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Chapter 16 The Compensation Bill 

Joseph couldn’t stop sneezing, clearly still suffering from the cold he caught that night. 

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Keziah saw his disheveled appearance and mentally compared him to the gentlemen who had showered her with attention at the banquet. She could not help but feel annoyed. “Didn’t I tell you not to come to my house? If Dad finds out, he’ll scold us for being too close!” 

“Kay rarely comes here anyway. It’s been so long, and you still haven’t won that old man’s favor? Joseph appeared frustrated. 

Initially, everything went according to plan. They wanted to create a rift between Keira and her father, Richard Sunter, and have Keziah step in when the time was right. Ideally, they would convince Richard to leave his wealth to Keziah. That way, they could be together without any hindrance. 

Who would have thought that Richard showed no intention of officially adopting Keziah as his daughter even though he cut ties with Keira? To make matters worse, he was also very protective of his wealth, giving them no chance to accels it. And now, Keira’s situation has changed! 

Everything else might be negotiable, but the Byrom family had demanded the Flint family to compensate for the antique vase and carpet Joseph damaged in their manor. Joseph had received a severe scolding at home over this and could only explain it by pretending to have a falling out with Keira. 

His father warned him not to offend Keira and cause the Sunter family to cut ties with them. At the same time, he refused to pay that one million. 

Joseph did not have one million, so he was anxious to know Keira’s stance. 

Initially, he wanted to contact Keira and ask her to figure out a solution. Unexpectedly, Keira blocked him, giving him not option but to rely on Keziah to contact Keira. 

“Kiki, you said you would ask Kay for me today? What did she say?” Joseph asked eagerly. 

Although Keziah knew that Joseph had no real power in the company and was tight on money, she could not help but feel disdainful seeing him so desperate over a mere one million 

“Joe, you know my sister is having a hard time. She was probably forced into this situation. I have a press conference today and haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet. Tomorrow, I’ll cancel my plans and help you clarify things, okay?” Keziah pretended to comfort him and pulled him into her house. 

Even though this was a wealthy residential area, they could not wholly avoid the paparazzi. If the paparazzi photographed Joseph, Keziah feared it would ruin her single status and her chance to get close to those affluent gentlemen at the banquet earlier. 

Meanwhile, Joseph was indignant as he recalled the disdainful expression of the bodyguard who threw him out. His anger made him overlook Keziah’s insincere tone. 

“That’s not the point! The problem is the Byrom family sent the bill to my house. How am I supposed to cough up that one million?” Joseph’s face twisted with fury and impatience. The debt collectors are knocking on my door. If they come again tomorrow, I don’t know how to explain it to my father!” 

Seeing Joseph’s emotions getting out of control, Keziah finally came to her senses and quickly reassured him. “Joe, don’t be angry. My sister cares about you so much. She won’t harm you. It must be Victor. He’s jealous of my sister’s feelings for you, so he deliberately set this trap for you!” 

Joseph took a deep breath. “I think so too. Even if Kay is upset with me, she wouldn’t be unreasonable.” 

Even though he understood that Keira would do things against her will to protect him in front of Victor, which was likely why she attacked him with a vase a few days ago, he was still unhappy about the bill delivered to his door, as well as the expensive clothes and jewelry that Keira wore when she saw him. 

Looking at Keziah, dressed in luxurious clothes that accentuated her figure, the fury in his eyes intensified. He pulled Keziah into his arms, greedily inhaling the faint perfume on her body. “If it weren’t for you. I wouldn’t have gone to the Byrom family and suffered this humiliation!” 

As their plan had not been completed, Keziah knew she had to appease Joseph. “Joe, I know you have been wronged, bur you’ve been with my sister for so long. I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle it if you tell her about our situation.” 

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Chapter 16 The Compensation Bill 

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Keziah understood Joseph’s temperament well. When he was annoyed, she had to entice him with some benefit, or it would not be easy to calm him. Therefore, Keziah did not stop his wandering hand on her waist and moved closer to him. 

The fabric of her dress was thin and soft as if there was nothing between their bodies. But when his hand moved further down, Keziah let out a soft moan and gently pushed his shoulder. “Joe, it’s not convenient at home. Let’s go to the apartment!” 

That apartment belonged to Keira, but Keira was not free to return there, so Keziah had been living there all along. Many times, she would meet Joseph there. 

“Why are you worried? Richard is attending a banquet at a villa on the city’s outskirts. I don’t think he will come back tonight! I only want to have a good time with you here!” Joseph eagerly pounced forward, and Keziah hesitated but eventually went along, thinking they would not be discovered. 

The battlefield shifted from the living room to Keziah’s bedroom. After Joseph was satisfied, he leaned against the headboard and lit a post–coital cigarette, exhaling smoke rings. 

Keziah gently massaged his still–tense muscles with her hands and whispered, “The compensation bill from the Byrom family was probably just a scare tactic. Didn’t Victor threaten you but ended up doing nothing? As long as my sister is there, she won’t let us suffer any losses. Let’s wait and see.” 

After finally calming Joseph and making him patiently wait for news at home, Keziah’s expression darkened as she watched him leave. 

When Linda walked in, there was still a lingering atmosphere of intimacy in the room. 

“Has he left?” Linda went to the window and opened it slightly, casting a disapproving glance at Keziah. “I don’t care what you. two are up to, but how could you bring him home? Your father still thinks Joseph is dating Keira. If he finds out, how do you plan to explain?” 

The sun was already shining brightly outside. 

Keziah faced the glaring sunlight and pulled up the blanket that slipped off her shoulders. She rolled her eyes impatiently. “Mom, don’t worry. Since I brought him back, I have a plan.” 

“Are you going to see Keira today? Linda asked, approaching her. 

“Yes, I need Victor’s help to get into a program,” Keziah’s spirits lifted as she thought about it. Her eyes glimmered with ambition as she looked at Linda. “I heard that the mentors in this program are well–connected. Creating some scandal with one of the big shots will boost my popularity and ensure my future success.” 

In today’s entertainment industry, faces could be reconstructed, singing could be auto–tuned, and even dancing and acting could be done with stand–ins. As long as one’s fame was high enough and the followers plentiful, there was no worry about not getting a significant share of the pie. 

Seeing that Keziah clearly understood the situation, Linda nodded approvingly. “Child, don’t follow Keira’s love–struck mindset. The Flint family was supported by the Sunter family from the start. They may look impressive, but they are of little use. Once you inherit the Sunter family, someone like Joseph won’t be worthy of you.” 

“It’s Victor who is worth considering. The Byrom family is the largest and most influential family in the capital. If we snatch him away from Keira, you and I will live a luxurious, carefree life! Many wrinkles appeared on Linda’s face due to her exaggerated expression. She fantasized about Keziah becoming the first lady of the capital.