Chapter 188
Mark stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at me calmly, waiting for me to continue.
I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "Mr. Harris, I really want to thank you for bringing me here today. I feel terrible for taking up so much of your time."
I paused, gathering my courage to say what I wanted to offer, "If you're free sometime, I'd like to treat you to dinner as a thank you."
The moment the words left my mouth, my heart started racing.
Taking Mark out to dinner—given his status and spending habits—would probably cost me two or three months' salary, maybe more.
But I'd already said it. There was no taking it back. Once words are spoken, they're like spilled water—no matter how expensive, I had to follow through with this dinner.Worst case scenario, I'd just work hard for two or three months to repay this favor.
Mark clearly hadn't expected me to suddenly extend this invitation. A flash of surprise crossed his face.
But quickly, that surprise was replaced by a softer smile, "Sure."
He even took the initiative to suggest, "How about we exchange contact info? When I'm free, I'll let you know. Is that okay, Ms. Brown?"
"Of course." I nodded quickly and pulled out my phone from my bag.
We added each other's contact information.
While doing so, I unconsciously glanced at his profile picture.
It was actually a light purple wildflower, the kind you'd see anywhere along roadsides or in fields.
The photo was beautifully taken, with morning dew on its delicate petals unfurling in soft light, full of vibrant life and simple, natural beauty.
I was surprised again.
I'd thought that someone like Mark—standing at the peak of business and tech, with a deep background and strong methods—would have a profile picture that was either dignified scenery, abstract art, or just blank.
I never expected it would be such a simple, even somewhat cute little wildflower.
This once again shattered my preconceptions about him.
After adding contacts, Mark seemed to be in an even better mood.
He didn't leave immediately, but instead turned back toward his car.
I was wondering what he was doing when I saw him open the back door and pull out a beautifully packaged, clearly high-end gift box.
He walked back and held the box out to me.
"This is a health supplement a client gave me before—royal jelly and ginseng," he explained casually. "I'm too young for this stuff, and my mother doesn't really like these things either, so it would just go to waste."
He looked at me, his gaze sincere, "Could you pass it on to your mother for me? It's nothing expensive, just a small gesture. I hope she recovers soon and stays healthy forever."
First the clothes, now the health supplements…
I looked at the gift box in his hands. The packaging and brand logo all indicated that what was inside was quite valuable.
The quality of this royal jelly was clearly top-tier, and the ginseng was definitely not ordinary drugstore grade.
My instinct was to refuse again.
But this time, Mark didn't give me the chance.
He gently placed the gift box in my arms, then stepped back with a warm smile that brooked no refusal, "It's just a small gesture, Ms. Brown. Please don't refuse again. Give my regards to your mother."
With that, he didn't linger. He waved at me, turned, opened the car door, and got in.
The black sedan started up smoothly and merged into the night, disappearing into the traffic at the hospital entrance.
I stood there holding the heavy gift box, my feelings a jumble.
I stood alone, the night breeze blowing, giving me an unreal feeling.
I looked down at the health supplements in my hands, then looked up in the direction Mark had gone, my mind full of confusion.
Who said Mark from Harris Tech was ruthless, cold, difficult to get along with, and impersonal?
How come I felt... he was not only easy to get along with, but also thoughtful, considerate, gracious, and even... a bit too warm-hearted?
Would someone at his level really accept gifts from clients?
And such personal items like health supplements?
And after receiving them, would he so casually pass them on to someone from a partner company he'd only known for one day?
Something about all this felt off in a way I couldn't quite figure out.
But my mind was too scattered at the moment to sort it out.
Perhaps Mark really was just this unique, with an unconventional way of doing things.
I shook my head, pushing these doubts aside for now.
Holding the gift box of health supplements, I turned and headed toward the inpatient building.
I had just entered the lobby and reached the elevator area, looking down at my phone to see if William had sent any messages.
When I looked up, I saw a disgusting figure.
Why was Terry at this hospital?
He must be here to visit George in the hospital, right?
No wait, George should have been discharged this afternoon.
Maybe he was visiting other friends, or doing something for Sarah.
Whatever the reason, running into him now made me feel like I'd swallowed a fly—instant revulsion.
Terry's gaze first landed on my face, then quickly moved down, locking onto the beautifully packaged health supplement gift box in my arms.
He smirked, making no effort to hide the malice in his mocking laugh, "Grace, it's only been a few days, and you've already latched onto another rich guy? Look at this—royal jelly and ginseng? Someone's really spending big on you!"
He leaned forward half a step, his eyes full of sleazy speculation and mockery, "What, William's little fortune not enough for you anymore? You really are greedy."
His words grew more and more cutting, as if he'd already decided on some sordid truth, "You're shamelessly dragging your feet on divorcing George, while fooling around with William, and now you're climbing up to someone else on the side, showing off gifts from other men."
"Grace, I'm embarrassed for you. Really disgusting."
This barrage of filthy insults came crashing down on me.
If this were the old Grace, still trapped in the Smith family, still holding onto illusions about George, used to enduring and backing down, I might have trembled with anger, turned away with red eyes, unable to say a proper word in my defense, letting this dirty water splash all over me and digesting the humiliation alone.
But now...
I slowly raised my eyes, meeting Terry's face full of malice and superiority with a calm gaze.
My face showed no flush of anger, no embarrassment from being humiliated, only an almost indifferent calm.
"Terry, you just ate shit, so you'd better not talk."
The mockery on Terry's face instantly froze. His eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe I would talk back like this.
I didn't give him time to react and continued, "I'm afraid when you open your mouth, that stench will kill people."
My gaze swept over him from top to bottom as I sneered, "Also, since you know you're disgusting, you should have some self-awareness. Don't go out disgusting others and polluting the environment, understand?"
"You!" Terry's face instantly turned red. He pointed at me, shaking with anger, unable to get out a complete sentence.
He probably still had the old impression of me, thinking I was still that Mrs. Smith who could be manipulated at will and would never fight back.
Too bad for him, he was wrong.
Dead wrong.
My good mood for the day, which had improved somewhat thanks to Mark's appearance and help, was now completely ruined by Terry, the Smith family's loyal dog.
But I wouldn't be like before, keeping all my grievances and anger inside to digest alone.
When I should fight back, I would. I wasn't going to coddle anyone anymore.
Fortunately, Mom could be discharged next week.
As long as I got through these few days, the chances of running into these lingering ghosts from the Smith family would be greatly reduced.
The elevator arrived.
I couldn't be bothered with Terry, who was hopping mad but couldn't get a word out. Without even glancing at him, I walked straight in.