Chapter 26: Job Application
Caroline stood there, her hand still trembling slightly, staring after David as he disappeared from her sight. Only when he was completely gone did she finally lower the knife from her neck, exhaling deeply.
A bodyguard, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward and snatched the knife from her hand.
“Madam, you’re bleeding,” Paul said softly.
Caroline winced as she touched her neck, feeling the thin, shallow cut. The blood was faint, but it was enough to remind her how dangerously close she had come to losing everything.
“It’s fine,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I won’t die here.”
As her fingers opened and closed in a shaky motion, she reminded herself that she was still alive and, more importantly, still had her hands. That alone felt like a victory.
Her thoughts raced, If I hadn’t broken free from the guards and grabbed the knife in time, my hands would surely be gone by now! David is too cruel—he’s truly a demon.
The butler, still standing in the background, seemed guilty. “I’m sorry, Madam,” he apologized. “I was the one who asked Mr. David to intervene. I feared that Elizabeth would harm you. I genuinely thought Mr. David would stand by your side, but instead…”
“I don’t blame you,” Caroline interrupted, her voice cold. “Just let them be together.”
Caroline had once believed that David had standards—that he’d only be interested in women who were extraordinary. But seeing his attachment to someone as ordinary as Elizabeth shattered that belief. What low standards… So what if he’s rich? He has no taste at all.
She retreated to her room, still processing the events that had unfolded. After gathering some cream and cotton swabs, she awkwardly tried to treat the wound on her neck in front of the mirror. But just as she was about to apply the cream, her phone rang.
“Hello?” Caroline answered, her voice tired.
“Caroline! It’s been over a month. Are things settled at home yet?” Anna’s voice came through the phone with concern. “Are you still planning to look for a job?”
Anna had been Caroline’s college roommate, and they had shared everything with each other. Now, Anna seemed to be her only lifeline, someone she could talk to without fear of judgment.
Caroline sighed, feeling the weight of her current situation. “Of course, I need to find a job. How else am I supposed to eat?” she replied. “Do you have any work to recommend?”
Caroline knew that she needed to stand on her own two feet—especially now that she was pregnant. The only person she could count on was herself.
Anna’s voice brightened with excitement. “Yes! I’ve got one! It’s a great opportunity—amazing benefits, insurance, paid vacation, bonuses, and it aligns perfectly with our major. I scheduled an interview for this afternoon. Let’s go together!”
Caroline perked up at the sound of the opportunity. “Alright,” she agreed. “We’ll meet at our usual spot.”
Having majored in chemistry, Caroline’s ideal job would be developing skincare products, cosmetics, perfumes, and lipsticks—a role known as a formulation scientist. Her expertise in this field had made her less reliant on store-bought products, as she preferred to create her own. It was one of the reasons her skin was flawless and always radiated with a natural glow, like a ripe peach in spring.
Later that afternoon, they arrived at a towering skyscraper that seemed to reach into the clouds. Caroline hesitated, looking up at the building.
“This is the company you found for us?” she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Yep!” Anna replied enthusiastically. “Ellison Group, the number one company nationwide. Its market value is in the billions. People would kill to work here. This recruitment wasn’t even public—I had to pull some strings just to get the information!”
Caroline’s stomach churned at the thought. It feels strange working at my husband’s company…
But she had no choice—she needed a job. And besides, as the CEO of Ellison Group, David would be so swamped with work that he wouldn’t be aware of every single employee. She could keep her distance, and as long as she avoided him, it would be fine.
Anna linked her arm with Caroline’s, pulling her toward the entrance. “Come on, let’s go. Hopefully, we both get hired!”
Caroline forced a smile. “Alright, let’s go. Hopefully, we’ll both get hired.”
As they entered the building, Caroline’s nerves mixed with a strange sense of determination. She was going to take control of her life again—starting with this job.
Chapter 26: Job Application
Caroline’s hand trembled as she watched David walk away, his retreating figure growing smaller with every passing second. Only once he was completely out of sight did she lower the blade from her neck, exhaling deeply.
A bodyguard who had been standing nearby stepped forward, quickly snatching the knife from her. “Madam, you’re bleeding,” Paul said softly, his eyes filled with concern.
Caroline’s neck bore a shallow wound, thin traces of blood staining her pale skin. She had pressed the knife too firmly against herself, too close to her skin, and the edge had nicked her.
“It’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile, though her voice sounded strained. “I won’t die here.”
At least she was still alive, and her hands were intact. Caroline clung to that small victory, even if her body and mind were still shaking from the ordeal.
Looking down, she opened and closed her fingers repeatedly. She had escaped with her hands, and that alone felt worth celebrating.
If I hadn’t broken free from the guards and grabbed the knife in time, my hands would surely be gone by now! she thought bitterly. David is too cruel. He’s truly a demon.
The butler, standing a little further back, seemed overwhelmed with guilt. “I’m sorry, Madam,” he apologized quietly. “I was the one who asked Mr. David to intervene. I feared that Elizabeth would harm you. I genuinely thought Mr. David would stand by your side, but instead…”
Caroline interrupted, her voice cold. “I don’t blame you. Just let them be together.”
She had once believed that David had standards—that he would never fall for someone as mediocre as Elizabeth. But as reality set in, she saw that even someone so ordinary could win him over. What low standards. So what if he’s rich? He has no taste at all!
After the encounter, Caroline returned to her room, where she found some cream and cotton swabs. She awkwardly tried to treat the cut on her neck while staring at her reflection in the mirror. But just as she began applying the cream, her phone rang.
“Hello?” she answered, trying to mask the exhaustion in her voice.
“Caroline, it’s been over a month. Are things settled at home yet?” Anna’s voice, filled with concern, came through the phone. “Are you still planning to look for a job?”
Caroline sighed. Anna had been her college roommate, and they shared everything—especially their hopes for the future.
Caroline had graduated recently, but her freedom was restricted. Her family, using her marriage into the Ellison family as an excuse, had assigned bodyguards to shadow her every move. It was an attempt to keep her from escaping the engagement. After the wedding, David essentially confined her to his house, and she hadn’t been able to find a proper job until now.
“Of course, I need to find a job,” Caroline replied, her voice tired but resolute. “How else am I supposed to eat? Do you have any work to recommend?”
Caroline knew that she had to rely on herself now more than ever, especially with her pregnancy. She couldn’t afford to sit around waiting for things to change.
Anna’s voice brightened with enthusiasm. “Yes! I have one! It has great benefits—insurance, paid vacation, bonuses—and it aligns perfectly with our major. I scheduled an interview this afternoon. Let’s go together!”
Caroline felt a wave of relief. “Alright,” she agreed. “We’ll meet at our usual spot.”
Caroline had majored in chemistry, and her dream job involved working as a formulation scientist—developing skincare products, cosmetics, perfumes, and lipsticks. She was meticulous with her knowledge of the ingredients, often creating her own formulas, which explained her flawless and radiant skin. She never needed store-bought products.
Standing in front of a massive skyscraper that seemed to reach for the clouds, Caroline hesitated. “This is the company you found for us?” she asked.
“Yep!” Anna said, nodding enthusiastically. “Ellison Group—the number one company nationwide. Its market value is in the billions. People would kill for a chance to work here. The recruitment isn’t even public. I had to pull some strings just to find out about it!”
Caroline swallowed, her nerves bubbling up. It feels odd working at my husband’s company… She thought.
But she needed a job—desperately. She couldn’t afford to pass up an opportunity.
Besides, she reasoned, David is the CEO. He’s always swamped with work. There are so many employees here, surely he wouldn’t know every single one. As long as I avoid him, it’ll be fine.
Linking arms with Anna, Caroline smiled, the uncertainty still lurking in her chest. “Alright, let’s go. Hopefully, we’ll both get hired!”
As they walked into the building, Caroline couldn’t shake the feeling that this job might be her first step toward reclaiming her independence. She was ready to take control of her life again.
