I Heard the Gold Digger’s Thoughts

I had just sat down in the VIP lounge of the club when the door was violently thrown open.

A woman in a red dress stumbled in, crashing into the fifty-thousand-dollar crystal antique ornament I'd just acquired.

She grabbed my arm, her eyes reddening as she put on a pitiful act:

Mr. Reed, save me! Bad people are chasing me outside. Please let me hide here!

Before I could respond, her thoughts suddenly exploded in my mind:

[This innocent no-makeup look didn't go to waste---men really do fall for this act!]

[When his friend bursts in after me, I'll put on a show of being wrongly accused. Once I hook Ethan Reed, heir to the Reed empire, won't all the Reed family money be mine?]

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I opened the lounge door and waved to my friend Shane outside:

"You looking for this person? She's right here."

The woman's face turned green and red with disbelief as her eyes widened.

Shane strode upstairs and pulled me to his side. "Ethan, are you alright?"

"Her name is Laura Stone. She's the daughter of Sterling Pawn Shop's owner. I'm taking her with me first."

"As for the money she owes you for breaking your antique, I'll get it back for you."

Shane didn't elaborate, but with our understanding, I figured something must have happened.

But he didn't want to tell me, to spare my ears from being sullied.

Laura, however, had no such reservations. At his words, she immediately put on an aggrieved expression.

"Mr. Reed, don't listen to her nonsense!"

"I was being a Good Samaritan, exposing her true colors, which made her furious and want to cause me trouble!"

"Today is the baptism banquet for the young master of the Harris family. I was fortunate enough to be invited."

"But I never expected to see Shane sneaking drugs into Damien Harris's drink!"

"I couldn't stand by and watch, so I exposed her directly, which made her fly into a rage!"

After Laura finished, she straightened her back, acting like she wasn't afraid of the powerful.

"I know I'm just a nobody, of ordinary background, and shouldn't oppose Miss Shane."

"But when I witness injustice, speaking up for the innocent is my duty!"

She glanced at me, her eyes containing hidden smugness.

[Let's see how Shane tries to defend herself now! That last line of mine---won't it charm Ethan Reed to death!]

[Look at him frowning in thought---he must be disgusted with Shane but doesn't know how to say it.]

I paused, feeling somewhat speechless.

I was just thinking about how someone like her, daughter of a pawn shop owner, would have the qualifications to attend a banquet of the Harris family's caliber.

Besides, baptism banquets only required elders to attend. Like our family, only Father attended as the representative.

The reason Shane was there was because the Harris family matriarch was her grandmother.

What was Laura supposed to be?

The next moment, Laura's thoughts answered my question.

[A beauty like me with such a sweet talk---who could resist?]

[I'm a modern person. I just used a few flirting tricks and had that male assistant by Damien's side completely smitten!]

[He brought me into the Harris residence and led me into the banquet.]

[But my goal wasn't to date this assistant---it was to climb up to that Harris young master!]

[But Shane ruined everything!]

Laura complained inwardly while gritting her teeth outwardly.

[Since she ruined my plans, I'll just steal her man!]

[I'm so excellent---I could marry any wealthy heir I want, let alone an Ethan Reed?]

[Though Ethan Reed has a better family background than Damien, so I'll make him my official boyfriend and keep Damien as my lover. That's not really settling!]

I couldn't help the cold laughter rising inside me. Shane had already clenched her fists in anger.

"You're talking nonsense! I clearly caught you secretly photographing Damien, and you dare twist the truth!"

"If I hadn't been worried about alarming the guests and damaging Damien's reputation, do you think you could have escaped the Harris residence?"

Laura quickly hid behind me. "Mr. Reed, save me. Look how fierce Miss Shane is. I'm really scared..."

I stepped aside, directly avoiding Laura, then patted Shane's arm reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I believe you."

Laura's face changed as she looked at me.

I continued, "With only you two present, it'll be hard to determine the truth when both have different accounts."

As soon as I finished speaking, Laura's lips curved up smugly.

"But..." I continued, "Someone like her wouldn't have the qualifications to attend the Harris family banquet."

"There's definitely something wrong with this. And she navigated to the banquet hall so easily---even more suspicious."

"I think you should investigate Damien's assistants, especially his personal one."

Laura's eyes widened. The smug smile froze on her face, looking rather ridiculous.

At the same time, intense screaming erupted in her thoughts.

[Ahhhh! What's going on? How does this damn Ethan Reed know all this?]

[Aren't these rich young masters supposed to be brainless and innocent? How could he figure this out so quickly!]

[Hmph, fine then. Don't blame me for using some methods.]

[I originally had some genuine feelings for Ethan Reed since he's good-looking.]

[But if he dares to belittle me like this, I'll force him to marry me, and then...]

[He can forget about being my official boyfriend. At most, he'll be a backup.]

[And his family assets, his trust fund---I want it all!]

Shane quickly traced it back to that assistant.

But what I didn't expect was that the assistant adamantly refused to admit he'd been manipulated by Laura.

He only said he'd been confused for a moment, fell for Laura, and wanted to see her one last time during the chaotic baptism banquet.

When the assistant was dismissed, he cried and begged to see Laura one last time.

Mrs. Harris couldn't bear it and had someone notify Laura, but she never showed up.

Shane told me all this later.

A clown like her---I hadn't taken her seriously at all.

Until one day, when the jewelry store received a new collection, I happened to drop by.

After browsing without finding anything I liked, but not wanting to leave empty-handed, I casually picked up a bracelet.

Just as I was about to pay, a hand suddenly reached out beside me.

Laura first gave me a calm smile, then looked at the counter. "I'll pay for this gentleman's purchase. How much is it?"

The sales assistant waited a moment. Seeing I didn't speak, she finally said, "Fifty thousand, ma'am. Would you like me to wrap it for you?"

Laura's smile froze. In her mind, she'd already started cursing.

[Damn, I only came up to pay for him because he picked something so ordinary looking. I didn't expect it to be this expensive!]

[But I've already said it. I can't back out now. This man has probably never met a woman as generous as me, right?]

[Sure enough, no matter what era, men can't resist women willing to spend money on them!]

[Look, Ethan Reed was so harsh with me that day, but now he's obediently quiet, waiting for me to pay. Tsk...]

"Fifty thousand isn't expensive. If it makes Mr. Reed happy, it's worth it!"

Who knew that as soon as Laura finished speaking, the sales assistant would interject:

"Indeed not expensive. Every time Mr. Reed comes, he usually selects jewelry worth over a hundred thousand to take home."

"This time it's because our brand's new collection hasn't arrived yet, so nothing caught Mr. Reed's eye."

Having worked in this shopping district for so long, the sales assistant naturally excelled at reading people.

She glanced at Laura and continued:

"Just Miss Shane from the Shane Corporation alone---the jewelry she's bought this year to give Mr. Reed to wear for fun exceeds a hundred thousand!"

Laura's face turned ugly as she pressed her lips together. After a moment, she suddenly gave a bitter smile.

"Well, Miss Shane has a huge family business. Naturally I can't compare."

"But this is still my sincere gesture. To give Mr. Reed this bracelet, I scrimped and saved for a month..."

I couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing. "Idiot."

My blunt words completely stunned Laura.

"You're already this poor, yet instead of figuring out how to make money, you're focused on these cheap tricks."

"You have to scrimp and save for fifty thousand dollars? Why not use that money to help your dad pay off his debts?"

"And do I care if you buy me a bracelet? Did you forget you still owe me fifty thousand?"

"Last time you broke my antique ornament at the club---it was all caught on surveillance."

"When does Miss Stone plan to repay the money? You're not planning to default, are you?"

Laura's face flushed red. She stammered, unable to speak.

I lost patience and my face darkened. "I'm giving you three days. If you don't transfer the money to my account, I'll pursue legal action."

"Also, transfer the money to my assistant's account. Stop harassing me---I find you annoying."

"Walking around the whole city in that red dress every day---people who don't know better would think you're walking some third-rate red carpet!"

"An eyesore."

I finished speaking and turned to leave. Behind me were Laura's resentful curses.

[What does he know about fashion? What's wrong with a red dress?]

[Ethan Reed, that damn man, turns out he has a sharp tongue!]

[Looks like I can't get out of paying that fifty thousand.]

[But it doesn't matter. Once he marries me, I can get back however many fifty thousands I want.]

[When that time comes, I'll torture him properly to repay today's humiliation! Just wait---I definitely won't give up!]

Laura did repay the fifty thousand within three days.

However, on the day she repaid it, she pestered my assistant Mason, complaining about how difficult it was to gather the money, hoping he would pass her words to my ears.

But after Mason collected the money and listened for a few moments, he impatiently closed the door.

This day, I went alone to visit my grandmother.

On the way back, I happened to notice a small stand selling burgers by the roadside.

The vendor was an elderly woman who looked about the same age as my grandmother.

She busied herself back and forth, looking spirited and healthy.

But my grandmother's eyes had grown dim, and she was often hospitalized---all from ailments caused by overwork in her youth.

Grandfather had built his empire from scratch. All his skills were honed through fighting in the business world.

He suffered, and Grandmother suffered too. In her youth, she stayed home alone, raising five children by herself.

She made a living by setting up a stall with her excellent burgers.

Later, when Grandfather achieved success and the company went public, Father married Mother.

Mother never looked down on Father's humble origins. The two had always been devoted to each other.

Everyone found happiness, except Grandmother, who now suffered from various ailments. Even the finest delicacies had lost their flavor for her.

Thinking of this, I stopped the car and ordered a burger from the old woman.

Before I could eat, Laura somehow appeared out of nowhere.

She directly picked up the burger from my table and casually dumped it into the trash can, fawning:

"How could Mr. Reed eat something from a roadside stand like this!"

"Mr. Reed, wait a moment. I'll personally make a burger for you to try. My cooking skills are exceptional!"

After speaking, she forcibly snatched the utensils from the old woman's hands and began clanging about busily.

Her disgusting thoughts once again transmitted into my ears.

[Won't this move Ethan Reed to death?]

[Don't people say that real men don't belong in the kitchen?] But I don't care! Where else can you find a woman willing to cook for a man?]

[Once I win over Ethan Reed's stomach, the way to his heart will be wide open!]

But by the time she returned with the burger, I had already driven away.

Only my assistant Mason remained at the stall. Mason looked at her mockingly and said slowly:

"Mr. Reed said since you love making burgers so much, make a hundred today and send them to the welfare home in the suburbs."

"Don't worry, Mr. Reed will pay for the ingredients needed to make the burgers."

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone, scanned to transfer money, and handed the old woman a stack of cash.

"Ma'am, Mr. Reed said he's delayed your business, so this is compensation for you."

Laura stood there holding the burger, unable to process what happened for a long while. Her face had turned somewhat green.

Mason rolled his eyes. "What are you standing around for? Start cooking!"

"You're not leaving today until you finish making a hundred burgers. These bodyguards and I are staying here to supervise you."

"Aren't you always saying those rich people in the city bully you?"

"Today I'll show you what real abuse of power looks like."

Laura's eyes darted around, but in the end, she couldn't think of a solution and could only resignedly complete a hundred burgers.

"Mr. Reed, you should've seen it---when Laura left, she was so exhausted her limbs weren't coordinating. It was hilarious!"

While organizing documents for me, Mason casually described the situation.

"But the look in her eyes before she left made me think she hasn't given up on you yet. How can someone be so annoying!"

"We can't really do anything to her. So frustrating!"

I said casually, "Ignore her. Just treat it as entertainment."

But I didn't expect this "entertainment" would be bold enough to nearly drag our entire Reed Corporation down with her.

Over the past few months, my younger brother Nathan Reed had been acting strangely.

Nathan, who usually didn't like going out, started frequently attending various parties and gatherings.

When he returned, he always looked pleased with himself, his face glowing.

When he saw me, he was no longer timid. Unusually, he'd gained some confidence.

"Ethan, I heard your engagement is about to be finalized? Who is it? After all this, did they still arrange for you to marry Shane?"

"It's a marriage arranged by the family, but I want to sincerely ask you---do you really like Shane?"

"You just think she grew up with you from childhood, you're familiar with each other, and her family background is compatible, right?"

"Do you really understand what love is? Do you understand what it means to date freely?"

"Do you know how happy and joyful it is to be with someone you truly love?"

Looking at his baseless smugness and his act of being the only sober one in a drunk world, I felt impatient.

"Has your brain short-circuited?"

Nathan's face darkened at these words. He pointed at me and shouted:

"I'm kindly reminding you to fight for true love, yet you're so ungrateful!"

"Fine, fine. I have no standing in this family anyway. I won't say anything more. Do as you please!"

He turned and left in a huff. I frowned in confusion.

He was the son from Father's youthful mistake, so naturally he didn't have as much standing in the family as I did.

However, though Father didn't favor him, he never lacked for food, clothing, or material needs.

Nathan was well aware of this, so he'd always been content and well-behaved.

Forget raising his voice at me---he'd never even spoken this many words at once before.

What had gotten into him? Or had someone manipulated him?

I quietly instructed Mason, who left to carry out my orders.

Unexpectedly, before long, Mason brought me shocking news.

"Mr. Reed, the your younger brother has been frequently visiting private hospitals and asking people about going abroad for surgery."

"I checked---the department he's asking about is plastic surgery."

"Do you think something happened?"

I shot to my feet and strode toward Father's room.

Halfway there, I saw Nathan wearing cleaning staff clothes, sneaking out furtively.

After thinking for a moment, I changed direction and followed him.

In a secluded corner behind the Reed family mansion's back door, Nathan's worried voice drifted over.

"Laura, I've done everything you asked. Now you have all the dirt on me. When will you fulfill your promise?"

"You said you'd be with me. You can't go back on your word!"

Hearing the name "Laura," my eyelid twitched sharply. I leaned forward and indeed saw Laura.

She smiled, her eyes constantly darting around, looking cunningly calculating yet unable to calculate clearly.