Extortion

It was exactly three days after the freshman orientation period and Livy was already in her class in the law department. Being with new foreigners in her class, she felt fresher. It was just that as she expected, the rumors that had been spreading about her being given special treatment still hadn't been wiped away.

Except for the teaching lecturer, everyone looked at her badly.

Livy sighed as she arrived at the library with Sarah. After selecting several books in her hands, she invited Sarah to sit in the most corner. She stared at the five stacks of books, almost all of them the exact same ones Arthur had provided in her study.

"So what are your plans for the weekend? Are you coming home?" Sarah asked while starting to open the book she took out.

"I probably won't be coming home," Livy replied.

"Why? Is your husband on overseas service and such?"

"Why should he serve abroad?" Livy asked back.

Sarah let out a tone of dissatisfaction. "You've been married to him for a long time but you still don't know about this kind of thing? For God's sake, he's a big businessman! His many branch companies are scattered in several places, he's also developing companies overseas, y'know."

"I don't know."

"Forget it. You can ask him yourself. Everyone knows him. Or you can just type his name on the internet and all the news about him will appear."

"Is he that rich?"

"Very. For example the private island we visited. An island like that must be very expensive. You remember what the island officials said when we came there? It was deserted, not because there weren't any interested people, but because Arthur didn't receive any visitors while we were there. It's amazing! Just like in dramas!"

Livy remembered that one.

It wasn't that she didn't know Arthur was rich, but was he really that rich? His appearance looks like an ordinary businessman.

"So how was it? Is he busy?" Sarah asked again.

"I don't know. He didn't tell me."

After the french fries package that time, another big food package came to her place. The difference is, it was not sent by the dormitory guard, but other students. She's a woman in her third semester, who is also a resident of a special dormitory, her name is Amara.

For three days after that the food parcels kept coming, and it was always Amara who brought them.

When Livy asked why the dorm lady didn't give this, Amara said it was someone's special request, so she agreed.

But ... special request ...

"Oh, please, Livy, if he doesn't tell, then you can ask him." She sighed. "Ah. Also ask him to pick you up and take you out for dinner. Tell him you miss him."

"Why should I?"

"Because you're so stupid, ok?"

"Sarah, in case you forgot, I entered via the scholarship route and the test wasn't easy."

This just makes Sarah amused. "I mean, yes, you're smart in studies, but stupid in love."

Livy pouted.

What Sarah said made perfect sense. It was just that Sarah didn't know that their marriage was only based on a contract. No love, no feelings. Even though she now had feelings for Arthur, it was only one sided, it was pointless.

At the time of thinking this, Livy had no idea that her phone had been taken by Sarah. She saw Sarah put her phone on the table with a smile.

"What are you doing with my phone?" Livy glared suspiciously.

Instead of answering, Sarah just smiled mysteriously and continued reading the book. Livy checked her phone, went straight to the messages menu and saw that a message had been sent. Reading the message, her eyes widened.

***

[I miss you.]

Arthur's eyes narrowed at the message.

At one glance, he knew that it wasn't the message Livy had sent. But it wasn't impossible that the girl had sent it, considering how drunk she had been the other day.

Is she drunk again now?

Instead of guessing, he called Evander.

"What is it?" Evander entered with his usual neat appearance, it could be seen that he was busy with some documents in hand.

"What Livy's doing today?"

Evander's mouth fell open. "You called me just for this?"

Evander just had a meeting with a business colleague because Arthur asked him to. In the middle of the discussion, Arthur called him, and the problem was again just Livy?

"Look, I have a great idea for you, you better let your little wife stay at home." Evander said with a sigh. "Is sending Amara not enough?"

Amara is Evander's sister, who also attends the university where Livy attends. The girl is the same age as Livy, but she is Livy's senior on campus. Due to Arthur's ridiculous request, Amara was even sent to live in a dormitory, luckily her sister agreed.

"Ask Amara if Livy was drunk or not." Arthur answered nonchalantly.

"Today, Livy studied as usual. Had lunch with Sarah and went to the library together too. After that, she should be attending classes at this time." Evander explained somewhat exasperatedly.

Evander accidentally saw the earphones in Arthur's hand.

He suspected that his boss planned to listen to Livy's voice recording, but for some reason put him off.

"Not drunk?" asked Arthur probingly.

"In case you forgot, you've done away with the beer at the restaurant last time by paying a ridiculous fee."

"I understand. Get back to work."

Arthur didn't look at Evander from the moment he came until shooing him back. Evander laughed wryly. After his assistant left, Arthur looked back at Livy's message. Still couldn't find what the girl meant by sending that message.

Did she make a mistake?

***

In the university grounds, Livy was waiting for Sarah, and soon she saw her best friend waving and approaching her.

"Don't you have class?"

"My class is postponed because the professor is sick. I remember you don't have class after this. Come on, eat together." Sarah took her arm.

Livy could only agree and the two went to a nearby restaurant. It happened to be the place she and Dave had been to last time.

After ordering food, she asked idly, "Isn't there beer here?"

"There were before, but suddenly the owner's aunt doesn't provide anymore. When I asked, she only replied that students are not allowed to get drunk near the university. That's a rule from the dean." Sarah shrugged.

Hearing this, Livy sighed, apparently Sarah did not know that this might be Arthur's doing.

"Why do you ask? Do you want a drink? You never drank before."

"Just asking."

The two of them ate when all the menus had been prepared. Most joked and discussed Livy's orientation for three days, where she had to ask seniors for signatures while expressing love. The funny thing was that new juniors have to express their love in an unusual way, namely by doing a silly dance while expressing their love. If the senior likes the way, then an autograph will be given.

Livy really struggled because she flopped, she only got a few signatures.

In the end she was punished for making love letters to seniors who rejected her. All who fail get the same punishment.

Livy was very annoyed at the memory and changed the subject. "Anyway, I've found a plan for this weekend, looks like I'll be going back to aunt's house."

Sarah's expression immediately soured. "What are you going there for?"

"I wanted to tell my aunt that I went to college, so they can't keep insisting they want to come over to Arthur's house. I'm afraid Arthur will get annoyed."

"Isn't Arthur's house very secure? You said the maids wouldn't let anyone in, not even your aunt. I imagine how sorry she must be."

"That's true. But I feel bad for Arthur."

"Come on, there's nothing to worry about. If your aunt doesn't understand that refusal either, then she has no shame!" She snorted.

Right. Her aunt are shameless indeed! No matter how many times she was refused to entry, she always came again and again. Even asking for help from Livy's mother-in-law and did not work. And that still doesn't make her back down.

Livy felt she couldn't go on like this. But she doesn't know how to kick her aunt out of her life. She still didn't have a solid foundation.

Arthur may be a solid foundation for her. However, she didn't dare to ask the man out of the blue for help. She didn't want to be mistaken for a shameless girl either, they had only known each other a few months and she was already asking for too much. Arthur must have felt disgusted by her.

She didn't want Arthur to hate her.

"But I'm still going to visit my aunt's house, even if it's only for a moment," Livy said finally.

"Are you sure? Want me to accompany you?"

Livy looked at Sarah's worried face and clapped her hands. She was lucky to have a friend like Sarah. She said, "It's fine. I alone won't get in trouble."

The next two days went like the wind. At the beginning of learning activities, full material has been given to new students. Apart from lectures, Livy got assignments outside class hours, now she felt tired. Not to mention she still has to teach private lessons. She began to consider Evander's suggestion to leave the tutoring.

Weekends are the perfect time to rest your brain.

During that time she did not communicate with Arthur. So, neither did Arthur know that she would not be coming home on the weekends nor did he know that she was choosing to go to her aunt's house.

Since the last message Sarah sent, Arthur had not replied.

Although Livy didn't want Arthur to read it, but knowing the message was read and not replied to, she was much more disappointed. Is it true that Arthur doesn't have the slightest feeling for her?

Livy smiled sadly.

She arrived at her aunt's house with some gifts. She came in the morning, so everyone had not woken up except for her aunt who greeted her with a sour face.

"You still remember your aunt, hm?" Camile quipped.

"Auntie, I brought you a pack of fruit and food." Livy handed over the large bag she was carrying.

"You have a lot of money to buy all this, but you don't give me money. Why buy food like this? Your cousin still needs money, don't you know?"

Camile went inside first, so Livy only saw her back from behind.

"Their school raised building costs. She is going to be in third grade, there's this kind of cost and that."

Camile was still grumbling.

Previously, Livy worked in several places to provide for this family life, even to pay for her cousin's school fees. Remembering this, she smiled bitterly.

"Hey, tell me, did you get a big monthly fee from Arthur?" Camile put the package on the kitchen counter and looked at Livy.

"He gave me, but I did not take it."

"What?" Camille was shocked. "Why are you so stupid? Look, you don't need money, but your aunt does. Who can I rely on if not you, huh? Even though you're married, you're still part of this family, you don't want to help me anymore?"

Livy stared blankly. "Auntie, what should I help you with? I've always helped you a long time ago. Now I have my own life."

"I also had my own life in the past, but I chose to adopt you. Isn't that enough to make you understand? Should I remind you of this?"

Camile's face looked very red with anger.

"If you didn't go with me at that time, you think you can still live? An ungrateful child." Camile pushed her shoulder.

Livy gritted her teeth and said nothing.

"I don't want to know, give me money. You can buy all of these, you must have money." Camile's tone softened a bit. "If you don't have it now then ask Arthur. He is your husband, you are entitled to the money."

Livy closed her eyes, this problem would not be solved if she kept quiet again.

She finally asked, "How much do you want?"

Camile looked at Livy, her eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a satisfied pleasure. She smirked.

"Not much, you ... you give me fifty thousand dollars."

... to be continued ...