I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Justin didn't return home nor did he go back to Meredith's place; instead, without a place to stay now, he checked into a hotel temporarily. He didn't want to trouble Meredith further.

When Mrs. Thatcher arrived at Merrydale Estate to look for Justin, naturally, she found nothing. Meredith was upstairs reading when Mrs. Wooten informed her, "Mrs. Sterling, there's a lady downstairs looking for Mr. Hann." Meredith immediately guessed who it might be. Previously, she had given Mrs. Thatcher time and an opportunity to come forward and help clear Justin's name. They hadn't eventually got her help before, but now Mrs. Thatcher had shown up. Meredith knew why Mrs. Thatcher was there without even having to think about it. She initially didn't want to meet her but considering Mrs. Thatcher might bother Justin otherwise, Meredith relented. "Mrs. Wooten, please take her to the sitting room. I'll be there shortly."

Meredith changed her clothes and came downstairs. Mrs. Thatcher sat stiffly on the sofa in the sitting room, not touching the served fruits and tea. The grand and luxurious decor of the villa, which exuded wealth at every turn, was not lost on Mrs. Thatcher, even with her limited experience.

"Mrs. Thatcher," Meredith approached with a neutral tone, "please have some tea."

"I'm not thirsty," Mrs. Thatcher replied nervously, embarrassed to speak but compelled to, "I came looking for Ainsley. He's here with you, isn't he?"

"He's not here," Meredith responded truthfully. "With the current turmoil online, it's obvious you would come looking for him here. Why else would he stay? However, I am curious, why are you looking for Justin?" Hearing Justin was not there, Mrs. Thatcher stood up to leave, "If Ainsley isn't here, I'll look elsewhere."

"Mrs. Thatcher, I advise you not to waste your effort," Meredith interjected. "He is your son, are you really trying to drive him to his death? He has no obligation to support you because you don't deserve to be called parents." Meredith's words were harsh, but necessary to make Mrs. Thatcher face reality.

Mrs. Thatcher looked at Meredith with tearful eyes, her expression pitiful and her hands clenched in a gesture of vulnerability, which would have moved anyone with a soft heart. However, Meredith felt no pity. Mrs. Thatcher's type didn't deserve sympathy; showing any would only lead to endless trouble.

Mrs. Thatcher stammered, "Ainsley is my son, and they are his father and brother. We're all family. How can family act like enemies? There should be no resentment among family. You don't understand, our family cannot survive without Ainsley."

Meredith was infuriated, "You really have the gall to leech off Justin. Did you ever provide for him even for a day? What nonsense are you spouting? His father and brother were trying to ruin Justin! You can't attempt to kill him and then ask him not to hold a grudge! You expect him to love you, do you think you showed him any love? Are you insane? Can you at least be honest for once? Mrs. Thatcher, I thought you were naive and weak. Now I see clearly, you're just as ruthless as Mr. Thatcher. When it was your time to provide for him, you weren't there. You sold Justin, and now you have the audacity to ask him to support you?"

Why are there such shameless parents in the world?

If not for Mrs. Thatcher's age, Meredith would have thrown her out directly.

"Selling Ainsley was wrong, we had no choice at that time. We were poor and desperate," Mrs. Thatcher pleaded tearfully. "I and his father are old now, we can't work. Gemma is still young, and Tristan is paralyzed. If you were in my place, what would you do? Ainsley is our lifeline."

"I would rather starve than shamelessly ask Justin for help like you do. If all you want is to bleed him dry, at least stop spouting that family nonsense! It's disgusting!" Meredith retorted heatedly.

Mrs. Thatcher shook her head, her expression as if to say Meredith was too young and impulsive.

After leaving Merrydale Estate, Meredith sent a message to Justin, informing him of the encounter. Justin wasn't surprised; the words Mrs. Thatcher used were familiar, and her continued expectation for him to provide was unthinkable. Justin had planned to possibly settle Mrs. Thatcher and Gemma somewhere else, but now it seemed unnecessary. His feelings of affection were perhaps not as genuine as he once thought. Meanwhile, at the entrance of the orphanage in the northern city.

A luxury car pulled up, and Chloe stepped out.