Chapter 28 Leeches
Mayra had just checked into a new room and was about to lie down when her phone buzzed with a notification from the work group chat.
She opened it and saw her colleagues gossiping about her.
Someone had posted a picture of her from behind.
Why is Mayra staying in a hotel?”
“She must’ve had a date tonight. She’s always surrounded by men, isn’t she?”
“She only got into the company because of Mr. Colten’s connections.”
Mayra raised an eyebrow. These people clearly forgot she was in the
group.
She quickly typed a message, “I have so many men around me? Funny, I had no idea.”
Some even suggested that she had slept with Ronan multiple times to get into the Morton Group. The chat, which had been buzzing with speculation, suddenly froze when they saw Mayra’s comment. They had forgotten she was still part of the group.
The atmosphere in the chat became suddenly tense. Mayra tagged the person who had posted the photo of her.
“You’ve never stayed in a hotel before?” Mayra asked.
The group went dead silent. If this weren’t a work chat, it would’ve probably been disbanded by now.
Mayra, feeling unbothered, simply rolled over and went to sleep. After
all, she wasn’t the one talking behind anyone’s back, and the awkwardness. wasn’t hers to deal with.
The next day, when she walked into the office, she immediately felt the tension in the air.
Mayra pretended to be unaware of what had happened and continued. working at her desk.
By the time the day ended, Gracie called her, asking if she wanted to go shopping.
Mayra had just bought a new house, and while she had ordered some things online, there were still plenty of furniture pieces she needed to check out in person.
The house was new, only a few years old, and the furniture was all fresh. Mayra had arranged for a cleaning service to come in, and by the afternoon, she’d be able to move in with just a few more odds and ends to pick up.
Gracie paused when she heard how much the house had cost–2.5 million dollars, all paid upfront. The smile on her face faltered for a second, and her eyes flickered with something else.
“Maya, didn’t you used to be struggling for money? How did you suddenly come into all this?”
“Found some unexpected wealth,” Mayra said.
As Mayra selected a table lamp, she casually asked the shop assistant, “Do you have any more vintage styles?”
“This way, please.”
The store was a high–end mall, surrounded by either luxury handbags or
Chapter 28 Leeches
high–end furniture.
Mayra bought the lamp and left her address for delivery.
11
Gracie followed her, watching as Mayra casually picked out a lamp worth 10 thousand dollars without hesitation. Her fingers, which had been
hanging loosely by her side, curled up slightly.
“Was it Ronan who gave you this money? Or someone else?” Gracie
asked.
Mayra picked out a few more small items, ready to have them delivered. along with the lamp. She felt a small sense of excitement–tonight she’d be staying in her new place.
“Neither. Long story. Want to come see the new place later?”
Gracie forced a smile, her tone flat. “Sure, a 2.5–million–dollar house? I haven’t seen one of those yet.”
Many people in Moonfell would spend their entire lives just trying to afford a room the size of a bathroom, let alone a house like that.
As they walked past a luxury handbag store, Mayra didn’t even slow down. Compared to high–end bags, she preferred a simple canvas tote.
But then a familiar, overly cheerful voice called out, and before she knew it, her wrist was grabbed.
“Mayra! It’s been a long time! Pay for this bag. It’s only 50 thousand dollars, I love it.”
The woman grabbing her wrist was in her forties, still decently well- maintained, but her eyes were full of calculation.
Mayra frowned and slowly pulled her hand away, asking, “Who are you?”
11
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Miley’s face shifted instantly, a cold sneer escaping her lips. “Oh, come on, stop joking around. Pay for it already.”
Mayra found it amusing and tried to walk away.
But the woman grabbed her wrist again, her tone now laced with threat. “What’s wrong with you, Mayra? When I ask you to pay, just do it. Don’t make a fuss. You wouldn’t want me talking to Ronan about you, would you? Hurry up. I’ve got plans with some other people later.”
Mayra’s face hardened. “Let go.”
Gracie, who had been trailing behind her, said softly, “That’s Ronan’s aunt, the second one. You know, back when you were throwing money around, you were buying all these people luxury bags. By the way, Ronan has another aunt–her husband’s drowning in gambling debts, and you helped pay them off.”
Mayra’s head spun for a moment as she processed the information. After a few seconds, she gave a small laugh. “Are you sure?”
So, she had been restricted by the Oliver family because she’d spent all her money on this pack of leeches?
Miley crossed her arms, a smug expression