The Bigshot Married Himself to the Heiress-Chapter 471 - 472: How Many Sins Have Been Committed

Chapter 471: Chapter 472: How Many Sins Have Been Committed

In the slum area of Sileria City.

It was like an ugly, stubborn blight upon the gleaming metropolis—hideous, yet undeniably real, tucked away in a nearly forgotten corner of the city.

The people living here were all from the dregs of society—migrant workers, welfare recipients... Anyone with even a shred of ability had moved away long ago.

Russell Austin, dressed inconspicuously, walked in carrying two large bags, heading straight for a house distinguished by an old locust tree at its entrance.

Reaching the door, he noted how old and dilapidated the wooden panel was; he could probably kick it open with a single blow. "I really don’t feel at ease with you living in a place like this," he murmured, more to himself than anyone.

This area was a melting pot of all sorts, and Neve Harris was such a beautiful young girl. He worried for her safety, but the stubborn Neve simply refused to move.

He took out his key, unlocked the door, and walked in.

The entranceway was very low; being tall, he had to duck his head to avoid hitting it.

"Neve? I’ve come to see you."

"Russell? COUGH, COUGH..."

A woman’s weak coughing sounded from the cramped room inside. Russell entered to see a woman lying in bed, coughing incessantly.

"Why are you here?"

"Didn’t you say you were getting better? Why do you still look so ill?" He quickly put down the bags and walked towards her, his face etched with concern.

"I’m almost better. COUGH, COUGH..." Neve said.

Russell said angrily, "Better? How are you better? Look at you, you’re burning up..." He placed his hand on her forehead. Her temperature was alarmingly high; he could tell immediately she still had a fever. "No, I have to get you to the hospital."

"It’s fine. I’ll just endure it, and it’ll pass."

Nowadays, people could hardly afford to get sick. A common cold could cost hundreds at the hospital. Neve was so poor she wouldn’t dream of going; she had only taken some medicine from a small clinic.

"Must you break my heart like this?" Russell’s tone was tinged with anger. Neve smiled faintly, trying to comfort him. "I’m young. I’ll get over it if I just bear with it. We poor folks aren’t that delicate!"

"I know you don’t want to spend Yvette Harris’s money. But have you ever considered that money was stolen from your father? It should rightfully be yours! Why not use it? Why let that woman benefit for nothing?"

Neve Harris was the only daughter of Oscar Harris, the former boss of Southgate Department Store.

"He’s not my father! I don’t have such a ruthless father!" Neve said bitterly.

"A man like that... it’s better not to acknowledge him. Besides, he’s dead now..." Russell wanted to say, It was his retribution, but Oscar Harris was, after all, Neve’s biological father, so he kept the thought to himself.

She had spent money investigating Yvette Harris, even going so far as to have her boyfriend, Russell, act as Yvette’s gigolo to gather evidence and avenge her mother.

If not for Yvette, her mother would still be alive.

"Do you want me to worry myself to death?"

"Russell, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m not that fragile."

"Go on, keep pretending to be strong," he said resentfully. "It’s clear I’m not important to you. All you care about is revenge."

"Russell, I’m so grateful to you, truly. I can never repay what you’ve done for me in this lifetime." Tears streamed down her face. "The money Yvette gives you... I can’t spend it! To me, that’s money you earned by selling yourself. I’d rather die of this illness than touch it."

"Yvette and I... nothing happened, Neve. Believe me. Every time, I gave Yvette hallucinogens and then found another man to be with her."

"I’m sorry!" she said in a low voice, then coughed a few times. Her face turned crimson from the coughing fit. Russell’s heart ached; she was just a pitiable girl.

"Stop apologizing. You know I love you. I do all this for you willingly."

Neve looked at him, her expression a mixture of pain and guilt. "Russell, I’m sorry. I know you’ve suffered so much because of me..."

"No, don’t overthink it. I haven’t touched Yvette. I’ll always be yours. I won’t be like your father, abandoning you for someone new," he said, wiping the tears from her face, his voice firm with determination.

Neve nodded gently.

Russell asked, "Have you taken your medicine?"

"I have."

"Then let me make some porridge for you. What kind do you want?"

She gently shook her head. "Don’t trouble yourself. I’m not hungry. Just stay and talk with me. I miss you."

"I miss you too." He reached out and hugged her. The two lovers held each other tightly, their hearts pressed close, as if they had never been separated.

Even though she said she wasn’t hungry, Russell still made her a light vegetable porridge and fed it to her himself. Neve hadn’t eaten all day. After finishing the bowl, she felt much better, and her cough eased considerably.

Only then did Russell bring up the serious matter. "Neve, we need to change our plan. I can’t get any useful information staying by Yvette’s side. Instead of waiting fruitlessly, we should find another way."

"Do you think I don’t want to change things? That I don’t love you? Do you think it doesn’t tear me apart, knowing you’re with that old woman, Yvette? She’s my enemy! She killed my mother and my father! And you... you’re the man I love. Forcing you to play along with her for my sake... the pain is so intense I can barely breathe."

"..."

"But what choice do I have? She’s rich and powerful now. I’m just a destitute woman living in a dilapidated slum. How can I possibly fight her?"

"Do you know Sienna Johnson of Eastminster Group—President Johnson?"

"Yes. Isn’t she the Miss Johnson from the Johnson Family?"

Russell explained, "Yvette’s biological daughter is named Sabrina Johnson. The real Miss Johnson, Sienna, was swapped at a very young age, and Sabrina took her place as the Johnson family’s Miss Johnson. Rumor has it that Yvette used her position at the time to orchestrate the swap.

Sabrina stole Miss Johnson’s fiancé and was responsible for the death of Miss Johnson’s father. She’s facing a lawsuit now. Perhaps we could ask Miss Johnson for help?"

Neve coughed lightly, her voice hesitant. "But... will she help us?"

She looked down at her own hands, chapped and coarse from constant exposure to harsh detergent, her knuckles enlarged and rough. She was at the very bottom of society. How could someone like her ever hope to take revenge on the rich and powerful Yvette? It seemed impossible.

Even with Russell demeaning himself by pretending to be Yvette’s gigolo, they had still gained nothing after all this time.

"Neve, I love you. I can’t stand being with that old woman for another moment. Besides, I’m not getting any valuable information by staying with her. It’s just a waste of time." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Looking at Russell’s earnest face, Neve found herself nodding with little internal struggle. "Alright, let’s try. Even if she refuses to help, how much worse can things get?"

Joy surged in Russell’s heart, and he leaned in to kiss her lips.