?Chapter 32:


    Haley’s reputation had already crashed and burned in front of the entirepany, so not a single person dared to stick up for her. The crowd just watched, eager to witness her downfall.


    She hissed, “You’re nothing but a shameless witch—who gave you the right to talk to me like that?”


    Rage twisted Haley’s features, her face flushing a furious crimson. Even the lowest-ranking employees were emboldened to stand up to her now.


    Allegra shot back, “Didn’t you go to college? Try acting like it, instead of hurling insults and making a spectacle of yourself. Anyway, I’m not on the payroll anymore, so cut my year-end bonus if it makes you happy!”


    Having delivered her parting shot, Allegra saw no point in staying another second.


    Letting her resentment spill out in front of everyone felt like a small, hard-won victory.


    Without sparing Haley another nce, Allegra scooped up her things and strode out of the office building, chin lifted in quiet defiance.


    Outside, the air tasted sharper, as if the whole world had been scrubbed clean.


    “Did you see Allegra just now? Who knew she had that kind of nerve!”


    “She got pushed too far. Some folks think their title gives them a free pass, but all they do is dig their own grave.”


    Their colleagues’ bitingments drifted over, setting Haley’s teeth on edge. She let out a shriek that rattled the windows.


    “Ugh! You clueless idiots—just wait until Marc gets back! I’ll make sure every single one of you is out on the street!”


    No one bothered to argue. They traded knowing nces and quietly slipped back into their work routines, refusing to feed into Haley’s meltdown.


    If Marc actually intended to let them go, there were still procedures to follow. They had nothing to fear.


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    As they sat at their desks, a creeping thought took hold—maybe Allegra had made the wisest move after all.


    The chaos Haley had unleashed had already left thepany in shambles, and no one could say how much worse things might get.


    It was probably time for everyone to start thinking about their own next steps.


    After leaving the mountain, Ste headed directly to the research institute. She’d risen before sunrise to climb the mountain, but still made it to the institute right on schedule.


    As the project deadline loomed, Ste nted herself at the institute, buried in research from sunrise to nightfall—she hadn’t stepped foot in the vi for days.


    Lainey watched Ste bury herself in research, worry etched across her face. “You can’t keep running yourself into the ground like this. What if you faint?”


    A gentle smile tugged at Ste’s lips. “I appreciate it, Lainey. Trust me, I know my limits.”


    Lainey could only sigh, resigning herself to Ste’s stubborn streak. “Hey, Ste, the list just came out! Come on, let’s take a look. You could use a little breather.”


    A jolt of anxiety shot through Ste as she pushed herself to her feet and hurried over to the newly posted sheet.


    Her eyes darted from the first name to thest,bing through each line with mounting tension. But her name was nowhere to be found.


    A cold heaviness pressed down on her chest. Maybe she’d skimmed past it? She started again from the top, scanning every letter as if willing her name to appear.


    Even aftermitting every name to memory, the result was the same—hers simply wasn’t there.


    Blinking in disbelief, Ste turned to meet Lainey’s gaze, only to find her friend looking just as shocked and lost. Had she really not made it?


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