Outside the room, Georgia and Shelia had been listening to the entire situation unfold.

Alicia tried to catch up with Joshua, but without hesitation, he shoved her back.

He handed her phone to Georgia. “Don’t let her leave until I return.”

Georgia didn’t hesitate to follow his orders. She grabbed the phone and stashed it away. “Yes, Mr. Yates!”

Alicia made a desperate attempt to retrieve her phone, but Joshua pushed her back into the room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind him.

She pounded on the door, shouting verbal threats, but no matter how loud she yelled, Joshua ignored her. He had bigger issues on his mind, and this was something he felt he had to do.

Keeping her locked up for a day or two didn’t seem like a problem. It wouldn’t change anything, but it allowed him to release some of the frustration that was boiling inside him.

Lilliana noticed the red mark on his cheek as soon as he entered. “Who slapped you?” she asked.

Joshua had almost forgotten about the handprint on his face.

He touched his cheek, quickly coming up with an excuse. “My dad.”

“Why would he hit you?”

“It was just a small disagreement. He’s been unstable because of his illness, so I didn’t take it personally.”

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Lilliana studied the mark carefully. Whoever hit him had delicate fingers. The handprint looked more like a woman’s than a man’s.

Although she still had her suspicions, Lilliana hid them well and gently rubbed his cheek. Nearby, Gina excused herself.

But Lilliana gave her a quick instruction. “Bring me a glass of hot water first.”

Gina nodded in response, and the water had just finished boiling. It was still dangerously hot when she brought it in.

As Gina handed her the glass, she reminded Lilliana, “Miss Green, the water is very hot, so be careful.”

Distracted by her own thoughts, Lilliana didn’t pay attention to Gina’s warning. After massaging Joshua’s face, she grabbed the glass, only to let out a sharp cry as the heat burned her hand.

Joshua took her hand and kissed it gently. “Didn’t she just tell you the water was hot? Be more careful.”

Already frustrated by the burn, Lilliana became even more irritated by Joshua’s comment. “Who said the water was hot?”

“Calm down. Let me cool it down for you,” he said.

Lilliana was still fuming from the burn, so she angrily called for Gina to return.

“It’s boiling hot! How do you expect me to drink this?” she shouted.

Gina bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Miss Green. The water just finished boiling, and I did warn you.”

“Stop making excuses!” Lilliana snapped.

She couldn’t tolerate being disrespected in any way, so she demanded that Gina drink the boiling water right then.

Gina’s face turned pale. “Miss Green, please…”

Even Joshua felt this had gone too far. “Just let it go. Why don’t you have her grab your favorite coffee and leave it at that? Calm down!”

However, Lilliana had made up her mind. “Fine, but she still has to drink it first.”

Gina begged, “Miss Green, the water is far too hot. It’ll burn my throat.”

“Oh, now you’re concerned? What if I had drunk it? Does my throat not matter?” Lilliana shot back.

Gina nervously fidgeted with her fingers, too afraid to move forward.

Lilliana’s irritation grew as she watched Gina stand there, helpless and afraid. She hated how Gina always played the victim, as if everyone owed her something. The longer she stared at Gina, the more her anger intensified.

“Drink it right now, or you’re fired!” Lilliana demanded.

Gina refused to move from her spot.

Her silent refusal felt like open defiance to Lilliana. It was the first time Lilliana had ever seen Gina stand up to her.

Lilliana taunted, “What’s the matter? Did Harley die? You still need money for her medical bills, don’t you?”

At those words, Gina looked up immediately. Her eyes were burning with hatred.

She could endure any insult, but she refused to let anyone curse Harley.

Lilliana sneered. “Don’t bother glaring at me. It doesn’t faze me. I’m the one keeping you and Harley alive. I pay you twenty thousand dollars a month. No one else would do that for you. So, what’s it going to be? Your pride or Harley’s life?”

Joshua remained silent.

He let Lilliana behave however she pleased.

The light in Gina’s eyes dimmed until it was completely gone. Still, she didn’t move.

Lilliana stood up, grabbed the glass of boiling water, and threw it at Gina.

Gina didn’t flinch, as if the pain didn’t affect her. She simply stood her ground.

Joshua noticed the redness on Gina’s hand and turned to Lilliana. “That’s enough. You’ve already made your point.” He then told Gina to leave.

Gina stepped forward, picked up the glass without hesitation, and said, “I’m sorry. I’ll bring you another glass of warm water. This time, it won’t be boiling hot.”

Lilliana scoffed at her. “Relax. I hired her to take the hits. This is nothing,” she told Joshua.

Joshua offered a piece of advice. “Even so, be careful. Don’t let this come back to haunt you. You don’t want her using this against you, right?”

“You really think she’d do that?” Lilliana scoffed again. “She only gets paid because she works for me. If something happens to me, she’ll be the first to suffer. Anyone might try to take me down, but not her.”

Outside, Gina tightened her grip on the glass and stared at it blankly. She filled it halfway with hot water, mixed it with tap water, and set it aside.

Ignoring the burns on her hand, she pulled out her phone and ordered a portable recorder.

It was time to help Alicia—and herself.