Willow returned to the company to host a meeting the next morning.Her plan was to take precautionary action against Sonia for what she had done to the old woman the day before. But the moment she reached the office, she felt something off about its atmosphere."Good morning, Ms. Jett.""Good morning.""Ms. Jett.""Good morning."On the way to the conference room, Willow met several subordinates who seemed to be gossiping amongst themselves. All of them had their phones in hand.Abraham arrived right when she was wondering why. "Good morning, Ms. Jett.""Good morning, Mr. Yarrow. Did something happen in the company?""What happened?" Abraham was just as confused. "Nothing, as far as I can recall."Willow didn't spend any more time wondering. "Let's just get the meeting over with first."The project team had already arrived in the conference room when they arrived. Willow first gave a short opening statement, "The funds have largely reached our budget goals. Some of the mat
Quentin's eyes swept across everyone's faces as he said coldly, "This meeting is over. The company will be hosting a press conference later this afternoon to apologize to the public for the matter at hand. Willow is officially deposed from her position as project manager."Quentin then shot Willow a look before walking away.The meeting had ended just like that before it had even begun. The team members all looked at one another.Abraham said, "All of you can go now."He then asked Willow, "Why didn't you clarify the situation with Mr. Strand, Ms. Jett?""What's there to clarify? Do you think Mr. Strand wanted to hear my explanation? He's dying to find a mistake I made so he can kick me off my position as project manager. That way, Bassett Corporation will have nothing to complain about since it'd be in the public interest.""What do you mean?"Willow's hands balled into fists. "If it all goes according to plan, Sonia is going to frame me for everything during the press conferen
Willow's assistant, who had been standing behind her mere moments ago, was now gone. Luckily, Willow managed to stabilize herself by holding onto the wall.Her mind was a mess from the pressing questions the reporters shoved at her.Sonia had deliberately orchestrated this entire matter from start to finish. She had used those photos and twisted the truth with false statements. The photos were genuine, but the truth drastically differed from what was reported. It was pointless for Willow to try and tell the truth."You're the project manager for the Oldtown development project, aren't you? You're the one in the photos?""You're the person who threatened the old lady to relocate, didn't you?""Was this an individual decision on your end, or did your superiors instruct you?""Is this Strand Real Estate's internal decision, or was Bassett Corporation involved?"The questions fired at Willow like rockets, not even giving her a chance to answer. She felt suffocated amidst the flurry
Sonia's face flushed a myriad of shades. "Who says I'm leaving? I was going to go take something.""You should let your assistant do that. It's best to sit down and watch the livestream with everyone else, Ms. Sutton." Willow then turned to the reporters. "Please take a seat, everybody."The reporters dissipated, returning to their seats. Theodore marched over and sat facing Willow on the first row in front of the stage. His calm, distant gaze made her feel secure.Willow looked at Theodore, thinking about how this distant and proud man always seemed to show up to support her when she had none. Her eyes suddenly stung with tears.The livestream was still going on. Phoenix News was Emperia's most trustworthy media source. All the news they reported were results from thorough investigation and research. It was never subjective; rather, they had an objective standard for their news.One could say that Phoenix News was the media world's flagship."What instructions were you given
The scene was chaotic.Someone spotted Quentin backstage and said, "Strand Real Estate's CEO is right over there. He must know what's going on."The reporters swarmed Quentin in the blink of an eye. "Sonia Sutton is your girlfriend, isn't she? Did you permit her actions?""Please answer our questions, Mr. Strand.""Apologies, but I'm not taking any questions right now," Quentin answered.The security team arrived just in time to escort him away. Willow was the only one left behind to take care of the company's mess."Strand Real Estate will update all of you on this matter. As for whether this was Sonia's own actions or …"Before Willow could finish speaking, her microphone was taken away. A strong, clear voice said from beside her, "Bassett Corporation will hereby terminate the joint venture with Strand Real Estate."The reporters were shocked to silence.Willow stared at Theodore in shock as well.Terminate the joint venture? The project had just started. There was nothin
Theodore said, "This project was originally part of the government's subsidy program. They have the right to revoke it now that Strand Real Estate has been involved in such a scandal. It will take some time for the application process to go through. You can take your time.""But can I really do this on my own? A new company might not gain trust right away.""You don't need to worry about that. Just gather your own team first. Got it?"Willow suddenly felt empowered. "Got it."…Strand Real Estate's office building was still lit up late at night. A heavy document folder was thrown onto the desk, its edges snapping with the force of the throw."Can none of you come up with a single solution? What the hell do I pay you for?" Quentin growled, his fists clenched by his sides."Mr. Strand, since this is Sonia's own action, then we can only fire her.""Who will lead the project if we fire Sonia?""Isn't Ms. Jett the project manager?""Ms. Jett this, Ms. Jett that. Is Ms. Jett all
"Ms. Jett, our building management is the best in Emperia. There's staff available 24/7 to fix any problems you may have. The security detail is excellent, too."The agent opened up all the floor-to-ceiling windows of the building, letting the noon sunlight stream in.Though there was still a lot of spare junk around to clean up, it still couldn't hide how perfect an office space this place would make. There was even a supermarket downstairs. This was truly the perfect spot."Look here, Ms. Jett. If you look out from here, there's the Domestic Trade Center to the east and the National Convention Center to the west. It's a really strategic place.""It really is," Willow agreed.She stood before the window, picturing how cozy the office would be once she started her new company.But the reality was she still really needed to consider her options.Willow stopped daydreaming and said, "Is it possible to lower the rent more? It's too high for me.""I'm sure you've scouted many other
Right when Willow was fuming, her phone rang."What did I just say? Don't contact him! There's no point calling me. Do you really want me to cut you off?" she yelled.The speaker on the other end was silent for some time before a woman's voice responded, "Ms. Jett?"Willow was stunned for a moment. She only recovered her senses when she saw that the caller was an unknown number. "I'm so sorry. Who is this?""Hello, I'm Ellie Moore, Theodore's stepmother."Willow's grip around her phone tightened instinctively. "Can I help you with something?""Are you free right now, Ms. Jett? Why don't we have a chat in person?"…Willow gazed at the middle-aged woman sitting across the table in the café. She asked respectfully, "May I know what you called me here for?"It was clear the woman had a really good skincare routine. Her makeup was elegant yet delicate, and she was dressed in a refined manner. She wore no jewelry save for two ruby ear studs. Her demeanor was elegant but deliberate.
"What choice do you think I need to make?" Theodore stepped closer. His tone was filled with displeasure. "What are my choices?"Willow hesitated for a moment but maintained her composure as she voiced her concerns. "We need to face reality, Theodore. I will take Yasmine back to Portumville, and you're tied to the Bassett family. Who knows what will happen in the future?""So, you're giving me a heads-up so I can find someone else sooner?""I—""Should I be thanking you then?" Theodore's anger flared. "Willow, this is what's on your mind after everything we've been through? What do you take me for? What do you take yourself for?""I…" Willow found herself speechless."Are you doing this on purpose?""No, I'm not." Willow tried to explain herself, but for once, her words failed her.Theodore's eyes burned with frustration. Seeing her struggling to justify herself only fueled his anger more. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.Willow let out a startled muffle, but it was
Willow noticed something odd and asked, "When did you two get so close? Cedar, you even know what game Jessica likes?"Cedar casually replied, "She posted about it on Instagram."Willow's expression changed to one of realization. "Oh, right. I remember now."After saying that, she looked at Jessica with a raised eyebrow and proudly said, "See how thoughtful Cedar is? He remembered such details and even brought the game you wanted. I wonder which lucky girl will end up with him."Jessica forced a smile and awkwardly shoved the game console under the pillow as if it were something unpleasant to touch.Yasmine raised her head. "End up with him? What does that mean?"Willow patiently explained, "It means who will marry Uncle Cedar.""It must be Ms. Sweeney!" Yasmine pointed to the bed next to her and blurted out, "Uncle Cedar saved her. She said she'll marry him to repay the favor."Willow's face was filled with shock while Jessica quickly waved her hand. "No! I never said that. Wh
At the City Hospital, since both Willow and Jessica needed to stay in the hospital, Terence decided to use a bit of his authority to arrange for them to share a room."So what are your plans? Are you not going back to Portumville?" Jessica asked."I still have to go back. The company headquarters is there. Have you ever seen a president of a public company who never goes to the office? Joywell is still growing. I can't leave," Willow explained."So when are you planning to go back?"Willow hesitated. "I'm still thinking."Balancing a career and family was tough. One had to give way to the other."There's nothing to think about. You wouldn't want to give up Joywell's prime opportunity, and you wouldn't want to keep flying back and forth to see Yasmine. Just have Theodore go with you to Portumville then."Jessica, with her independent mindset, often focused on herself and didn't always consider the practicalities of others' situations.Just then, a knock came at the door. "Come i
As Theodore closed the door behind him, Terence turned to him with a concerned look. "Aren't you going to stay with her?""Let her be alone for a while," Theodore replied.Through the glass on the door, Theodore could see the frail figure lying on the hospital bed, and his heart ached for her."By the way, how's Jessica?"Terence responded, "She's fine. Cedar's with her. Thankfully, he noticed in time, and the sleeping pills weren't of a lethal dose."Joey had drugged Jessica with an overdose of sleeping pills. Then, she was left unconscious and tied up in a small storage room at an apartment in Marldosa Gardens.Following that, Joey hired someone from the black market to drive Jessica's car to Portumville, which caused the car's GPS to show up constantly on the highway.Terence couldn't help but ask, "Are Cedar and Jessica…""I don't know," Theodore replied flatly, "but it's not a bad thing.""Not necessarily," Terence said, crossing his arms. "It's fine for the heiress of Re
At the hospital, Willow's neck wound had been stitched up with four sutures. She had to stay in the hospital for observation.Terence was still in the operating room with Matthew. Over an hour had passed with no news. Yet, Matthew's family couldn't be reached at the moment.Theodore sat by her bedside. "Be careful.""I'm fine," Willow replied, leaning against the headboard. "How did you find out that Joey and I were at the riverbank?""Matthew called me." Theodore's voice was rough. He covered Willow with a blanket and began to explain the recent events."I had a DNA test done with Yasmine and confirmed Iris' claims. At least it proved that Joey was the one who took Yasmine back then. After that, I had Clark start investigating Joey."The first thing Clark did was track down the doctor who did the DNA test for Matthew and Yasmine, and sure enough, Joey was there meeting him."When Clark arrived, the doctor was already dead. His body was hidden in the garage at Marldosa Gardens.
Willow's words crushed Joey completely.Possessiveness? To others, her years of admiration and waiting were nothing more than laughable possessiveness."They're over there!" A voice suddenly rang out. Following that, the chaotic sound of footsteps echoed from the other side of the rocks.Willow looked up to see a tall, familiar figure rushing toward her. Without needing to guess, she knew how anxious the man must have been. Her nose tingled, and tears suddenly began to fall.As Joey glanced at the approaching police, she tightened her grip on Willow and dragged her backward. "Don't come any closer! Stay back!" she shouted.Theodore, who was more frightened than he had ever been, also roared, "Don't go any further! Let her go, Joey.""Let her go?" Joey laughed bitterly. "And let her reunite with your family? Dream on!""Joey." Willow managed to squeeze out the words through her pain. "Stop it, Joey."Even at this moment, she hoped Joey would have a change of heart and turn awa
Willow lay on the rocks as her neck bled and stained the collar of her white shirt. The scene was shocking. But compared to the pool of blood beneath Matthew, her injuries were nothing. Even though she desperately tried to escape, the distance she crawled was far from enough to save her life.Footsteps approached from behind; Joey had released Matthew and was walking toward Willow."Do you know what he just told me?" Joey's voice came from behind as Willow continued to crawl away.Joey didn't stop her, and she merely paced alongside Willow. For every step Willow took, Joey mirrored her, patiently recounting her conversation with Matthew."I asked him if he ever loved me. Do you know what he said?""He told me to let you go."In the wind of the river, Joey's laughter sounded particularly eerie. "Even at this moment, he only thinks of you. His loyalty to you is absolute, isn't it? I want to ask you a question."Suddenly, Joey squatted down and yanked Willow's hair, forcing her
"Leave right now?" Joey asked incredulously. She then burst into tears. "If only you had said this three years ago!""It's not too late now.""It is too late," Joey said as she shook her head. Willow felt herself being choked. She struggled for breath as the immense force pressed against her neck and pulled her toward the edge of the rocky outcrop with the raging river below."Joey!" Matthew staggered closer."Don't come any closer!"Willow felt a sharp pain in her neck as the knife's blade dug deeper into her flesh."Joey." She gritted her teeth against the agony and asked, "So Yasmine really was stolen by you, wasn't she?""You're still asking such questions at this point? Willow, you really are stupid.""Where's Yasmine?""Ha! What do you think?" Joey's laughter was manic.The rhetorical question sent Willow plummeting into despair as if reliving the anguish from three years ago. It felt like her heart and lungs shook violently, and every nerve of hers screamed in pain.
"We've known each other for so many years, and now, suddenly, I plan to leave Emperia. It's hard not to feel a bit reluctant," Joey said with a hint of nostalgia, her expression darkening as she turned to look at Willow.As the river breeze blew, Willow felt something unfamiliar about the woman in front of her, as if she had never known her at all."What's wrong?"Joey noticed the strange look in Willow's eyes.Willow steadied herself, hiding her immense shock and confusion behind her clenched fist, and casually asked, "When do you plan to leave? Have you decided where to go?""We're thinking of heading to Westwood first. Do you still remember we made a promise in college to go to Westwood for our graduation trip?""I remember.""But you suddenly decided to get married at that time and got busy with matters at Strand Real Estate.""Actually, you didn't have to worry about me. You could have gone without me.""Didn't you know? Matthew liked you, so when he heard you weren't goi