Chapter 88
Chapter 88
The woman’s eyes instantly turned cold and sharp. She raised her hand and knocked on the car window.
Calvin reacted quickly and drove the car out of the parking lot in a flash.
Audrey leaned against Yann’s chest, not daring to move. Through the thin fabric, she seemed to feel his heartbeat and his gradually rising body temperature. Her own heartbeat sped up, infected by his.
Just as they left the parking lot, Yann’s phone rang again. This time, it was a message.
Audrey took the chance to sit up straight and leaned toward the window, turning her face outside, not trying to peek at his secrets.
The car window reflected Yann’s side profile. He glanced at the message, jaw tight, eyes flashing with cold light. The vibe in the car suddenly grew oppressive.
Audrey pulled out her phone and started scrolling, only to come across a video of Clayton confessing to Valerie at the hospital.
That video had been shared more than a thousand times and had over forty thousand views. The comments were full of blessings, with not a single negative remark
Alexa saw the video too and grabbed her phone to find Wyatt. “Look at your precious little brother. He ignores everything I say. If he marries Valerie, I’m
divorcing you.”
“Honey. He’s crazy, it’s not my fault.” Wyatt held Alexa, begging, “Don’t you know how I feel about you?”
“I don’t care. Valerie made me lose our child, and that lunatic will lose it again. Either we divorce, or you cut ties with the Patel family.”
Wyatt had already gotten the news–his father’s crimes were confirmed, and he was definitely going to jail. Without his father’s support in politics, Wyatt could only rely on his father–in–law. He absolutely couldn’t divorce Alexa.
He made up his mind and kissed Alexa on the cheek. “I’ll talk to Mom tomorrow. If Valerie ever steps into the house, I’ll cut all ties with the Patel family.”
Audrey got out of the car and quickly lifted her skirt as she hurried inside the Royal House.
Back in her room, she hurried to the mirror. Some of the foundation on her lower back had rubbed off, revealing half a tattoo.
Audrey showered and changed into loungewear before going downstairs to get something to eat. The gown was too tight, and she was afraid eating would make her belly show, so she had been starving until now.
She took out some vegetables and eggs, planning to make light noodle soup.
“You have a tattoo on your lower back?” Yann suddenly appeared at the kitchen door like a ghost.
Audrey’s hand trembled. The egg cracked and slid into the pot, splashing boiling water everywhere. She gasped and stumbled backward–right into
Yann’s arms.
Yann wrapped his arms around her and took her hand to check for burns. His low voice buzzed near her ear, making it tingle. “What did you tattoo?”
Audrey quickly pulled her hand back. “It’s… just for fun.”
Her eyes darted nervously, avoiding his gaze. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. There was no way she could let him see that tattoo.
Audrey scooped out the egg with a spoon and grabbed another. “I’m cooking noodles. Do you want some?”
At some point, Yann had left the kitchen. He wasn’t even in the living room.
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Chapter 88
That whole scene felt like a hallurination. Here one second, gone the next.
30
The moment Clayton arrived at the office the next day, he noticed something was off with his coworkers. They whispered among themselves but Immediately went silent when they saw him.
Shortly after entering the office, two interns came in to hand in their resignation letters.
One said. “Mr. Patel, my family arranged another internship for me.”
The other said. “Mr. Patel, my family wants me to take further studies, so I’ll stop interning for now.”
Clayton took the letters and placed them on his desk. “Tell Emilia to come in.”
The two interns exchanged a glance and then left the office.
“Mr. Patel, you asked for me?” Emilia knocked on the half–open door.
Clayton handed her the interns‘ resignation letters. “Calm the two newcomers down. Don’t let them get swayed by the gossip outside. Our firm hasn’t reached the end of the road yet.”
With Jade about to resign, the front desk unstaffed, and the two interns gone, only he and Emilia were left–with just one assistant. They wouldn’t be able to manage everything.
Clayton averted his gaze slightly. “Yesterday was a special case. As for the professor… I’ll visit in person.”
Emilia went out to get her tablet and brought it back, showing him the notice from the Bar Association.
Clayton’s face turned grim instantly. His grip on the tablet was so tight his knuckles turned white, veins bulging.
He didn’t expect that Samson would act so quickly that he was left no room for maneuver.
The notice was full of criticisms and condemnations–abetting wrongdoings, breaking the law despite knowing it, disobeying his mentor in name only,
two–faced toward his wife…
The charges were clearly laid out. Audrey, the one he had persecuted, was simply referred to as “the victim.”
Clayton’s eyes turned red with anger. He raised the tablet high.
Emilia swiftly retrieved her property and said calmly, “The Bar Association will likely mandate reform. Don’t ruin the future of the young ones.”
Clayton slammed his fist on the desk, his teeth grinding audibly.
As soon as Audrey arrived at the office in Stride Commerce, Edana greeted her with a smile. “The banquet yesterday must’ve been lively. I heard quite a few big shots from Ashbourne showed up.”
“It was,” Audrey replied tersely.
Edana’s smile stiffened. She picked up a document from the table and handed it over. “These are the specific details of the partnership with Baiwei Biotech. See if there’s anything off.”
Audrey didn’t take it. “This project was handled by you and Baldwin. No one knows the details better than you.”
Edana’s forced smile was beginning to crack.
She sighed and said earnestly, “You were the one who first flagged issues with this project. Mr. Gibson asked me to negotiate because I’ve been here
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Chapter 88
longer and I’m trusted. Don’t think I stole your credit, and that’s why you’re slacking off.”
Audrey stood up with her mug in hand, still smiling. “I never thought you stole my credit, Edana. In fact, I was the one who asked Mr. Gibson to let you handle the talks.” She walked straight into the break room.
Edana’s expression shifted. She quickly followed. “Audrey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Audrey grabbed a packet of instant coffee and sliced a lemon wedge into her cup. As she went to get hot water, Edana blocked her way.
Gone was the friendly smile–Edana’s eyes were full of suspicion. “Say it clearly!”
“Are you sure you want me to?”
Edana’s hand trembled slightly as she gripped the kettle, eyes locked on Audrey. “Don’t think you can act high and mighty at Stride Commerce just because you’ve got a pretty face! I’ve been with Mr. Gibson since his days in Ashbourne. We…”
Audrey raised a finger and wagged it. Her smile looked innocent, but her words nearly drove Edana mad. “You’ve been with Mr. Gibson for so long–how
come you still have no title or status?”
Edana was both ashamed and furious. Her anger cooled into a mocking sneer.
Edana said, “I may not have a title, but do you think you will? Mr. Gibson treats you ‘differently‘ only because of that mole near your eye. It fits Mr. Winifred’s taste. The moment you lose your value, he’ll kick you out.”
Audrey looked past Edana, toward the break room door. “Mr. Gibson, is what she said true?”
