Chapter 38
My movements paused almost imperceptibly as I said calmly, "Mr. Ethan, I'll take care of it for you."
The footsteps stopped, and Brian sighed, "Pack this document too."
I turned to get the document and bumped right into Brian, who was leaning down close to me.
The unfamiliar scent of a man instantly enveloped me.
I could even feel the slightly burning warmth from beneath Brian's shirt.
"Mr. Ethan!" My whole body tensed up. I quickly pulled away from him and said coldly, "I'll pack these things. You don't need to do it yourself!"
Brian's hand, holding out the document, froze in mid-air.
He looked at me with a complicated expression.
After a moment, Brian finally placed the document in the suitcase. "Okay."
He left the lounge.
Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.
Working with Brian for a year, I'd always kept my distance from him.
Simply because I just wanted to keep my current high-paying job, and didn't want my role to change into something else.
Brian hadn't been like this before.
Although his reasons all seemed reasonable, his behavior always struck me as a bit strange.
After packing the luggage and checking with Brian about the documents and materials needed for this business trip, I left the office.
Just after getting home from work, I received a message from Brian on my phone.
Thinking it was work-related and that I'd need to work overtime, I opened it to find it was actually a photo.
In the photo, Jason was standing with another woman, their posture intimate.
I'd seen this woman downstairs at Glacier Corp. She was Victoria, also the lover Jason had mentioned at the front desk.
I opened the image, zoomed in, and zoomed in again.
Although Jason had told me he didn't have any lovers at all.
But in this photo, I could clearly see that the way Victoria looked at him wasn't that innocent.
A woman's sixth sense is very accurate, especially when it comes to other women.
I could feel that Victoria had feelings for Jason.
Yet Jason still let Victoria stand by his side.
The room was completely silent. I could clearly hear the sound of tears falling.
I blinked, and teardrops fell onto my phone screen.
Brian had just sent this photo without saying anything.
And I didn't reply either.
It wasn't work-related, so there was no need to respond.
I turned off my phone, but couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
Every time I closed my eyes, that photo would appear in my mind.
I irritably turned over, telling myself over and over in my heart.
Jason and I had already separated. He had nothing to do with me anymore.
Even so, I still couldn't sleep.
The next day, looking at myself in the mirror with dark circles under my eyes, I shook my head with a bitter smile.
Jason's impact on me was greater than I'd imagined.
"Mommy, didn't you sleep well last night?" Jessica held her hot milk, looking at me with concern.
"Yeah, I had a bit of insomnia." I rubbed Jessica's little head and answered gently, "But it's okay, that's just how adults are."
"Don't adults have little bears to protect their dreams?" Jessica asked me innocently.
I was stunned, then smiled helplessly and nodded, "That's right, because adults have grown up, so the little bears go to protect the children instead."
"Then I need to grow up quickly, so I can protect Mommy's dreams!"
As Jessica spoke, she nodded vigorously and drank all the milk in her cup.
On the weekend, at Jessica's strong request, I took her to the zoo.
After playing around all day, we also had dinner out with Lily.
Life's trivial matters filled up my time and energy, leaving me no mind to think about other things.
On Monday, Brian came back from his business trip.
I was in his office reporting on the week's work.
Brian kept his head down, mindlessly playing with his pen, looking quite distracted.
I frowned slightly but didn't say much, just continued my report as usual.
After finishing the report, seeing that Brian had no questions, I was about to turn and leave.
"Sue." Brian suddenly called out to me.
He looked up, his gaze complicated as he looked at me.
"Mr. Ethan?"
"The photo I sent you that day, did you see it?" Brian's tone was emotionless.
I nodded slightly. "I saw it."
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't get it out.
I looked at him in surprise, patiently waiting for what he'd say next.
After a moment of silence, Brian finally asked in a hoarse voice, "Aren't you sad?"
Sad?
Of course, I was sad.
My heart hurt like it was being torn apart.
I lowered my head, avoiding the question.
Brian said, "Don't leave right after work today. Wait for me in the underground parking garage. I have something to give you."
Fortunately, Brian didn't press further.
I nodded in agreement and left the office.
After work, I waited in the underground parking lot for a while. Brian came over carrying two gift boxes. "These are gifts I brought back from Rosewood City. Take them home."
"Mr. Ethan, this..." I instinctively wanted to refuse.
My boss specially bringing back gifts for me from a business trip—wasn't the distance between Brian and me getting a bit too close?
"Everyone in the company got one. You haven't picked yours up yet, so I brought it to you." Brian said.
Only then did I secretly breathe a sigh of relief and smile as I accepted them. "Thank you, Mr. Ethan. You're really the best boss!"
Brian's lips curved into a smile, then he turned and left.
I drove home, thinking about how happy Jessica would be when she saw the gifts.
"Jessica, look—" Opening the door, my joyful voice came to an abrupt halt.
Jason, who was supposed to be on a business trip, was just sitting on my couch.
I was stunned and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm back from the business trip." Jason's gaze fell on the gift boxes in my hands, and his expression darkened.
He strode over and demanded, "Where did those gifts come from?"
"Company benefits," I said while putting down the gift boxes and changing my shoes.
Who knew Jason would coldly pick up the gift boxes and throw them straight into the trash!
"Jason! What are you doing?!" I frowned, angrily questioning him, and quickly picked them up.
"Your company has such good benefits? Your boss brings gifts back for everyone when he travels?"
Jason questioned, "Brian specially brought these just for you, didn't he!"
He snatched the gifts away and threw them in the trash again. "If you dare pick them up, you'll be sorry!"
I was speechless at his unreasonable behavior. I rolled my eyes, picked up the gifts, and, ignoring Jason's increasingly dark expression, walked into the kitchen.
Jason's gaze was gloomy, the aura around him growing colder.
Jessica poked her head out and continued, "Aunt Sue hates wasting the most. Uncle, don't make her unhappy."
I came out of the kitchen still angry, only then noticing a gift box with the same packaging on the coffee table in the living room.
Jason sat on the couch with a sour face, his gaze staring at me with some resentment.
I was shocked. He bought gifts, too?
He specially brought them back for me?
I awkwardly asked, "Do you want to stay for dinner?"