Chapter 21 Worthless
“I don’t care anymore.”
Iliana chuckled and looked down.
She had figured out what she really wanted while getting ready to go home.
Iliana nodded to both of them and got ready to leave with Maurice.
Iliana’s eyes were steady, her hair tucked behind her ears, and her manner was very cold and distant.
She still seemed indifferent, but it was as if she kept everyone at a great distance.
Bryson felt his heart sinking as if he was about to lose her.
Seeing this, Bryanna put on an act of fragility. “Iliana, are you upset with me?”
Before Iliana could respond, Bryanna continued, “Brys didn’t go to the exhibition with you before because he was too busy. Now he’s here with me because a recent project ended, and he has some free time. You really shouldn’t make friends randomly and upset Brys.”
Bryanna put on an act of vulnerability and kept defending Bryson.
However, Iliana could clearly see the hint of smugness in Bryanna’s eyes.
Iliana felt irritated.
0.00%
05:53
Chapter 21 Worthless
She turned to look at Maurice.
His eyes were deep and cold, and his attitude was indifferent.
She felt unexpectedly calm.
When she looked at him, Maurice lowered his head, his gaze meeting hers briefly before they both looked away.
Iliana smiled. She had worried Maurice might be angry, but in fact, he wouldn’t care about such trivial matters. After all, he had already reached a high position.
Bryanna’s voice was soft and weak, “Iliana, I think it’s better for girls not to be tempted by small gains. It’s just a painting, and you don’t know what the person who gave it to you really intends.”
Just a painting?
Iliana found it absurd.
Thankfully, the painting didn’t end up in Bryanna’s hands to be ruined.
“This is just an exhibition, so what does it have to do with the gains you mentioned? Since you’re so cloquent, why didn’t the organizer of the art exhibition hire you to plan and promote it?”
Iliana’s tone was flat. Her gaze swept over Bryson, who frowned, clearly displeased by her impolite remarks.
Iliana continued, “The person who sent me the painting as a gift might have hidden motives, but someone who has never cared about me is even more worthless to me.”
Bryanna said. “This painting is very valuable. It’s not good for a girl to accept such an expensive gift from someone. It gives a bad
13.50%
05:53
Chapter 21 Worthless
11200 (achers
impression…”
“In my view, Ms. Carson deserves the most expensive gifts,” Maurice scoffed, smiling as he grasped Iliana’s wrist. “Miss, are you projecting your own thoughts?”
Bryanna’s face turned dark.
Leaving those words, Maurice held Iliana’s wrist tightly and led her
away.
Iliana was briefly surprised but didn’t resist, following him.
Behind them, Bryson watched their departing figures, his hand clenching slightly at his side.
His handsome face showed a trace of anger, and even his eyes had a cold glint.
He stared at Iliana’s back for a long time, then smirked angrily, “Iliana, can you stop being so temperamental?”
Bryanna noticed Bryson’s angry expression, and her eyes grew cold.
She sounded guilty, her voice tearful.
“I’m sorry, it was my fault for asking you to come here. I should have considered Iliana’s feelings first. I should have known she would be angry seeing you with me at the exhibition…..”
Bryanna’s self–blame made Bryson’s gaze even colder.
“It’s not your fault. Lia is just being childish. She’ll understand eventually. Don’t be upset by her words.”
Bryson slightly lowered his gaze and comforted her softly, his voice
31.52%
05:53
Chapter 21 Worthless
cold.
Though he was comforting her, there was no smile in his eyes.
***
11
After leaving the art exhibition, Maurice drove Iliana home.
Through the rearview mirror, he glanced at her. “Ms. Carson, are you okay?”
Iliana lowered her head and didn’t respond, instead changing the subject, “Mr. Andrade, thank you for the painting.”
This painting had significant meaning for Iliana.
She valued it greatly.
Seeing her gently touching the canvas, Maurice let out a sigh of relief, and his mood improved a bit.
“If you really want to thank me, accompany me to a place on Sunday.”
“Okay,” Iliana agreed without hesitation.
She owed him a favor and planned to repay it.
At home, she carefully hung the painting on the wall, looking at the rose depicted in the shadows on the canvas, her heart filled with great satisfaction.
When she left Whiteville, she would take this painting with her.
It was like a reminder, constantly bringing to mind the futile efforts she had made over the years.
“Buzz, buzz.”
05:53
Chapter 21 Worthless
28 has
Suddenly, her phone vibrated intensely.
It was her colleagues discussing in the work group chat.
“I told you all long ago that Bryanna was just a pretty face but an empty head.”
“Yes, I can’t believe she even messed up such an easy job. Hilarious.”
“If the project fails, our year–end bonuses are gone.”
Iliana scrolled through the chat history.
It turned out that a collaboration she had previously secured was now facing problems.
The root of the issue was Bryanna.
After taking over the responsibility of the collaboration from her, Bryanna had mistakenly approved the wrong funds, causing the project to start with a deficit.
It was all Bryanna’s mistake.
But instead of firing Bryanna, Bryson resolved the issue by providing financial compensation.
Now, the project was being renegotiated with the partner.
Suddenly, Bryson’s call appeared on the screen.
She answered it.
“Lia, the project you handed over to Bryanna earlier has some issues. Come over and deal with it.”
Iliana snorted.
61.76%
05.53
Chapter 21 Worthless
289 Vouchers
Just as she had anticipated, he would only seek her out when he was in trouble, even if that trouble was caused by Bryanna.
“Was it my mistake that caused the problem?”
“What does it matter? Don’t be upset with me, okay?”
Bryson’s voice on the other end sounded with a hint of a chuckle.
Iliana knew that the angrier he was, the more he would pretend to be chuckling.
“The partner specifically requested you to discuss it.”
This came as a surprise to Iliana.
She had received plenty of compliments from partners, but there was no need to specifically ask for her.
“This isn’t my project.”
“It used to be.”
Bryson pinched his brow, his eyes becoming more frigid.
“It’s a project you and your team spent almost half a month finalizing. Lia, you wouldn’t want all that hard work to go to waste, right?”
Iliana’s gaze became hesitant.
It was a project that she and her team had labored over, putting in extra hours.
But why did he give it to Bryanna when she wanted it?
Could love really cloud Bryson’s judgment?
74.90%
05:53
Chapter 21 Worthless
Iliana didn’t want to discard the efforts of her entire team, so she reluctantly and somewhat forcefully made her way to the company.
Her colleagues, aware of her arrival, watched her with anticipation.
At that moment, she seemed like their only hope.
Probably due to the urgency, both Bryson and Bryanna were in the office.
Standing close, they appeared somewhat harmonious.
“Iliana, I’m sorry. I’ve been too busy recently and made this error. You can be as angry with me as you want, but please don’t leave us in the lurch,” Bryanna apologized first, her eyes watering.
Beside her, Bryson looked at Iliana and handed her the folder of documents.
“I recall you had interactions with the Sutton Group before; you should have some insight into them.”
The Sutton Group?
Iliana’s face turned a shade paler.
88 87%
