Chapter 24
I stared blankly at the screen, baffled as to why Quinn would call me and then hang up so abruptly.
Should I call him back? Nah, he probably dialed my number by mistake.
I got out of bed. freshened up, and hurried to work at Madden Group
Seeing the bandage wrapped around my hand. Raelynn was startled, “Ms. Hinton, what happened?”
“Just a minor burn from cooking, no big deal.” I gave her a smile and asked her to bring the files that needed my attention. into my office.
Having promised Quinn to continue working at Madden Group for three more years, I was determined to do my job well.
Rose called me right after lunch.
“Rose.” I answered the phone with my Bluetooth earpiece.
“Natalia, thank you so much. Rose excitedly told me. The lawyer you sent came to the hospital this morning. Those scoundrels have been detained by the police and won’t dare to cause trouble again.”
The lawyer I sent
I was momentarily confused but quickly realized it must have been Quinn’s doing. Whether intentionally or not, he had led Rose to believe it was me who had sent the lawyer.
I didn’t correct her assumption and simply replied softly, “That’s good.”
With a relaxed tone. Rose continued, “Also, the lawyer mentioned we could sue them for damages. But we need the surveillance footage from that day and a series of other evidence
A chill ran down my spine as I suddenly remembered Benedict
The room where the incident occurred was under surveillance, and I had pushed the man out the window to Benedict.
If that video were exposed, wouldn’t our relationship be revealed?
Worried, I furrowed my brow and quickly said, “Rose, I can cover the hospital’s losses. Let’s drop the lawsuit.”
protect
“Pili, don’t worry. I turned him down on the spot. Rose reassured me with a laugh. “Compared to our adorable little Benedict, what’s a broken window?”
Rose was perceptive; she had already considered this possibility. “Don’t worry, aside from me, no one at the hospital knows Benedict’s true identity.”
I breathed a long sigh of relief, touched by her words, yet feeling thank you” seemed insufficient.
Inspired, I playfully said. “To show my gratitude, I promise to help you win over Aiden.
Oh.. You’re already a mother and still so unserious. Alright, I have to get back to work, goodbye!” Rose’s voice was gentle.
Even through the phone, I could imagine her shy and demure expression.
Afjer hanging up. I resumed my work until the afternoon without realizing how time had flown.
Stretching lazily, I heard Raelynn knock on the door and bring in the afternoon tea, muttering, “Ms. Hinton, today’s
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employee afternoon tea is actually the fish soup.”
I was surprised; Madden Group always provided afternoon treats like cakes, pastries, and cappuccino.
Lifting the lid, the rich aroma of fish soup wafted up.
“I specifically asked the administrative manager for strawberry mousse this morning. Raelynn pouted at me, then generously offered her portion to me with a smile. I heard fish soup can speed up wound healing. Eat more!”
I took a spoonful and tasted the broth made from bones. It struck me as oddly familiar.
It reminded me of two years ago when Quinn had a car accident.
Although his injuries weren’t severe, the scrapes on his arm were noticeable.
Worried about scarring. I researched and found that fish aids in wound healing.
Since Quinn disliked fish. I racked my brain and first made a rich broth with pork bones, then added fish and simmered. until the fish disintegrated into the broth.
This way, he couldn’t see the fish and managed to eat it.
“Is it not tasty?” Raelynn’s voice brought me back to reality.
Snapping out of it, I shook my head, feeling somewhat unsettled.
Was it just a coincidence that I got burned yesterday and today the company served fish soup? Could it be Quinn’s doing? I finished the soup and went to the restroom to reapply my lipstick.
In the stall, I overheard the administrative manager gossiping on the phone, “You know what, our cold–faced boss has such tender side. Do you know what our afternoon tea is today? Fish soup! When the assistant told me, I was completely baffled!
“What kind of company serves fish soup for afternoon tea? Huh! I just figured it out. Turns out it’s because the boss’s lover got burned“”
My heart skipped a beat.
Then came her sigh. “Our boss going to such lengths for his mistress must r the wealthy.”
So, she was talking about Diana.
How foolish of me to think I was Quinn’s beloved.
really hurt his wife. That’s the dramatic world of
For just a slight burn on Diana’s skin, Quinn went to such great lengths to have the whole company drink fish soup
And he used the recipe I created for him.
It seemed his reason for keeping me at Madden Group was to humiliate me, making me a laughingstock in everyone’s eyes.
With an injured hand, I couldn’t drive and had to wait for a taxi after work.
During rush hour, few taxis were available, and I struggled to has one.
A Bentley emerged from the underground garage and stopped beside me.
The window slid down: Quinn was driving.
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Diana, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at me with a beaming smile. “Natalia, I was so busy today that I couldn’t apologize in person at your office. How is your hand?”
I frowned, not wanting to engage with her, and turned to avoid her.
Seeing this, she pouted at Quinn. “Quinn, Natalia is still upset. I really didn’t mean it yesterday. If she doesn’t accept my apology. I’ll feel terrible.
At that, Quinn commanded me coldly, “Stop!”
y at me.
I halted and met his deep–set, icy gaze. His handsome brows furrowed slightly as he stared intently
Taking a deep breath to suppress the bitterness in my heart, I asked him, “What else do you want now that we’re off work?”
His face darkened further, and his brows knitted tightly as he asked frigidly. “How is your hand?”
“It’s fine!” I looked at him calmly.
Diana widened her eyes and sarcastically remarked, “Then why is it still bandaged? Did Dr. Stuart wrap it? Should we take you to the hospital and ask him to check again?”
Quinn’s face turned ominously dark.
1 glared at Diana, knowing she wouldn’t let me go easily.
I quickly tore off the bandage on my hand; the instant the wound was exposed, it hurt so much that I clenched my teeth tightly.
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Chapter 25
