Chapter 43
Adeline understood clearly.
She was just a minor employee in the planning department, and while this incident seemed big, that was merely an illusion.
Like a single wave among countless others in the ocean, it was insignificant within the entire corporation. Without Anson, it would never have reached the ears of upper management.
"Thank you."
She meant it sincerely.
Anson smiled slightly, "I'm not the one you should be thanking."
"Then who should I thank?"
"Who do you think?"
Their conversation felt like a riddle game.
Adeline pressed her lips together, saying nothing more as she turned and left his office.
Her colleagues were waiting with hopeful eyes.
Adeline shook her head.
Their faces fell instantly, but they didn't pressure her. Instead, they looked embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Adeline. Before, I... I should have been more careful with my words instead of just following the crowd."
"Me too. I apologize."
"Same here."
Adeline graciously accepted their apologies.
Not all mistakes were unforgivable, and she still had to continue working at the company.
Some things were better left in the past.
-
Meanwhile, Alicia stormed into Randy's office.
"Randy!"
"Alicia, I was just looking for you. You weren't in your department during work hours—where were you?"
Randy frowned at the sight of her.
Alicia was like a powder keg right now, with no concern for work.
"It was you, wasn't it? I heard you defended Adeline in the department. That announcement in the group chat—you had someone post it, didn't you?"
"No."
"I don't believe you!" Alicia's head buzzed with anger. "I'm your sister! Why are you helping a shameless woman like Adeline?"
"Watch your language." Randy's brow furrowed. "What do you mean by 'shameless'? Adeline hasn't done anything wrong to us."
"She betrayed Edward!"
"That's between them." Randy looked at Alicia with incomprehension. "How can you so casually call another woman 'shameless'? She hasn't wronged you, yet you constantly target her."
"Have you forgotten who your sister is? Has she brainwashed you or something?"
Alicia spoke recklessly.
"Adeline is nothing but a manipulative home-wrecker!"
"Enough!" Randy was furious. "How can you, a young woman, speak with such venom?"
"I'll say what I want! Adeline is a manipulative home-wrecker, a disgrace, shameless! I'll never like her, and I absolutely won't allow her near you or Edward!" Alicia had lost all reason. "I'll make her understand she doesn't belong in our world!"
She was too frenzied.
Her face distorted, looking so unfamiliar.
It made Randy uneasy.
Just as he was about to warn her against doing anything foolish, a cold voice interrupted.
"I gave the order."
Alicia turned in disbelief to face Edward, "Why? After what Adeline did to you, don't you hate her?"
Some words she had held back for too long.
She couldn't keep them in anymore.
"Adeline sent you to prison. She nearly ruined your life. No—she did ruin it. Do you even remember your dream?"
He had wanted to be a pilot.
Edward had excelled in school, and everyone knew his dream.
To become an outstanding pilot, to soar through the skies like an eagle.
But three years in prison had left him with nothing. Carrying the stigma of murder, he could no longer pursue his dream.
His only path now was business.
Using enough money to pave his future.
When Edward heard the word "dream," only his fingers twitched slightly.
His expression remained unchanged.
"That's my business, not yours."
"You say it's not my business?" Alicia's heart ached. She looked at Edward, her throat tight. "Fine. I won't interfere in your affairs anymore."
With that, she turned and ran.
The office door slammed with a bang.
Edward looked up at Randy, "You don't have to concern yourself with my affairs either."
He didn't need anyone.
Whether they stayed or left made little difference to him.
Randy smiled wryly, "I'm your friend. I didn't leave you three years ago, and I won't now. Alicia's bark is worse than her bite—don't take it to heart."
Edward opened his laptop, the warm yellow screen illuminating his handsome face.
It reflected no warmth.
Only cold detachment.
"It doesn't matter. I don't care about others' opinions."
Randy looked at him, momentarily speechless.
Edward hadn't always been like this. Once, he had been spirited, untamed, possessing a young man's sense of honor and brightness.
Striving for his dreams and the person he loved.
But then came prison, and his life was destroyed.
-
In the parking lot.
Alicia took her frustration out on her car, but ended up hurting her foot when she kicked it, wincing in pain.
"Adeline, Adeline, Adeline!"
She wanted to tear Adeline apart.
Though she knew it was too soon to expect results, she couldn't help calling her contact.
"Have you found anything?"
The person sounded resigned, "Not this quickly. Give me some time. I promise I'll have everything you want to know within three days."
"How useless are you? It's been two hours since I called you! Two hours, and you haven't found anything?"
"If you're in a rush, you can hire someone else."
Alicia hissed, "Don't give me that. I'm hiring you, so hurry up. I'm giving you one day—24 hours. I want results."
She hung up without giving them a chance to respond.
She limped to her car, and just as she started the engine, her phone rang again.
Thinking it was her contact calling back, her tone was harsh.
"What? If you don't have results, don't waste my time with a call!"
"Such a temper."
Alicia froze, "Vivian?"
Vivian's voice was sweet, "Let's meet. I have something to discuss with you."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"How can that be? 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'—you've heard that saying, right?"
Alicia immediately understood that the "enemy" she referred to was Adeline, and became more patient.
"What exactly do you want to say?"
"Let's talk in person."
Alicia laughed coldly, "My time is valuable. I don't want to waste it meeting you. If you can't give me a reason over the phone that makes me want to see you, don't waste my time."
She disliked Adeline.
She equally disliked Vivian.
She hated any woman who got close to Edward, without exception.
Vivian was frustrated—Alicia was so difficult.
But she quickly composed herself.
"I know one of Adeline's secrets. Don't you want to know what it is?"
"What secret?"
"She has a child."
Alicia's eyes widened in shock. This was a bombshell, "Whose child?"
But Vivian wouldn't say more.
"This isn't suitable for a phone conversation. Let's meet in person."
"Address."
A voice in Alicia's mind kept asking: Could the child be Edward's?
No.
Impossible!
Adeline didn't deserve to bear Edward's child!