The Price of Betrayal novel Chapter 7

On my first day back in the country, after reporting to the company, I went home and started tidying up the long-vacant villa.

Sweating profusely, I casually posted photos of the cleaned rooms on Facebook to document my efforts.

People quickly started liking it, but I didn't pay much attention.

Until a friend called anxiously, saying that because of a photo I posted on Facebook, the comments section had exploded.

After seeing the comments, I was bewildered. The commenters were some new colleagues I had just added when I reported in.

Laila: "Wow, what a luxurious villa! Annie seems quite low-key, I had no idea her family was so wealthy."

Mabel: "What kind of background does Annie have to be able to afford such a luxurious villa? I'm so envious."

Lillian: "Annie, you really keep a low profile! I didn't expect someone so young to be living in such a luxurious villa. Come on, tell us, who are you really? Let me admire you properly."

Everyone chimed in, expressing shock and envy.

Colleagues I had only met once today, and some I hadn't even met, were all unusually enthusiastic towards me.

I hadn't expected that just posting on Facebook would generate so many comments and likes.

I replied, "I don't have any special background, just got lucky."

As soon as I sent the message, a colleague's mocking comment suddenly popped up.

"Truly shameless, posting pictures of my house to seek attention. How vain."

"You even have the nerve to talk about being lucky. Are you saying you're lucky to have found a good husband? Or lucky to have been born into a good family?"

"This villa belongs to Mr. Lewis of Lewis Group. How could someone like you afford it?"

I was very confused. What did the photos of my own house have to do with her?

She just jumped in and started scolding me aggressively, acting as if the villa really was hers.

Moreover, this person knew it was the Lewis family's villa, yet she dared to claim it? Wasn't she afraid of being exposed?

I didn't immediately try to prove anything, but asked her, "Mia, you must be mistaken. I posted photos of my own home."

I thought she would stop there, but unexpectedly she posted some photos of herself drinking tea and picking flowers in the garden, completely taking on the air of the lady of the house.

After posting, she didn't forget to continue scolding me.

"How could I be mistaken about my own home? The forest is so big, it really does attract all kinds of birds. You casually take a photo at my house and then claim it as your own."

"If you want to attract attention, at least choose a smarter way, can you?"

"By your logic, if you take a photo with a globe, does that mean you can say the Earth is yours too?"

Those colleagues who had been calling me "Annie" left and right earlier now changed their tune under Mia's misguided influence.

They then moved from Facebook to the work group chat.

"Annie, I never thought you were this kind of person. Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover. You look so low-key and innocent, but it was all an act?"

"I didn't expect to be slapped in the face so quickly. How embarrassing."

"It's really eye-opening. Just going to work and we can meet a gold digger. Did you think by pretending a bit, you could hook a rich man?"

"Or maybe she thought by posting a photo, it would make it seem like she comes from a good family, and we'd all revolve around her in the future?"

"Is the HR department so useless now? They'll hire just anyone."