Chapter 71
“What do you mean, frozen?” Bob asked slowly.
“Their legal office cited a clause on reputational damage from
the partner companies… they’re initiating a reassessment.”
“What reputational damage?” Madeline snapped.
“The press conference,” I muttered. “The smearing. The public
disaster your side caused.”
The room imploded into murmurs and panic.
Amelia clenched the edge of the table. “They can’t do this
without notice. We’re halfway through the groundwork!”
“It’s Alexander,” I said. “He’s behind this.”
The silence that followed was thick and fearful. Even Felix
looked troubled now.
From behind the hallway, I heard heels clicking. Then Chole
appeared, perfectly dressed, though her mascara was slightly
smudged.
She walked up to me with a cruel smile. “So that’s it, huh? You’d
rather destroy two families than be with me?”
Chapter 71
I didn’t respond.
“You still think Olivia’s worth it?” Her voice rose. “After
everything? After she spread her legs and had Alexander clean
up her mess like some rich sugar daddy?”
My hands curled into fists.
“There’s nothing going on between them,” I muttered. “He only defended her because he’s not a scumbag!“”
She snorted. “Keep telling yourself that. He took her in. She left
you and went straight to him. Do you think she’s sitting at home
crying over you?” She stepped closer. “He’s everything you’re
not–powerful, loyal, clean.”
Her words hit harder than I expected. I did doubt it. Deep down,
part of me wondered if Olivia had moved on. After what I did,
she had every right. I remembered her eyes when I betrayed
her. And maybe, she could be impressed by Alexander’s recent
activity. If not earlier, maybe now she could fall for him.
Chole’s voice pierced the moment. “She deserves a man like
Alexander. You? You destroyed her. And now you’re trying to
make it look like you care?”
I looked away.
Chole’s voice softened, dangerously sweet. “But if you walk
away from me now… I’ll really have nothing left.”
She reached for the knife on the dinner table. It wasn’t sharp-
but it was pointed.
“Don’t. Felix warned from across the room.
But she ignored him. With trembling hands, she held the blade
against her wrist and stared at me.
“I’ll do it,” she whispered. “Right here. I’ll end it.”
Amelia gasped. Madeline screamed. Felix moved forward.
began, trying to sound professional. “My injuries have mostly healed, but due to a family emergency… I was hoping to request
a short extension. Just another week.”
There was a pause. I could almost see him, sitting somewhere
calm, back straight, one brow raised in annoyance.
“You want another week?” he repeated slowly. “Olivia, are you
planning to milk that leg injury forever?”
His voice cut through me. I flinched.
Chapter 71
“No–no, sir,” I said quickly. “I’m not trying to slack off. It’s just… everything with the divorce is messier than I expected, and-
“I need people who show up when they’re needed,” he said
coldly. “Not excuses.”
“I’ll be back after five days,” I pleaded. “I just need a few more days to handle the fallout. If I rush back now, it might make things worse–not just for me, but for you too. You saw what’s happening online.”
Another long silence.
“Your mess is yours, not mine,” he said, but his voice lacked the
bite from earlier.
“I understand that,” I said, softer this time. “But if I walk into Green Group headquarters with paparazzi still chasing me and rumors swirling, it’ll become your mess too. You’ll be seen as the boss defending his scandalous female assistant. And we both
know how that’ll be spun.”
There was a long breath on the other end.
“Then what’s your plan?” he asked finally. “How do you intend
to clean this up?”
I exhaled. “I’m going to make a scene,” I said flatly. “Go to the
Windsor housé. Demand things. Negotiate.”
Chapter

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