Chapter 5

Skylar had somehow slipped back in, limping, tears streaming down her face, looking as if she had suffered the greatest injustice.

“CEO…” she whimpered timidly, successfully catching Julian’s attention.

“Skylar? What happened to you?” Julian frowned, his voice full of concern.

Here we go.

I watched with a cold eye, knowing the show was about to begin.

“I… I’m fine…”

Skylar said so, but then, right in front of Julian and me, she did something astounding—

She suddenly bent down, grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands, and forcefully lifted it!

Two smooth legs were exposed to the air.

On her left knee, a large, fresh patch of red and swollen bruising was starkly visible.

It looked shocking!

“Ms. Stone… Ms. Stone pushed me just now… I hit the marble floor…”

She lifted her tear-filled face, looking at me accusingly, then quickly lowered her head, her shoulders subtly shaking.

I scoffed.

How much force had I used when I pushed her? I knew perfectly well.

She had stood steady as a rock. And now, she was injured like this?

Her acting was so good, it was a waste for her not to be in Hollywood.

“Skylar, you…” I began, ready to expose her pathetic act.

“I’m sorry! Ms. Stone! It’s all my fault!”

But Skylar suddenly bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees, cutting me off. Her voice was thick with sobs and boundless “sincerity.”

“I shouldn’t have blocked the door… I just… I just wanted the CEO to rest well…”

“If I made you misunderstand, Ms. Stone, and think I was deliberately stopping you… then it’s all my fault! I apologize to you! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

She remained bent at the waist, her posture utterly humble.

The angle was just right for Julian to see her swollen knee and tear-stained eyelashes.

My eyes immediately went to Julian.

Sure enough.

Those eyes, which had once looked at me with complete devotion, were now filled with pity for another woman.

And… a hint of dissatisfaction directed at me, almost imperceptible.

That look, like a poisoned ice pick, precisely pierced my last shred of illusion.

Ten years of unspoken understanding, gone, undone by the tears of a manipulative innocent and a fake bruise.

“Enough! Skylar! Get up!” Julian’s face was stern, his voice deliberately raised, sounding stiff.

He walked around the desk, quickly moving to Skylar’s side. He wanted to help her up, but hesitated halfway, his hand stopping, aware of my presence.

He turned to me, his voice carrying a thinly veiled “explanation”:

“Anya, I was the one who gave orders not to be disturbed! It’s not her fault! You… you went too far!”

What a “just following orders”! What a “you went too far”!

This seemingly “explanation” was, in reality, every word a jab at me!

Accusing me of pushing the door, of “disturbing” his rest, and even of “harming” this “innocent” “little assistant” who only had his well-being in mind!

A massive sense of absurdity and icy anger swept over me.

I didn’t want to argue with him in front of this drama queen; it would only make me look like a hysterical shrew.

“Get her out.” I stared at Julian, my voice chillingly calm.

Julian seemed to choke on my resolute tone.

He looked at Skylar, his voice a soothing coax to a child:

“Skylar, go out for now. Didn’t you say you ordered fruit salad? Go hurry them up.”

Skylar’s sobbing instantly quieted.

She slowly straightened up, pouting, her watery eyes looking at Julian, with a hint of a plea: “CEO… Senior Brother…”

“Go,” Julian waved his hand, his voice infinitely gentle.

Only then did Skylar, glancing back every few steps, drag her “injured” leg, slowly and limping, out of the office.

The door softly closed behind her.