Chapter 12
I looked at Rita, my gaze cold and unwavering.
“What makes you so high and mighty? Is it that pig brain of yours—too dense to grasp even Gomoku? Or are you bragging about scooping up my discarded man like he’s some kind of trophy? Maybe gloating over career crumbs I spat out? And this ‘circle’ of yours—men and women wallowing in their own filth, rutting like barn animals? Keep your stinking pen locked tight with Julian. I’d rather breathe fresh air than rot with you.”
My tone was gentle, my words dripping with venom.
Rita’s face twisted in fury. She shrieked, “Shut up! I’ll rip your mouth off! I’ll kill you!” Leaping from her chair, she lunged at me.
I didn’t move. As she closed in, I flung the documents in my hand straight at her face. She stumbled back, blood trickling from her nose.
“Handover complete. Best of luck destroying Shaw Corp.” With that, I turned and walked away.
“Olivia Frost! I won’t let you get away with this!” Rita’s crazed screams echoed through the building, but no one from the team dared to speak up.
I stepped out of the office. A moment later, my former subordinates cautiously caught up to me, their concern evident. Mandy held a box filled with my trophies—she had fished them out of the trash despite the pressure.
“Ms. Frost, let me take these down for you.”
Her small gesture warmed my heart. My eyes stung. Even in the darkest moment of my life, there was still a sliver of light.
“Okay,” I said, smiling.
The team escorted me to the elevator. Mandy carried my things downstairs. Before I left, I told her, “Tell everyone to focus on their work. Don’t mess with Miss Crowe. Hopefully, she’ll get bored and leave on her own. If any problems arise with projects under her supervision, report them directly to Mr. Shaw. Don’t wait for her to shift the blame. A project worth tens of millions isn’t something you can afford to take the fall for. If Julian realizes it’s her fault, he’ll handle it.”
Mandy nodded. “I will.”
I hugged her. “Keep in touch.”
As I stepped outside, the sky darkened, and rain began to fall—each drop a quiet echo of my sadness. Only ten more days. It’ll be over soon.
Meanwhile, Rita stormed upstairs to complain. Her brother, Caffrey, was also there. Seeing her swollen nose, he frowned. “What happened?”
Rita exaggerated her story, making herself the victim. She claimed she had kindly offered Olivia coffee, but Olivia had insulted her, called her shameless, and even cursed Julian.
“I had to ask her about work, so I didn’t dare talk back. But she kept verbally abusing me. When that wasn’t enough, she hurled the transition files at my face, pinned me down, and kept hitting me.”
Julian’s face was unreadable, but he stayed silent.
Caffrey, however, was furious. “Is she insane? Julian, aren’t you going to do something? She needs to be taught a lesson.”
Julian finally spoke. “I’ll apologize to Rita on her behalf. Olivia’s been going through a rough time.”
Rita, expecting Julian to take her side, was outraged. “I don’t need your apology! I want Olivia to kneel and apologize to me! And I’ll return the blows tenfold!”
Julian’s expression turned icy. “That’s not happening.”
Caffrey scowled. “Why not? She attacked my sister for no reason. Shouldn’t she be held accountable? If you shield her, we’ll take legal action.”
Julian flexed his fingers, his jaw tightening. After a heavy pause, he replied, “If you insist on that, then our partnership ends. And we’ll see each other in court.”
The Crowes were stunned.
Caffrey narrowed his eyes. “You care that much about her?”
Julian’s answer was firm. “She’s my woman. No one touches her.”
Rita trembled with rage. Julian is happy with me. He barely even goes home anymore. He’s over Olivia… isn’t he?
But the realization hit like a knife to the gut—Olivia still mattered more to him. The thought made her want to claw Olivia’s throat open. But more than that, she feared Julian’s indifference.
So, she quickly softened her tone. “Forget it… Olivia was probably just mad at me. I didn’t really want her to kneel. I was just upset. Don’t be angry, okay?”
Caffrey was shocked. Since when did my sister become so forgiving?
Rita pouted. “But Julian…” She leaned closer, voice pitiful. “After being treated so unfairly, you have to make it up to me.”
Julian’s sharp gaze softened, his voice gentle. “Of course.”
Rita smiled sweetly, but resentment simmered in her gut.
Back home, I received a call from Gloria.
“Honey, tomorrow afternoon, Mark Keller from Keller Group is playing golf with Evan Jones. I’ve arranged for you to join them. Make a good impression.”
“You’re the best, darling! Mwah!”
“Oh my, goosebumps. See you Wednesday.”
“Okay.”
The good news lifted my spirits, and I ended up overeating at dinner.
That evening, I hit the gym to walk off the extra calories. Twenty minutes in, my phone rang. It was Julian.
He hadn’t been home in a while. I was used to his absence, but why was he calling so late?
I hesitated, then answered.
The moment the call connected, I heard rapid breathing—followed by a woman’s ecstatic moans.
“Julian, slower… you’re amazing… I’m coming…”
Ahhh…
My stomach twisted violently. I doubled over, bile rising in my throat. My phone slipped from my hand, crashing onto the floor, the screen shattering.
I didn’t remember how I made it back to my room.
Lying in bed, I thought I’d be consumed by pain, drowning in heartbreak—but I wasn’t.
I just lay there, listening to my heartbeat, the silence pressing in.
Time passed. At some point, I closed my eyes, letting darkness swallow me whole.
When I woke, dawn had broken.
I got up, freshened up, had breakfast, and bought a new phone.
That afternoon, I headed to the golf club as planned.
