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Staring at the ceiling,lost in a daze of thoughts.
A pale arm reached toward me.
“Does it hurt here?”
I turned away.
“Why’d you agree to her?”
She blinked,confused.“What?”
I didn’t answer,just stared.
“Oh,that?I was desperate for money.”She shrugged,smiling.
I lowered my voice,moving to leave the tangled bed.
Suddenly, she said, “Last night was my first time.”
“My grandma’s sick,bad.My parents don’t want to treat her.She raised me—no one else can abandon her,but I won’t.”
Her voice choked.My body stiffened,thinking of my grandmother’s ruined painting.She raised me too;her work meant everything.
I narrowed my eyes.“Give me your phone.”
“To add me?”She handed it over,oddly excited.
Her lock screen was SpongeBob.I glanced,added her contact,and transferred money.
“Enough for your grandma’s treatment?Don’t do this again.Get dressed and go.”
When I stepped out of the bathroom,she was gone.
A note on the table caught my eye.
“I’m Jane Brooks.Glad my first time was with you.”
I meant to crumple it,but it burned in my hand like a fireball.
I stuffed it in my pocket and left the room.
I didn’t go home and had no plans to return to that so-called home.
I spent the morning renting an apartment and reached the office by afternoon.
As I stepped out of the elevator,my assistant saw me,his face stiffening,hesitant.
I was there to demand a divorce from Fiona.
I had the divorce papers printed at lightning speed.
“Mr.Carter…you’re back?You were injured. You need more rest. Don’t worry about the Redwood project. I’ve got it under control. Go and rest.”
Mention of the Redwood project sparked concern.It was my last project before Dad’s accident,secured because Redwood’s CEO trusted me.I’d neglected it too long,managing only verbal and online updates with my assistant.
I thanked him but insisted on going to my office. “Give me a briefing first,” I said.
His face soured,his stammering raising suspicion.
I stood firm,serious.“What’s going on?”
He looked at me,his eyes oddly pitying.
He sighed.“Ms.Carter gave the project to Mr.Grant…”
I froze.“Mr.Grant?”
“Yes.When Ms.Carter returned,she promoted Victor to VP.Redwood and all your other projects were reassigned to him…”
He glanced at my face.
But I was surprisingly calm.“Got it.”
“Mr.Carter,I have to say, Victor was a terrible lawyer, let alone a VP.He doesn’t understand these projects but insists on calling the shots.If this continues,the company’s—”
