Mark pulled out some data and showed it to her. “Do you really think that Sylvain managed to enjoy such a smooth-sailing career, all on his own? He’s talented, it’s true, but his methods in gaining his promotion weren’t exactly glorious. I don’t know everything, but he and Jessica have a shady relationship. Jessica’s personal life is horrifyingly messy. She’s well-known for her fondness of… Well, you know.”Only then did Arianne come to a realization. “So, she’s taking revenge because she’s in love with you?”Mark didn’t answer, but based on the revulsion in his eyes, her guess was probably correct. Arianne shivered. Jessica didn’t seem pretty to her at first glance. In fact, she came off as more of a slippery character. Despite her stylish outfits, she definitely wasn’t Mark’s type. It was a bad sign for a woman like that to have her eye on him.Arianne couldn’t sleep well that night. She was plagued with guilt. Previously, Tiffany had been traumatized because of her. Now, Robin wa
Mark knew what she was asking about. “I’ve already arranged to go overseas the day after tomorrow. I will handle this. Jessica is well connected outside the country. Honestly, it won’t be easy. I’ll try my best to solve this as fairly as possible. If not, you wouldn’t mind if I resort to more… ruthless measures, would you?”Arianne knew how malicious he could be. “I don’t. Do whatever you think is best. I’m feeling extra frustrated now. Robin had nothing to do with this in the first place, yet she ended up becoming a sacrificial lamb for no good reason. If only I had known this sooner. I wouldn’t have been so nice to Jessica when I met her!”Mark reached up and held her shoulders. “Alright, calm down. I’ll take care of this. It’s not entirely your fault. There’s no need to blame yourself.”Arianne’s heart ached when she saw the exhaustion in his eyes. “Okay. Get washed up and go to bed. You haven’t had enough rest lately. I’ll stop grumbling now.”Mark planted a kiss on her forehea
Arianne could feel that Robin was serious about Sylvain. “Don’t worry. I know what to do. But do you know who instigated Sylvain? Do you know how they’re connected to Sylvain? Think about it, Sylvain doesn’t need money or fame. What could possibly motivate him into selling himself out? You’re still too naive. I don’t want to sully your ears with such filth, but… it’s the truth.”Robin’s eyes flashed with a sense of disbelief and curiosity. “What… do you know? Tell me. I can take it.”After a bout of hesitation, Arianne told her everything that she had found out. “Before he came to work with us, he worked for Jessica’s overseas company. He was also her exclusive designer. She doesn’t know much about fashion design, but she is passionate about the industry. He gained most of his success from her ‘patronage’. That’s how everything went smoothly for him. Jessica has a grudge against Mark, and she’s retaliating. Her personal life is known for its scandals. She has had inappropriate relati
Mark had brought his own bodyguards this time. Just as his bodyguards were about to get into a scuffle with her security, Sylvain stepped out. “Here to make a public denouncement? You move really fast. Jessica has left instructions—we’re not allowed to let you in immediately. She holds grudges. Wasn’t she barred from entering your office when she went to see you?”Mark stared at him with contempt. “Does she really think that I won’t be able to get in?”A flippant smile hung on the corners of Sylvain’s face. “She’s stupid. I’m not.” Then, he waved the security guards at the door away. The security guards immediately stood aside.Mark led his bodyguards inside with a deadpan look on his face. It was clear that Sylvain’s relationship with Jessica was more than “inappropriate,” as he could do whatever he pleased in her office. It must be very special too.Sylvain casually followed Mark into the elevator. “What are you planning?”Mark didn’t answer. His expression turned even more grim
Jessica flexed her feminine assets with a sweet smile. “Aww, pity. I wonder, what would you do to solve a naughty little knot like myself, hmm? The straightforward way is to sleep with me, of course. All of this would instantly cease to be a problem. And yet, you men are wired to complicate even the simplest of things. The minds of the opposite sex are so unfathomable.”Mark had enough of her uncouth teasing. He leaped to his feet with an icy scowl and announced, “If we cannot come to a mutual agreement, then there’s no reason to continue this discussion. As for how I’d solve a knot like you… Well, a mite of patience will soon reward you with an answer.”With that, he spun on his heels and left.Jessica’s fervid eyes traced his retreating silhouette until he disappeared into the distance. Then, when her attention returned to her surroundings, she espied Sylvain beside her appearing to be deep in thought.“Curious, curious. I’m literally offering myself to another man right in front
He had bound himself to the fame and expectations of a “renowned fashion designer,” and he knew that Jessica could easily ruin him through that. Either Jessica falls alone, or he dies along with her—it was high time that Sylvain made a decision.He might still wear the glorious façade of prestige in public, but he knew better. His current life had ceased to provide him with even a shadow of design inspiration, and he had not produced any exceptional work for at least half a year. He had become nothing more than a useless parasite leeching off a woman.Jessica was right to suspect his ulterior motive for returning. Yes, it was because of Robin Cox—the girl with a name most befitting of her character. She was a happy, chirping robin in a bright, sunny day. Whenever Sylvain was with her, he also felt his personhood acknowledged. He felt as though he was slowly reanimating, and his creativity—stifled for half a year—began to see signs of life.The one thing Sylvain wanted the most was t
Instead of turning red in frustration and slamming down the phone, Mark simply placed his hand on top of the folder and replied calmly, “Oh, is that so? You’re that confident that I won’t ever dig up your secrets, huh?”Jessica was sure that her secrets were secured. “Do I sound like I have doubts? So, are we gonna meet up?”Mark’s lips twisted into a smirk. “No, I don’t think I will. In fact, if you’ve got nothing to say now, I’ll hang up right away.”After that, he hung up. To Mark, the victor in this battle had already emerged.The next day started with multiple major international media websites breaking all kinds of intimate photos between Jessica and many different men. Eyeball-popping as they were, they instantly became viral both within and outside the country.The bombshell news then escalated into such drastic levels that many prominent media sites had censored much of the details even before Jessica could personally conduct damage control. Unfortunately, the censors wer
Jessica’s raging fit eventually died, but in its wake, pure spite and malice lingered in her eyes.Quickly, she booted up her laptop and disseminated the story between her and Sylvain out into the public. If her world was going to crumble, then she might as well drag someone down with her.A few days later, the most recent development in Jessica's scandals made headlines back home. The strength of the gathered evidence, along with her affront to legality and common decency, effectively cemented Jessica as guilty. She was sentenced to three years of imprisonment.The case’s ripple effect then passed onto famous male fashion designers who had worked closely with her. Since many of their illicit relationships with Jessica were also publicly outed, their future was more or less doomed.Arianne was one of the last persons to have heard about the entire debacle. In fact, she only caught wind of it because her co-workers were engrossed in the discussion the scandal had sparked. Sure, Mark