It was just a thought, though. Jean still refused to work.

He crossed his legs while sitting on the couch, then he looked at the receptionist and asked, “Do you have anything to eat or drink here?"

"Yes, Mr. Langdon. Have a seat while I go prepare something for you," the receptionist said politely.

Jean nodded arrogantly as he was just here for the money, but unexpectedly, he could freeload on some food too.

After a while, the receptionist brought a cup of coffee and some snacks over.

Jean ignored the receptionist's gaze as he grabbed the snacks and ate them right away. Although they were small, they still tasted great. Just a few more of these would be enough to fill him up.

When the receptionist saw Jean wolfing down the food as if he had not eaten for days, she frowned slightly and brought more snacks over after some consideration.

The company's purchasing department had bought these snacks to entertain the guests. They were quite pricey because practically everyone who came here was of honorable status. The refreshments were usually just for display.

Those guests would not reach for them either.

Jean was the first...

"Just put them down." Jean's eyes brightened up upon seeing her bring in more snacks.

The snacks just now barely filled his stomach, but he could stuff himself now that he had more.

The receptionist put the snacks down while Jean continued to eat.

Five minutes later, he finished all of the snacks and burped as he made a comment to the receptionist, "This company's snacks are not bad."

The receptionist felt a little awkward. He ate those snacks without any regard for his image as if he lived here. He even gave comments afterward.

She went up to clear all the packaging of the snacks. After throwing them into the trash, she heard voices coming from outside the door.

The receptionist walked out to take a look before turning back to tell Jean, "Mr. Langdon, Mr. Mallory is done with his meeting and is on his way here."

Upon hearing this, Jean hurriedly wiped away the crumbs on the corner of his mouth and sat up straight.

Percy walked in, and with a cold expression, he looked at Jean sitting on the couch pretentiously. “I was in a meeting just now. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"You're a busy man. It's my pleasure to wait for you." Jean sucked up to him.

Percy sat on another sofa. When he raised his hand, everyone who followed behind him, including the receptionist who entertained Jean earlier, left the reception room.

The moment the door closed, Jean could not resist and said, "Mr. Mallory, I..."

"I know who sold the information to the reporters," said Percy bluntly.

Jean was dumbfounded. He knew?

If he knew, why did he not do anything? Instead, he let Marie stay in A City all this time?

This was not like him as the Mallory family was known to be revengeful.

Jean cautiously asked, "Who do you think did it?"

"Marie Rayne," said Percy as he could not help but feel disgusted by Jean's foolish look.

Was Jean really Nina's brother?

He even suspected that Nina was adopted.

Besides, Jean had inherited Anna's greed entirely, whereas Nina was unlike them at all.

Jean's right hand suddenly twitched, and upon realizing it, his left hand immediately reached over to stop it. "Mr. Mallory, how do you know.."

"If I want to investigate something, who can stop me?" said Percy. He went on a business trip right after the incident happened, but the investigation never stopped even while he was away.

His people found out that it was Marie who made a deal with the reporters under the table, and he also knew that the money Marie got from selling the information was taken by Jean.

Therefore, Jean was the first to know about it.

However, before he ran out of money, he never intended to confess to him.

"So that's how.." Jean was chagrined as he should have told him earlier so that he might still have a chance. Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

He refused to give up. Even if Percy already knew who did it, he might not know that he knew from earlier on as well.

"Mr. Mallory, I only learned about it today, so I thought of telling you. But I didn't think that you would find out so soon." He lied to show his loyalty to Percy.

"Today? So, you didn't know about it when you were spending the money Marie got by disclosing Nina's information?" Percy's sharp eyes stared at him intently.

Jean felt like prey being watched by a falcon.

His palms got clammy from the nervousness.

He rubbed his hands together and said, "I didn't know before this. The woman was unwilling to tell me how she got the money. I never looked into it until today as she just said that it was from her relatives before this. When I saw the contract she signed with the reporters today, I thought of telling you at the first minute."

"Contract? Where is it?" Percy asked him for the contract.

Jean noticed that he was not as furious as he imagined he would be and was very calm. He even asked him for the contract, which made him wonder about his intentions.

Since he could not tell what was on his mind, he grew even more afraid.

Jean smiled embarrassedly and explained, “I got really angry after finding out that it was her, so I tore up the contract..."

"Marie is your girlfriend, right?" Instead of talking about the contract, Percy skipped the subject entirely and asked him directly.

Jean shook his head. "There's no way we're dating. We're only together in times of need. I only took her in and gave her a place to stay out of pity. I didn't expect her to be so ungrateful and sell information about Nina. Mr. Mallory, you mustn't let her get away with it."

"I won't spare anyone who has done Nina wrong, whether it be Marie or anyone who's blood-related to Nina," said Pierre as his fingers rhythmically tapped on the leather couch while he gazed at Jean.

Jean lowered his head out of guilt, worrying that Percy might even get revenge on him too.

"You must believe that I never intended on harboring Marie, and you're the first person I wanted to tell after learning about this. I should've kept her under control, but she ran away the second she realized she made a mistake. So, I immediately called you because only you can find her," said Jean earnestly in hopes that he would believe him.

"Ran away?" Percy frowned. Why would Marie run?

It most likely was not because of the Nina incident as he still had yet to make a move after the investigation so that they would think that he was unaware.

When in reality, he had not made a move as the timing was not right yet.

"She knew that I would tell you, so she ran away with all my money, leaving me penniless. Mr. Mallory, since you and my sister are going strong, you'll be able to overcome all the obstacles that come your way and walk into the marriage hall one day. That'll make us family in the future. So, can you lend me some money? All my money was stolen by Marie." Jean pleaded.

Percy looked at him with a stern gaze.