Julian Sinclair cleared his throat and said, "Mm, that’s right. Just accept it, why ask so many questions?"
Before I could say anything else, he issued an order to leave: "Go work!"
"Oh, then... thank Mr. Hawthorne for ."
After I spoke, I directly put the Tourmaline Bracelet on my wrist in front of Julian Sinclair.
Julian looked slightly surprised, as if he thought I was a bit too eager?
I quickly explained, "This box is too conspicuous. It’s not good to walk around with it. It’s better to wear it on my wrist and cover it with my sleeve, so no one will notice."
Julian’s lips curled slightly, and he said, "You really think things through."
"You’re too kind."
I responded awkwardly, suddenly rembering sothing, and returned his car keys to him.
I wouldn’t dare drive his expensive car around all day, flaunting it everywhere.
...
Later, when I went to the restroom with Victoria Monroe to wash my hands, she saw the string of blue, crystal-clear beads on my wrist and exclaid, "So pretty! Is this crystal? Where did you get it?"
"Soone gave it to ."
I downplayed it.
To those who aren’t familiar with tourmaline, they’d probably mistake this rare Paraiba blue for crystal.
Just then, Jolie Joyce walked into the restroom.
Seeing the beads on my wrist, she stared in disbelief.
Then, she coldly said, "Victoria Monroe, get out! I have sothing to say to Zoe Ellison!"
Victoria also got angry and said, "Secretary Joyce, considering you’re President Sinclair’s secretary, I’ve given you so respect and treated you politely. But your position doesn’t give you the right to order around! Plus, this is a restroom, a public space. You can’t tell whether to leave or not!"
I also didn’t give Jolie any face, ignored her, and left with Victoria after washing my hands.
But the whole day, Jolie seed to be watching like that.
It wasn’t until the afternoon when I went to the break room to make coffee that she finally found her chance.
Jolie ca beside , lowered her voice, and said, "Zoe Ellison, you’re sothing! After President Xavier dumped you, you started seducing President Sinclair. Don’t you have any other skills besides relying on n?"
I imdiately put down the coffee cup, grabbed her wrist, and said, "Co on, let’s clarify this in front of President Sinclair. Ask him how I seduced him!"
Jolie was taken aback, hurriedly freed herself, and angrily said, "How dare you accuse of calling the kettle black? You don’t need to explain how you got that bracelet on your wrist, do you? I personally helped President Sinclair bid on that Paraiba blue tourmaline at the international auction. If you didn’t seduce him, why would he give you sothing so expensive?"
I was suddenly shocked.
This was bought by Julian Sinclair?
He clearly said in the morning it was given by Mason Hawthorne to thank .
In an instant, I seed to understand sothing.
Jolie warned through gritted teeth, "Zoe Ellison, you’d better drop that idea. No matter how you try to seduce President Sinclair, he would never be interested in a woman President Xavier doesn’t want! Be careful, or I’ll tell President Xavier about your dirty deeds, and see if he’ll allow his wife to do such things!"
With that, she strutted away.
And I silently removed the string of beads from my wrist.
I wanted to return it to Julian Sinclair imdiately.
But just as I returned to my desk, I saw Julian Sinclair, accompanied by Jolie, entering the elevator with so partners.
At that mont, Jenna Sutton called and asked when I was coming to pick up Sharon.
"I’ll be right there."
After finishing the call with Jenna, I headed out.
...
When I arrived at the kindergarten entrance, a lot of parents were already gathered there.
At the entrance of Sharon’s class, Timothy Xavier was also there to pick up Doris.
Seeing coming, he slowly walked over and said, "If you’re doing this to anger or Doris, there’s no need. Zoe, do we really have to make it like this?"
I looked at him calmly and said, "You’re overthinking it."
Just then, the kids started coming out of the classroom.
"Sharon."
I waved at Sharon, and the sweet little girl walked over to and smiled.
Not far away, Doris, carrying her little backpack, wore a sullen face, looking deflated.
Just then, a little child recognized and asked in confusion, "Auntie, aren’t you Doris Xavier’s mom? I saw you at the hospital the other day! How co you’re suddenly Sharon Hawthorne’s mom now?"
Doris suddenly walked over and said arrogantly, "She’s not my mom! My mom is prettier and more capable than her! She used to be just our housemaid!"
Timothy Xavier gently scolded, "Doris."
Doris pouted unwillingly, looking at Sharon and with hostility.
At this mont, another child approached Sharon and asked, "Sharon, will you bring us more cookies tomorrow?"
Sharon was startled, looked up at with her dark, bright eyes filled with hesitation.
Then Doris snorted and said, "My dad brought lots of Valerian chocolates yesterday! Tomorrow, I’ll bring so to share with you, much better than any lousy cookie!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a boy in a little suit beside her frowned and retorted, "What’s so great about Valerian chocolate? I can have my family buy it anyti I want. But the cookies Sharon brings have a unique taste you can’t buy outside, only her mom can make them!"
"That’s not her mom, that’s my..."
Doris’s voice abruptly stopped, her face flushed with redness, ultimately unwilling to admit our relationship.
Seeing her look so frustrated, I surprisingly felt no waves in my heart, as if I cared less and less about her attitude.
I squatted down, adjusted Sharon’s backpack strap, and softly said, "If you want to bring so for your friends tomorrow, I’ll make you more tonight."
Sharon’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly.
I took Sharon’s hand, ready to take her ho.
But Timothy Xavier followed and said, "You ignore your own daughter, yet you’re so attentive to Julian Sinclair’s child. Zoe Ellison, don’t forget, we’re the real family. Doris is your daughter!"
I stopped, curled my lips sarcastically, and said, "I’m good to Sharon because she knows how to be grateful. At least she’s not unappreciative. Unlike so who take others’ kindness for granted. Besides, you and Serena Sawyer are more like a family."
Timothy Xavier chuckled, "You think this will provoke into divorcing you? I’ve consulted a lawyer. After withdrawing the lawsuit, it’ll take six months before you can file again. For at least these six months, unless I sign, you’re still my wife, and nothing can change that."
After hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh: "I’ve long removed you from my life. As for that divorce certificate, we can process it whenever you finally co around and are willing to sign. anwhile, you live your life, I live mine, no different from being divorced."
Timothy Xavier’s expression froze instantly.
He probably never imagined that I would have such a nonchalant attitude towards this marriage now.
After all, our marriage certificate couldn’t hold him.
So whether we get a divorce certificate or not, it couldn’t hold either.
At that mont, Sharon looked towards the distance and called out, "Uncle Sinclair!"
Following her gaze, Julian Sinclair was walking towards us.
He barely glanced at Timothy Xavier beside him, then walked up to Sharon and naturally picked her up, his actions full of affection.
In her childish voice, Sharon asked, "Didn’t you say you’ve been busy recently?"
Julian looked down at her, softening his voice to patiently explain, "Today is Sharon’s first day at the new kindergarten, Uncle couldn’t rest easy without checking on you."
Sharon obediently replied, "The teacher and the children are all nice, Uncle Sinclair, you don’t have to worry."
After comforting Sharon, Julian’s gaze finally fell on , his tone calm yet with an imperceptible warmth, "Thanks for your hard work. I wanted to wait and leave work with you, but you left earlier than expected."
I thought he was making small talk, so I responded a bit politely as well, "It’s alright, Sharon is very well-behaved. By the way, I plan on making steak for Sharon tonight, would you like to join us?"
It was a casual offer, but Julian unexpectedly nodded his head in agreent.
I stood there slightly surprised, truly not expecting that he would agree to co for dinner at my house.
Beside , Timothy Xavier and Doris shared identical expressions.
Like father, like daughter, both stared at with cold eyes, accusing and dissatisfied, as if I was the one who betrayed the marriage and ruined everything.
I suppressed the strange feeling inside and ignored them, smiled at Julian, and said, "Shall we go then?"
On the way back, Julian drove personally, and Sharon and I sat in the back seat.
The car was silent until Julian looked at through the rearview mirror and broke the silence, "Do you have steak at ho? If not, we can stop at the supermarket first."
His words surprised .
His serious tone seed sincere, as if he really cared about having dinner at my house.
I composed myself and quickly replied, "I have so at ho. I bought quite a lot during a grocery trip, it’s in the freezer."
"Do you need anything else? Vegetables, fruits, or seasonings?"
He kept his eyes on the road, asking as if this was a daily discussion for us.
The familiarity with everyday life felt surprisingly natural.
The overly intimate atmosphere made my cheeks warm, my voice softened, "We shouldn’t need anything else, we have all the essentials."
Julian acknowledged with a sound before smoothly steering toward my house without further questions.
Seeing how he navigated without any guidance, it seed as if he was familiar with the route.
But he had only driven ho twice before.
Once we got ho, Julian removed his jacket and headed straight to the kitchen.
He rolled up his sleeves and started washing his hands, telling , "You take Sharon to do her howork, I’ll handle the steak."
Then he opened the fridge and started searching for ingredients.
I couldn’t tell if this was my ho or his?
"Should I... do it instead?" I awkwardly suggested, "After all, you’re the guest."
Without expression, he put down the ingredients in his hand, his tall figure almost enveloping .
He lowered his head slightly, the scent of his aftershave drawing near, making instinctively step back, but I was cornered by the counter.
His voice was low and indifferent, "Just don’t treat as a guest, how about that?"
My face imdiately flushed, and I quietly moved away, "Well... I’ll leave it to you then."
In the kitchen.
His tall figure moved around with ease, processing the ingredients thodically.
The warm yellow light shone on him, bringing a holy warmth I hadn’t felt in a long ti.
Indeed, Timothy never cooked; he was always aloof, never doing things like this for .
I gazed at the scene in a daze, even a little coveting it.
But soon, I snapped back to reality, shaking my head, chastising myself for comparing Julian to a husband.
Had I gone mad?
I initially wanted to help Julian out, but my mind was too chaotic, so I went to the study to help Sharon with her kindergarten howork.
Before long, the aroma of steak filled every corner of the house.
When Sharon and I ca out, the sumptuous dinner was already laid out on the table.
Julian’s dinner had a western flair, and coupled with the warm lighting in the living room, it almost had a romantic candlelit dinner vibe.
Sharon stared at the sumptuous al in surprise, and even she, normally reserved, couldn’t help but praise, "Uncle Sinclair, you’re amazing. How do you know how to do so much?"
Julian was amused by the little girl’s remark, gently tapping her nose, "There’s a lot more Uncle Sinclair can do."
His words were for Sharon, but his gaze subtly lingered on .
I quickly avoided his gaze, lifting Sharon to sit beside , changing the subject, "Are you hungry, Sharon? Let’s eat first."
After speaking, I looked at Julian and said, "Thank you, President Sinclair, I’m sorry for the trouble today."
Julian, sitting across from us, replied calmly, "No need to thank , I did it for Sharon, you just happen to benefit from it."
"Uh..."
I was thoroughly embarrassed, said nothing further, and pretended to be busy feeding Sharon the steak Julian had expertly seared.
After a few bites, Sharon’s young voice carried a hint of lancholy, "Before I had a little sister, I used to have als like this with mom and dad, now I never see them."
Before I could think of how to comfort Sharon, Julian had already set down his utensils and gently ruffled her hair, his voice tender and sincere, "That’s okay, if you ever want to have als like this, just tell Uncle Sinclair anyti. You can pretend that Auntie Ellison and I are your mom and dad for now."
As he finished speaking, my hand gripping the utensils froze, my cheeks flushed completely red, even the tips of my ears turned crimson, and I could only look down, pretending to focus on cutting the steak.
After dinner, I hurried to clear the table and volunteered to wash the dishes.
Couldn’t possibly trouble this man to cook for us and wash up too.
However, after instructing Sharon to wash up, Julian also followed into the kitchen.
With his hands in his pockets, his tall figure leaned against the fridge with an air of elegant indolence.
Seeing my bare wrist, he slightly furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "Didn’t you like that bracelet? Why aren’t you wearing it?"
At his ntion, I set down the dishes, mustering the courage to look at him, and seriously asked, "Jolie said you bought that bracelet at the auction. Why did you tell Mr. Hawthorne gave it to ?"
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