Hades still harbored anger inside. Alanna's indifferent demeanor deeply unsettled him. She made it seem as if his presence was inconsequential. She could chat and laugh with Terrence, yet his company seemed superfluous. He had intended to smoke a cigarette to calm down. He couldn't understand why he was so easily affected by her emotions. Finishing the cigarette only intensified his irritation.He stubbed out the cigarette and headed back to the hospital room, only to find her lying in bed. She curled up into a small bundle on the bed. Alanna wasn't short. She was 5.5 feet, which meant she was quite tall for a woman. It was just that she was too thin. She was already slender, and her waist was so tiny that a hand could encircle it. However, she was well-proportioned where it mattered. Now, she seemed to have lost even more weight after the miscarriage. Especially in the oversized hospital gown, she appeared even more fragile, as if she could shatter upon touch.The anger insi
Alanna nodded. "Yes, I've thought it over and decided to resign." She got up, entered the bathroom, and avoided Hades' gaze. She knew without looking that his expression wouldn't be pleasant. But having sent the message, she had nothing more to say.When she came out after freshening up, Hades had already gotten dressed. "The company's lawyer will discuss the termination with you today." After speaking, he left with a stern face.Alanna's lips twitched, but she ended up saying nothing.When Chelsey came to check on her, she asked, "Did Hades come last night?" Alanna nodded. Chelsey huffed. "At least he has a conscience. But your man is really intimidating. I just met him outside, and with his presence and that look on his face, I'm surprised at myself for daring to speak to him like that."Alanna's lips twitched involuntarily. "He's not 'my man,' so stop making such comments."Chelsey chuckled, "Isn't he though?" After saying this, she gave Alanna a suggestive look. "I'v
Alanna quickly opened the company's website to take a look. Although operations had resumed normally, fans of Melanie were still calling out for their "Mr. Florentine" in the comments section below the site. "Mr. Florentine, when will you marry our sister?" "Mr. Florentine, you two are so sweet." "Mr. Florentine, I'm here to witness your love." "Mr. Florentine, hurry up and announce to confirm your relationship with our sister." "Mr. Florentine..." The uniform calls of "Mr. Florentine" made Alanna feel stifled.The company's website wasn't unattended. Yet, these comments remained prominently displayed on the homepage. Without Hades' consent, this would have been impossible. This was probably what it meant to have a loved one; even their fans were indulged.She took a deep breath and tossed her phone aside. Just as she was about to lie down, someone knocked on the room's door. "Come in." The door opened, and Alanna paused in her movements. It was the company's chief
"Mr. Florentine, I'd like to discuss the termination agreement with you," Alanna started. A cold laugh came from Hades' end. "Ms. Jacinto, haven't you seen the agreement?" Alanna's lips were tight. "I have.""Then, is there something you don't understand?" Hades inquired. Alanna took a deep breath. "I just want to resign normally. If you think it necessary, I can wait until you find a suitable replacement before proceeding with the resignation."Hades' voice was cold. He showed his displeasure even through the phone. "Ms. Jacinto, my company isn't a charity. You signed the labor contract, so you should abide by it."Alanna clenched her fists. "Mr. Florentine, you agreed to my resignation at the club then." Hades instantly recalled the incident at the club when Alanna accepted Terrence's offer. His face darkened immediately. The entire boardroom fell into a tense silence. Every executive present dared not even breathe too loudly.Hades slammed his pen onto the table which st
Alanna paused for a moment. "Speaking of that case, have you not found someone else for it?"Shane laughed. "You already agreed to help me. Why would I need someone else? Unless you're having second thoughts?"Suddenly, Alanna found herself at a loss for words. After she had refused Shane's request for help under those circumstances last time, he hadn't contacted her again. She had assumed Shane must have found someone else, but it turned out he had been waiting for her all along.After a while, she responded with a smile. "You can send them directly to my email for future translation needs. I'll try not to delay your work.""Deal. What about your current situation?" Shane inquired."It's a termination agreement. Should I email it to you?"Shane said, "No need. Since it's lunchtime, how about we grab a meal together?"Once Shane made the suggestion, Alanna felt it would be rude to refuse, especially since she had asked for a favor. "Alright," she agreed after a moment of silence
Alanna was somewhat puzzled. She wondered what had gotten into Hades this time.Yet, she instinctively felt he was angry. She didn't approach him but stood by the bed instead. "If there's something you want to say, just say it from there."Hades' eyes narrowed suddenly. He reached out to grab Alanna's wrist. He pulled her toward him with force. Alanna, who was already weak, fell hard against him. Hades wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, spun around with her in tow, and pinned her against the window sill. "Who did you meet?" His voice was cold enough to form icicles.The window sill dug painfully into Alanna's back. She instinctively struggled to free herself. Hades noticed her struggle and looked even more displeased. He tightened his grip and made Alanna feel as if her back was pressed against a blunt knife. "I said, which man did you meet!""Hades! It hurts!" Alanna exclaimed. Hades let out a cold laugh. "Sorry for causing you pain." Despite his words, he showed
Alanna wondered what she had done. She had simply shared a meal with Shane. That was all. Suddenly, she remembered how she had felt dizzy when they got up from their meal today, and Shane had steadied her. That was their only physical contact for the day. Yet, Alanna didn't think that brief moment would make Hades suspect anything between her and Shane.Alanna's face turned a shade paler as she looked at Hades. "Mr. Florentine, are you having me watched now?"Hades scoffed coldly. "Ms. Jacinto, rest assured. I'm not that idle. However, from today onwards, I think having someone monitor you is the best idea. Otherwise, I might end up being the last to know if I'm cuckolded!"Alanna's lips paled as she glared at Hades. "What the hell are you saying?"Hades glanced at her, took out his phone, and tossed it before her. "See for yourself, Ms. Jacinto."Alanna picked up the phone and unlocked the screen to see a chat. There was a photo. The photo was taken from a clever angle. It ma
Alanna felt a piercing pain from Hades' words. She was surprised by how she was tainted just because Shane had steadied her once. She looked at Hades. "Then by that logic, Mr. Florentine, the places Melanie has hugged and held you must be cleaned even more."Hades stood aside and merely let out a light laugh. "Do you not understand who the real benefactor in our relationship is? If you could be my benefactor, I might consider not touching another woman."Suddenly, Alanna lost the will to argue further. She understood that she didn't have the right to demand anything from Hades. She had forgotten the inherent inequality in their relationship. "You can leave now. I'm going to take a shower."Hades looked at her. His gaze lingered on her pale face. "Are you sure you can manage on your own?" "I can." Hades nonchalantly nodded and turned to leave the bathroom.The moment the door closed, tears streamed down Alanna's face. She bit her lip to silence her sobs. After crying for a while