Just roused from slumber, Mary heard a commotion outside; it seemed like a man and a woman were locked in an argument. Since her forced arrival here, Mary hadn’t seen a single woman enter, so her curiosity was welled, eager to discover who this unexpected female visitor could be.
Her ears pricked up to the familiar sounds of a masculine and feminine voice intermingling. A realization dawned on her: Agnes.
Agnes was in a fierce confrontation with Andrew, demanding to know why he hadn’t answered her calls.
“Why did you ignore my calls? Are you hiding something from me? You’ve been acting peculiarly of late, haven’t you?”
Andrew continued his stride, ignoring Agnes in her conversation. Upon witnessing his indifference, Agnes quickened her pace, preventing in his path, her dissatisfaction unmistakable.
“Are you deliberately ignoring me, or are you simply deaf?”
He was compelled to halt with no way forward and talked to address her.
“What do you think you’re doing? I’ve told you not to come here unless it’s urgent.”
Agnes’s dissatisfaction only deepened, her annoyance escalating at Andrew’s sudden shift in demeanor.
“You’ve been absent for days without any word, ignoring my calls, my messages. Don’t you think this is a matter of importance?”
Losing his patience, Andrew shouts out loud.
“Why are you so overly concerned with my affairs? Haven’t I already assisted you in your revenge? We should consider our business concluded, henceforth, cease to intrude upon my life. I have fulfilled all that was required of me. You have ascended to the position of Editor-in-Chief as you desired. Our relationship now remains in name only; whether to maintain it or not, that decision lies with you.”
Stunned, Agnes could scarcely believe her ears. Her vibrant lips turned a shade paler as she came to terms with the stark reality. All along, their relationship had been nothing more than a mere transaction. She’d always assumed that she held sway over his heart, but it turned out that he was pulling the strings all along.
She strolled down the narrow, long hallway, tears welled in her eyes as dust particles irritated them. She felt such humiliation, not even in her jealousy of her once beloved friend. Today, Andrew made her feel like a defeated pawn in his elaborate game.
The room ahead swung open. A man entered – it was Bryan.
Recognizing him, Agnes hurriedly neared. Through the door’s gap, she caught sight of a familiar face on the bed – it was Mary.
In her mind, Agnes wondered, why was Mary here? What business did she have here? Why did Bryan seem so invested in Mary?
Bryan brought Mary a bowl of porridge, placing it on the table before looking at her with compassionate eyes.
“Eat up before it gets cold. I had to go far to get this for you.”
Mary gave Bryan a curious look, unsure why he was so attentive toward her. Could he be harboring some ulterior motives?
“Why must you do this? If you care for me, why not set me free?”
Until now, Bryan had never encountered a girl who could maintain such serenity amidst a situation as dire as boiling water and scorching fire. He clicked his tongue in amazement.
“Keeping you captive was not my intention. Regardless of circumstances, taking good care of yourself would be best.”
Bryan moved closer, brushing away a few tangled strands of hair that partially obscured her face. He didn’t seem like a villain, but he was far from being an angel.
Bryan might not possess outstanding looks like Andrew, but he was a rarity hard to come by. His masculine aura was imbued with a touch of arrogance, a touch of indomitable spirit, and a touch of unpredictability. When he looked at Mary, his gaze was an intriguing mix of seeming care and indifference.
The more Mary observed, the more confused she became. Despite being on the same side, each person showed a distinctly different attitude. She continuously posed hundreds of questions to herself. Was the steaming hot bowl of porridge on the table a token of goodwill or a sinister plot?
Their conversation was recorded by Agnes, who later enthusiastically showed it to Andrew.
Andrew had come to the company alone without bringing Agnes. He had claimed it was to avoid attracting media attention that might harm his reputation, but in reality, he wanted to sever ties.
Agnes entered his office triumphantly, believing she had contributed significantly. She placed her phone in front of Andrew and played the video without asking for his permission.
Andrew was about to stop her abrupt action when a voice emerged from the video.
“I know you and Andrew once shared a chapter of your lives, but that doesn’t concern me. Furthermore, he has promised to ‘gift’ you to me. Hence, his meddling has no place in whether we end up together. Anything he can offer you, I am equally capable of. I may not be the pinnacle of men, but I am far from being a regrettable choice. At the very least, I can guarantee I will protect my woman… forever.”
Andrew grabbed the phone and flung it onto the floor, breaking it. Agnes, far from being frightened, felt a surge of gratification. She was thrilled to have the upper hand against the man who had tormented her and the chance to prolong their relationship.
Suddenly, Andrew turned to look at Agnes, steel in his gaze.
“Where did you get this video? What are you trying to accomplish? If you continue this way, I won’t play nice. Leave!”
Fearful and pale as a sheet, Agnes hastily picked up her broken phone and left.
Unable to contain his fury, Andrew wreaked havoc in his office. The laptop on his desk was thrown mercilessly onto the floor. He couldn’t believe that the man with whom he’d been through thick and thin had stabbed him in the back. But upon reflection, he realized he was the one who had started all this; had he not offhandedly promised Mary to another, he wouldn’t be in this predicament.
He didn’t need Mary anymore but couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable when another man showed interest in her. He was now in a predicament, caught between a rock and a hard place.