Violet recalled Estelle’s demeanor from the previous day, and suspected she might soon have to
leave her job.
She acknowledged that her straightforwardness and inability to be diplomatic were to me.
If only she had yed along with Emily’s charade, perhaps none of this would have urred.
But instead, she had exposed Emily, inadvertently casting herself as the viin and Emily as the
victim.
With a sigh, she approached her workspace.
“Vivi,” came Estelle’s voice,cking its usual vivacity and seeming mncholy.
“Ms. Ruiz.” Violet responded, preparing herself for the worst.
Estelle gently patted her shoulder and advised, “Do well in whateveres next.”
Puzzled, Violet then noticed the box Estelle was holding..“What’s that?<b>” </b>
“I’ve been let go.” Estelle said, her smile tinged with sadness.
Violet was taken aback. Estelle had been one of the founding members of thepany.
“Several colleagues, not just me, were let go,” Estelle informed Violet.
The situation baffled Estelle.
Despite her confusion, as a manager, she maintained herposure in front of Violet. She approached Violet with the intention of not leaving any hard feelings behind as she exited her role.
“You have great potential, and you’ll aplish great things,” Estelle said encouragingly before
she departed.
<b>Soon </b>after, Violet discovered that the other dismissed employees, including Emily, had been
badmouthing her in the pantry.
Emily was seen crying at her desk, visibly heartbroken<b>. </b>
Violet, however, felt little sympathy for her, regretting more that Estelle was <b>leaving</b>.
She suspected Lucius’s involvement <b>in </b>the firings<b>. </b>
Violet quickly made her way upstairs to confront Lucius.
He was working in the office.
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When he saw Violet, he raised his brows ever slightly and asked, “What’s the matter? Did you
miss me?”
Unaffected by his cheerfulness, Violet directly questioned, “Did you orchestrate the firings? How did you persuade the president to fire them?”
Unaware that Lucius was the actual owner of thepany, she wrongly assumed that he must
have pressured the president into making such <b>a </b>decision.
Upon hearing her usations, Lucius’s expression turned grave. He had expected gratitude, not
confrontation.
Storms were gathering in his eyes as he pursed his lips<b>. </b>
Violet waspletely unaware of his mood shift.
“Those people aren’t like you,” she said angrily, defending the others. “They relied on this job for
their livelihood. How are they supposed to survive without it?”
“Are you done with your lecture?” he asked coldly, evidently annoyed by the confrontation.
He clenched his fists, feeling his good intentions were misunderstood. “I own thispany. Am I
to take directives from you on personnel decisions?”
Violet’s jaw dropped in surprise, and she blurted, “Thispany…is yours?”
He turned away, responding with a cold silence.
“Leave now!” hemanded, barely containing his anger.
What an ungrateful woman! Lucius feared he might lose control of his rage if she stayed.
Violet was oblivious to his growing rage<b>. </b>She approached him <b>and </b>crouched down, persisting.
“You mean, you own thispany? Since when?”
She remembered the organizational chart Estelle had shown her, which didn’t identify Lucius as the legal representative.
Lucius was irritated. Unwilling to admit he bought thepany for her, retorted sharply. “Do I need your permission to acquire apany?”
“No,” she murmured quietly.
His harsh words felt like daggers, emphasizing their vast contrast. The distance between the
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gxy and Earth could <b>serve </b>as a measure of their distance from one <b>another</b><b>. </b>
Overwhelmed by a profound sense of loss. Violet’s expression darkened.
Meanwhile, Lucius was seething with anger. He barely held back from forcibly removing her from
his office.
This vexing woman <b>was </b>like a thorn in his heart, causing anguish at the slightest touch.
particrly when confronted with her current despondent look.
His inherently cold demeanor stopped him from extending any warmth toward her.
Violet retracted her hand from where it had been resting on his knee.
Her voice was filled with a plea. “I’m not sure what their mistake was, but if it’s rted to me,
could you please reconsider their dismissal?”
“Do you think you’re so important that I’d bother doing that for you?<b>” </b>
He had clearly done it for her, <b>but </b>his pride would not allow him to admit it.
Lucius had expected a further response from Violet, but she simply whispered a quiet “Oh” and began to leave.
She was actually walking out of his office just like that.
Lucius was so angry that he almost smashed the desk. He quickly sprang up and yelled, “Violet<b>. </b>do you see me as a tool? Something to engage with when needed, and then cast aside?”
His outburst startled Violet, who then turned around in confusion. His expression was etched with intense anger–he was clearly enraged.
Her silence seemed to confirm his suspicions. He was on the verge of throwing her off the 25th
floor.
Finally, he moved quickly toward her, grabbed her arm forcefully, and demanded, “Come back here!