Chapter 242

After Gavin finished speaking, the living room fell into an awkward silence.

Gavin was usually laid-back and often spoke in a joking manner. Even if he said something out of line, he would quickly turn it into a joke.

But this time, Gloria gave him a few seconds, and Gavin showed no intention of taking back his words.

This was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

After a while, Gloria hesitantly spoke up, "You saw it?"

Gavin laughed as if he had heard a joke. "That ill-fitting suit jacket? Anyone with eyes could see it."

Following his gaze, Gloria saw Vincent's jacket and understood.

"He's a childhood friend of mine, a great doctor. I've been staying at his place to recover." She explained calmly.

Gavin's tone remained sour. "Oh, a childhood friend~"

He sneered. "If he cared so much about you, where was he when you were in prison? Why show up now?"

Gavin's hostility towards Vincent was no less than his hostility towards Sebastian.

But Gloria didn't mind and defended Vincent. "He has his own life. Besides, even if he had been around, he might not have been able to help and could have gotten into trouble because of me. He's always taken good care of me. I'm very grateful he showed up when he did."

Seeing her speak so highly of Vincent, Gavin ground his teeth in frustration. "Your standards for gratitude are pretty low. If that's the case, shouldn't you thank me properly too?"

He expected Gloria to seriously explain how he was different from that man.

Unexpectedly, Gloria's expression remained unchanged, her clear eyes looking at him earnestly. "You have indeed helped me a lot recently."

Gloria glanced at him, then looked around the house she had been living in for a while.

Seeing her like this, Gavin had a bad feeling.

"Alright..." He was about to interrupt her.

But Gloria continued speaking on her own. "I'll find a chance to thank you properly, but not now. I have something else I need your help with."

Gavin hesitated for a moment. "What is it?"

The next second, he heard the last thing he wanted to hear from Gloria.

"I want to resign from the Miller Group." Gloria looked at him apologetically. "I've enjoyed working at the Miller Group, and you and Emily have taken good care of me. But now that my identity has spread, if I stay, it might affect the Miller Group's reputation. Before the incident, I mentioned resigning, but you didn't agree. Now, considering the Miller Group's reputation, you shouldn't have any reason to refuse."

Gloria felt she had made herself clear.

If Gavin considered the Miller Group's perspective, he would have no reason to refuse her resignation request.

"Also, about the apartment I'm staying in, I don't know if my salary covers the rent. If not, consider it a debt. I'll find a way to pay you back. I'll move out as soon as the resignation process is complete." She spoke lightly, but Gavin was so angry he almost ground his molars to dust.

He sneered. "What if I don't agree?"

Hearing this, Gloria was stunned.

She thought for a while before finding a reason for Gavin to refuse her.

"I know you appreciate my design talent, but the Miller Group already has Emily. I..."

Gavin cut her off. "This isn't about your design talent."

Gloria swallowed her words and looked at him, puzzled.

Gavin stood up from the couch, hands in his pockets, and walked over to her, looking down at her.

For a moment, his face was expressionless, and Gloria saw a shadow of Sebastian in him.

But soon, Gavin smirked, and the shadow of Sebastian disappeared.

Gloria secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Gavin's voice sounded above her. "Do you remember the contract you signed when you joined?"

Gloria's heart, which had just settled, was on edge again. "What about the contract?"

She had thought it was just a regular employment contract and signed it without much thought.

But now, Gavin's reaction...

Gavin's smile was smug.

"The contract states that unless the Miller Group terminates it, if you resign unilaterally, you'll owe a breach fee of thirty million dollars."

Gloria's eyes widened in disbelief. "Do all Miller Group designers sign contracts like this?"

Thirty million dollars? Even if the Miller Group was extorting her, that amount was too high.

Even Sebastian had only asked her for three million dollars.

Gavin's expression remained unchanged. "This special treatment is just for you."

Gloria clenched her fists in frustration. "Don't you think this is too much? Isn't it illegal?"

Gavin chuckled. "Do you think the Miller Group's legal department is just for show?"

Gloria frowned.

Gavin patiently explained, "Your breach fee is indeed high, but the contract also states that your pay for completing a project is much higher than other designers. In other words, as long as you complete a project, the money you earn will cover the breach fee. As long as you stay at the Miller Group, this contract is a win-win for you. I'm the one taking the loss."

As a businessman, Gavin considered himself less cold-hearted than Sebastian.

Initially, he planned to use Gloria against Sebastian. The contract was to bind Gloria, preventing her from running away once she learned his true intentions. At the same time, if Gloria cooperated, it was his way of compensating her.

But there was no need to explain this to Gloria now.

He bent down to meet her eyes, looking straight into them. "And besides, don't you pride yourself on loving design? Are you just going to give up? And what about Nicole? I remember how happy she was when she found out you were back in the design industry. Do you want her to know you're running away again?"

Gloria's heart wavered under his gaze.

She had finally returned to the industry she loved. She didn't want to give up so easily.

But...

"My current situation will definitely affect the Miller Group." She was well aware of her situation and couldn't deceive herself.

Gavin caught the fleeting hesitation in her eyes.

Hearing her concern, he smirked. "That's easy."

Gloria looked at him, confused.

Gavin stood up straight, taking his time to look away from her face and inspect his fingers. "After all this, your only concern is the Miller Group's reputation. I'm so touched."