After entering the house, Helen lit incense in front of two black and white photos on the shrine, held the cat, curled up in a corner, and stared blankly at the photos. One person in the photo was her unmet mother. The other was her grandmother who had brought her up. As for her father, he had left home, abandoned them, and disappeared before she was born. He hadn't shown up once, not even when her grandmother passed away. The man had died in her mind.

And now, she was dying too…

Helen tiredly closed her eyes, hoping that all her sufferings could disappear into the night with her.

However, dawn would come, and so would dark clouds. Helen opened her eyes, felt dizzy, and checked the time. Without any emotion, she quickly washed up and left home.

The place she worked in the morning was on an anime street famous across the city. It was a maid café popular among nerds. When her shift was over, she hastened to the next working place. Through a call, Malaya told her that the position of a night-hour receptionist was vacant in a hotel where her friend worked. She was asked if she liked the job.

Without a doubt, such news brought her hope. Helen agreed happily. Thanks to Malaya's recommendation, she smoothly passed the interview. At night, the human resources department told Helen to go to work.

Maybe because it was a grand hotel, not many people checked in late at night, but there were still some customers. Helen was in a bit of a flurry.

"Let me help you." The receptionist came up. Helen saw on the badge that her name was Cynthia Lodge.

"Thanks." Helen smiled gratefully.

"You're welcome." Cynthia returned a sweet smile.

Cynthia was a patient girl. She would explain in detail whenever Helen couldn't understand anything. Just then, a gentle voice came over. "Excuse me, I need a presidential suite. "

Cynthia looked at the customer. Her eyes lit up and her smile became sweeter as she looked into the distance. "Sure, please wait a moment."

Helen, however, was dumbfounded because the customer was none other than Jake. They had just met a few hours ago.

Equally surprised, Jake hadn't expected to meet her again so soon. A smile was then revealed on his face.

Helen lost her smile because she had looked over his shoulder and saw another man—Riley.

Riley was standing in front of the elevator. His emotionless, penetrating eyes glanced at Helen across the crowd as if she were a stranger. In the blink of an eye, the man disappeared into the elevator.

Jake got the room card, nodded politely to Helen, and trotted to the elevator.

Cynthia came up and asked suspiciously, "Do you know that guy?"

Helen forced a smile. "How is that possible?"

Cynthia's eyes swiveled. It made sense. If she really knew Mr. Grant, she wouldn't have worked here as a receptionist. She should have risen to the top.

"Did you see the man escorted by the bodyguards in the elevator?"

Without waiting for Helen's reply, Cynthia mysteriously dropped her mouth to Helen's ear and whispered excitedly, "Riley Dixon! Ever heard of him? The richest man in Shadewharf! This hotel is owned by him!"

Helen rounded her eyes. This hotel? Owned by him? She had just left his place, only to enter another place of his. Would Riley suspect that she was working against him? Given his personality, she would probably be punished more severely this time. What Malaya had said about Darrell's severed finger resurfaced in her mind. Was he planning how to deal with her when he glanced at her just now?

Cynthia noticed Helen's stiff, trembling body. She mistook it for her shock to see such a big shot and found it funny.

"I was like you when I just worked here! Then again, in our occupation, we'll see people from all walks of life. You will get used to it. If we can win the favor of one tycoon or officer, tsk, we won't have to worry about the rest of our lives!"

"Excuse me, I'm going to the bathroom."

Helen fidgeted like an ant in a hot pot. She had seen Riley's means. Although he was somewhat polite to her, her cheek had swelled under his heavy smack. She thought of Malaya who introduced her to the job and feared implicating her friend.

Helen pondered. Since she was just a temporary worker, she could quit after the shift was over. Riley would not find her here tomorrow. Helen made up her mind and calmed down a little. She checked the time. It was already 1 a.m., and Riley should have gone to bed. It meant that she would be safe tonight.

But the reality proved her wrong.