Chapter 100

“Oh, really?” Lilliana asked.

Joshua’s voice was flat, his face a mask of indifference. “She’s your assistant. What could she be hiding from you?”

Lilliana’s lips curved into a sharp, mocking smile. “Who knew what you were up to, Joshua? Let me give you a word of advice: don’t dip your pen in the company ink. It’s a dirty business.”

Joshua’s patience snapped. His cold eyes narrowed. “Okay. Since you don’t trust me in the slightest, I’ll drop everything. I’ll stay by your side twenty-four hours a day. How about that?”

Unfazed by his scathing tone, Lilliana raised an eyebrow. “If you want me to trust you, stop playing around. I know you’re hiding something, and I won’t stop digging until I find out every secret you’re keeping from me.”

Joshua’s gaze locked with hers, the tension building between them. He knew she had discovered something—rumors that could destroy everything. Alicia was becoming a real threat. However, the more dangerous the situation, the more he craved it; the challenge only fueled his fire.

“Very well, then,” he said with eerie calm. “Do as you wish. I have work to do.”

As he walked away, Lilliana’s eyes followed him, suspicion simmering beneath the surface. She snapped her fingers and called for her assistant.

“How many times have you been here?” Lilliana’s tone was sharp, laced with accusation.

The assistant froze under her gaze, his voice shaking. “Miss Green, I swear this is the first time I’ve been here. I lost sight of you earlier and panicked, so I went to Mr. Yates’ office.”

Lilliana’s eyes narrowed, amusement flickering as she watched the assistant squirm. “Do you really expect anyone to believe that pathetic lie?”

“Miss Green, I don’t…”

A sharp crack cut through the air. Lilliana’s hand shot out, leaving the assistant reeling from the sting. Her cheeks burned, and tears spilled down her face despite her efforts to control them. Although accustomed to Lilliana’s outbursts, the pain and humiliation stung, and she trembled like a frightened child.

Lilliana, unfazed, shook her hand as if brushing off dust, her chin raised in a gesture of defiant arrogance. “Wipe that pathetic look off your face,” she sneered. “I’m pregnant now, and I’m not going to tolerate any little temptresses hanging around waiting for an opportunity, especially ones hovering around me!”

The assistant, her voice shaking with frustration, pleaded softly, “Miss Green, I don’t…”

“It’s a pity I’m in a bad mood today,” Lilliana interrupted, her tone cold and disdainful. With a flick of the wrist, she pulled a wad of cash from her purse and tossed it carelessly at the assistant’s feet. “Take this and keep your mouth shut.”

The assistant stood frozen, biting her lip to suppress her humiliation as the money fell to the floor, her pride as wounded as her cheek. He didn’t want to pick it up; the very thought was degrading.

Lilliana’s lips curled into a sneer. “What’s wrong with you? Have you suddenly found some courage?” Her eyes flashed with mockery. “Or have you conveniently forgotten that your sister is clinging to life in that hospital bed?”

His assistant’s face turned red, each word tightening the knot of shame and fear around him.

Lilliana, growing more smug, continued, “If it weren’t for the generous salary I give you, how exactly would you cover those medical bills? Let’s face it, if you can’t handle this, then quit. Do you think anyone else would dare to hire you after you walk away from me?”

His assistant’s eyes were shining with unshed tears; a storm of hatred and helplessness brewed beneath the surface, but he dared not let it show. Swallowing the bitter taste in his mouth, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Miss Green. It was my mistake.”

Lilliana waved her hand dismissively. “Now get out of my sight.”

“If you don’t need me anymore, I’ll go back to the office,” the assistant said quietly. After a brief pause to compose himself, he hurried away, stopping only to splash cold water on his face.

Meanwhile, Shelia had just arrived at the company entrance, thermos in one hand and phone in the other. Engrossed in her phone conversation, she didn’t notice the assistant leaving. The inevitable collision occurred in an instant; the thermos fell to the floor with a crash, spilling soup everywhere.

Shelia’s face twisted in irritation. “Damn it! I spent over six hours on it, and now it’s completely ruined.”

The assistant immediately crouched down, feeling guilty, rushing to clean up the mess. Joshua’s voice came over the other end of the phone. “What happened?”

Shelia snorted. “The soup spilled. I made it especially for you since you’re not feeling well. Honestly, nothing’s been going well for me lately.” Her tone sharpened. “And did you hear what I said before? Cut ties with Alicia now. I’m sick of seeing her every day. I can’t take it anymore.”

The assistant’s breath caught. He recognized Shelia as Lilliana’s future mother-in-law. And Alicia… wasn’t she Joshua’s ex-wife? Weren’t they divorced? But the assistant did not dare to insist. When Shelia hung up, she murmured, “I am very sorry, ma’am. I will pay you for the trouble…”

Shelia, already frustrated, noticed the slap mark on the assistant’s cheek. The sight barely fazed her, and money wasn’t her concern today, so she turned and walked away.

The assistant, stunned by the series of unfortunate events, stood motionless. A bold idea quietly sprouted in his mind, taking root despite his initial doubts.

That same afternoon, after finishing the day’s work, Alicia sank into her chair, idly flipping through the news. Her eyes scanned the headlines until one caught her attention: Joshua had fired all the female employees in his office. Something inside told him there was more to the story, so he dug deeper into the related reports. It didn’t take long to connect the pieces.

Just then, Joshua called, warning her to stay away from the Yates mansion for the time being, claiming it was a “sensitive period.” Alicia could barely contain her excitement, though she kept her tone neutral and responded with a simple “okay.”

Joshua stayed on the line. His voice softened, conveying an unusual vulnerability, almost as if he were seeking comfort. “Alice,” he murmured, “I’m very tired.”

Alicia smiled in disbelief.

“Tired? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

There was silence. Joshua was speechless, shocked. During that pause, he felt the weight of nostalgia pressing down on his chest. He longed for the days when she used to greet him warmly after a long, tiring day at work. But those days were gone.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was calmer, almost hesitant. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Alicia pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh. “Oh, I’m just worried,” she said, feeling concerned. “Wouldn’t want your fiancée to get suspicious, would you?”

Of course, it was a lie. She wasn’t afraid of saying too much; she was afraid of bursting out laughing.

“Let’s end the call,” he suggested, his voice light. “You said it yourself: this is a delicate moment. Better to be careful.”

As soon as he hung up, a mocking thought crept into his mind. When he had threatened to let those drunks rape her, had she ever stopped to ask him if she still loved him?