Ch. 2861..2870

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2861-'I've paved the way for her, yet she doesn't want to walk it. Instead, she wants to take the traditional approach of winning him over! Doesn't she realize just how much of a difference there is between them? There's no way her passion alone could win Sherman's cold heart!' thought Vince.

Fortunately, he had already hidden the original documents, so even if Rita found something in his study, it would only be a copy.

Unfortunately, Rita was completely unaware of that when she sneaked into her father's study. She did not expect to find the USB flash drive so easily. Thinking she was lucky, she silently apologized to her father in her heart when she held the small chip in her hand.

'I know the family business needs the Parr family's investment, but don't worry, Dad. I'll help you raise capital after apologizing to Sherman. I stand with you, no matter what.' At the end of the day, Rita was still a member of the Russell family and Vince's daughter. She had enjoyed so many benefits from her family over the years, so it was natural that she would help her father at such a critical juncture.

However, she believed that money should be earned in a 'clean' way. She absolutely would not allow her father to use the USB drive to harm or threaten Sherman, nor did she want to see such an outcome. After obtaining the evidence, Rita immediately contacted Sherman. Afraid he might not want to hear her voice, she sent a text message instead, telling him he must come see her.

Meanwhile, Sherman was sitting at his desk, pondering the question his mother had asked him—did he truly have no feelings for Rita? Otherwise, why would he agree to such a ludicrous marriage arrangement?

To be honest, he had not taken Vince's threats seriously at all. What he cared about was whether Rita was involved in this situation. He did not believe Rita was that kind of person.

From their first encounter, where they argued, to their second meeting, where they could sit and chat, he realized that her personality was much more generous than he had initially thought. She did not seem petty at all, contrary to his initial impression.

Moreover, she was the daughter of the Russell family. Despite enduring so much, she still managed to maintain a positive attitude, which was truly commendable. It was precisely because of this that Sherman was continually drawn to her.

She was also a reporter, and they had gone through many things together for various reasons. He just wanted to know if Rita's approach was premeditated or if their initial contact was intentional on her part. After seeing Rita's message, Sherman was hesitant about whether to meet her again. He feared hearing the news he did not want to accept.

Meanwhile, Vince observed Rita's stealthy movements through the surveillance footage. About 10 minutes after she left the study, he made a call to the family driver.

"Yes, that's correct. Miss Rita just drove away in a hurry. I think she's going to meet someone. She didn't even ask me to take her," the driver reported.

Vince scoffed coldly. 'Who else would be meeting other than Sherman bet she can't wait to give the USB flash drive to him. She's so eager to offer herself up, that she'll even betray her own father. What an ungrateful child I've raised!

With these thoughts in mind, Vince realized that he needed to intervene and put an end to Rita's schemes He could not allow her to continue dwelling in the past or thinking she was still the heiress of the family while neglecting her basic needs to solely pursue her dreams,

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2862-'Let's see how she can continue to be a reporter when the family truly falls. She should really think about who has been supporting her all this time. I've given her nothing but the best as she grew up, so it's time for her to return the favor!' thought Vince, not feeling guilty at all.

He drove to Parr Group's building. As he watched Rita's car searching for a parking spot nearby, Vince could not help but feel amused.

'She's so considerate of him that she even chose a meeting place closest to him as if she's afraid to trouble him by going someplace far. Has she never considered how much affection a man could have for her if he isn't even willing to go the distance for her? This daughter of mine is too naive for her own good!

Fortunately, she has me, her father, watching over her! Since she liked Sherman so much, she should be happy to marry him!' Rita was restless when she arrived at the cafe. She kept biting her lip and looking around anxiously. She was not sure if Sherman had seen her message, as text messages did not have the function to indicate they had been read. She also was not sure if Sherman would be willing to meet her after what she said.

After all, she could not forgive what her father had done if she were in Sherman's shoes.

After about 10 minutes, Sherman finally came downstairs. When Rita saw his tall figure appear at the cafe door, her eyes lit up. She could not help but crane her neck, looking at him like a little deer. Her gaze followed his every move until he sat opposite her.

Rita could not help but smile happily. "I'm glad you decided to come."

Sherman remained expressionless. "You said you have something important to give me, didn't you?"

Rita quickly nodded. "Yes, I do have something to give you!"

She took out the USB flash drive from her bag but before handing it over, she suddenly clenched it in her. palm. Feeling embarrassed, she bit her lip and stuttered, "Before I give you this, could you give me a chance to explain myself?

Even a condemned criminal deserves a chance to defend themselves, right?"

Seeing her pitiful expression, Sherman nodded slightly.

Rita was grateful for the opportunity and immediately began to explain, "I don't know why my dad got hold of this surveillance footage, altered beyond recognition, and used it to threaten you and your family. But I swear I wasn't in on the plan with him, meeting you was purely coincidental. I never intended to blackmail you for any. That's all I wanted to tell you."

Sherman finally looked at her seriously. "How can I ever trust you again?"

Rita felt both bitter and embarrassed at his question. He would not haven asked that if it were not for her father's actions. This meant that he believed her before.

She nodded nervously. "Of course, you can trust me. I haven't done anything like that at all. I've been in the hospital during that time, and you can check the hospital's surveillance to confirm. I haven't had any contact with my father, apart from that day when he took me to the hospital. I just want to tell you that whatever my father did, it's not something I wanted to see, and I couldn't possibly resort to such despicable means to blackmail you."

Rita forced a pale smile. "Moreover, I really like you, so how could let you get hurt like this?"

She liked him. Sherman had not expected to hear that from her.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2863-Sherman clenched his fists under the table, unsure of what to say.

Rita added, "I never meant to play the victim. I just want to tell you that I'd never approach someone I like using such means. Please give me a little trust, considering how long we've known each other, okay?" She looked at Sherman hopefully, eager for a positive response. However, just as Sherman was contemplating, an unexpected person appeared.

Vince walked over with a big smile and casually placed one hand on Sherman's shoulder. "Rita, your health hasn't fully recovered yet, so why are you out here meeting people? But I guess I can make an exception if it's to see Sherman.

Just tell me next time, okay? After all, he's my future son-in-law, so I should meet him too."

Rita's expression immediately changed. "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"

She glanced at Sherman, who was looking at her with disdain. "Trust me, I don't know what he's doing here!"

"Silly child, things have already come to this point, and you still want to hide it?

How could I have found this place if you hadn't told me the meeting place in advance? Although you're about to become husband and wife, honesty is still important in such small matters. That's the only way a marriage would last longer."

Vince spoke with the tone of someone experienced, which made Rita feel even more disgusted. She could not figure out how he knew that she and Sherman had arranged to meet at this location.

Sherman had not said a word from the moment Vince walked in, but anyone could see that the temperature around him was dropping.

'Do they think I'm a fool?' thought Sherman.

"You have to believe me! I really don't know why my father did what he did. I never thought of using surveillance footage to threaten You came to save me, I'm well aware of that. It's my fault for not handling things properly. Here, take back this flash drive! From now on, we have nothing to do with each other!"

Rita even deliberately avoided Vince's hand and handed the USB flash drive she found to Sherman. However, to her surprise, Vince chuckled lightly.

"My dear child, how long do you plan on deceiving him? There's no information on this flash drive. Giving it to him is useless. Both of you should stop fighting the wedding. It's a good thing that our families are going to be connected through marriage."

Sherman's outreached hand paused in mid-air. He instinctively looked at Rita, only to find her eyes were filled with shock as well.

Is she genuinely unaware, or is she collaborating with her father too m deceive me again?' Sherman no longer had the patience to figure it out.

How is this possible? This is clearly the only original copy. Are you trying to deceive me?" Rita anxiously Om sought an answer from her father.

She had gone to great lengths to steal the flash drive, only to be told by him that there was nothing on it.

Heh, I knew you would do something like this. As my daughter, you need to listen to me, even if I tell you to marry someone of my choosing . I've ,already spoken with Sherman's elders, so I can't let you two continue on with this nonsense. I advise you not to waste your time. If I say there's nothing inside the drive, then there's nothing inside it."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2864-Experience counted for a lot, thus Rita failed to outsmart her own father.

Sherman's expression remained indifferent as he tapped twice on the table, silencing Rita.

"Enough, I don't have time to waste with you two. Rita, I'll marry you since my family has agreed to it. You just need to stay put at home and wait for me to marry you. As for anything else, well… You can just forget about it," said Sherman.

Rita looked at him with a mournful expression as he rose to leave, even pleading silently for him to stay. Alas, how could Sherman still trust her after being played by her and her father repeatedly? Vince, on the other hand, looked pleased as if his wish had finally been fulfilled.

"Ah, you two are so perfect for each other. Don't blame me for using unconventional methods. You two wouldn't have ended up together if I hadn't intervened decisively. Moreover, Rita has feelings for you. As for the wedding and other things, they're not important!"

Rita did not lift her head to look at Sherman anymore. She kept her head bowed, trying to hide all her pain. How could she ever hold her head high in front of him when she had such a disgraceful father? Even if he was willing to believe she did not tell her father about the meeting time and location, she did not want to explain anymore.

Ultimately, she felt guilty toward Sherman. He would not have been forced to experience all this if he had not met her or her family.

After all, Sherman came from a good background. Not to mention, he was young and handsome. The number of women who wanted to marry him could make a line from one country to another. He could have chosen a woman, but now that chance had been ruined by Rita. She had ruined the life of the person she liked.

Sherman left, and Rita still kept her head down. Vince naturally saw the large tears falling from her face into the cup in front of her.

"Enough, he's gone. You can stop your pitiful act now." His tone was impatient, making Rita doubt her ears. Was this what a father should say to his daughter?

With tear streaks on her face, Rita raised her head. "Dad, just how bad is the situation at home to make you resort to such despicable means to force someone who doesn't even like me to marry me? What were we thinking? Didn't I say that if you let Sherman go, I'd go out to find capital for you? Is this really the only way to save the family?"

Vince frowned and replied impatiently, "That shows how naive you are! Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise capital? Who do you think you are, that people would just throw money at you? Only if you marry into the Parr family will they unconditionally support our family. Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to consider the family, right? It's not like you're the only person in the family! Your stepmother is pregnant with your baby brother! Do you really want him to be born into a declining family? Plus, raising him will take a lot of money.

He's a boy, after all…"

Vince rambled on. All he cared about was providing a good life for his unborn son!

Rita covered her ears. "You don't even know whether the baby is a boy or a girl yet, and you're already preparing so much for theme Does it mean only a son is considered your child? Am I not your daughter? I just want you to leave me with some dignity. In fact, I'd rather you ask me to borrow money from the Parr family instead of asking me to marry Sherman! Why do you have to resort to such means?"

"Why are you so hung up about what means I'm using? You like that boy, don't you?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2865-"Don't you see I'm helping you? If Sherman had even the slightest liking for you, he wouldn't have said those words about not hoping for anything more from him.

There's no hope for a wedding, but you should be happy as long as he's willing to get a marriage certificate with you. So stop throwing a tantrum here!"

Rita laughed out of frustration. "Of course there won't be a wedding since you forced him into marrying me! I'm not the one he likes, so why would he give me a wedding? As for the marriage certificate, don't ever bring it up in front of me again! I don't even know how to face him anymore, and this is all thanks to you!

I should really give you a 'Dad of the Year' award."

Rita slumped back in her chair, feeling somewhat defeated. She had no idea how she should go about her life anymore. Everything had seemed surreal ever

since she was discharged from the hospital; nothing had gone according to her wishes.

She had thought that she would be able to repair her friendship with Sherman once she gave him the evidence, but it turned out to be futile.

'Maybe it'd be better if I'd never met him in the first place,' thought Rita with a sigh as she looked out the window, wondering if Sherman regretted meeting her.

Just a few days after their hasty decision to get married, Sherman requested Rita to provide him with her personal information.

Rita knew she was in the wrong, and ever since that incident, she had been cautious around Sherman. She did not know what he needed the information for, so she decided to call and ask, even though she knew he did not want to hear her voice. It was her only chance to interact with him.

"Hello?"

Even over the phone, Sherman could hear the caution in her voice. If only he had known it would come to this.

"Yes?" Sherman's tone was cool and distant.

Rita immediately perked up, surprised that Sherman answered her call "Oh, it's just about you asking for my information. I'm not sure what exactly you need.

Can you tell me what it's for?"

Sherman asked coldly, "What do you mean? Are you afraid I'd steal your information to engage in some illicit activity? Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person."

Rita shook her head in panic, only stopping when she realized he could not see her. "No, no, I never thought like that. I'm just worried that might miss out on something. Besides my ID, do you need anything else?"

"You don't need to contact me about these minor details in the future. I'll give you Lucy's number, and she'll be in touch with you," he said coldly before abruptly hanging up, leaving Rita with thousands of unsaid words.

She laughed helplessly. After all, she deserved Sherman's treatment of her-on account of what her father did to him.

After the information was handed over, there was no further contact between them It was not until a week later that Lucy handed Rita the marriage certificate.

She hesitantly took the certificate, even pulling her hand back as if it had been burnt.

Miss Rita, this is your marriage certificate with Mister Sherman. This is your copy. Please keep it safe,' said Lucy.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2866-Lucy remained as icy as ever, almost like a robot.

Puzzled, Rita asked, "I've never taken any photos with Mister Sherman, nor have I been to the city hall. Where did this marriage certificate come from?"

Lucy adjusted her glasses and replied, "I used the information I collected from you to register your marriage. There are some things that Mister Sherman doesn't need to handle personally." "Oh… I see. Guess I learned something new today."

Lucy nodded. "If you have no further instructions, I'll head back. I still have a lot of work waiting for me at the company."

Rita nodded quickly. "Of course, go ahead."

Alone at last, Rita cautiously opened the marriage certificate. Looking at the photo of two young people leaning close together, she smiled faintly and gently touched the image.

'Is this really our marriage certificate?' she thought bitterly.

Despite their proximity in the photo, she felt like their hearts were miles apart.

She sighed once more. Everything seemed to be to her advantage at Sherman's expense, yet she could not find a way to repay him. She was not even sure how much investment the Parr family would provide to Russell Group after the alliance.

Rita contemplated whether she should talk to Sherman about it, perhaps framing it as a loan from their family. Once her health improved, she could return to work, earn some money, and repay them bit by bit.

However, even the thought of seeing Sherman in person made her carefully weigh her words. Did she even have the right to bring up these matters with him? She did not want to burden him with her family's problems anymore.

Two days later, Rita returned to work, but her enthusiasm for it had waned. Despite Esmond's case still unresolved, she found herself feeling tired for the first time in her career as a reporter. She questioned in this whether she should co the modest profession, considering the modest income it provided. Her salary definitely would not be enough if she wanted to repay her debts quickly.

Seeing her sighing in the break room, Lenny paused his task of pouring water and asked, "What's wrong? Is the new case difficult to crack?"

Rita glanced at him and then lowered her head. "It's nothing, just personal matters."

"Listen, young lady, there's no need to pour all your energy into work. While I hope you'll conduct more interviews and write more articles, I'm not that heartless. It's important to find a balance between work and rest."

Rita thanked him and watched him leave with his cup. He was pleased with what he had just said, considering that Rita was someone Sherman had taken an interest in. He made sure to look after her regularly.

After all, he might just get rewarded for it.

He had no idea that she had already gotten married to the esteemed company president of Parr Group. He would surely be surprised when he found out.

Rita forced herself to focus and continued reviewing the documents.

As the time to get off work approached, she suddenly received a message from Sherman . It was as apathetic as ever, instructing her to tidy up' so they could go home to meet with the elders.

This unsettled Rita even more, and it felt like she was about to walk into a lion's den. It was not that she disliked Sherman's family, but what identity should she adopt when meeting them? The actions of her father had thrown the Parr household into chaos. Their family was at peace until Vince forced her and Sherman to marry.

Rita felt like an outsider in both families. With no real relationship between her and Sherman, should she meet his family as a daughter-in-law or as a sinner?

Rita's head was pounding with these conflicting thoughts, but she ultimately complied with Sherman's instructions and changed into a more demure-looking outfit as he suggested.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2867-Rita found herself standing at New Capital Times' entrance, wondering how to get to Sherman's house when a black sports car pulled up in front of her. She did not recognize the car and moved to the side. To her surprise, the car followed her.

She was immediately irked. Her mood had not been great these past few days, and all of a sudden, this oblivious driver was blocking her. Angrily, she stepped forward and knocked on the driver's window. "Sir, parking is not allowed h-"

She immediately froze when she was met with Sherman's cold gaze.

"Sorry, I didn't realize it was you. I hadn't seen this car before, and I thought it belonged to some troublemaker."

Sherman frowned impatiently. "Now that you know it's me, why don't you hurry up and get in the car? Do you want to attract even more attention here?"

Rita glanced behind her and noticed the luxurious sports car had indeed attracted quite some attention. She wasted time trying to get away from it, and some colleagues were pointing and whispering about them.

Feeling like she had made another mistake in front of him, Rita quickly got into the car.

Throughout the ride, Rita held onto her seatbelt tightly, and the two of them remained in an awkward silence. She did not know what to say to ease the tension. Despite being legally married according to their marriage certificate, their interaction felt even more awkward than when they were just friends.

"Um-"

"Later-"

Both of them spoke at the same time, but Rita quickly said, "You go first."

Sherman paused before continuing, "When we get back home, I hope you can play the role of a good wife. I also hope you can respect my family members as if they were your elders." "Excuse me… What do you mean?" Rita was puzzled.

'Shouldn't Sherman's family know about this marriage? Wouldn't it make matters worse if I were to pretend in front of them?' "I told them that I agreed to this อน marriage because I like you, so they think we're in love with each other. In other words, they see this forced marriage as something solely related to your father, not you. Even if it's just for show, I just want my family to be reassured. Do you understand?" Sherman explained.

"I understand, and I can do it. Don't worry, I'll respect your elders as if they were my own. Consider it my way of making it up to you."

Rita's voice was small as she kept feeling like she was indebted to Sherman. After a while, she gathered the courage to ask, Did my father row a lot of money from your family?"

Sherman chuckled, causing Rita to blush.

Her choice of words 'borrow' instead of 'ask'-was clearly understood, despite her attempt to feign ignorance.

"What? Are you going to pay it back for him?" Sherman replied mockingly.

Rita nodded earnestly. "I know you were forced into marrying me, and your family has no obligation to support my family. So, you can m consider all that money as a loan I'm F even thinking about changing jobs, or maybe even trying my luck in the entertainment industry. After all, being an actress can earn a lot of money."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2868-"It'll take me a thousand years to pay back the loan with my reporter's salary."

Rita laughed bitterly.

Sherman frowned and said, "You're making it sound like I'm forcing you to change jobs. I never asked you to repay the money. The leaked video already ruined my reputation, and now you want other people to think I mistreat my wife?"

Rita shook her head vehemently. "Of course not, that's not what I meant! It's just that my family did ask your family for a loan… There's no such thing as a free lunch, and I don't want him to think he could take advantage of your family whenever he wants. It's better to keep things clear."

Despite how tense their relationship was, Rita still blushed at the word 'wife' for some reason. Sherman remained silent for the rest of the journey, leaving Rita to deal with the embarrassment alone until they reached the Parr family's residence.

Despite knowing that Sherman was wealthy, Rita was still surprised and impressed when she saw the grand mansion. Her family's mansion seemed insignificant compared to it. No wonder Sherman could conceal his family's wealth so well; nobody knew his family was this wealthy.

Sherman frowned at Rita as she got out of the car. He then strode briskly over to her and stood beside her. "Don't forget what I told you in the car."

Startled, Rita said, "Sorry. It's just a bit awkward meeting the in-laws for the first time."

Rita then cautiously linked her arm with Sherman's. "If you don't like this, I can just hold onto the hem of your clothes. You said we should act like a loving couple, so we shouldn't walk in like we don't know each other, right?"

Surprisingly, Sherman held Rita's hand instead. "Can you please act more naturally? You look like I'm forcing you to do this right now. I'll be surprised if my family doesn't notice something is amiss."

"Okay…"

His hand was indeed as large and strong as Rita had imagined. She felt like her entire hand had been swallowed by his.

Sherman had the same thought; her hand was so small, almost boneless and soft.

As Sherman led the blushing Rita into the mansion, where his elderly grandparents and parents awaited them. It was the first time their daughter-in- law was visiting, so out of respect, they all showed up at the door to greet her.

Rita was surprised by the warm reception, especially since it seemed inappropriate for the elders to wait at the door. Anxiously, she tugged at Sherman's arm. "Let's hurry, shouldn't keep them waitingel draft."

the Seeing her pulling on his hand, Sherman's gaze darkened. How nice would it be if things could always be so simple between them?

"You're finally home, Sherman!" Simona, his mother, exclaimed softly.

It was their first time meeting Rita, so there was inevitably some awkwardness.

After all, Sherman had never brought any girl home et before. However, Rita was much more well-behaved than they had imagined, taking the initiative to greet them.

Hello, Grandpa Roger, Grandma Chelsea, Mister and Missus Parra I'm sorry for not bringing anything with En me since I was only informed of this meeting at the last minute … "

As she spoke, Rita even glanced back at Sherman with a hint of playfulness as if blaming him for not arranging things in advance.

Seeing their interaction, Simona chuckled and visibly relaxed. "There's no need to bring anything since you two are married. Think of it as coming back to your own home."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2869-Rita smiled shyly. She had expected Sherman's grandparents and parents to be difficult people, yet they turned out to be so kind and amiable. She felt even more humiliated at the thought. The difference between them and her father was like night and day.

Sherman stepped forward, placed his hand on Rita's shoulder, and guided her inside. "Alright, I already said not to wait at the door. Grandpa and Grandma are getting older. What if they catch a cold from the draft?"

Chelsea, Sherman's grandmother, waved it off. "I'm perfectly healthy. Rita, come sit next to me."

Rita's seat was supposed to be next to Sherman's, but since Chelsea had spoken, she had no choice but to change her seat.

Sherman was a bit reluctant. It was Rita's first time visiting, and having her sit next to his grandmother might make her feel uncomfortable.

The old lady fixed him with a stare. "What's the matter? Afraid I'd eat your wife?"

Rita turned to Sherman and subtly shook her head. "Grandma, I'm sure he doesn't think that way. I'd be honored to sit next to you. Here, let me escort you to your seat."

Rita smoothly took Chelsea's hand from Simona, pulled out the chair for the old lady, and helped her to sit before sitting next to her. As she spoke, Rita cast a natural glance at Sherman, as if they were so in love that they could not help but gaze at each other.

Her expression did not go unnoticed by the elders, who felt somewhat reassured. Even though they did not mind giving the money to Rita's father, seeing as that little money was nothing compared to their family's vast wealth, they still held the hope that Sherman would marry someone he genuinely liked.

They did not want him to end up losing both his wife and his happiness after paying such a high price.

"I'm relieved to see you two so happy with each other. At least now I can die with peace. I hope you two will always support each other and live happily ever after. Rita, I know about the troubles in your family, but you don't need to feel guilty about that now that you've married into our family. Just enjoy your new life with Sherman," said Chelsea tenderly while patting Rita's hand.

The kinder the elders treated Rita, the guiltier she felt. After all, she was deceiving them even then.

She did not speak much for the rest

of the time, Instead, she just quietly paid attention to the conversation among the elders . She would refift their glasses promptly when they were empty, fulfilling the duties of a good daughter-in-law.

They all had their own work to attend to and thus had not planned to stay long. Moreover, Rita had just married in to the family, so it would not be right of her to distract Sherman from his work.

After saying goodbye and getting into the car, Rita finally sighed in relief, though her brow remained slightly furrowed.

Mulling over that day's events, she finally said, "Sherman, why don't we just be honest with your family about everything? They've been so kind to me, and I feel really guilty about it.

Sherman coldly refuted, "Will they be happy if you tell them now?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2870-"Rather than letting my grandparents and parents be sad just to please you, why not put on a little act for them to reassure them?"

Rita immediately shot back, "That's not what I mean, and I'm not just trying to please myself. One lie leads to a thousand more lies to cover it up. Yes, we've managed to deceive them today, but how long do you think we can do that? Do you expect us to live as a fake couple for the rest of our lives?"

Sherman glanced at her indifferently, his eyes clearly indicating that as long as it made his family happy, what was the harm?

"You… You're unreasonable. Lies can't become reality, nor can we lie for the rest of our lives. I just think we should stop lying to them while they're not too deep

into it yet. This way, we can spare everyone future pain."

Especially for Rita, who had not felt much warmth at home. She was afraid she might develop unwarranted feelings for Sherman's family since they were such loving people.

"I know what you're thinking, but don't forget that you were the one who said you wanted to repay the money my family loaned your family. So how can you complain so much when I'm only asking you to do something so simple? How can I count on you to repay the debt? You might as well just tell me to take my losses. You've really got it all figured out, haven't you, Miss Rita?"

As aggrieved as she felt, Rita decided to stop arguing. After all, her father was the cause of all this. "Fine, it was foolish of me to suggest such a stupid idea.

Just pretend I didn't say anything. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll act accordingly."

Leaning against the car window, Rita looked so small despite wearing such a large coat. Naturally, the two did not stay in the same place together. Sherman simply dropped her off at her apartment.

After getting out of the car, Rita did not leave immediately. She watched Sherman's car disappear from her sight, feeling uneasy. She did not know if she was doing the right thing, but it was the only feasible way if she wanted to regain her dignity in front of him.

Sherman's marriage had already made headlines on the Parr Group's official website. It quickly became hot topic online since no one expected him to marry so early for his age. Moreover, his wife had not been revealed yet. Who could she be?

[Is it Claire? There were photos of them together before.] [It's very likely. Maybe the last time was just setting the stage for this marriage!] [Oh, you fans should stop being so full of yourself. If Claire is Sherman's wife, she would've sent dozens of paparazzi to stake out at the city hall long ago.] After this comment was posted, many social media users joined in the mockery.

After the last swift action by Parr Group's legal team, everyone could see that Sherman did not want anything to do with Claire.

No one knew what methods Claire had used to get the paparazzo to' them together. The take photos of them together.

However, Sherman's methods were also swift and decisive. Anyone who dared to leak that photo would face immediate legal consequences.