Who Cares About Him When I'm Married to the Richest Man?-Chapter 9: As Compensation, I Can Lend You

Elara walked out of her house, and the aunts playing mahjong downstairs greeted her warmly, "Elara, heading out?"

Elara smiled back at them, "Yes, I’m just checking in on my dad. As long as he’s doing well, I can be at ease."

"Take it slow on the way!"

"Sure."

Elara felt warmth in her heart, but not long after she walked away, she heard the disdainful voices of the aunts.

"Hmph, pretending to be some lady! She got chased out, and yet she acts like she’s going back home!"

"Didn’t you see how she’s dressed? What decent girl wears high heels? For all we know, she’s out to sell herself!"

"It’s already eight o’clock and she has nowhere to go; if she’s not hooking up with men, where else could she be heading?"

Elara stopped in her tracks, her body frozen, her chest heaving with anger. She couldn’t believe that those who had watched her grow up and acted so affectionate towards her were speaking like this behind her back.

She had always treated them with respect like family, sending gifts during festive times!

She wanted to go back and argue with them, but she lost her nerve before even approaching.

Her father still lived there, and all the neighbors were his friends. It wouldn’t do any good to fall out with them.

Moreover, no one would care about the anger of someone insignificant; to earn respect, one can only make themselves stronger.

She’d given up her job at her career peak to be a kept woman for two years, and now she had nothing.

She had pushed herself to this point with her own hands.

As the night wind blew, Elara wrapped her coat tighter around her and left without looking back.

She didn’t take the bus but walked for over an hour, returning to Zion Fitzwilliam’s house.

Zion had already given her a key to the house. As she opened the door and went in, Zion came out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of pork rib soup, and asked, "I made some food and accidentally made too much; would you like to have some?"

The scene was cozy, and Elara felt a little more relaxed, but she had no appetite or mood for it, so she politely declined with a forced smile.

"I’ve already eaten."

Zion discreetly studied her for a moment before retracting his gaze and simply said, "Alright."

Elara returned to her room, hesitated, and then sent a message in her group chat with her two friends: Do you have any money on hand?

Zara replied instantly: Finished with the divorce?

Esther also replied quickly: Don’t tell me you have to give alimony to that Mason guy after the divorce?

Elara: No, it’s not about the Jacobs Family. It’s about my dad’s side.

She explained the situation.

Zara immediately initiated a group video call.

Elara answered, faced with Zara’s face filling the screen, "How much do you need? I had a big fight with my mom earlier today, and my only credit card is frozen. I have only ten thousand left. Do you want that for emergencies?"

Zara was a rich kid, not as powerful as the Jacobs Family but still influential. Elara met Mason through Zara.

Unfortunately, three years ago, he came out to his family and faced extreme suppression, living like a dog driven out from home. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Elara sighed, "You should take care of yourself first."

Esther joined the video, looking upset, "Babe, I’m broke too. I only have a few hundred in savings..."

Her dad was a small-time businessman with a bunch of mistresses outside. After her mom passed away, she fell out with her dad completely, working as an extra to make ends meet, living worse than Elara.

Knowing her friends’ circumstances, Elara didn’t have much hope initially, "I’ll think of something else. By the way, I have something to tell you—I got married again."

She had only met Zion two nights ago, and the marriage was a sudden decision, so she hadn’t had time to tell her friends.

Zara was thunderstruck, "Did you just marry a gay guy in a flash? Aren’t you in a sham marriage?"

Elara thought for a moment, "Maybe it’s a mutual sham marriage? You know I want to adopt that kid, and being single doesn’t qualify."

Esther, always having unique focal points, asked, "So, did you get the divorce certificate with Mason and immediately get a marriage certificate with someone else? This is like a real-life thrill story!"

Zara, "Next time, bring your new husband out so we can all meet him. Sister, I’m a pro at this!"

Elara was about to speak when she heard a sudden knock on the door.

She felt a prickling sensation on her scalp; could Zion have overheard?

Getting caught discussing someone’s private business was too awkward...

Elara hurriedly ended the call, bracing herself to open the door.

"Mr. Fitzwilliam?"

Zion seemed to have just showered, his damp hair slicked back, highlighting his refined features. He wore a light gray loungewear set, and his tall frame made even simple clothes look appealing.

Zion said, "I heard you on the phone just now."

Elara went blank, thinking he must have heard. Generally, gay people don’t like being scrutinized or whispered about; he must be mad.

Just as she was about to apologize, Zion spoke again, "I didn’t mean to pry into your privacy, but the walls here aren’t soundproof—are you in dire need of money?"

"Huh?" The twist was so sudden that Elara couldn’t react immediately.

Zion looked at her, his dark eyes calm as a river, "I have something I’d like your help with. As compensation, I can lend you a hundred thousand, payable within a year, interest-free."

Elara was still a bit bewildered and asked further, "What help do you need?"

The man seemed amused by her wariness, and his lips lifted slightly, his voice low and pleasant, "Don’t worry, it won’t trouble you."

Elara felt a little dazed even till the next day at work. Zion did as he said; as soon as she agreed, the money was transferred over.

The crisis on her father’s side was temporarily resolved.

But she couldn’t fathom it. Zion was just an insurance salesman, and a hundred thousand wasn’t a small sum for him, was it?

She merely agreed to a small favor, and he lent her the money without hesitation?

They weren’t even friends, having only known each other for three days.

Unexpectedly, for someone who seemed cold and distant, he turned out to be so kind.

Just then, the phone on her desk rang. She picked it up; it was the reception desk, "Elara Hale? You have an express delivery. Please pick it up at the front desk."

Elara retrieved the package, opened it, and was taken aback.

It was a court summons.

In just one day, Mason had already arranged for a lawyer to file a case.

The court date was set for three days later.

The process was unusually fast—this was the power of influence.

Elara felt an uneasy tumbling in her heart. If the lawsuit went forward, Mason would surely strip her of everything. If it were just her, she could deal with it, but Zion was innocently dragged into this...

She hesitated for a second and sent Zion a WeChat message, "I received a court summons from the Jacobs Family."

Zion was probably busy and didn’t reply.

Elara sent another message, "You mentioned you have a friend who’s a lawyer; can we meet?"

If a lawyer could mediate, there might be room for negotiation.

Both she and Zion were just small, unarmed individuals, unable to move a behemoth like the Jacobs Family.

By the end of the workday, Zion called directly, his voice as steady as ever, making it hard to discern his emotions, just giving a sense of reliability.

"I’m downstairs at your company; let’s talk in person."