Chapter 6: More Harm Than Good

Chapter 6 - 6: More Harm Than Good"Actually, Liam isn't a bad person, just has a stern look," Henry Reid, who had known Liam for many years, seldom smiled at others except this one person.

"Henry Reid, can you not talk about him? Whether he's good or not has nothing to do with me." At least in Maya Spencer's heart, Liam was not a good person.

Seeing Maya's displeasure, Henry immediately shut his mouth, not daring to speak further, fearing she might open the car door and jump out in her discontent.

The Maya he knew was totally capable of doing such a thing.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Henry had booked a double room and ordered the signature dishes for Maya, although he originally intended to order what she liked, he realized he had no idea what that was.

He had known Maya for half a year and always liked her, but this girl was even more of an ice queen than Liam, making it difficult for him to get close.

At the start, he thought if he treated her well for two months, she might smile at him, but half a year passed, and he had never seen her smile.

At the dining table, Maya ate seriously, her head lowered, without politely thanking Henry Reid.

Henry's kindness was noted in her heart, and once she turned the tables, she would repay him manifold; this was Maya's greatest emotion towards Henry.

"Maya, I'll buy you an apartment, move out of the Spencer Family, won't you?"

"No need."

"The people in that house don't regard you as family, what is there to be nostalgic about?"

"It's still my home."

Maya hadn't told anyone she stayed at the Spencer Family not because she considered them her family, nor for the reasons Hannah and Elia Spencer thought — to claim part of the family inheritance.

A year ago, her mother had committed suicide with a gun in the apartment. Maya suspected her mother was murdered and believed it had something to do with the Spencer Family, which is why she agreed to be taken back there by her father.

Until she discovered the truth of her mother's death, Maya wouldn't leave the Spencer Family.

But with the family's strict defenses, taking any action wasn't easy; she had been there a year and hadn't even finished reading her mother's diary.

The diary had once been in her hands but was taken by her father for sentimental reasons, which further aroused her suspicion. Hence, every time her father was absent, she sneaked into his study to secretly read her mother's diary, hoping to find some clues.

Yet, when faced with Henry's kindness, she always used home as an excuse, which made Henry feel more for her, thinking she was too naive, too simple.

But after last night's incident, Maya began to worry that her movements had been exposed, and feared the Spencers might be on guard against her, and truly kick her out. If so, all the suffering she had endured this past year would be in vain.

"Maya, why are you so silly, so naive, I feel so heartbroken." Henry looked at Maya, extending his large hand, gently caressing her small face, his eyes full of tenderness.

Maya felt the warmth of Henry's palm, put down her chopsticks on the table, tilted her head to look into his eyes, and unemotionally removed his hand from her face with her small hand.

Henry watched Maya's face, neither happy nor angry, his heart aching, wondering how he could see any expression on her face, be it joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

"I'm full, need to go back to school now."

Henry's enthusiasm had affected Maya's appetite; looking at the distressed expression on his face, she couldn't continue eating, so she decided to return to school.

As Maya wanted to leave, Henry naturally wouldn't stop her, driving her back to the apartment.

Initially, he wanted to warn Elia not to mess with Maya, but recalling her feelings towards him, he refrained to avoid making things more complicated.

Liam had come in the morning to handle a theft incident, and everyone quieted down; no one continued to trouble Maya, not even the teachers were chatty during their lectures.

Maya had a rare peaceful afternoon.

After class, seeing her classmates heading home or to their dorms, she started to fret again.

By afternoon, she'd opened the suitcase Aunt Parker gave her, finding only two sets of clothes and no money, leaving her unable to stay in a hotel.

In S City, she was a stranger, without any friends but Henry.

She understood Henry's feelings for her, so she never reached out to him, never giving him the slightest hope, preferring to sleep on the streets.

What angered her most was that even the internet cafés where she used to hang out refused her entry today, surely a result of Hannah and Elia's machinations, leaving her without a place to stay.

At eleven o'clock, after wandering the streets for a long time, Maya finally entered a high-end bar with free admission for women.

After entering the bar, Maya found a secluded corner, stuffed her ears with tissues, and hid on the sofa to sleep.

"Hey little girl, all alone? How boring, let brother buy you a drink."

Maya had barely laid down when a man approached to hit on her. Hearing his voice, she didn't lift her head and used her backpack to cover her face, continuing to sleep.

Seeing Maya ignoring him, the man rolled up his sleeves, grinning as he sat next to her and opened her backpack.

"Little girl, had a fight with your boyfriend, huh? Brother's here to comfort you, whatever you like, whatever you want to eat, brother will buy it for you."

As her backpack was opened, Maya squinted her eyes and peered at the man under the dim bar light, knowing instantly he was reprehensible.

She took a deep breath, held her backpack, and slowly stood up from the sofa, walking elsewhere to find a spot to sleep.

"Hey girl, don't be ungrateful. You look fifteen or sixteen at most, isn't coming to a bar all about making money? Tell me, how much for a night? Old brother can afford it."

Infuriated by Maya's icy demeanor, the man grabbed her hair, pulling her into his arms.

Maya looked up from his embrace, gave him an eye-roll, and said coldly: "I have AIDS, are you sure you want to keep me for the night?"

"No problem," Maya's voice was very pleasant, which didn't match her icy demeanor, and even less with saying she had AIDS.

Maya didn't expect her usual trick to fail today; she furrowed her brows slightly,

"I can also not touch you."

As the man uttered his words, Maya's face turned pale; she bit her lower lip and struggled a few times but still couldn't free herself from his hold.

Maya's blatant lie convinced the man that she was bluffing; no one with AIDS would say it upfront, so those who say it definitely don't have it.