Chapter 8: Maybe Good Deeds Really Did Pay Off!

Mr. Mabre kept a strained smile on his face and spoke with painstaking sincerity. "Ms. Norrell, there's no mistake. River City Bank lowered the interest specifically to make amends to you." "It was our bank's fault. We let a parasite slip in, delayed your loan, and caused you trouble. This is just a small compensation. Please be understanding." Charlotte Norrell went blank. Since when had River City Bank become so easy to talk to? Back then, for Perfect Sky Company's loan, she had practically worn a path to every manager's home in River City Bank's credit department. She had begged and pleaded until her pride was ground to dust. To scrape together money for gifts, she had even sold her beloved sports car, all for a single chance. A chance to let Rylie Norrell attend River City Bank's business gala. And yet today, not only had River City Bank sent General Manager Mr. Mabre to visit in person, they were offering a loan that was basically interest-free. It was so unreal Charlotte felt like she was dreaming. "Sis… am I still asleep? Is this a dream?" she muttered. A sharp pinch answered her from the side. "Ow! You actually pinched me!" "Stop it," Rylie urged, impatient. "Give them an answer already." Who would turn down money that was practically being handed over? Charlotte nodded at once. "Alright, Mr. Mabre. I'll sign." Only then did Mr. Mabre finally look like he could breathe again. While Charlotte signed, Rylie still couldn't shake the suspicion. With terms like these, River City Bank would barely profit at all. Their relationship with the bank had never been good, so why would the bank agree to something like this? "Mr. Mabre," Rylie pressed, "can you level with us? Why did your bank's attitude change overnight? Even if it's compensation, this is a bit… extreme, isn't it?" "It really is compensation! It really is!" Mr. Mabre insisted, clamping down hard and refusing to leak a single detail. The moment Charlotte finished signing, he swept the contract up and hurriedly took his leave. With Rylie's family seeing him out, Mr. Mabre finally left the Norrell family's villa. Outside the gates, he wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. Then he noticed, almost too late, that a man was standing nearby. Reginald Lyson. Normally, Mr. Mabre would have ignored the Norrell family's so-called live-in son-in-law. Today, he forced another smile, gave Reginald a quick nod, and strode away as if his shoes were on fire. Inside, though, his stomach churned with resentment. Damn it. If Paxton Wokey hadn't called at three in the morning, ordering him to personally handle Perfect Sky Company's loan and treat Rylie's family with respect, why would the dignified general manager of River City Bank come running to arrange financing for some tiny company? What on earth made Paxton Wokey value Rylie's family that much? When Reginald returned to the villa, Rylie's family was still buzzing with joy over the loan going through. Charlotte clung to her parents, chattering nonstop. Rylie, however, still couldn't understand how everything had flipped so fast. Seeing Reginald come in, she asked, "Reginald Lyson, what do you think is going on?" Reginald smiled faintly. "Maybe good deeds really did pay off." Good deeds pay off? Rylie shook her head slightly. Reginald was still as honest as ever. In this world, how could good people really be rewarded just for being good? After breakfast, with the family's crisis no longer hanging over her head, Rylie received a call from her manager and left for her scheduled gigs. She was an entertainer. Even if she was still just an obscure, bottom-tier celebrity, she still had plenty of appearances to make. It was the life she had chosen. Once Rylie was gone, Reginald cleared the table and returned to his room. Aside from Rylie, the other three in the house didn't like him. He couldn't be bothered to deal with them either. But then Evangeline Heyland called out to him. "Reginald Lyson! Later, take your Electric Scooter and drive Charlotte to work!" Drive Charlotte to work? Reginald paused, then turned as if to leave. Charlotte might have been his sister-in-law, but she had never once spoken to him with anything but cold contempt. She was always looking for a chance to push Rylie into divorcing him. Why should he cater to someone like that? "Are you deaf or mute?" Evangeline said icily. "I told you to take Charlotte to work. Did you not hear me?" Charlotte walked over as well. She had changed into office attire, heels clicking as she stomped in place with impatience. "Hurry up! Are you deaf? Or you just don't want to take me?" Reginald was about to turn his face away and walk out when his phone buzzed with a text from Rylie. "Reginald Lyson, the loan came through. My sister has to rush to the company to deal with things today. She already sold her car, so just take the scooter and give her a ride." "And… about last night. I'm sorry for yelling at you." Reginald glanced at the message, then looked up at Charlotte. "Fine. I'll take you." A moment later, an Electric Scooter weaved through the streets. "Reginald Lyson, go faster!" Charlotte snapped from the back seat. "If you mess up the company's business, I'll make you pay!" The speed was nothing compared to her old sports car, and she couldn't help complaining. The instant the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Reginald forced that little Electric Scooter to move like a motorcycle. With the scenery on both sides whipping backward, Charlotte's breath caught. Before she realized it, she had wrapped her arms around Reginald's waist. Only when they reached the company entrance did she come back to herself. Seeing that she had been clinging to that useless brother-in-law made her feel sick with disgust. She shoved him away and hopped off, ready to head inside. That was when an engine roared. A Jaguar pulled up beside the Electric Scooter. A man in a crisp suit stepped out and walked straight to Charlotte, pointing at Reginald. "Charlotte, who is he?" Charlotte lowered her voice. "Jared Spears. That's Reginald Lyson." "Reginald Lyson?" Jared sneered. "Oh, so you're that useless brother-in-law of yours?" Back then, when Rylie married down to a servant, who in River City's upper circles hadn't heard about it? Among the younger crowd, who didn't know the useless live-in son-in-law named Reginald Lyson? Jared pulled Charlotte to his side. His expression shifted into something gentler, his voice full of practiced concern. "Charlotte, I came today to tell you some good news." "My dad agreed. He's willing to lend Perfect Sky Company three million." "He said if it's helping his future in-laws, of course he'd be happy to. As for interest, we'll just use the bank rate. So… how about we-" At that distance, Reginald didn't need anyone to spell it out. Jared Spears was almost certainly one of Charlotte's suitors, and judging by the way he talked, he hadn't gotten what he wanted yet. He'd learned her company was in trouble, so he was using the money as bait, hoping she'd agree to date him. Reginald couldn't help laughing. It wasn't loud, but it was loud enough. "Huh?" Jared whipped his head around and jabbed a finger at Reginald. "What are you laughing at? What's so funny?" Reginald said with a smile, "Three million. And it's still a loan. You think that's enough to buy your way into a girl's heart? Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic."