Chapter 3: Spending a Billion as Living Expenses
Having no achievements would make it hard to gain respect. She didn’t want others to see her as an incapable heir.
“Is that so?” Pearl’s decision took Uncle Henry by surprise, but he nodded nonetheless. “Since you have your own plans, I won’t interfere. We’ll do as you say. However, in a few days, there’s a business event you’ll need to attend with me.”
As the future successor of Storm Corp, she had to start making public appearances.
“Alright.” Pearl didn’t refuse. Instead, she tilted her head and wrapped her arm around Henry’s. “Then I’ll be your date for the evening.”
Pearl walked out of Storm Corp’s branch office and nearly bumped into someone coming toward her.
“Pearl?” The man called her name the moment he saw her.
Pearl looked up and recognized him instantly–it was her ex–husband, Caleb, whom she had divorced three months
ago.
Caleb had come today for business negotiations, but he hadn’t expected to run into her the moment he stepped out of the car.
So, she really was back. Or maybe… she had never truly left.
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She had disappeared for three months, only to reappear now. What was she after?
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Rhodes.” Pearl was momentarily surprised but quickly regained her composure. Since she had returned to Radoca, running into Caleb was inevitable.
Her greeting was calm, showing no attempt to avoid their past.
Caleb’s lips pressed into a thin line at her indifference.
In the past, whenever she saw him, her eyes had always been filled with love.
Pearl had no intention of catching up with her ex–husband. She waved a hand dismissively. “I have things to do. Goodbye.”
“Wait.” Caleb reached into his pocket and pulled out a check, quickly scribbling down a number. “The Rhodes family doesn’t shortchange a divorced wife. Consider this billion a settlement.”
Pearl glanced at the check and let out a cold, amused laugh. Caleb still didn’t understand her. He thought she was just after money?
“Thanks.” She took the check and blew on it playfully.
Caleb had felt a slight sense of guilt toward Pearl, but seeing her accept the money, that guilt vanished entirely. He turned to leave.
The next moment, Pearl flicked the check back at him. “I did live with the Rhodes family for four years, after all. Let’s just call this my living expenses.”
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For the first time, Caleb’s usually unreadable face cracked with surprise.
A woman from an ordinary background, throwing away a billion like it was nothing–where did she get the audacity?
She must still have lingering feelings for him. She was trying to get his attention with this little stunt!
“Well, this means we’re square now, right?” She tilted her head and blinked deliberately.
“Enough with the act.” Caleb’s patience was wearing thin. His brows furrowed, a clear sign of his growing irritation.
Pearl couldn’t be bothered to argue. She turned and walked
away.
Pulling one over on Caleb left her in a good mood, but deep inside, there was still a lingering bitterness.
Did he really think throwing a billion at her could erase the pain, the neglect, the indifference she had endured in the Rhodes family for four years?
Pearl ordered a Volkswagen as her new ride.
It wouldn’t arrive until Wednesday, so for now, she had to walk.
She had barely reached the street corner when a top–tier luxury car pulled up in front of her. Stepping out was Logan’s driver, Uncle Sam.
“Miss, sir and madam asked me to deliver this car to you. They said you’ll need it for work.”
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Pearl looked at the car and couldn’t help but laugh.
If she drove this to the office, the entire company would know she was the CEO’s daughter. It was too flashy.
Her parents had gone through the trouble of sending it all this way. She couldn’t exactly send it back. So, she dialed Sophia’s number.
“Sophia, there’s a great car waiting for pickup at the Designing Competition entrance. Send someone to get it.”
The Radoca Designing Competition was one of the city’s biggest events. Many of Radoca’s top designers had made their names through this competition.
In the crowd, Olivia and Charlotte Davis waited for the organizers to verify their credentials before entering the
venue.
“That’s a new piece from AE, isn’t it? It’s gorgeous! I waited in line forever but still couldn’t get one,” a girl beside Olivia exclaimed, admiring her outfit.
AE had been silent for four years, but the moment they released a new collection, it had sold out instantly.
Olivia lifted her chin proudly. “Of course. I always buy several pieces from every new AE collection.”
For design students like them, owning a AE piece was a mark of status. Seeing how easily Olivia got her hands on multiple pieces, the others couldn’t help but envy her.
She basked in their admiration, striking a pose as AE’s fans eagerly snapped photos.
Just as she was reveling in the attention, a voice suddenly
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shouted-
“Oh my god! Isn’t that the world’s most expensive car?”
Olivia snapped out of her moment of glory, only to see the crowd around her scatter, their phones now pointed at the luxury car that had just pulled up.
