Chapter 94

3rd POV

Mannie pushed through the crowd to return to her office when someone stopped her.

"I was informed you wanted to see the manager. He is on a business trip. If it isn’t urgent, you can wait or relay the message to me."

"She probably came to see the fight." Both of them thought inwardly.

"It's not urgent. I can wait." Mannie answered with a smile, "Thank you."

The manager's secretary smiled and walked away.

Mannie looked at the manager's secretary, who just informed her that the manager was on a business trip.

"Should I just write a letter to submit a complaint or just wait for him to get back?" she whispered to herself. Her fingers tightened around her phone. Her jaw moved slightly as she thought. If she didn’t scare people, they would keep poking her. They would think she was weak, soft and easy to step on.

And maybe… the exaggerated rumors flying around would cool down.

She exhaled.

"Let me just sit this one out." She muttered and turned to leave.

Her heels clicked sharply against the tiles as she walked through the quiet hallway back to her office.

Ring!

Ring!

Her phone broke the silence.

She glanced down.

“Beth Sweethrt” flashed on the screen.

A small smile touched her lips. She answered. “Hello dear!”

“You sound annoyed,” Beth said. Her voice was warm but sharp. “Who spoiled your mood this morning? Tch… how dare they spoil your mood anyway.”

“It’s one of my colleagues.” Mannie slowed her steps as she searched for the right words. Her brows pinched together. She sighed softly. “I came to work this morning, and boom… oil on the floor.”

Her hand made a small frustrated gesture even though Beth couldn’t see it.

“Luckily someone caught me, so I didn’t fall completely. But they still coated my chair with glue.” Her voice dropped. “Thank God I checked the seat before sitting. It would’ve been… bad.”

While Mannie explained, Beth sat across from Michael. He had soft eyes but a heavy look today.

Beth smiled at him lightly.

Michael leaned forward. “Is that Mannie?” he mouthed.

Beth nodded. She kept her smile steady.

“Put it on speaker,” he whispered.

Beth placed the phone on the table and tapped the button.

“So, what’s your plan for them?” Beth asked. Her voice shifted. It held a small bite now. A bitterness that rolled just under her tone.

Mannie didn’t notice. She assumed Beth was simply angry on her behalf.

“I planned to report them,” Mannie said. “But the person I need to report them to isn’t around. I’ll need to wait.”

Beth raised an eyebrow. “That’s unlike you. You usually let such things pass.”

“Yeah…” Mannie admitted. “But this is getting out of hand. They made themselves the perfect scapegoats. I plan to use them to show others I’m not someone to mess with.”

Her voice dropped low so no one in the hallway would hear her.

Beth hummed. “That’s good. It seems having children made you turn into a new person.”

Michael stiffened.

His fork froze halfway to his plate. His fingers tightened around the handle.

“Tch… it’s not as easy as you think,” Mannie replied.

Beth opened her mouth to respond, but she paused.

Her eyes slid to Michael.

He was listening too closely.

The question she wanted to ask—Mannie… will you ever get back with him?—curled on her tongue.

But the thought made her chest tighten.

She closed her mouth.

“Alright sweetheart. I need to go. Mmuah.” Mannie said softly, ending the call just as she reached her office.

She tucked her phone away and pushed the door open.

A brand-new chair sat at her desk.

Her lips lifted. “Better.”

She got to work.

—

Meanwhile, across town, Beth and Michael ate in silence for a moment.

Michael poked at his food. His mind drifted far away—years back.

One cold winter morning.

His breath fogging. With his earbuds plugged in and music blasting through it.

He ran laps on the college track like he always did. The first to arrive. The last to leave.

Then… he saw someone on the track already.

A small girl in a winter jacket, running awkwardly on the far side.

He frowned. “Someone’s earlier than me? That’s strange.”

He ran a few rounds. Each time he passed her, she barely advanced. Her steps were shaky. Her breath uneven.

Then he heard it.

Soft muttering. Frustrated sounds.

“Is she… cursing me?” he muttered.

His pride twitched. He jogged toward her.

But when he got close—

Her words hit him.

“Mannie… you can do this… come on… don’t stop… don’t be useless again—”

She froze when she saw him.

His tall frame blocked the morning light.

"Are you crying?" His tone came off a but mocking to the hearer but to him, it was just him being curious.

She panicked.

“What?! Are you here to mock me too? Can’t you all let me be?”

She burst into tears and ran off the track.

Michael’s heart dropped like a stone.

He remembered standing there—speechless, confused, wrong-footed.

He remembered watching her small figure running away and thinking:

"What the hell?!"

A deep sigh pulled him back to the present.

Beth watched him quietly. She pushed her plate aside and narrowed her eyes.

“Do you still like Mannie?” she asked suddenly.

Michael blinked.

“Huh? What?”

Beth didn’t flinch. “Are you planning to get back with her?”

Michael stared down at his plate.

His fingers loosened. Then tightened. Then loosened again.

“Do you think I can?” he asked softly.

A small, tired smile curved his lips. Bitter. Defeated.

“No need to answer,” he whispered. “I know I don’t have a chance with her. I lost someone precious.”

Beth blinked fast and looked away.

She unclenched her hands slowly.

Her fingernails had dug into her palm without her noticing.

“Then what do you plan to do?” she asked after a long silence.

Michael didn’t reply. His fork scraped lightly against the plate as he moved the food around.

Beth leaned forward. “Michael… why don’t you let go? Wouldn’t it be better than getting hurt over and over with no end in sight?”

He gave her a weak smile.

“You’re right.”

Silence settled.

He exhaled, long and tired. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

He paused, then looked up at her.

A question burned inside him.

He almost asked—Beth… do you know anything about Mannie and my uncle?

But he swallowed it.

He didn’t want to open old wounds.

They both stayed quiet.

And none of them talked about it.