Chapter 240

Chapter 240
Hazel’s POV

 

The public opinion online about me being a "mistress" was overwhelming. I felt like a street rat; walking down the street, I felt like everyone was pointing at me.

 

When I walked into Hudson Group to find Dylan, taking the elevator from the underground garage to the top floor and walking through the office area, the gazes of the colleagues and subordinates who used to kowtow and smile at me had all changed.

 

Some lowered their heads, pretending to look at documents, only to lift them and exchange meaningful looks with others once I had walked past.

 

Whispers drifted into my ears: "No wonder she’s been seeing Mr. Hudson for so long without getting married; it turns out she’s a mistress."

 

"Exactly. The photos have all been dug up. Mr. Hudson’s wife was still pregnant four years ago, and she was already interfering."

 

"She acts so noble and proper, but she does this kind of thing behind people's backs."

 

I paused, my nails digging into my palms, forcing a neutral expression as I continued walking.

 

I pushed open the door to Dylan’s office. He was standing by the window, phone in hand, as if waiting for someone to call. Hearing the commotion, he turned and gave me a cold, indifferent glance. "You’re here."

 

I didn't sit down. I looked at him. My eyes were stinging, and I tried to hold back tears, taking a deep breath to keep my voice steady. "You’ve seen everything online, right? What are we going to do?"

 

Dylan frowned, his tone indifferent. "I’ll issue a statement clarifying that we are just friends and that everything online is just baseless speculation."

 

The words "just friends" felt like a loud slap across my face.

 

I stared at him, my lips trembling uncontrollably. "Friends? Just friends?"

 

Dylan’s brow furrowed deeper, and he remained silent.

 

I took a step forward, my eyes locking onto his. "Dylan, look me in the eye and tell me, what have I been all these years? In your eyes, am I really just… just a friend?"

 

The air stood still for a few seconds.

 

Dylan lowered his eyes, as if weighing his words. When he looked up again, his gaze was calm and emotionless, his tone cold. "Hazel, perhaps a long time ago I had thoughts like that, but that was a long time ago. Ever since I married Vivian, and especially since we had Allen, I have only seen you as a friend."

 

The tears finally broke through.

 

I’m not a woman who cries easily, but at this moment, I completely lost control.

 

"You're lying to me." My voice was raspy, filled with a broken sob. "If you only saw me as a friend, why were you so good to me? Why didn't you ever deny it when others teased us?"

 

"You took me to all those events, let me link arms with you, spent every birthday with me, gave me the most expensive gifts, and even handed Skyline Innovations over to me… you made me think… you made me think you still loved me."

 

Dylan was silent for a moment before speaking. "I just didn't want you to be embarrassed in front of others. As for Skyline Innovations… that was yours to earn; you contributed to the company. Of course… you can also see it as compensation for what I’ve put you through."

 

I looked up sharply, my eyes filled with disbelief and rage. "Compensation? In your heart, have I been by your side all these years just for this? I don't care about your company, I don't care about your gifts, I wanted you! Don't you understand?"

 

My voice grew louder, sounding particularly shrill in the quiet office.

 

Dylan remained silent.

 

Watching his indifferent posture, the fire in my heart burned hotter, scorching my insides with agony. Suddenly, I understood something, and my voice dropped, filled with a tremor I didn't want to believe.

 

"Are you… have you fallen for Vivian?"

 

Dylan’s brow twitched slightly; he neither admitted it nor denied it.

 

At that moment, the last string in my heart snapped completely.

 

I stepped back, leaning against the wall, my hands covering my face as my shoulders shook uncontrollably.

 

"Why… what do I lack compared to her? Why does everyone have to like her? Brian likes her, Gabriel likes her, Gerald likes her, and now even you…"

 

I lowered my hands, looking at him with tears streaming down my face, my voice raspy. "What exactly do I lack compared to her?"

 

Dylan frowned. "Hazel, calm down."

 

I ignored him, muttering to myself, as if I had to dump out all the grievances I’d buried for years.

 

"I’ve waited so long, given so much, and now I ask for nothing but to be with you. You tell me you only see me as a friend? How do you expect me to accept that?"

 

Dylan walked over and stood in front of me, reaching out to touch my shoulder.

 

I shoved his hand away, stumbling back, my eyes filled with hints of hatred.

 

"Dylan, remember what you said today. If I’m not going to have a good life, then no one else will either."

 

With that, I turned, opened the door, and hurried out.

 

Employees in the hallway were startled by the commotion, looking up to see me rushing toward the elevator with my face covered in tears.

 

Everyone was whispering. The moment the elevator doors closed, I couldn't help but bury my face in my hands and weep.

 

I didn't return to the Nelson Family Mansion. I drove aimlessly around the city for a long time, not knowing where to go, or even where I could go.

 

When I regained my senses, my car was parked outside Skyline Innovations.

 

I wiped the tears from my face, touched up my makeup in the rearview mirror, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

 

The receptionist at the lobby greeted me, but I ignored her and went straight to the elevator.

 

I pushed open my office door to find Fred sitting on the sofa.

 

He had clearly been waiting for a long time. Seeing me enter, he jumped up, looking me up and down, his brow tightly locked.

 

"Hazel, why didn't you answer my calls? I called dozens of times, and you didn't return any of them." His voice was full of anxiety and concern.

 

I sat in my office chair, my tone flat. "My phone died."

 

Fred walked to the desk, braced his hands on the edge, and stared at me. "Why are your eyes so red? Did someone bully you?"

I shook my head. "No."

Fred tried to ask more, but my voice suddenly rose. "Can you just let me have some peace?"

I stood up, walked around the desk to the window, and turned my back to him.

There was silence behind me, followed by the sound of leather shoes against the floor, and then the door closed.

My assistant knocked and entered, looking very grim.

 

"Ms. Hughes, the stock price has fallen again. If we can't control the public opinion, the company will have to file for bankruptcy."

 

I didn't move, lost in thought.

 

Over this period, I had invested all my savings into Skyline Innovations, hoping to make the company big, only to end up in this situation.

 

God, it’s truly unfair.

 

The assistant stood at the door, not moving, asking carefully, "Ms. Hughes, should we contact the media to issue a statement?"

 

I didn't look back, shaking my head. "No. You can go; let me be alone for a while."

 

The assistant didn't dare ask more, nodded, and closed the door.

 

I returned to the desk and picked up my phone. The moment I turned it on, news about OmniFront Labs popped up.

 

AI project prototype takes shape, press conference scheduled for next week.

 

Sentience BioTech’s CGT therapy enters Phase II clinical trials; multiple hospitals lining up to apply for partnerships.

 

Brain-computer interface IPO preparation enters final stage, approval expected next quarter.

 

Every single project was an achievement I had dreamed of.

 

But now? OmniFront Labs was thriving, while I was about to lose my own company.

 

I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles tightening bit by bit.

 

I stared at that photo for a long time.

 

Suddenly, the corners of my mouth slowly curled into a smile.

 

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