Chapter 2

"Alright," Zona Lawrence said after much hesitation, her head down.

"Alright, your sister-in-law took you home, and you didn't thank her?" Wanda Lawrence pushed Zona Lawrence, not gently. She stumbled, nearly falling down again.

Her heart ached, but she still forced herself to say, "Sister-in-law."

“Not bad, Zona got 5 years of education in prison and has become quite obedient.” Amos Sari’s eyes darkened upon hearing that term "brother-in-law."

“Ruo, I have company matters, so I’ll leave first.”

“You’re busy, I’ll come find you tonight.”

“I’ll pick you up.” They indeed looked like a loving couple.

The car left, and Wanda Lawrence averted her reluctant gaze. She looked at Zona Lawrence, her expression no longer one of familial acceptance, but filled with disdain and revulsion.

Zona Lawrence lowered her head, trying to ignore the stinging stares. She took a step toward home, only to hear a low reprimand behind her.

"Where do you think you're going!"

"I——I'm going home."

“Home?” Wanda Lawrence sneered, strutting in high heels nearly ten centimeters tall without any sign of instability, quite the contrary, she walked steadily.

“Zona Lawrence, have you forgotten? This isn’t your home!”

Zona Lawrence looked up in shock, but only saw utter contempt.

“No, this is my home!” She had lived here for twenty years, how could it not be her home.

"Hehe, Zona Lawrence, you're already losing your mind after getting out of prison, have you forgotten? Grandma said when she went to prison that there won't be a Zona Lawrence in the Lawrence family anymore!"

"Get out! Get away as far as possible, and don't come back even if you die outside!" Wanda Lawrence added, then walked gracefully into the villa.

"Sister, my mom——"

In these 5 years, she was most worried about her mother.

"Want to see her?" A strange light flashed in Wanda Lawrence's eyes, "Unfortunately, your mother went to the court hearing and found out you were sentenced. She tumbled down the court stairs and lost consciousness, if you want to see her, go to the hospital."

"By the way, Grandma also said that since you're no longer a descendant of the Lawrence family, we won't continue to pay for your mother's medical expenses anymore. From now on, you'll have to figure it out yourself."

……

After the Lawrence family left, Zona Lawrence went to the hospital. Her mother was ashen-faced, with countless tubes inserted into her body. She gripped the wall of the hospital room, unable to hold back her tears.

Then, she turned resolutely.

She had to earn money, her mother needed her.

……

Because she had been to prison, although she was a girl, finding a job was very difficult. Formal companies shook their heads at her resume, while informal places barely paid enough to cover her mother's medical expenses.

Later, she found a kind woman at Tianle Bar in City C, a former acquaintance, who gave her a place to stay.

She was taken in and worked as a bartender's assistant, earning 3% commission for every bottle of wine she sold.

In just a few days, thanks to her decent looks and her ability to endure and obey, she had earned some money, enough to pay her mother's medication costs.

However, compared to the huge amount needed, all of this was just a drop in the bucket.

She needs to work harder.

The VIP lounge suddenly summoned a waiter. Zona Lawrence quickly went up and, as soon as she entered, she was greeted by the overpowering scent of alcohol. There were four men seated inside, with two women accompanying three of them. Only the one in the farthest corner was drinking silently, his face obscured by the dim lighting and the positioning.

"Hey, pretty girl, you're quite attractive. Want to keep you company?"

"Sorry, sir, I only sell alcohol." Zona Lawrence replied with her head down.

After staying here for a few days, Zona Lawrence gradually figured out the survival rules here. If she wanted to sell alcohol, she had to endure being propositioned.

But her bottom line wouldn't change. No matter how down on her luck Zona Lawrence was, she would never sleep with someone for money.

"Hey, quite some backbone. So, how about this, drink this bottle of alcohol, how's that?"

Looking at the bottle of white wine in front of her, she knew it was expensive, and of course, the alcohol content was very high. She estimated that if she finished this bottle, she would have to go to the hospital for an alcohol wash.

"Alright," Zona Lawrence still agreed. She couldn't afford to offend these young gentlemen.

Just as Zona Lawrence was holding the bottle to her lips, a familiar gloomy voice rang out, "Zona Lawrence, you are truly beyond saving, for money, you would do anything! Even abandon your life."

Watching Zona Lawrence pick up the bottle without hesitation, Amos Sari scolded.

"General Qiao? Zona Lawrence recognized her this time, this is the Amos Sari who was ruthless towards her."

“The Lawrence family's Miss, working as a bartender in a bar! You can really afford to lose face with this person!”

“I earn money with my own hands, it's not embarrassing.”

Seeing Zona Lawrence daring to retort, Amos Sari grew angrier. He took out a thick stack of money from his wallet and threw it in Zona Lawrence's face, then said with a grim face: “Didn't you want money? Here you go.”

“But—”

A devilish voice rang out again, "Crawl over, and you can take it,"

Zona Lawrence's expression changed abruptly, as if she hadn't heard what Amos Sari said, her eyes filled with confusion.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Amos Sari's cold expression, and she knew it, this man, he was going to torture her, torture her, perhaps he was the one who was truly happy.

“Why? Unwilling? This is money, isn’t it something you like the most? For him, you can betray me, is there anything you’re capable of?”

The voice of Amos Sary was ice-cold, as if it wanted to freeze Zona Lawrence completely.

Her fingers trembled slightly, without any movement.

Looking at Zona Lawrence's unbelievable expression, Amos Sari felt some relief, but when he saw Zona Lawrence's lips trembling slightly, his brows furrowed tightly, and his face filled with sorrow, his heart trembled again.

A voice he couldn't suppress shouted: Quickly, refute me, speak the truth!

But Zona Lawrence's body did indeed slowly lower down, then knelt before him, gradually leaning his head forward.

Amos Sari was about to tear his eyes out.

He kicked Zona Lawrence in the shoulder; it was his last chance to give her, but she didn't appreciate it.

This woman, really—

Amos Sari had lost his mind.

The once proud girl who captured all his attention, now kneels before him, performing the most humble actions, just for those few Chinese yuan.

Amos Sari didn't know whether to be heartbroken himself or feel heartbroken for Zona Lawrence.

"Get out!"

Amos Sari cursed.

Zona Lawrence looked up at Amos Sari, "Money, I need to gather it up." Money was wrong to be treated like this.

"Get out!"

Zona Lawrence took it that Amos Sari had agreed, slid her hands on the ground, gathered the money together, and then placed it on the table in the booth.