Hiding Behind Her Superficiality
Chapter 174

Chapter 174

After four hours had passed, Elspeth still hadn’t received the ginkgo. She didn’t know what to do. In theend, she called and found out that Sonny had sent the ginkgo to the Winthrop Residence in Damoria.

She then made a call to Winthrop Residence, but no one answered. She was met with the dial toneinstead.

The moment she hung up the phone, an unknown number called her. When she picked up, the voiceon the other end of the phone shocked her.

“Elspeth, what are you looking for? Is it the ginkgo?”

Arthur’s prideful voice was heard over the phone.

As soon as she heard his voice, the bad premonition she had was immediately confirmed. Sheimmediately understood that the ginkgo was now in his hands.

She felt her heart drop.

“I heard Callum is seriously injured. You’re not planning to give this ginkgo to him, are you?”

Elspeth’s voice was cold when she answered, “You were behind this, weren’t you?”

Arthur seemed like he was in a good mood as he said, “Of course not. But I’ve heard about what’sgoing on.”

“Arthur, give it back to me.”

He was far from an angel, nor was he easygoing. He was still furious after getting humiliated the lasttime they met. “Give it back? Why should I give you something that I’ve found? Don’t you think it’s a

coincidence that I saw this parcel right when I decided to go back to the Winthrop Residence? If I didn’topen it out of curiosity, I wouldn’t have known that this was the life-saving ginkgo.”

“What exactly do you want?!”

Callum didn’t have time to spare, so Elspeth couldn’t just let Arthur have the ginkgo.

Arthur was pleased that he managed to provoke her and threw his final blow. “If you want it back, you’llhave to agree to my conditions.”

Although Elspeth was furious, she had no choice but to calm herself down and asked, “Tell me, then!What do you want?!”

“There’s no fun if I just tell you outright. How about you take a guess?”

Elspeth could hear the smile in his voice, and she knew what he wanted without a second thought.

She asked tentatively, “The Winthrop Group’s shares?”

“Oh!” The corners of Arthur’s lips curled up. “Elspeth, you know me so well. Why don’t you break upwith Callum and come with me? Not only will the ginkgo be yours, but the Winthrop Group’s shares willalso be yours.”

Elspeth felt disgusted and interjected instantly, “Arthur, are there any other conditions?”

Her words surprised him. “Of course not. I only want the shares and you. I don’t want anything else.”

“Arthur, I am your elder brother’s girlfriend.”

He pursed his lips for a moment before a devilish smile formed on his face. “I know, but isn’t that moreinteresting?”

“Shameless.”

“Go on.”

Elspeth knew she wasn’t in a good position to negotiate. In the end, she didn’t bother arguing furtherand immediately told him to meet up.

“Come to Blaydal. Bring the ginkgo, and let’s talk.”

She couldn’t give up the Winthrop Group to him, but she knew she couldn’t tell him about that.Otherwise, it would infuriate him.

Arthur didn’t trust her, fearing that she might lie to him. “Don’t try and trick me into going to Blaydalbefore ambushing me there. I’m telling you. If you try to pull something off, I can destroy you any time.”

Elspeth didn’t bother to argue with this lunatic and said softly, “Don’t worry. I won’t lie to you. Don’t wehave to meet up to sign the transfer contract?”

Although he was still on edge, he hesitantly agreed to her request.

Damoria was only two hours away from Blaydal by plane. Callum was still in a coma due to the poison.Elspeth mused over it and decided to temporarily allow the family doctor to take care of him. Then, shewent out alone to meet Arthur.

They made an appointment in a five-star hotel not far from the Joneson Residence since the hotel hadreally good sound insulation.

When she finally arrived, Arthur was already inside, drinking tea by himself.

“You’re finally here. I thought you lied to me.” Raising his chin slightly, he motioned for her to take aseat.

She picked a seat furthest away from him and didn’t bother touching the cup of water.

Arthur played with the cup in his hand and teased her, “What’s wrong? Are you scared of the glass ofwater? I’m not a monster. How could I do something to you here? I wouldn’t dare to drug you.”

However, she ignored him and went straight to the point. “Did you bring the ginkgo?”

“I did, but it’s not with me at the moment. It’s upstairs in the hotel room. Do you want to come and see itwith me?”

When Elspeth looked up, she noticed that he was staring at her with great interest. There was a faintsmile on his face and a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

“It’s fine. Tell me. Are you only going to hand it over after I’ve transferred the shares to you?”

Arthur shrugged. “I suppose so.”

“But right now, Callum is in a coma. I can’t transfer the shares to you until he wakes up.”

What she said made sense, but Arthur wasn’t satisfied with her answer. “Once you’ve used the ginkgo,and Callum is awake, what leverage do I have left?”

She wasn’t being pushy or dismissive. “If you don’t trust me, then record what we said. If I don’t keepup my end of the deal, you can sue me any time.”

However, he shook his head. “Elspeth, you’re too smart for your own good. As long as you saysomething indirectly, verbal promises won’t have legal effects. Do you think I’m stupid?”

Such a weak lie couldn’t fool him at all. He saw Elspeth sitting there with her back straight, and an evilthought surfaced in his mind.

He leaned closer to her and clung to her.

“Or you can sleep with me tonight, and I’ll give it to you.”

She looked at him in disgust. When she saw his perverted smile, she lifted her hand and slapped himin the face.

He didn’t react immediately as the smack came as a shock to him.

After a while, he slowly turned to look at her with a menacing look. His reddened eyes were wide openas he stared at her viciously. He was disgruntled by what had happened, yet he seemed to enjoy it aswell.

“Spicy, but I like it.”

Arthur pushed the tip of his tongue against his inner cheek and felt the wound in his mouth. He felt asubtle pain. “With such a big reaction, it must mean that you haven’t slept with a man yet, have you?Callum is such a gentleman. I would have pounced on you a long time ago.”

“Arthur, you are disgusting.”

Seeing that her negotiation failed, she decided to get ginkgo another way. She stood up and preparedto leave.

However, before she could even start walking, her whole body went limp, and she fell back onto thechair.

Warning bells immediately went off in Elspeth’s head.

“I lit an incense in the room. I’m sorry, but I’m not a gentleman. I’m a monster.”

He caressed her face with his right hand, smiling devilishly. “Elspeth, do you think Callum would bemad if I slept with his girlfriend, whom he has yet to sleep with?”

Elspeth wanted to fight back, but she gradually lost consciousness.

The last thing she saw before her world went dark was an evil and hungry look in Arthur’s eyes. Hisface was smug as he waited for the opportunity.