Chapter 4

Anise felt her eyelids twitch and had a premonition that something was wrong. She turned around sharply to see the slides switched out to something else.

It was projecting a collection of foul and unflattering photos of her during her time in university.

There were also pictures taken in the bedroom that had been blurred out except for her face.

Anise recognized the pictures immediately. They were pictures taken from the security cameras at Arthur's villa.

She felt her blood run cold and her mind turning blank in succession. Her instinctive response was to turn toward Arthur’s direction.

He was wearing a frown when they made eye contact. Meanwhile, Clarice, who was next to him, wore a contemptuous and challenging grin.

Anise immediately knew Clarice was the one behind this. A surge of blood rushed to her head.

She marched straight toward Clarice and wanted to ask what it would take for her to be left alone.

Arthur's expression changed the moment he noticed her approaching. He got up to shield Clarice.

His tone was severe, “What do you think you’re doing? Haven't you had enough of embarrassing yourself? Don't forget your place, you're just a secretary!”

Anise looked at him through tears, “Mr. Renault, I may be a secretary, but I'm also a human! Don't I deserve respect? She intentionally released these pictures…”

“Have you made enough of a scene already? Behave yourself!”

Arthur shouted at her authoritatively as color drained from his face as well. Then, he had the bodyguards kick her out of the venue.

She was dragged by the hair out of the venue with countless onlookers surrounding her. Then, she was flung down the stairs in a disheveled state.

After she tumbled down the steps, her body was bruised all over, while drops of her blood stained the floor.

Every muscle was aching, and her nerves were pulled taut.

At last, she could no longer hold back her tears. The floodgates had burst open and blurred her vision.

She curled up in a ball and wrapped her arms around herself while feeling her consciousness slowly fade…

After what seemed like ages, she opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital.

She stared vacantly at the ceiling for a while before reaching for her phone. Her colleagues were fervently discussing what happened during the annual party.

Some of them even shared pictures and videos taken during the event. They made a ruthless mockery of her.

“Anise isn't even that good-looking. Who would have known she was such a vixen? Looking at her, you would think she was some kind of ascetic but no, she sure knows how to throw herself at men! I wonder which man she’s involved with. Look at all these pictures they took! How scandalous!”

“I never got the impression that she was an ascetic. Haven’t you noticed how she’s always trying to seduce Mr. Renault at work? She's always hanging around him and waiting for a chance to strike! Too bad for her, Mr. Renault only has eyes for Miss Reid and wouldn’t even spare an ounce of attention for a cheap woman like her!”

“She’s a disgraceful fox who tried to use her body to climb the corporate ladder. How dare she compare herself to Miss Reid? How insulting of Miss Reid! I hope she has some sense and quits instead of stinking up the whole place with her presence, what a joke!”

Each comment they made only increased the hurt she felt. It felt as if her flesh was being gouged out and the pain was excruciating.

She clenched her palms so tightly they bled. Even her teeth were aching from her jaw tensing. She had to force herself to swallow the lump in her throat.

After what seemed like an eternity, the door to the ward opened.

She looked up to see a male colleague from the marketing department entering with a cup of water.

“Hey Anise, you're awake! How are you feeling? Would you like me to call the doctor over for you?”

Anise paused for a moment, then shook her head.

“I’m fine. Were you the one who brought me here?”

Klay Rodger scratched his head sheepishly before flashing a shy smile.

“Well, I found you unconscious at the entrance and was worried something bad might happen to you, so I brought you to the hospital. Luckily, the doctor said it was only because you had been under a lot of pressure lately.”

It was only upon hearing that she was found unconscious that she remembered what had happened at the annual party. She suddenly froze.

Klay realized he had misspoken and wisely kept his mouth shut.

A long and brooding silence filled the room before he smacked his lips and continued.

“Anise, don’t take those rumors to heart. I know a lot of people are hostile toward you, but it’s not because you did anything wrong but because they are prejudiced against you. I know someone is trying to set you up and whoever it is has intentionally edited those pictures to make you look bad.

“You can consider calling the police. If you feel like it’s too much pressure for you, I can help you. Maybe you can tell them you’re in an ordinary relationship…”

Upon noticing how Klay’s earlobes turned bright red, it suddenly occurred to Anise that Klay was always the one initiating conversations with her. Every now and then, he would bring her coffee and snacks as well.

It was only now that it occurred to her that Klay had a crush on her.

This entire time, she had only thought of him as a regular colleague. Besides, her mind was set on leaving already.

With that, she had to strain a smile and politely decline his veiled confession.

“Thank you for your kind offer, but I can handle this myself.”

Disappointment flashed in Klay’s eyes but he refused to give up.

He suddenly produced a bouquet of roses from under the bed and handed it to her. He was stammering when he spoke again.

“To tell the truth, I’ve had a crush on you for a long time, but I was too scared to confess. I know that now isn’t the best timing, but I’d like to give it a shot. Please give me a chance, maybe we can try seeing each other…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the door was brutishly kicked open.

Both of them were startled and turned around at the same time only to meet Arthur who wore a brooding expression.

Arthur shot a grim look at Klay before unleashing a terrific, commanding roar.

“Get out of here!”