Julian Sinclair’s words were like a slap in the face, and Timothy Xavier’s expression instantly turned grim.
I stood between the two, feeling my cheeks heat up, wanting to find a hole to hide in from the embarrassnt.
Thankfully, it was just after the morning rush hour, so there weren’t many people in the garage, otherwise, who knows what rumors would have spread about this scene.
I pulled away with force, finally freeing myself from Timothy Xavier’s grip, and quickly walked over to Julian Sinclair’s side. I looked up at him with determination in my voice, "President Sinclair, I’m not planning to resign. I’ll be more mindful of company rules and won’t be late again."
Julian Sinclair glanced at my red wrist and then at Timothy Xavier’s grim face, but said nothing more.
He checked his watch and said, "Since you don’t plan to resign, what ti is it now? What are you procrastinating here for?"
I felt a chill inside and quickly nodded, "I’ll go now!"
With that, I followed Julian Sinclair to the elevator.
...
As the elevator doors closed, I was so tense that even my breathing beca quieter.
Julian Sinclair didn’t look at , but his words were directed at , "The company is a place for work, not for dealing with personal emotional entanglents. If you can’t manage your private issues, you don’t need to co to work anymore."
My heart clenched suddenly, and an inexplicable sense of grievance welled up.
I wanted to explain the situation from this morning, but suddenly rembered he had said before, he was just my boss and not concerned about my personal matters.
So the words I had been about to say went back down my throat, leaving only a tightness there.
Just then, the elevator jolted violently, and the cabin plumted with a strong sense of weightlessness.
I was so frightened that my scream got caught in my throat, and my body fell uncontrollably to the side.
A pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around my waist, steadying securely against him.
Julian Sinclair’s palm pressed gently against my back, enveloping in the fresh and woody scent of aftershave.
The elevator got stuck at an unknown floor, suddenly halting without continuing to fall.
The emotions that had been building up all morning finally broke through.
Fooled by my daughter, seeing my husband and his mistress naked in bed, misunderstood by Julian Sinclair, and now the elevator malfunctions!
All emotions mixed together, my nose tingled, tears abruptly fell, and my shoulders shook slightly.
The hand on my back comforted gently and tenderly.
Normally as distant as if on a high peak, the aristocratic and aloof man now had a barely noticeable softness in his voice, "Why is Reporter Ellison, who’s not even afraid of earthquakes, crying over an elevator malfunction?"
I snapped back to reality, hurriedly moving away from his embrace.
My cheeks seed to be burning, so I hurriedly wiped my tears and said softly, "I’m sorry, President Sinclair. I lost my composure."
He didn’t say anything, only stood there looking at .
I didn’t dare look up, but could feel his gaze heavy on my face.
After a few seconds, he withdrew his gaze and pressed the ergency call button in the cabin.
Once the call connected, he only reported his na and elevator location, and the maintenance personnel on the other end imdiately panicked, repeatedly saying, "We’ll be right there," their tone filled with nervous tension.
When the elevator doors reopened, the maintenance crew was already waiting outside, tools clutched in their hands.
As the doors opened, they imdiately stepped forward, heads bowed low, "President Sinclair, we apologize deeply, it’s our maintenance oversight..."
Julian Sinclair didn’t look at them, his expression was as cold and hard as ever, as if the tenderness he showed in the elevator was just my illusion.
His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice completely devoid of warmth, "Who’s in charge?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a man with a "Manager" badge squeezed through, wearing a flattering smile, "President Sinclair, it’s ! This was our oversight, I’ll imdiately arrange for a thorough inspection..."
Julian Sinclair interrupted him, his tone offering no room for negotiation, "From today, you don’t need to work here anymore."
The man’s smile instantly froze on his face, quickly trying to defend himself, "President Sinclair, I...this malfunction was sudden, I really did arrange for inspections..."
Julian Sinclair listened no further, turned, and walked directly towards the adjacent spare elevator.
I felt a tightness in my heart and hurried to catch up.
This was the first ti I saw him being so ruthless, dismissing soone with just a word.
Perhaps it was because he had helped so many tis before, that I had placed a good-person filter over him, always thinking he was different from Timothy Xavier. Even though he’s in a high position, he seed much more gentle and forgiving than Timothy Xavier.
Until I saw what happened just now, I realized, capitalists are indeed all the sa.
Thinking of the hardships of working people, I hesitated for a few seconds, then spoke softly, "President Sinclair, actually the elevator malfunction wasn’t really his fault."
He paused in his steps, turned to look at .
His gaze fell on my face, and he said each word clearly, "But, he made you cry."
I was stunned, my heart seed to slam heavily against my chest.
He... he fired that manager because I cried?
Before I could sort out my thoughts, Julian Sinclair spoke again, "Your crying is irritating, don’t cry in front of next ti. Otherwise, others might suffer, too."
I subconsciously swallowed, suddenly a bit afraid of him, and could only nod gently.
It seems, once again, I was being overly sentintal.
It was because my crying irritated him, put him in a bad mood, that he took it out on that manager, right?
At this mont, the spare elevator door opened.
Jolie Joyce stood at the entrance, her face full of worry and urgency.
As soon as she saw Julian Sinclair, she imdiately approached, "President Sinclair! I heard you were trapped in the elevator? Are you alright?"
Julian Sinclair frowned slightly, his tone laced with a hint of impatience, "It was just an elevator malfunction, is there really a need for such drama?"
With that, he walked past Jolie Joyce completely ignoring her, heading straight to his office without looking back.
Jolie Joyce’s face instantly turned sour, not chasing after him, but instead turning to block , her eyes filled with scrutiny and hostility, "You were in the elevator with President Sinclair just now?"
I retorted, "Why?"
"Zoe Ellison, I warn you, keep your thoughts to yourself! President Sinclair is not soone you can set your sights on!"
She lowered her voice, gritting her teeth, "Don’t forget, you’re a married woman, even if President Xavier doesn’t want you anymore, you’re just a discarded wife! Do you really think a man like President Sinclair would fancy you?"
I displayed a maddeningly smug smile, "Secretary Joyce, you should say that to yourself. Whether President Sinclair fancies , I can’t say, but he certainly doesn’t fancy you."
Jolie Joyce, looking tense, grabbed and angrily asked, "What happened in the elevator just now, tell !"
In a lukewarm tone, I said, "Then why don’t you ask President Sinclair! I don’t want to answer you."
After speaking, I deliberately glanced at her almost distorted expression before turning around to head towards my workstation.
...
After work in the evening, just as I walked out of the company building, I saw Timothy Xavier’s Maybach parked at the entrance.
Two female colleagues nearby were quietly discussing: "That Maybach has been here since noon and still hasn’t left. Just who could it be waiting for?"
Another one sighed, "It’s definitely waiting for a woman! I really want to see what kind of person can keep a billionaire waiting for so long."
I walked towards the garage directly, but Timothy Xavier drove up beside .
It wasn’t until I stopped at a café that he followed inside, sitting directly opposite .
The reason I didn’t go ho was, firstly, I was afraid he’d follow there and wouldn’t leave.
The other reason was to ask him when he’d go to the civil affairs bureau with .
Timothy Xavier thought I did this to give him a chance to explain.
As soon as he sat down, he looked at seriously and said, "Yesterday, Serena and I were both drugged with aphrodisiacs by my mom. I really couldn’t control my thoughts then. Zoe, believe , I never had any improper relations with her before last night, I swear on my honor!"
I looked at him, smiled, and said, "A man who cheated for four years, gave his wife’s biological daughter to his mistress to raise, do you have any honor?"
This sentence imdiately seed to hit Timothy Xavier’s Achilles’ heel.
He was already high and mighty in front of , and the way he just explained things might have already been his limit.
But I didn’t accept his apology, and he instantly beca annoyed, sharply saying, "People need to look forward! I’ve already worked hard to turn things around, why can’t you see my changes?"
I sighed tiredly, so things are really exhausting to repeat over and over.
I’ve stopped hoping he understands , much less hoping he can reflect on anything.
So I went straight to the point: "Divorce, it’s good for you, for , for her. We’re already at this point; do you think there’s any point in maintaining this marriage?"
"I will not agree to a divorce," Timothy Xavier’s eyes grew cold, his tone threatening, "Zoe Ellison, abandon that thought!"
Whenever he said that, I was close to despair.
Once upon a ti, his love was so elusive, but why is it that now even leaving has to be such a struggle?
Holding back the sting in my eyes, I said, "As long as I make our marriage certificate public, everyone will know about your infidelity. After all, you previously announced your relationship with Serena Sawyer so ostentatiously in front of the caras. All they need to do is compare the wedding date to know what kind of people you are. Timothy Xavier, you don’t want to go down that path, do you?"
"Then why don’t you make it public?" Timothy Xavier sneered, his tone full of mockery, "Are you afraid of tearing faces, making The Ellison Family and your mother pay for your impulsiveness, aren’t you?"
He paused, his eyes becoming increasingly ruthless: "Oh, and I’ve already decided to indefinitely delay the launch of the cardiopulmonary support device. You won’t be able to buy it. Even Julian Sinclair can’t get it! When you finally settle down and give another child, that equipnt will launch. Otherwise, you’ll have to choose between divorce and your mother’s life!"
Rage surged straight to my head as I picked up the coffee in front of and hurled it at Timothy Xavier’s face without hesitation.
Timothy Xavier sat there, not dodging, but his gaze made my heart shudder involuntarily.
Such fierce ruthlessness, as if driven mad, was sothing I had only seen from him during business warfare, staring at stock market charts.
And later, he forced a person to death! And not just one person, but an entire family!
I looked at him, my heart completely sank.
...
On the way ho, I gripped the steering wheel tightly, wishing I could just perish together with him!
But after calming down, I was already seated in the study, searching dostic and international research networks for the latest treatnts for the cardiopulmonary failure caused by my mother’s vegetative state.
Page after page of the web kept redirecting back to Xavier Group’s technology.
Just then, an industry newsflash suddenly popped up.
"Erging research company invests ten billion dollars to recruit global cardiopulmonary research teams."
My eyes lit up, and I held my breath as I read each word carefully.
The disease this company is researching is strikingly similar to my mother’s current condition.
Moreover, the company’s goal is to develop the most effective treatnt plan for this condition within a year.
This news, to , was like a beam of strong light in the darkness, finally giving hope of escaping Timothy Xavier’s grasp.
I imdiately looked up information about the project initiator, a well-respected dical expert in the international research community nad Sean Sinclair.
Coincidentally, there was an international cardiovascular summit in Veridia tomorrow, and he happened to be one of the speakers.
To obtain so of the latest news on this project, I imdiately filed a report with the company, stating I wanted to attend the academic summit for an interview tomorrow.
The editor quickly agreed.
...
At the Veridia International Cardiovascular Summit the next day, the venue was full of industry elites, as well as so of the organizers and investors of the summit.
As soon as I put on my press pass and walked through the crowd, my gaze unexpectedly collided with a familiar figure.
Timothy Xavier, dressed in a well-tailored navy blue suit, was standing in the center of the venue, conversing with others, as high and mighty as ever.
I instinctively wanted to avoid him; after all, my target today was Sean Sinclair.
But Timothy Xavier had already seen .
He frowned slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny, seemingly certain that I was here for Xavier Group’s equipnt.
Just then, I saw Serena Sawyer with her father and brother walking up to Timothy Xavier.
Following Timothy Xavier’s gaze, their entire family saw .
Imdiately, Serena Sawyer intimately hooked her arm through Timothy Xavier’s as they walked towards .
When she reached , Serena Sawyer curled her lips into a boastful yet disdainful smile, like a peacock declaring its territory.
Peter Sawyer and Miles Sawyer stood behind Timothy Xavier, father and son staring at intently, with undisguised hostility.
Miles Sawyer spoke first, his voice not loud but full of sarcasm: "Now you understand the principle of leaving a way out, don’t you? At the ti, Miss Ellison didn’t leave a way out for our family, and now you’re here trying to extract information through interviews, do you think you’ll succeed?"
I couldn’t help but chuckle softly, saying faintly, "Mr. Sawyer, you’re really overthinking it. Is soone like you worthy of making a special trip for an interview? The person I’m here to see today is Professor Sean Sinclair."
"You want to interview Sean Sinclair?"
Serena Sawyer’s expression changed instantly, raising her voice to accuse , "Miss Ellison, are you doing this on purpose? That research project he’s doing now is clearly trying to oppose Xavier Group, trying to take away Timothy’s business! Haven’t you thought about Timothy? After all, you two are married!"
"Oh? So Miss Sawyer knows I’m married to him? Isn’t that strange! If I’m married to him, then what are you, Serena Sawyer?"
I raised my eyebrows slightly, looking at her with a faint smile.
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