Andrea leaned in so close that Lizetta felt as if a venomous snake had coiled itself around her. Instinctively, she pushed Andrea back.


    "Stay away from me!"


    "Ah!"


    Lizetta hadn''t used much force, but Andrea let out a startled cry, stumbling


    backward two steps.


    "Careful, Andrea!"


    Lilian and Snow rushed forward, visibly anxious. One caught Andrea''s arm, while the other immediately reached out to shove Lizetta.


    "How could you push her? Andrea''s always so kind to you, and this is how you treat her?"


    It was Lilian.


    She''d been seething ever since Lizetta hadnded the Starlight Group''s annual project—and then restructured the entire team, kicking Lilian out without a second thought. Over the past couple of days, Lilian had done her research and grown more certain that Andrea was secretly Ms. Madden herself. After all, someone had seen Andrea being dropped off and picked up by Chairman Porter''s car.


    Now, with an opportunity to both teach Lizetta a lesson and curry favor with Ms. Madden, Lilian didn''t hesitate—she jumped right in.


    Lizetta hadn''t expected Lilian to actuallyy hands on her, and with such force. The shove sent her staggering back, and she mmed her lower back hard against the corner of a nearby desk.


    A sharp, stabbing pain shot through her, draining all the color from her face. She clutched her back, gritting her teeth, but said nothing.


    Lilian, misreading her silence as weakness, pressed forward, voice rising.


    "Stop pretending! Andrea''s hurt her ankle because of you. You should be apologizing-"


    As Lilian reached out to grab her, Lizetta suddenly seized Lilian''s arm, twisted aside, and flung her forward with surprising strength.


    Unable to stop herself, Lilian lurched straight ahead and crashed her stomach into the very same desk corner Lizetta had just hit.


    The pain doubled Lilian over, and she dropped to her knees, clutching her abdomen, her body trembling.


    Lizetta let go, her gaze icy as she swept it over the stunned onlookers who''d gathered.


    "I think everyone saw that for themselves-she lost her bnce. And if remember correctly, thepany has a strict policy against group gossip during work hours, doesn''t it?


    Madden Media had its fair share of celebrities and even more rumors. That''s why office gossip was strictly forbidden during work hours. Lizetta had already overheard Lihan and Snow chatting about people more than once; it was obvious their minds were rarely on their actual work.


    With all themotion, people from several nearby departments had gathered to watch. Snow and Lilian, now both embarrassed and furious, tried to save face.


    "Who do you think you are, Lizetta? You''re just the new hire-who gave you the right to talk down to your seniors?"


    "Exactly! We''re just talking, sharing


    opinions. Everyone''s been


    discussing thistely. You''re not Mr.


    Dashiell''s ex-wife, so why are you se worked up?"


    Andrea, leaning on Snow for support, nced at the crowd circling them. Suddenly,


    her eyes lit up. With a worried expression, she hurried to help Lilian up.


    “That''s enough, Snow, Lilian, don''t say any more. Who says Liz isn''t Mr. Dashiell''s ex-wife? She actually—oh!"


    She stopped, pping a hand theatrically over her mouth, as if she''d said too much by ident.


    But her voice had carried, and her melodramatic disy only made things more obvious.


    A stunned silence fell as every eye turned to Lizetta, shock and confusion written on every face.