold response. So after Sabrina had walked off, they muttered behind her back, “Just a waitress at the VIP Rooms, so arrogant!”

“She just has a pretty face, who does she think she is?”

“I didn’t think she was that pretty, maybe just a comely face at best, but her personality was seriously cold and aloof. She has no culture or academic background, but she is so pretentious!”

“She is not pretentious, just doesn’t talk much, and she is trustworthy. If you don’t believe me, look…”

One of the colleagues suddenly called for Sabrina, “Layla, my stomach is upset. Could you help send the dishes?”

Sabrina nodded. “No problem.”

“My room is the Platinum VIP Room on the third floor, thanks!” She sped off as soon as the sentence ended.

Under the shocking gaze of the others, Sabrina went up to the third floor. She took over the dishes from a waitress before she pushed the door open and entered the room.

She had her head bowed and focused on serving the dishes when her wrist was suddenly caught. Sabrina shuddered and looked up at the customer. She was immediately stunned.

A cold, stern face with a gaze that had an overbearing and arrogant force appeared before her face.

“How did you know I dine here often?” Sebastian gripped her hand tightly. His eyes glinted with murderous intent.

Sebastian had been looking for Sabrina for a month.

When he thought that Sabrina might not as bad as his investigation, she appeared as the waitress in the room specially dedicated to him.

He really had underestimated her.

“Director Ford…this, what’s the matter?” The restaurant manager who was accompanying Sebastian trembled as he looked at Sebastian.

“How long has she been here?” Sebastian looked coldly at the manager.

“A…A month,” stuttered the manager.

A month!

It was exactly the time after she escaped the Ford family.

She was not trying to escape─ she only wanted to increase her price.

D*mn!

Sabrina looked at Sebastian with resentment and felt wronged.

How could the world be so small?

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, let me go! If not, I would call the police.” She tried her best to free herself from Sebastian’s restraint, but she could not move at all.

Sabrina was in so much pain that a thin layer of sweat started to form on her forehead.

The manager scolded Sabrina in fright, “Layla Young, you’ve gone too far!”

Sebastian sneered. “Layla Young? You concealed the fact that you were just released from prison by changing your name to Layla Young?”

At that moment, the lobby supervisor─the same waitress who asked Sabrina to take her place─rushed over but was too frightened to speak.

Sabrina was in despair.

She only had two days left to collect her paycheck this month.

However, everything fell through again.

“Why do you always refuse to leave me alone? Why?!” Her eyes were instantly redden in anger and frustration.

She suddenly lifted her wrist and bit Sebastian’s arm, which made Sebastian release his grip due to pain.

Sabrina turned around and ran away as quickly as she could.

She could not fight with anyone, so she could only run.

When Sebastian finally reacted, Sabrina had already run out of the restaurant and quickly got on a bus. She got off after a few stops.

When she was walking on the road, she suddenly started bawling uncontrollably.

She went to prison in Selene’s place for a month, a dead man took her most precious first time, finally got out of prison with great difficulty but could never see her mother again.

Hasn’t she been unlucky enough?

What kind of demon is this man named Ford? Why was he so determined not to let her go?

Why?!

Was it because she just came out of prison and had no one to rely on, so it looked nice to be bullied?

Sabrina bawled until her gut was upset. In the end, she squatted at the roadside and vomited continuously. However, all she vomited was green acidic liquid because she had not eaten.

A woman who had just passed by patted her on her back and said, “Girl, are you experiencing early pregnancy symptoms?”

“Early pregnancy?” Sabrina shuddered.

She had frequently felt nauseated recently, but it never crossed her mind that she could be pregnant. After the reminder from the woman, she suddenly remembered that it had been more than a month since that night.

She came to the hospital in a panic and held only a few ten dollars in her hands. It was not even enough to do any test.

The doctor gave Sabrina a test strip to do a urine test.

Ten minutes later, the doctor said affirmatively, “You’re pregnant.”

Sabrina staggered for a moment. “No, I can’t be pregnant.”

“The pregnancy could be aborted.” The doctor said coldly and then looked outside. “Next.”

Sabrina walked out of the room, sat by herself on the hospital bench, and felt helpless.

“Don’t cry…Don’t cry, wipe tears.” A babbling, cute voice was heard. She looked up and saw a little girl that was still in diapers standing in front of her.

The little girl raised her chubby little hands to wipe away Sabrina’s tears but failed. Hence, she patted Sabrina’s legs to comfort her instead.

Sabrina’s heart instantly melted by what this little girl did.

“Please excuse me, my baby is an amiable and emotional child.” The young mother stood opposite of Sabrina and smiled.

“Your baby is very cute,” Sabrina replied politely.

She looked with envy at the mother and daughter as they walked away. She could not help but to touch her lower abdomen. She already had no family. The baby in her belly was her only flesh and blood.

A sense of joy and expectations of being a new mother came all over her.

However, what can she use to feed and support the baby?

She could not even afford the abortion surgery.

Early morning the following day, Sabrina, with a glimpse of hope, came to the prison and begged the guard. “Can I please see Aunt Grace?”

When Sabrina was first imprisoned, Grace Summer had already been serving in the prison for quite some years. Grace took care of Sabrina and saved her from a lot of trouble. She did not know Grace’s background, but she could tell that Grace was rich.

Every month, Grace would receive a lot of money from her visitors.

Grace even gave her a few hundred dollars at the time when Sabrina was released from prison.

“Grace Summer had been released for more than a month,” said the guard as he calculated the time.

“What?” Sabrina was surprised.

“You must be Sabrina Scott, right?” the guard suddenly asked.

Sabrina nodded. “That’s me.”

“Grace left a number for you when she was released. On that day, you got in a luxurious car as soon as you got out. I shouted for you to stop but you did not hear me.”

The guard handed a slip of paper with the phone number written on it to Sabrina.

“Thank you.”

Two hours later, in the VIP ward at the highest-end private hospital in South City, Sabrina met her cellmate, Grace Summer.

Grace’s eyes were slightly closed as she laid on the bed sickly. However, her grey hair made her look more graceful and elegant.

Sabrina could tell that she was a beauty when she was young, but Sabrina did not know why she would be imprisoned.

“Aunt Grace?” Sabrina called gently.

Grace gradually opened her eyes. When she saw Sabrina, she was too excited that she started to cough for a while, then calmed down and said, “Sabrina, I could finally meet you. I asked that brat to bring you over, but he kept saying you went back to your hometown. You finally returned today. I’m glad that you are back.”

“I came back from my hometown, Aunt Grace.” Sabrina lied. She knew the brat that Grace talked about must be her son.

Sabrina finally understood why she could be acquitted earlier. It was because Grace’s son spent a lot of effort to get her out.

The fact that they were willing to get her out was already quite good. How would they still allow Grace to have such a poverty-stricken friend like her?

The lie she told Grace about her returning to her hometown was not too much.

“I would never forget that I wouldn’t have survived this long if it weren’t for your care in prison and I wouldn’t be able to see my son again.” Grace was so touched that she cried.

Sabrina shook her head, “It’s nothing, Aunt Grace. I wasn’t expecting a reward when I took care of you…”

At that moment, she was pondering how to ask ailing Grace for a loan. Finally, she bit her lips as if she had made a decision and said, “Aunt Grace, I know I am not supposed to tell you this now, but I really had no choice, I…”

“What happened? You’re here by my side now─ if you have any difficulties, you can tell me,” Grace asked.

“Aunt Grace, could you…loan me some money?” Sabrina’s head dropped very low─ she dared not look at her.

“How much do you want? I’ll give you.” A gentle voice could be heard from behind her.

Sabrina quickly turned her head and was so shocked that she could not speak smoothly. “How could it be you?”

The man that stood behind Sabrina was none other than Sebastian.

The man looked at Sabrina with a faint smile. His mellow and warm voice was sensual and enchanting. “Mom needs to rest to recover. Is there anything that you couldn’t come to me for a solution? Why must you bother mom?”

Sabrina was dumbfounded and speechless.

The man put his arms around her and escorted her out before she could say no.

“Son, have a proper discussion about your marriage with Sabrina. You must treat Sabrina well,” Grace shouted behind them.

“Don’t worry, Mom.” the man replied while closing the door to the ward.

Sabrina was dragged by Sebastian and walked a long way.

When they arrived at the end of the corridor, his warm expression on his face had changed to one of icy coldness.

The man aggressively choked Sabrina’s neck and pinned her down to the wall. His gaze was as sharp as a cold sword. “Female prisoner! You have continuously tested my patience, and you dared to appear before my mother now─you are too bold! If anything happens to my mother, I would make you experience things that are worse than death!”

Sabrina’s face turned red from being choked. She said as she struggled, “I…didn’t…know Aunt…Grace is your…mother.”

She finally understood why Sebastian was disgusted by her, but still insisted on getting a marriage certificate with her. Previously in prison, Grace mentioned that she wanted her as a daughter-in-law in the future after they got out of prison.

Sabrina thought Grace was joking with her at that time.

It turned out that Grace was serious.

The man choked her tighter. “Do you think I would believe you? You had been playing hard to get repeatedly, wasn’t that to increase your price? Have you always wanted to marry the Ford family and be a noble lady?”

She did not wish to defend herself, so she just shut her eyes.

Let him choke her to death. With this way, she could be with the baby in her belly forever and even reunite with her mother. How nice would that be?

Tears streamed down the corner of her eyes.

However, the man released his grip. He had regained his composure.

The tone of his voice was still frosty and domineering. “My mother only has two months of life expectancy left. I must fulfill her wish and marry you, but I would not touch you! After two months, I would divorce you. When that time comes, you would get a sizable commission. I warn you not to play dirty tricks, or else I would make your life a living hell!”

‘Aunt Grace only had two months of life expectancy left?’

Sabrina felt a dull pain in her heart.

She took in a few big breaths of fresh air. After a while, she calmly asked, “You want to make a fake marriage deal with me?”

“What else? Do you want to be my real wife instead?” The man sized her up from top to bottom with a disgusted gaze.

Sabrina instantly recalled the day in the room where he had seen her body covered in love bites left by the dead man.

Of course, he would despise her for being filthy.

Sabrina bit her lips and said, “I could take the deal, but I have a request.”

“Speak!”

“Arrange an account for me in a big city─ any city will do.”

If she were to bring her child back to her hometown in the future, the people there would look down on the fatherless child.

She did not want her child to face discrimination in the future.

She wanted to bring her child far away from home.

Sebastian looked at her skeptically. “Only this?”

With strong determination, she said again, “I want 30,000 USD in cash now, as my allowance.”

30,000 USD was enough for a pregnancy check-up at the hospital, expenses during her pregnancy, and and travel expenses for her return to her hometown to pay respects to her late mother.

Sebastian sneered.

Sure enough, this woman was still a greedy person to her bones.

He already told her there would be a divorce settlement fee, but she still asked for a 30,000 USD allowance at one go.

If he satisfied her with 30,000 USD today, then would she ask for 50,000 USD tomorrow?

If he did not fulfill her wish one day, she could disappear and blackmail him into increasing the prices, right?

It would be like filling a bottomless pit. What an abomination!

How many people had been eliminated by Sebastian for being in his way in the past few years? He does not mind eliminating one more person like Sabrina.

However, his mother could not wait any longer.

Sebastian took his phone out and made a call. Five minutes later, his assistant─ Kingston Yates─ came over with an envelope in his hand.

Sebastian took 5,000 USD out of the envelope, handed it to Sabrina, then said condescendingly, “I can give you 30,000 USD, but it must be paid in installments. If you behave well in front of my mother, then I will continuously give the rest of the allowance.”

5,000 USD?

She needed to do pregnancy check-ups, rent a new place to stay, go to interviews, and look for a job. How would 5,000 USD be enough?

“10…10,000! Can’t be any less than that.”

“2,000!” The man’s tone was so cold that it would send chills to the bones.

“5,000, I only want 5,000 .” Sabrina quickly bargained.

“1,000!”

Sabrina bit her lips with all her might to stop herself from crying. She realized if she were to bargain further, the man would decrease more.

At least with 1,000 USD, it would be enough for her to do a pregnancy check-up.

“1,000.” Sabrina cleared her throat and reached out to collect the money.

However, the money was thrown on the floor by Sebastian.

The man said condescendingly, “As long as you play your part right, I would draft the contract for the two-month marriage and send it to you. Once the contract has been fulfilled, your commission would be paid in full. As for the allowance, you would only get it if you behave well.”

Sabrina was only focused on picking up money on the ground, so she did not hear what Sebastian had said.

The 1,000 USD was important to her that she could put her dignity aside. At least it was better than accepting handouts from the Lynn family.

“What did you say?” Sabrina turned up and asked Sebastian after she picked up all the money.

What a b*tch!

Sebastian gave her a sidelong glance. “Come in with me! Remember to play your part right! If you say the wrong things…”

“I won’t say the wrong things,” Sabrina said quietly.

It was not that she wanted to cooperate with Sebastian, but she sincerely felt sorry for Grace.

In prison, they were like mother and daughter.

Now, Grace’s life was about to end soon. She would still do her part even if Sebastian did not make a deal with her.

The two of them entered the room together, and Sabrina wore a big smile on her face. “Aunt Grace, Sebastian and I were discussing getting the marriage certificate just now, you won’t blame me for not accompanying you, right?”

“Silly girl, I was hoping that you would have the wedding soon, then my heart would be at ease.” Grace held Sabrina’s hand and pulled her closer, then whispered, “Sabrina, are you satisfied with my son?”

Sabrina smiled shyly and said, “Very satisfied.”

“Go and get the certificate with Sebastian now, alright? I want to hear you call me mom soon.”

Sabrina gently cupped Grace’s hand. “As you wish, Aunt Grace.”

That afternoon, Sabrina and Sebastian went down to city hall.

They took a picture together, pressed their fingerprints together and took their vows. However, even until their marriage certificate was stamped and completed, Sabrina still could not believe it was real.

She had gotten married.