Effie was about to hail a taxi to the hospital after stepping out of the hotel when she noticed someone in a vehicle not far away waving at her.

"Effie!"

Seeing that it was Herman, Effie walked over to the car swiftly.

"What are you doing here? Where's Grandma?" Effie asked while looking into the car, but there was no one else apart from Herman.

"Grandma is in the hospital." Herman opened the door with a smile. "Get inside."

"But the nurse just called me saying that Grandma is missing."

"Grandma said she was bored, so I drove her out for a ride. There is no need for the hospital to make such a big fuss over it indeed."

Learning that Grandma was all right, Effie heaved a sigh of relief.

"Herman, don't do this again in the future. I was almost scared to death. It's your luck that Grandma is fine. Otherwise, I will never forgive you!" Effie got into the auto after glaring at her brother, scolding the young man while fastening her seat belt.

"I know. I know."

"Right, where did you get this car?" Effie glanced at the interior of the vehicle. Apparently, it was a brand new one.

"From a friend."

"A friend?" Effie paused for one second, then stared at Herman with a warning look in her eyes. "Herman, I'm telling you, don't associate with those bad guys again. Do you hear me?"

"I know! You've been repeating this point for more than a decade. How could I not hear you?"

Seeing Herman's cheeky grin, Effie heaved a helpless sigh. Involuntarily, she thought of what had happened five years ago.

If her brother got back to his addiction again, she really would not know what to do to save him.

Soon, the car stopped.

Effie looked at the luxurious villa before them in puzzlement. "Where are we?"

"Home!" Herman's smile was smug. "Cool, isn't it?"

"Home?" Effie was surprised. "What do you mean?"

"It means that from today, you will live here!"

"Are you out of your mind? Where did you get the money for such an expensive villa? Also..."

"Effie, calm down!" Herman pressed her shaking shoulders, explaining, "Our place is going to be demolished. My friend borrowed me for a temporary stay. It's temporary and free."

Learning that it was free, Effie heaved a sigh of relief.

It was not that she was a moneygrubber but that Grandma's surgery had cost all her savings and the signing bonus she got from Star Entertainment. Thus, she could not bear any large spending.

"But, why did your friend lend you such a fancy place to live? Also, why is our home being demolished all of a sudden?"

"Come on, my dear sister. Don't ask me so many questions in the middle of the night, okay?" Herman's facial expression was somewhat helpless. He lifted his wrist to check the time, then said, "Get inside the house and have a rest. I'll go to the hospital to pick up Dylan. Let's talk tomorrow, alright?"

Before Effie could say anything else, Herman got into the car and drove away like escaping.

Effie turned around to face the strange, luxurious villa until the vehicle disappeared in her sight. After hesitating for a while, she stepped into the place.

Effie stood in the living room for a while, looking around and not knowing what to do next. The extravagant interior made Effie exclaim over the huge difference between the rich and the poor.

However, when did Herman get to know such a wealthy friend?

While wondering, Effie entered a bedroom and walked into its bathroom.

Upon seeing the shockingly luxurious bathtub and huge shower head, Effie eased her tension. The next second, she got undressed and took a warm, refreshing shower.

After washing the accumulated fatigue off her body, Effie felt much more relaxed.

After recollecting her composure, Effie then thought of what had happened at the dinner party and Edwin's elusive unpredictable face.

She wondered if that bastard would make things easier for her after learning that she was currently a contracted writer of Star Entertainment.

Generally, business people put interests before everything else, right?

As the leader of the group, Edwin should not pester a minor role like her.

He probably would not harass a contracted writer of his company at the risk of being accused and spurned by the general public.

As smart as Edwin was, he certainly would not allow himself to get into a disadvantaged situation.

Thinking so, Effie felt much easier.

After putting on a bathrobe and drying her hair, she planned to get out. Just then, a burst of footsteps reached her ears from outside.

She thought Dylan and Herman were back, then went out without much thinking.

When she saw the back of a tall man in the room, her body suddenly froze.

"Who are you? Get out!" The woman got into a state of alert in an instant and took steps back warily.

The man turned around slowly, then cast a standoffish glance at the woman's pale, surprised face with a creepy, mocking smile upon his cold lips.

"Don't you think it's funny to ask me to get out in my house, Effie?"