Chapter 7 Panic

"Laura..." Tracey said, knowing that Weston had put Laura in a difficult position. "You have taken me in when I was in trouble. I have been here for only a week, but if I managed to fill the club with my singing for three nights in a row, will you let me stay?

I know my request would put you in a terrible position, but please give me three days. Only three days. And if I can't fulfill my promise in that time, I will leave by myself."

"Well..." Laura said, still thinking about it, even though she really wanted Tracey to stay.

Their previous singer had always been very unreliable. She was often late or would simply not show up, and she didn't sing as well as Tracey either.

Tonight, Laura had heard how talented Tracey was, and she heard the praise coming from the audience.

If she could keep her, the club would definitely do well in terms of profits.

But then again, Weston wasn't just any guest.

In the end, she turned to Weston and asked, "Mr. Xiao, what do you think?"

"Laura, when did you become so bad at judging people?" he asked in return.

"Mr. Xiao," Tracey answered instead of Laura, realizing that she had to convince him if she wanted to stay.

She raised her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with unyielding stubbornness. "How about a bet?"

"A bet?" he repeated, doubting that a bet would change anything.

A year ago, he might have believed that Tracey would be able to accomplish something like this, but seeing her now, she was just a cripple. What could she do?

"If I can't fill the club for three nights, I will pack my things and leave on my own. But if I win, you stay away from me. Even if we meet by chance, just treat me like a stranger," Tracey said, and Weston agreed. He didn't like to lose, no matter what the competition was, and he wanted to see Tracey defeated and beaten. Also, he thought her demand was ridiculous. "Let's see what you can do. You have three days," he said.

"Good. You better watch carefully then," Tracey replied.

While the two of them were discussing their bet, someone else joined in, calling Weston's name softly. When she heard the voice, Tracey trembled for the second time that night.

She felt as if the whole world was against her.

"What are you doing here? Weston asked Jade, who was now standing behind him.

Even though his words were harsh, his tone was gentle, and Tracey could barely stand it. She turned her head away, pretending not to notice her former best friend.

"Alex told me that you were here. I was nearby, so I stopped by," Jade explained, walking up to him with a smile. When she reached him and stood by his side, holding his arm, they truly looked like a perfect match.

"Tracey," Jade said, pretending to be surprised. "When were you released?"

Jade had managed to find out that Tracey was working at the Platinum Club, so she actually ran there, scared that Weston would meet Tracey. Unfortunately, it seemed that she was too late.

Without waiting for Tracey's answer, Jade turned to look at Weston. "Weston, I heard what you said just now. Please, don't make her life difficult because of me. It's not necessary," she whined.

"Tracey is my best friend. She has just been released from prison, and her life is already hard enough, so don't make it even worse."

"Why are you still defending her?" Weston shouted, but Jade just held his arm even more tightly.

"Weston, it's all in the past. I'm fine now, and Tracey has paid her dues. Don't make things difficult for her, okay?

Okay?" She was like a spoiled child, shaking his arm and pleading in a child-like voice, and Weston had no choice but to agree. "Fine. If that's what you want."

Tracey, however, didn't want Jade's fake mercy. "Jade, have you finished your act?" she asked.

She had gone to prison, Weston was still intent on making life difficult for her, and it was all because of Jade.

And now, Jade was pretending to care. It was ridiculous.

"Tracey,"

Jade said with tears in her eyes. "I just want to help you."

"Help me?" Tracey asked with an incredulous smile. "You are the reason I ended up like this.

Even though the world believes your lies, you and I know the truth.

You threw yourself down the stairs to frame me, and I had to spend a year in prison because of that. And now you're pretending to care about me? Now that I'm a cripple, you must be very happy. And you think I would believe that you really want to help me?"

"Tracey, what are you talking about?" Jade asked, still feigning innocence. "I know you hate me because of Weston, but... Weston and I love each other. And now, when I'm trying to help you, you say something like this about me.

I have never blamed you, but now... I'm disappointed." When Jade finished, Weston squeezed her shoulder, comforting her.

"I told you she doesn't deserve your sympathy at all," he said.

"Yes, I'm just a nobody. I know I don't deserve it," Tracey said, sneering. "My ex-husband and my ex-friend did everything they could to ruin me and force me into a divorce. Weston, you're scum, and Jade, you're a bitch, and together, you are really a perfect match!

Jade, I will definitely get my revenge. You just wait and see. I will prove what happened a year ago, and I will also prove what happened the day of the fire."

When Tracey mentioned the fire, Jade's face changed. She lowered her head, feeling too guilty to look her in the eyes.

"Enough!" Weston yelled, his eyes burning with anger. "You haven't changed at all, even after a year in prison. Jade had always tried to help you, and not only do you not appreciate it, but you also slander her. I should have just let you rot in prison forever."

Jade, however, pulled Weston's sleeve, trying to stop him from saying anything else. She was afraid that Tracey would keep talking about the fire. "It's okay. I don't need her to thank me. Anyway, let's go home. I'm not feeling well," she said.

When he heard that, Weston immediately forgot about Tracey and escorted Jade out.