Chapter 434: Chapter 434: The Sche of the Innocent Flower
“Mr. Jennings! Is that Mr. Jennings?!”
The woman’s voice quivered, drifting—oh no, stepping closer—to the car, practically pressing against its front.
Chase Jennings finally recognized her: the woman who had been condescending and bullied Ava Zimrman at the warehouse that day.
He rembered—it seed her na was… Fiona Harper?
A person,
not a ghost.
While secretly relieved, he also felt a surge of annoyance.
What was she doing here blocking his way?
“What do you want? Hurry up and move! Do you have a death wish?”
The driver rolled down the window and shouted at Fiona Harper.
Fiona quickly leaned close to the car, her face pitiful as she peered at the back seat where Chase was,
“Mr. Jennings, you really misunderstood that day at the warehouse. I swear, I didn’t an to mock Ava Zimrman. Mr. Jennings, could you… would you please forgive ?”
Chase stared at Fiona with an indifferent expression,
“Understood. You can leave now.”
But Fiona refused to leave, her voice still trembling, her appearance resembling a flower battered by a storm,
“Mr. Jennings, our supervisor said that if I can’t get your forgiveness, I won’t be allowed to participate in future planning projects. Mr. Jennings, I know you’re a good person. This job is very important to ; could you please help ?”
Chase hadn’t actually said anything about punishing her that day; however, his status spoke for itself. Even if he didn’t say it, the business sector and Fiona’s company supervisor would take action against her.
Chase didn’t suspect she was lying; he honestly thought soone so dismissive of others like her deserved a lesson. But seeing her drenched in rain, waiting for his forgiveness, he wasn’t entirely heartless.
“Alright, I’ll ask soone to talk to your company’s supervisor. You should head back now.”
It was sumr, and her dress was soaked through. Chase felt awkward even looking directly at her.
Just as he was about to instruct the driver to depart, Fiona clung to the window and moved closer, her face even more pitiful,
“Mr. Jennings, I… I can’t get a ride. Can you… give a lift? I don’t have an umbrella, and my clothes are all wet. I’m so cold…”
Fiona wasn’t unattractive, and the rain had added a fragile elegance to her appearance. Under normal circumstances, the old Chase Jennings, guided by gentlemanly instincts, might have agreed to her request.
But her pitiful act inexplicably reminded him of Azura Loomis.
His mind wandered to online comnts about “damsel trickery.”
The first step was projecting weakness and helplessness, stirring protective instincts.
Once pity takes hold, you’ve already fallen into the trap.
Besides, the warehouse incident with Ava Zimrman had happened days ago. Why co asking for forgiveness now, in the middle of the night, soaked in rain? Clearly, she was banking on softening his heart.
He wasn’t going to fall for that again!
With that realization, Chase’s expression instantly hardened, and he rejected her outright,
“No. Absolutely not.”
After pausing montarily, he gestured to the driver, “Go grab her an umbrella.”
Fiona couldn’t believe it. Even now, he wouldn’t offer her a ride?!
Then what was the point of enduring the rain for so long?
She had even planned everything out: she would cry and plead for his forgiveness in the rain, he’d feel moved by her perseverance and ask her to get into the car.
Once inside, he’d take off his jacket and drape it over her shoulders to keep her warm. Concerned about alarming her family with her soaked state, he’d thoughtfully offer to let her stay at his private residence for the night to clean up and rest.
Later, she’d return his cleaned jacket to him, leading him to invite her to dinner…
And love would blossom between them.
Everything up until now had gone according to plan, so Fiona couldn’t understand where it had gone wrong.
Was she not pitiful enough?
Chase Jennings was by far the most desirable and perfect candidate she had access to.
Reluctant to give up, she wanted to say more, only to have the driver shove an umbrella into her hands.
As the driver got back into the car and started it, she clutched the umbrella and chased after the vehicle, only to stumble and fall onto the wet ground.
“Wahhhh…”
Fiona sat in the rain, crying and waiting for Chase Jennings’ car to turn back around.
But after a long while, the car was no longer in sight.
She was cold and miserable, realizing Chase wasn’t coming back. Dismayed, she struggled to her feet.
Taking out her phone, she intended to book a ride ho.
Only to find that her phone had shut off from water damage—she really couldn’t get a ride now.
Fiona felt like the tragic heroine of a TV drama, grief welling up as she stood in the rain, sobbing aloud.
Suddenly, the rain above her was blocked by an umbrella.
Fiona’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up sharply, but her joy quickly turned to disappointnt.
The person was a colleague from her company.
Originally, they had been out together negotiating a new exhibition partnership. When it started raining afterward, she’d suddenly decided to seek out Chase, leaving the colleague behind.
She hadn’t expected him to co after her.
“You wandered off like that at night; I was worried about you, so I followed. What happened to you? You’re all soaked.”
The man spoke as he quickly removed his plaid shirt, draping it over her shoulders, leaving himself in just a t-shirt.
Fiona stared at his gesture, frozen in place, but deep down, disappointed.
She wished the one covering her with clothes wasn’t him.
Still, she lowered her head and murmured a soft “Thank you.”
The man smiled briefly before moving closer, positioning the umbrella more securely above her head,
“You’ll catch a cold like this. Let take you ho.”
Fiona nodded faintly but instinctively added, “No, I can’t go ho like this. My family will worry…”
“Then… let take you to a nearby hotel. Don’t worry—I’ll leave once you’re settled.”
Seeing his earnest promise, Fiona reluctantly nodded.
After they finally caught a ride, the car took them to a nearby hotel—but midway, the man received a phone call.
“I’m with a colleague. Got it. Can you stop nagging to co ho? I have work that needs doing!”
After hanging up, he caught Fiona’s gaze and explained calmly,
“Sorry about that. It was my wife… She’s been asking for a divorce since my mom got sick recently and she doesn’t want to care for her anymore.”
Fiona widened her eyes slightly, “How could your wife do that? Your family’s elders falling ill—caring for them is their natural duty!”
The man chuckled bitterly,
“Not many won think that way nowadays.
I t my wife through a matchmaking event—we never really had any feelings for each other. She complains that I don’t earn enough and keeps blaming for not buying her a big house… I’m just not good enough.”
Looking at his defeated expression, Fiona blurted out a comforting reply,
“Don’t say that. Two people being together shouldn’t only be about money. Your wife is just too materialistic!”
“I also failed to protect her. A few nights ago, she went out and nearly got attacked. She’s been resenting ever since—and treating my mom with physical violence.”
Fiona seethed and blurted,
“Your wife is outrageous! How can she bla you for that?!”
Hearing her words, the man chuckled bitterly once more,
“Fiona, you’re so kind. It’s just a pity… not every girl is as kind as you.”
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