"Yes, don't worry, I promise I'll do my best.
Please... please keep this a secret, okay? Don't tell anyone."
Leah remained slumped on the floor, tears pooling in her eyes. Her frail body trembled beneath her uniform, looking remarkably pitiful.
"Expose her! Since you're not reporting her, a person like this needs to be taught a harsh lesson so she learns her place."
Jillian chimed in.
Leah shot Jillian a look, desperately wanting to punch her.
But she didn't dare. She was terrified Jillian would only help Mira crush her even harder.
Mira took in both their reactions. "If I make this public, you won't be able to show your face anywhere, right? You'll be despised wherever you go, and it'll be a stain on you for the rest of your life.
But why didn't you think of that when you were trying to hurt me?"
"Exactly. She probably had the time of her life plotting it."
Jillian glared at Leah, her eyes flashing with disdain.
"I was wrong. I wasn't thinking straight... I swear I'll never dare do something like this again. I won't hurt anyone ever again, I promise..."
"Fine. I'll trust you this once. I'll give you a chance and keep it quiet for now."
Leah let out a massive sigh of relief.
"But only for now. I'm keeping all the physical evidence and recordings, including the video of you begging me today."
They knew Mira carried a hidden camera.
"If you dare break your promise, I'll release it all immediately. You'll be ruined."
Mira stared her down, radiating an absolute, suffocating authority.
"Yes, yes, yes. I... I'll definitely keep my word."
Leah felt as if a mountain were crushing down on her. Her heart raced with terror, awe, and a suffocating pressure.
She didn't dare lift her head, her body trembling so violently she felt she might pass out. But she forced herself to stay conscious, terrified Mira would change her mind.
Biting the tip of her tongue, she fought to hold on.
Jillian, too, felt the overwhelming intimidation. She had felt pressure from Vanessa Voss and the other wealthy heirs, but compared to Mira, they were nothing.
Seeing Leah reduced to a groveling mess, Mira figured there wouldn't be any further issues with her.
"Get up. Go back to whatever you were doing.
If you don't want anyone to know about this, fix your attitude."
In truth, Mira never intended to call the cops once she decided to investigate it herself.
Leah was just a pawn. If Mira crushed one, her enemies would simply buy another. Just like back in Melvion City, she would never have peace until she rooted out the true mastermind.
It was much more useful to spare Leah and turn her into a double agent.
Mira hadn't asked Jillian to leave because she wanted her to witness this display of power.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Too Late to Hold Me Back