“Shut up!” Helen’s sharp words cut off Sheryl’s attempt to speak. “We’re all part of this company, so we should try to get along. It was just an accidental spill, but you want to escalate it further. Do you really think that’s the right thing to do?”
Sheryl opened her mouth, but no words escaped. Fear gripped her, knowing she could be exposed, yet she couldn’t oppose Helen either, considering her esteemed position in the company. Remaining silent might be her only chance to save herself.
Dolores silently observed the confrontation between Sheryl and Helen.
A sudden chill ran through her, not in a literal sense, but a coldness consumed her heart, as if it had been locked away in an icy abyss.
She never anticipated that marrying Matthew would attract such venomous women who targeted her.
It had started as a simple arrangement, but it brought forth an overwhelming number of troubles.
She couldn’t comprehend why others wouldn’t let her live her life in peace, even though they knew her marriage to Matthew was merely a business deal.
In that moment, Sheryl’s intense gaze fixated on Dolores.
She could only pretend not to notice.
Perhaps Sheryl didn’t realize she had become the scapegoat in this little incident.
After a brief pause, Abbott stepped forward and informed Sheryl, “You’re fired, effective immediately.”
Sheryl appeared visibly stunned. “I didn’t mean to cause any harm.”
“You know exactly what you’ve done,” Abbott countered, sweeping his gaze over the onlookers. Employees gathered around, eager to hear Abbott’s next words.
“If you want to understand what happened, go to the security room and watch the surveillance video. This is our company, not a supermarket. We don’t need an uncooperative employee. I hope everyone keeps this in mind.” After making his announcement, Abbott motioned for the crowd to disperse. “Get back to your respective positions.”
With solemn expressions, everyone returned to their seats, including Dolores. Matthew emerged from his office and headed towards the meeting room. Spotting him, Sheryl hastened towards him.
“Mr. Nelson, I swear I didn’t mean to do it.”
Matthew had no interest in entertaining her plea. He circled around her and continued his way to the meeting room.
Sheryl wanted to try again, but Abbott intervened. “You know very well what you’ve done, and you’re familiar with Mr. Nelson’s temperament.”
“But…” Sheryl attempted to explain, but her words failed to form coherently.
Abbott shot her a warning glance before proceeding to the meeting room himself.
Sheryl desperately didn’t want to lose her job. She decided to implore Helen, hoping that their special relationship with Matthew could work in her favor. There had to be some hope left.
She patiently waited outside the meeting room.
After an hour-long meeting, the door swung open, revealing Matthew’s stern face. Abbott and Helen followed closely behind.
At the sight of Sheryl, Matthew couldn’t help but frown.
Sheryl immediately grasped Helen’s arm, pleading, “Ms. White, you have to put in a good word for me. I made things difficult for Dolores because of you…”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Helen retorted fiercely, shoving her away.
“You told me you didn’t like her.” Sheryl couldn’t anticipate this drastic change in Helen’s attitude.
“I don’t like her, that’s true, but did I do anything to make her life difficult?” Helen questioned.
Matthew was aware of Helen’s lack of fondness for Dolores.
Sheryl couldn’t deny the truth in Helen’s words.
Helen hadn’t explicitly instructed Sheryl to do anything, but her words carried a clear implication. Sheryl hesitated, “But…”
“You have to face the consequences of your actions,” Helen declared, summoning the security guards. “Take her away!”
“Ms. White, I’m begging you, please help me. I can’t afford to lose this job!”
Despite Sheryl’s desperate pleas, Helen remained unmoved. Sheryl’s careless remarks could expose the truth to Matthew, tarnishing her image in his eyes.
Save her?
Dolores didn’t care anymore.
As hope dwindled, Sheryl’s anger flared, and she shouted at Helen, “Helen, you’re an ungrateful woman. You’ve caused me to lose my job. You’ll suffer the…”
“Take her away immediately! We can’t let her disrupt the office atmosphere,” Abbott bellowed in response to her outburst, and the security guards hurriedly acted. Gradually, her cries faded away in the corridors of the floor.
Matthew grew weary of the situation, hastening his steps as he moved forward.
Helen followed closely behind.
Upon entering his office, Helen immediately approached him, wrapping her arms around his slender waist. “Matthew, listen to me…” Her face pressed against his broad back as she continued, “Yes, I don’t like Dolores, but that doesn’t mean I’ve orchestrated anything to make her life difficult…”
Matthew lowered his head, fixing his gaze on her hands clutching his body. “I’ve told you I’ll make our relationship official soon enough. Why are you so impatient?”
As he spoke, he gently removed Helen’s arms. “Since we’ve been intimate, I’ll take responsibility for you no matter what. But don’t cause trouble for her again.”
Helen was reluctant to let him go, but Matthew’s strength prevailed. In the end, she had to release her grip.
“Matthew, I didn’t instigate anything. Even if I made mistakes, it was out of love for you. We’ve been together for a while now. Shouldn’t you know me well?” Helen’s eyes welled up with tears. “I would give up my body for you, even die for you. That’s how much I love you. I don’t want to lose you!”
Matthew’s expression flickered, but he wasn’t contemplating her passionate confession. Everything had come to this point because of that fateful night.
He reached out to wipe away her tears. “I didn’t even scold you, so why are you crying? Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you?”
Tears streamed down her face as she replied with a trembling voice, “I’m just afraid that you’ll abandon me. I grew up without a family, always at the orphanage. To leave that life behind, I studied and worked hard for a better life. Then, by some stroke of luck, you came into my life. You’re my only family, my only love. I can’t bear to lose you…”
“It won’t happen. I’ll keep my promise to you.” He withdrew his hand and turned his back on her. “Now get back to work.”
Helen found herself struggling to understand him.
“Matthew…”
“Go.” Impatience seeped into his voice. He clearly wanted to move on from this discussion.
Helen had no choice but to leave his office.
Matthew’s behavior grew increasingly perplexing. The uncertainty surrounding him stirred her heart once again.
As she headed to the bathroom, she made a phone call.
“You promised me you would take care of her. How did she manage to escape unharmed?”
“I failed this time,” Annabelle replied, her frustration evident.
Helen wanted to unleash her anger on Annabelle, but she knew she still needed her. She suppressed her seething fury. “How did you fail?”
“Both my mother and I were careless. We only had one guard, and she managed to slip away!”
Helen couldn’t help but belittle her in her mind.
“And do you plan on letting her go like that?”
“My mother believes she’ll be more cautious after that close call. It won’t be easy to replicate it.” Moreover, since the incident at the company, Randolph had grown increasingly hostile towards her mother.
For now, they needed to deal with Randolph first.
If the events from eight years ago were to repeat themselves, if they were to be abandoned like Jessica and her mother, it would spell their demise.
Helen felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety, but she couldn’t act directly. She had to be patient. “Make sure to move quickly.”
“Why do you sound even more nervous than me?”
Helen was taken aback by the comment, realizing she was displaying too much anxiety. She immediately dismissed Annabelle’s suspicions. “No, I’m not. I’m just concerned about you. Dolores is not worthy of Matthew, don’t you agree?”
“Of course, I should be the one marrying Matthew. Dolores, that bitch, doesn’t stand a chance!” Annabelle declared.
Helen wore a cold smile. If Dolores wasn’t worthy, did Annabelle naively believe she was?
If it weren’t for Helen’s manipulation plans, she would have hung up the phone immediately. Talking to Annabelle was repulsive.
“Don’t fail again next time.” Helen issued a warning before ending the call.
Two days ago…