After her rebirth

After checking herself out in the mirror for a bit, Laura picked up the ragged dress from the floor and fished out three tiny pills from a hidden pocket.

Her aunt had given them to her, saying she should give one to her client during sex.

But after thinking it over, Laura impulsively tossed all three pills into her mouth and swallowed them without water.

She turned the shower back on, cranking it up to hot.

In the steamy bathroom, her skin turned a soft pink, her face glowing with warmth, and her eyes sparkling with a misty allure.

Wrapped in a loose bathrobe, she walked out barefoot and turned the temperature down a notch.

Feeling the discomfort growing inside her, Laura quietly lay down on the soft bed. Oliver had planned to head home after his social event. He'd had a bit too much to drink, reeking of alcohol, and his head was pounding.

But then he got a call from the hotel, saying the guest in the suite was sick.

After hanging up, Oliver thought for a moment and told the driver to head to the hotel.

Laura was Jackson's only daughter, and he figured he could help her out. The poor girl seemed really down on her luck.

He got to the hotel pretty quickly. Swiping the room card, he walked in.

As he reached the bedroom door, his eyes widened, and his face changed when he saw what was inside.

He quickly turned around, trying to calm himself.

On the big bed, Laura's face was flushed, and her loose bathrobe barely covered her.

As her legs brushed against each other, the bathrobe had ridden up to her thighs, revealing her slender legs.

"Oliver, am I going to die? I feel so uncomfortable. Help me."

Her eyes were misty and alluring, and her voice was soft and pleading.

She tried to get up but stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud.

Hearing the noise, Oliver's expression changed. After a few seconds of hesitation, he gritted his teeth, turned around, and walked over. He gently took off his suit jacket and draped it over Laura, then helped her up and leaned her against the bed.

He noticed her knees were a bit red, probably from the fall. Luckily, the floor was carpeted, so she wasn't seriously hurt.

He touched her forehead; it was burning hot.

It wasn't just a simple fever; she had taken something.

"Hold on. I'll get a doctor for you. You'll be fine soon."

The heat in her body was getting worse, almost unbearable.

Laura bit her lip, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

The pills were meant to be taken one at a time, but she had taken three for a stronger effect, and now it was too much for her to handle.

Oliver took out his phone and was about to dial when he felt a warm, soft body press against his back, accompanied by the sweet fragrance of a young girl.

He hadn't expected this, and his whole body stiffened. The arm holding her tensed up.

In that moment of hesitation, Laura's red lips pressed against his.

"I feel so uncomfortable, so hot. Help me."

The string in Oliver's mind snapped, and he couldn't think straight. He stretched out

his arm, pulled Laura into his embrace, and pressed her down...

In the private room of the bar.

Katniss couldn't care less about seeing Laura tending bar here, or about how Laura had landed in this mess.

Her past life had taught her to stay out of other people's business, especially those who didn't matter.

Knowing Maximilian was coming to pick her up, Katniss couldn't sit still, worried he might show up early and have to wait.

After enduring for more than twenty minutes, she impatiently left after saying a quick word to Cecilia.

Just as she was about to leave the bar, she bumped into Lucas, who was hanging out with Clara and Desmond. Clara, looking drop-dead gorgeous, was all cozy with Desmond, holding onto his arm.

The group looked all happy and harmonious.

Katniss frowned. Just her luck to run into them here.

She quickly looked away and picked up her pace, not even glancing sideways.

Seeing Katniss ignore him, Lucas's face darkened, and he snapped, "Katniss, seriously? Don't you know how to say hi to your family? What's up with your manners?"

"And this place isn't for someone like you. If anything happens, it's your own fault. Don't blame it on the Manners family!"

Katniss sneered, "Mr. Manners, I don't give a damn about you anymore. If you want to lecture someone, go bother Clara. Don't waste your breath on me."

What a joke. It's fine for them to be here, but not for her?

And how did he have the nerve to call himself her family?

They were nothing to each other now, so naturally, they were strangers.

Why waste words on a stranger?

Ignoring Lucas's scolding, Katniss didn't even give him a second glance.

Once outside, Katniss looked around and immediately spotted the familiar car parked by the roadside.

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A smile spread across her face as she jogged to the car.

Just as she reached it, the door opened as if sensing her presence. Seeing Maximilian

in the back seat, Katniss's smile brightened as she eagerly got in.

Meanwhile, the group at the entrance watched Katniss get into an expensive car and drive away.

Clara pressed her lips and spoke with fake gentleness, "Katniss may be mad at Desmond and me, but she shouldn't take it out on you, Lucas. Katniss is becoming more and more unreasonable."

Lucas's face turned icy, and he said angrily, "Let her be. Soon, she won't be my sister anymore. After that, whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with us." Desmond was taken aback and looked down at Clara. "What's going on?" Lucas didn't want to explain and walked away.

Clara sighed helplessly, "You know Katniss has been at odds with the family. Recently, she's become more rebellious. She even... well, I have no secrets from you, but don'tnoveldrama

tell anyone else. Katniss seems to have married some random guy because of us. Ruby saw him once and said he was an old man with gray hair."

"My parents are very angry, so they decided to transfer Katniss to Wesley and sever ties with her."

Desmond was silent for a while and then said coldly, "That's the path she chose for herself. She has no one to blame but herself."

Then he glanced at his watch.

It was getting late, and Maximilian should have finished dinner at The Boleyn Manor by

now.

For some reason, Desmond felt that the car Katniss had just gotten into looked familiar, like he'd seen it at The Boleyn Manor before.

Putting his thoughts aside, Desmond put his arm around Clara. "I'll take you home first.

And then tomorrow, I'll come pick you up to have dinner at my place."

Clara smiled sweetly, suppressing her excitement, and agreed obediently.

Meanwhile, in the car, Katniss was about to ask Maximilian when he had arrived.

Before she could, Maximilian leaned towards her, looking into her eyes, "Katniss Manners, have you been drinking?"