Edward watched the two women turn against each other and found it tiresome. He spoke up, “Both of you should prepare to receive a subpoena. If you dare to harm my woman, you should be ready to face the consequences! Later, you will personally apologize to Nanci and beg for her forgiveness.”
When the woman heard his words about firing them and even suing them, she became furious. “Edward, how am I inferior to Nanci? What’s so special about her? I can do whatever you ask. Why are you being so harsh with me? I’ve worked diligently here for so long, just to climb higher and get closer to you.”
Edward showed no interest in her words and simply said, “I love her, and no one compares to her. You’ve harmed the woman I cherish. You deserve to die! Stay here, and after Nanci finishes her meal, I’ll bring her over. Apologize sincerely to her, and perhaps you’ll suffer less afterward.”
Ada slumped to the floor. Though she hadn’t done anything herself, she had chosen to cover up the truth, making her an accomplice.
At the critical moment, her friend betrayed her. Anger burned within Ada as her eyes fell on the fruit knife on the floor. She picked it up, and seeing the woman still muttering to Edward’s retreating figure, she rushed forward without hesitation and stabbed her in the back.
The woman felt intense pain and turned to Ada in disbelief. She never imagined this usually obedient person would do such a thing. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she asked, “Ada… why?”
Ada began laughing maniacally. “You ask me why? Don’t you know? I considered you a true friend, yet you betrayed me! This was entirely your doing, but you shamelessly put the blame on me! I refuse to accept this!”
With each word, she drove the knife deeper. Jacob returned to find this scene in his office and immediately called an ambulance and summoned security to separate them.
Ada stared blankly at the blood on her hands. She acted on impulse but felt no regret. She deeply resented being deceived.
In the past, her family had always favored her younger brother over her, secretly keeping the best things for him. Eventually, she left home alone, working hard to earn a position at this company.
She thought she had found a true friend, only to discover it was all in her imagination-the other person had never felt the same way and even sold her out.
The woman lay dying on the floor. In her final moments, she wondered why the world had been so unfair to her. Some people were born into good fortune, while her fate was to struggle all her life without achieving the life she wanted. Tears flowed down her face as she thought that perhaps leaving this cruel world wasn’t so bad after all.
Jacob rushed to the CEO’s office and knocked urgently. Finding the three of them eating, he said anxiously, “I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, but there’s an emergency.”
Nanci replied, “It’s okay. Don’t worry, just tell us calmly what happened.”
Jacob looked at Edward and said, “Sir, those two women turned on each other. One was stabbed in the back, and she was dying with blood oozing from her wound.”
However, Edward responded coldly, “If she’s not dead, send her to the hospital. When she recovers, send them both where they belong. You may go.”
Nanci and Olivia were shocked. Olivia asked, “Edward? What happened? What is he talking about?”
“Nothing, I had those two people who harmed Nanci wait in the office so they could apologize to Nanci after she finished eating. Now Jacob says they’ve started fighting.”
Jacob, seeing his boss’s calm demeanor, felt troubled as he stood at the door. Nanci walked out first and said, “Take me to see what’s happening.”
Jacob hesitated briefly but led the way. When Nanci arrived at Jacob’s office, she saw the woman lying on the floor.
“Did you call an ambulance?” she asked.
“Yes, it has.”
Nanci sat on a sofa far from them, looking at these two women she didn’t know at all.
She asked Ada, who was sitting on another sofa, “Why did you lock me in the restroom? And even if you wanted to harm me, why do it at the company? Are you stupid?”
Despite being insulted, Ada showed no anger. She simply replied, “Mrs. Clarkson, whether you believe it or not, I had nothing to do with this.”
She looked coldly at the woman on the floor and said, “She did it all alone. But I was indeed very stupid to have believed her words and chosen to cover up her mistakes.”
Nanci asked, puzzled, “Then why did you stab her?”
“Because at the critical moment, she betrayed me, claiming I had instructed her to do it. I realized that our friendship was all in my imagination-I was just a tool to her. I hate her. She deserves to die! Why should someone who deceives others’ feelings be allowed to live in this world?”
Nanci felt some sympathy seeing Ada’s nearly deranged state.
Then she looked at the woman lying on the floor and thought that if she hadn’t been lucky, she would have suffered from a condition requiring immediate treatment. As Nanci realized this, her sympathy faded.
These two women should bear the consequences of their actions. She had come just to see who targeted her, only to find they were people she didn’t even know.
The sound of an ambulance came from downstairs. Soon, medical personnel arrived to take away the injured woman. Nanci began to doubt whether her relationship with Edward was right.
Too many people wanted to eliminate her simply because she was by his side.
With most of the situation handled, Jacob handed Ada over to the police. Nanci said, “I’ll leave you to this. I’m going back now.”
Jacob nodded and said, “Yes, Mrs. Clarkson.”
When Nanci returned, Olivia quickly said, “Nanci, how did it go? I’ve already scolded Edward for taking action without telling us. I’m also at fault for trusting someone and leaving you alone. If you’re upset, just let it out. We’re here for you, child.”
Nanci felt exhausted and said, “Olivia, I don’t blame you. I’m tired. I want to go home and rest.”
Edward said, “I’ll take you home.”
“No need. I’ll take a taxi back. You stay here with Olivia and show her around.”
Sensing the tension between them, Olivia wasn’t sure what to say. Finally, she spoke up, “Edward, since Nanci isn’t feeling well, I’ll go home with her. You come back early after work tonight.”
Edward felt he had done nothing wrong and didn’t know how to handle this sudden emotional change. He nodded and said, “Alright. I’ll have Issac drive you home.”
At home, Nanci locked herself in her room, sitting alone in the empty room and hugging herself, her mind in turmoil. Perhaps being targeted again made her feel unlucky, causing her to question her relationship with Edward. She even wondered if they separated, would these things still happen?
Downstairs, Olivia paced anxiously. Jenny tried to comfort her, “Madam Clarkson, please sit down. Getting worked up won’t help. It’s also not good for your health.”
Rhys, noticing their serious expressions, asked innocently, “Grandma Olivia, Jenny, what happened?”
Olivia gently stroked his head and said, “Nothing, we’re just thinking about some things. Are you tired? Do you want to take a nap?”
Not wanting to trouble them, Rhys said, feigning sleepiness, “I am a bit tired. I’ll go take a nap.”
Jenny kissed his forehead and said, “Good boy, off you go.”
The two women continued sitting in the living room, waiting for Edward to return. Jenny kept asking Olivia what had happened, and Olivia finally explained. Jenny didn’t know how to solve the problem either and could only comfort Madam Clarkson, suggesting that Nanci probably just needed some time alone.
They sat in the living room until sunset, finally hearing someone at the door. Edward entered to find both women staring at him expectantly.
Olivia quickly explained, “Edward, when Nanci came home, she said she needed time alone. Later, I tried to check on her, but she had locked the door and wouldn’t respond. We’ve been waiting for you to return…”
Edward’s heart raced with worry. He ran upstairs and knocked on the door. “Nanci, I’m back. Open the door. You haven’t done anything foolish in there, have you? Today’s events were all my fault. Open the door so I can apologize. If you don’t open it, I’m going to break it down!”
Receiving no response, Edward asked the two women to step back and began ramming the door. On the third attempt, the door suddenly opened, and Edward fell forward onto the floor. Seeing Nanci unharmed, he ignored his pain, got up, and embraced her tightly. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”
Nanci looked at him and said coldly, “Edward, I want to go back home for a while.”
Her words made Edward deeply uneasy. He replied, “Isn’t this your home? Where else do you want to go?”
Nanci’s voice sounded weary. “I’m wondering if our relationship is right. It seems like the whole world is against us being together. I find it so exhausting. I need to clear my head…”