Macie's face flushed red in an instant. She tugged gently at Alice's sleeve and whispered, "Please stop saying stuff like that…"Knowing full well that her friend was easily embarrassed, Alice didn't push further. Instead, she pulled out her phone and made a call. Two seconds in, the person on the other end picked up, and she put it on speaker. "Ms. Hart, are you calling to invite me to dinner?" The room collectively gasped when they heard the man's voice. It was their CEO. Moreover, his tone was so casual that it seemed like they were simply old friends catching up.Suddenly, everyone realized how Alice had been able to enter the company. It was because she knew Julian. Employees couldn't bring their friends into the company, but the CEO could. At that moment, they realized that Lucille had definitely picked the wrong fight this time.After hearing that, Alice scoffed. "You wish. There's no way that's happening.""Alright then. What's the occasion?" Julian asked, sounding a li
Julian's tone turned cold the moment he heard what Alice said. He asked, "What's going on? Lucille, did you really insult Ms. Hart?" It was no wonder that Alice had been furious enough to call him. Lucille had truly crossed the line."I'm so sorry, Mr. Atkins! I didn't mean to!" Lucille hurriedly explained. "I-I just lost my temper and said things I shouldn't have…""That definitely wasn't the case. I think you clearly meant it." Alice scoffed. "You were so arrogant earlier. You even looked like you were about to charge at May."Julian's anger boiled over when he learned that Lucille was going to hit Macie. "Do you not want to work here anymore, Lucille?"Lucille panicked and blurted out, "That's not true! I wasn't going to hit Macie. I'm so sorry, Mr. Atkins. I'm so, so sorry, Ms. Hart!" Her voice trembled with fear and desperation as she said, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have picked a fight, shouldn't have gotten involved, and definitely shouldn't have disrespected Macie or ins
"I knew about the recording and the report. The private employee group has been disbanded, and Macie said she'd handle the report herself." Julian's voice came through over the phone."Don't tell me that the person responsible is still working here," Alice said, narrowing her eyes.Macie was about to speak up when Daisy, who was standing next to Lucille, stepped forward and apologized."I'm sorry, Macie. I was the one who sent the anonymous report about your résumé. I know that you must've already figured it out, but you never called me out, and I really appreciate that."Like Lucille, I acted out of jealousy. Please forgive me just this once!"At the time, she had no idea about Macie's background. She just assumed that Macie was someone with connections. Jealousy aside, she just wanted to pick on the newcomer. Not that she'd ever admit all that now.With the current situation blowing up because of Lucille, Daisy figured that it was better to confess on her own terms than be drag
It was well past office hours by the time the matter was settled. The human resource personnel came to apologize, but were scolded by their own supervisor afterward. Palmer smiled obsequiously as he walked Alice out, while the other employees either stayed for overtime or left for the day.Inside the elevator, Macie linked her arms with Alice and said, "Thanks for standing up for me today."Alice huffed. "I doubt anyone from your department will dare mess with you again. I bet they've all learned their lesson. But still, why didn't you have Julian fire them? They're such an eyesore.""That recording was my fault. I let my guard down and answered a personal call at work. Office gossip happens everywhere, and Julian did shut the group chat down right away, so it didn't really affect me," Macie explained.Then, she leaned her head against Alice's shoulder and continued, "As for the report… someone flagged that I marked 'single' on my resume. That was a careless mistake. I forgot to ch
"By the way, when you divorce Edward, be sure to take all his assets!" Alice huffed. "I know Xavier. I'll have him do his best to leave Edward with nothing."Macie hadn't had the chance to tell Alice about the lawyer yet. The truth was, Xavier had reached out to her earlier that afternoon, barely an hour after she'd officially hired Marlowe Law Group.Macie had no idea that the owner of the law firm actually knew Alice's brother. Not only that, but apparently Xavier had even called him to gossip about her case. Macie felt embarrassed when Alice relayed their conversation to her. However, she didn't think that it was that big of a deal. The divorce was happening, and they'd mostly talked about Edward since they were all in the same circle."I didn't ask for anything in the divorce," Macie said. "I'm walking away with nothing.""Are you serious? Why?" Alice questioned."Because I don't want it to get messy. If there's no money involved, the divorce proceedings will be smoother," M
"But Edward might end up buying Sunnyridge Heights. If he does, he'll know exactly where I live." Macie sighed. "So I've been thinking… maybe it's time I look for a new place. I could put this one on the market soon.""List it. If Edward really does buy this place, you can move in with me," Alice said. "Honestly, he's insane. As if buying your office building wasn't enough, now he wants to buy your home too? Why doesn't he just go ahead and buy the entire city?"Macie twirled some spaghetti and ate it quietly. She thought that Edward was indeed messed up. There was nothing he wouldn't do just to drag her back into his life and torment her all over again. She couldn't and wouldn't let that happen.Halfway through dinner, Alice was scrolling through her phone when a message popped up. It was from Sean. She then looked up from her phone and asked, "May, would it be alright if I packed up some leftovers later?""Leftovers? What for?" Macie asked."My older brother saw the pictures I p
Alice texted to ask when Sean would be done with his business gathering. Sean was about to reply when the glass door to the balcony creaked open. He instinctively looked up and locked eyes with Edward. The moment their gazes met, tension sparked in the air."Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Hart, but I'm not some soft, delicate beauty. If you'd like, I can summon a young lady for you so you can have a romantic evening together," Edward said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.Sean straightened up and scoffed. "If anyone's here to flirt, it's you, Mr. Fowler. I must've accidentally stepped into your usual hunting ground. Don't worry. I'll get out of your way. So, don't go spreading any rumors about me."Edward stared at him and fired back, "Unlike you, I have a wife, Mr. Hart. I know how to be a faithful man."Sean arched his brow when he heard that. He wanted to throw a full-on insult so badly, but knew that this wasn't the time to start a fight. So, he simply smiled and said, "Right.
Edward returned from the balcony but couldn't find Sean. So he made a beeline for the banquet hall's main entrance. However, there was no one outside. He asked the guards at the door if anyone had left recently, but they shook their heads in response. As such, he went back inside. He started weaving through the crowd, brushing past men and women alike, ignoring anyone who tried to engage him in conversation. After several tense minutes of scanning the ballroom, he finally spotted Sean, who was casually chatting with a group of businessmen. Edward clenched his fist and took a slow, deep breath to steady himself. He then grabbed a glass of champagne before seamlessly joining the group. Sean noticed him from the corner of his eye. He took a small sip of his drink while the other businessmen talked to Edward.One of the older men, Brian Larson, looked at both of them and said, "Mr. Hart and Mr. Fowler, both of you are exceptional young men, the best of the best in your family busi
Edward returned from the balcony but couldn't find Sean. So he made a beeline for the banquet hall's main entrance. However, there was no one outside. He asked the guards at the door if anyone had left recently, but they shook their heads in response. As such, he went back inside. He started weaving through the crowd, brushing past men and women alike, ignoring anyone who tried to engage him in conversation. After several tense minutes of scanning the ballroom, he finally spotted Sean, who was casually chatting with a group of businessmen. Edward clenched his fist and took a slow, deep breath to steady himself. He then grabbed a glass of champagne before seamlessly joining the group. Sean noticed him from the corner of his eye. He took a small sip of his drink while the other businessmen talked to Edward.One of the older men, Brian Larson, looked at both of them and said, "Mr. Hart and Mr. Fowler, both of you are exceptional young men, the best of the best in your family busi
Alice texted to ask when Sean would be done with his business gathering. Sean was about to reply when the glass door to the balcony creaked open. He instinctively looked up and locked eyes with Edward. The moment their gazes met, tension sparked in the air."Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Hart, but I'm not some soft, delicate beauty. If you'd like, I can summon a young lady for you so you can have a romantic evening together," Edward said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.Sean straightened up and scoffed. "If anyone's here to flirt, it's you, Mr. Fowler. I must've accidentally stepped into your usual hunting ground. Don't worry. I'll get out of your way. So, don't go spreading any rumors about me."Edward stared at him and fired back, "Unlike you, I have a wife, Mr. Hart. I know how to be a faithful man."Sean arched his brow when he heard that. He wanted to throw a full-on insult so badly, but knew that this wasn't the time to start a fight. So, he simply smiled and said, "Right.
"But Edward might end up buying Sunnyridge Heights. If he does, he'll know exactly where I live." Macie sighed. "So I've been thinking… maybe it's time I look for a new place. I could put this one on the market soon.""List it. If Edward really does buy this place, you can move in with me," Alice said. "Honestly, he's insane. As if buying your office building wasn't enough, now he wants to buy your home too? Why doesn't he just go ahead and buy the entire city?"Macie twirled some spaghetti and ate it quietly. She thought that Edward was indeed messed up. There was nothing he wouldn't do just to drag her back into his life and torment her all over again. She couldn't and wouldn't let that happen.Halfway through dinner, Alice was scrolling through her phone when a message popped up. It was from Sean. She then looked up from her phone and asked, "May, would it be alright if I packed up some leftovers later?""Leftovers? What for?" Macie asked."My older brother saw the pictures I p
"By the way, when you divorce Edward, be sure to take all his assets!" Alice huffed. "I know Xavier. I'll have him do his best to leave Edward with nothing."Macie hadn't had the chance to tell Alice about the lawyer yet. The truth was, Xavier had reached out to her earlier that afternoon, barely an hour after she'd officially hired Marlowe Law Group.Macie had no idea that the owner of the law firm actually knew Alice's brother. Not only that, but apparently Xavier had even called him to gossip about her case. Macie felt embarrassed when Alice relayed their conversation to her. However, she didn't think that it was that big of a deal. The divorce was happening, and they'd mostly talked about Edward since they were all in the same circle."I didn't ask for anything in the divorce," Macie said. "I'm walking away with nothing.""Are you serious? Why?" Alice questioned."Because I don't want it to get messy. If there's no money involved, the divorce proceedings will be smoother," M
It was well past office hours by the time the matter was settled. The human resource personnel came to apologize, but were scolded by their own supervisor afterward. Palmer smiled obsequiously as he walked Alice out, while the other employees either stayed for overtime or left for the day.Inside the elevator, Macie linked her arms with Alice and said, "Thanks for standing up for me today."Alice huffed. "I doubt anyone from your department will dare mess with you again. I bet they've all learned their lesson. But still, why didn't you have Julian fire them? They're such an eyesore.""That recording was my fault. I let my guard down and answered a personal call at work. Office gossip happens everywhere, and Julian did shut the group chat down right away, so it didn't really affect me," Macie explained.Then, she leaned her head against Alice's shoulder and continued, "As for the report… someone flagged that I marked 'single' on my resume. That was a careless mistake. I forgot to ch
"I knew about the recording and the report. The private employee group has been disbanded, and Macie said she'd handle the report herself." Julian's voice came through over the phone."Don't tell me that the person responsible is still working here," Alice said, narrowing her eyes.Macie was about to speak up when Daisy, who was standing next to Lucille, stepped forward and apologized."I'm sorry, Macie. I was the one who sent the anonymous report about your résumé. I know that you must've already figured it out, but you never called me out, and I really appreciate that."Like Lucille, I acted out of jealousy. Please forgive me just this once!"At the time, she had no idea about Macie's background. She just assumed that Macie was someone with connections. Jealousy aside, she just wanted to pick on the newcomer. Not that she'd ever admit all that now.With the current situation blowing up because of Lucille, Daisy figured that it was better to confess on her own terms than be drag
Julian's tone turned cold the moment he heard what Alice said. He asked, "What's going on? Lucille, did you really insult Ms. Hart?" It was no wonder that Alice had been furious enough to call him. Lucille had truly crossed the line."I'm so sorry, Mr. Atkins! I didn't mean to!" Lucille hurriedly explained. "I-I just lost my temper and said things I shouldn't have…""That definitely wasn't the case. I think you clearly meant it." Alice scoffed. "You were so arrogant earlier. You even looked like you were about to charge at May."Julian's anger boiled over when he learned that Lucille was going to hit Macie. "Do you not want to work here anymore, Lucille?"Lucille panicked and blurted out, "That's not true! I wasn't going to hit Macie. I'm so sorry, Mr. Atkins. I'm so, so sorry, Ms. Hart!" Her voice trembled with fear and desperation as she said, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have picked a fight, shouldn't have gotten involved, and definitely shouldn't have disrespected Macie or ins
Macie's face flushed red in an instant. She tugged gently at Alice's sleeve and whispered, "Please stop saying stuff like that…"Knowing full well that her friend was easily embarrassed, Alice didn't push further. Instead, she pulled out her phone and made a call. Two seconds in, the person on the other end picked up, and she put it on speaker. "Ms. Hart, are you calling to invite me to dinner?" The room collectively gasped when they heard the man's voice. It was their CEO. Moreover, his tone was so casual that it seemed like they were simply old friends catching up.Suddenly, everyone realized how Alice had been able to enter the company. It was because she knew Julian. Employees couldn't bring their friends into the company, but the CEO could. At that moment, they realized that Lucille had definitely picked the wrong fight this time.After hearing that, Alice scoffed. "You wish. There's no way that's happening.""Alright then. What's the occasion?" Julian asked, sounding a li
Lucille glared at Alice and bit her lip, but she said nothing."Are you targeting me or my friend? She just started working here, and you all are already ganging up on her, huh? I can tell exactly what kind of person you are." Alice sneered. "But hey, I'm not unreasonable. You want to settle this? Fine. I'll find out exactly who's been bullying my friend, and once I do, they'd better start packing because they'll be out of Williamford before they'd even know it."Alice sat back in her chair. She crossed her legs and folded her arms. That declaration sent a wave of panic through a few employees, especially the ones who had previously crossed Macie. Delilah, who had reported her before, looked like she was about to faint."Why'd you have to run your mouth, Lucille? Apologize to Macie right now!" Daisy hissed under her breath as she walked over.Macie glanced at her. Wasn't this the same woman who accused her of faking her resume?"That's right, Lucille. Hurry up and apologize. It'