Chapter 213: Ask Clearly

"Pretty Girl, you're not in a good mood today? Want to talk about it?" Rhiannon tilted her head to look at Adeline. "You didn't come looking for me specifically because you were in a bad mood, did you?"

Adeline looked at her, then nodded. "I think you're a lot like my grandmother."

"Then tell me what happened," Rhiannon said, handing her a donut. "Let's talk and eat."

Adeline looked at the donut, her feelings complicated. After a while, she said, "I have a boyfriend. He's very good to me, but his family wants him to marry someone of equal social standing."

"A rich family's kid?" Rhiannon asked.

"Very rich."

Rhiannon rolled her eyes. "So? Did his mother pull out a check and tell you to stay away from her son? Or did she introduce him to a marriage partner of equal social standing to deliberately provoke you?"

Adeline's mouth fell open. She finally said awkwardly, "All of the above."

Rhiannon's mouth fell open too. "Have they been watching too much TV? Is it all the same old story?"

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Perhaps because she had finally spoken her mind, Adeline opened up and briefly explained her situation.

"I sent him a message yesterday, and he pretended not to see it. I called him, and he didn't answer," Adeline's voice grew quieter. "This has been happening a lot these past few months. So I think maybe I should reconsider our relationship."

"Indeed," Rhiannon nodded seriously. "No matter how busy he is, he shouldn't disregard your feelings. His grandmother is sick, but does that mean he doesn't have time to reply to a single message? you two are supposed to be a family in the future."

"But if you still like him, do you want to hear his excuses?"

The word "excuses" made Adeline feel a little helpless.

Rhiannon put her arm around her shoulder. "Everyone falls in love with a few jerks in their lifetime. But sometimes, misunderstandings can also drive two people further apart. If you still like him, ask him clearly. You won't regret it later."

"If that jerk really has fallen for someone else, it's okay. I have a grandson. You can marry him instead. I'll throw you a grand wedding and make him green with envy!"

When she left the hospital, Adeline's mood had improved considerably.

She thought Grandma Donut was right. If she still liked Ronald, she should ask him everything clearly.

If she broke up with him while still in love, she was afraid she would remember it for the rest of her life.

Just as Adeline returned to her apartment, planning to sort out her thoughts, she ran into Allen again at the entrance of the complex.

Allen was holding a bouquet of roses and smiling as he walked towards her. "Adeline, I know you love roses. These are for you."

Looking at the plain red roses, Adeline didn't want to speak.

She tried to walk around him, but he grabbed her wrist. "Adeline, please give me another chance. Can we get back together?"

His eyes were sincere, and his voice was tinged with sadness. "Ronald doesn't cherish you at all. He's dating you on one hand, and looking for a marriage partner on the other. He's just playing with you."

"That Gemma, you know her? Besides her mother being a famous doctor, her family also has a diamond business. Otherwise, why do you think Ronald indulges her so much?"

"That has nothing to do with you," Adeline said, shaking his hand off. "Allen, I have nothing to do with you either. Stop bothering me! Security!"

Adeline showed no mercy and called for security.

While Allen was being held back, she quickly entered the complex.

If the apartment wasn't so expensive and she didn't have so much money, she really wanted to sell it immediately and go somewhere Allen could never find her.

She'd originally wanted to talk things through with Ronald, but now Adeline had lost the mood.

Because the company's chat group was buzzing with new photos of Ronald and Gemma.

Adeline had only taken one day off, but Gemma had already taken over her workstation and had even attended an important company event with Ronald.

Adeline clearly remembered that this project meeting was supposed to be the day after tomorrow, but Ronald had moved it up to today.

Looking at the well-matched couple in the photo and thinking about what Allen had said today, Adeline fell into a deep state of self-reflection.

Should she have never been so ambitious and chosen someone like Ronald for a one-night stand? And she shouldn't have stayed at the company when she found out he was her direct supervisor.

It wasn't until night that Ronald's call came through.

Hearing the noisy background sounds on his end, Adeline's heart sank. "Are you going on another business trip?"

"Gemma's father came back from abroad and brought a lot of diamonds over ten carats. The design department has already reserved a few. I have to go there in person," Ronald's voice was tired, but he forced himself to ask, "Are you feeling better? Elaine said you weren't feeling well and took a leave of absence."

"No," Adeline said, leaning against the headboard and looking at the moon outside. "I might have to take a few more days off."

"Okay, you get some rest. I'm about to board the plane."

Hearing the dial tone and thinking about Ronald's perfunctory words, Adeline put down her phone and closed her eyes.

Adeline didn't take the next day off. She knew the company was very busy.

But when she came to the office and saw that her desk was gone, she still felt a pang of sadness.

Opal coughed awkwardly. "I've packed your things. This is the new computer Ms. Murphy just got, so..."

She didn't know how to explain it to Adeline, so she fell silent.

Tate sighed. "Ms. Murphy is probably just here for an internship. She'll be leaving soon."

"Then I'll go to the design department," Adeline said, picking up her box. "The secretarial office is full. I'll go to the design department. There are too many new design projects. I can work overtime there."

She tried to make herself sound less pathetic, but her slightly trembling voice betrayed her inner sadness.

Adeline said goodbye to Elaine and moved to the design department.

When her colleagues in the design department saw her, they all gathered around her, gossiping.

"Ms. Smith, I heard that Gemma is on a business trip with Mr. Williams again. Are they getting married soon?"

"Even you've been transferred. Is it because the boss's wife wants to be the chief secretary in the future?"

"It's better for Ms. Smith to be in our department. Otherwise, we'd be exhausted."

"Has Mr. Williams said when he's getting married?"

Listening to her colleagues' questions and thinking about Ronald's recent perfunctory attitude, Adeline remained silent.

"What are you all asking? If Mr. Williams gets married, are you going to give him half a year's salary as a wedding gift? Get back to work," Kenna said, walking in and seeing Adeline's pale face.

Adeline stared at her computer screen, as if nothing outside had anything to do with her.

Just as everyone was returning to their desks, she said softly, "It should be soon, right?"