Chapter 8

I looked up at Ariana, surprised. “You’ve already heard about…”

She nodded, her gaze intense as she stared at me. “Yes. I know everything about you.”

Before I could respond, she moved to sit on the edge of my bed. “Joshua, I also know you’re not like the rumors say. You’re putting up with all this at the Smith family—for your sister’s medical treatment. Isn’t that right?”

As our eyes met, I sensed a different emotion in her gaze. That long-suppressed feeling seemed about to burst forth.

“Why would you still care about me, even from abroad?” I asked with difficulty.

Ariana just laughed, waving it off. “You were my deskmate—I know you too well. You would never sacrifice your dignity purely for money. Something serious must have happened to force you…”

Her words struck me to the core. At that moment, she wasn’t just a classmate but a friend who understood and valued my struggles.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll go home early to make it for you,” she said with a warm smile. “I’ve gotten pretty good at cooking since…”

“Alright. Rest up. Let me know what you’d like to eat to practice abroad.”

“Thank you, Ariana,” I managed to say, though I shook my head with a rueful smile. “But I have to work in the morning, so I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

“World!” she replied, shocked. “You need to rest properly. Didn’t you hear what the doctor said?”

I sighed. “Company policies are strict.” In reality, Baquelle was strict, never allowing me to take time off or fall behind. Even if I were in an accident, she would expect me to drag myself to the office to handle her paperwork.

I had endured it this long; I didn’t want to jeopardize everything now over something small and attract unnecessary trouble.

Ariana shook her head in astonishment. “Racquel is a tyrant!”

“Josh, what I told you before still stands. The offer will always be open,” she said earnestly, her gaze severe and resolute. “If you want it, there’s a place waiting for you at my company.” I smiled and shook my head. “You seem to think highly of me.”

“Of course, I do,” she said seriously. “If a business prodigy like you could come to work with me at my company, it would be like finding a treasure.”

I didn’t say anything further, pondering how to handle my relationship with Raquelle in the coming days. And a month from now, how would I carve a new path if I were to leave?

The following day, I woke to find Alana had already left. She had left a thermos on the bedside table with a small note under it.

“Joshua, here’s your favorite mushroom soup. Make sure to eat before work. And here’s my number—don’t forget you owe me a meal!”

Seeing her neat handwriting filled me with warmth. I opened the thermos and was about to take a bite when my phone rang. It was Racquelle, as if she were demanding my immediate attention. “Joshua, where the bell are you?”

On the other end, she shouted furiously, “Get to the office in ten minutes! I’ll break something of yours if you’re even one minute late. Got it?”