Chapter 3

Shane walked past me and went straight to Isabel's side. "Don't be scared, Isabel. I'm here. She can't hurt you."

The coworkers around us immediately erupted into chatter. "Isn't that Shane Cross, the eldest son of the Cross family?"

"Oh, my God, I heard he has a fiancee. Could it be Isabel?"

"That makes sense, doesn't it? One's the Stafford heiress, and the other's the Cross heir. They're a perfect match."

Shane smiled and nodded at these comments. He even glanced at me deliberately, his eyes full of provocation.

The sight made me sick. I turned and walked away.

Isabel called out triumphantly behind me, "Where's the HR manager? Fire Eden Stafford immediately! We don't need employees who are too afraid to face challenges!"

I'd just made it downstairs and was about to get in my car when Shane came running after me. "Eden Stafford, stop right there!"

His grip was painfully tight. "Why do you insist on antagonizing Isabel? Do you realize you almost got her killed just now?"

How was I the one who almost killed her? She was the one courting death all on her own.

I yanked my hand free and stared at him coldly. "Shane, let's break up."

He froze for a moment, then actually laughed. "Eden, you think way too highly of yourself, don't you? You're nothing but a fake heiress. You think threatening to break up with me will make me take your side?"

"Someone who'd turn in her own parents is a backstabber. The Cross family wants nothing to do with people like you!"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Then, why did you chase after me?"

He sneered. "I'll be with Isabel tomorrow. If nothing happens to her, I want you to get on your knees in front of everyone online and apologize to her!"

If nothing happened to her? He was far too confident.

I didn't bother responding. I just got in my car and drove away. As far as I was concerned, he was already a dead man walking.

As soon as I reached my hotel, Mara sent me several screenshots. I opened them to find that many coworkers had agreed to come back to work after my parents' reassurances.

I sighed and decided to call them anyway. Most people made the same choice as in my previous life and stayed home, but several of them cursed me out.

"Eden Stafford, you're way too nosy!"

"Mr. Stafford, Mrs. Stafford, and Mr. Cross will all be there tomorrow. What's there to be afraid of?"

"You've already been fired from the company. Just stay out of it!"

"Ms. Stafford said everyone who shows up gets triple pay. You can't have it, so you don't want anyone else to get it either—is that it?"

There was no point reasoning with people hell-bent on their own destruction. I wasn't going to waste any more breath on people who refused to listen.

Early the next morning, ten minutes before the Category 5 hurricane made landfall, Mara forwarded me a live stream link. I opened it. The scene on screen struck me as both absurd and pathetic.

Isabel sat between Mom, Dad, and Shane, looking flattered by all the attention. Around them were the coworkers who'd chosen to stay.

"Everyone's saying there's a super strong Category 5 hurricane today, but why do I feel so warm?" She reached back to touch the floor-to-ceiling window.

"As long as the wind protection measures are in place, it's really not a big deal. Besides, with so many of us here today, there's strength in numbers. The company will definitely weather this storm together!"

Someone in the comments recognized the background as the office and asked, "Isn't there supposed to be an emergency shutdown? Why are you still at work?"

Dad jumped in before Isabel could answer. "Do you know what the real emergency shutdown means? It means stop slacking off, stop fantasizing, stop complaining, stop expecting something for nothing, and stop making excuses for your own incompetence!"

He spoke with such righteous conviction that the comment section immediately filled with praise. But some people felt uncomfortable with this and questioned it. Isabel promptly kicked them out of the live stream.

Just then, Mom called me. "You think paying trolls to attack Isabel online will work? That's pathetic! You're vile. No wonder Shane's done with you."

Before I could respond, a deafening roar erupted from the live stream. The hurricane had made landfall.

On screen, everyone pressed anxiously against the plywood behind the windows. As the wind howled, the entire office shook. But because the glass had the plywood reinforcement, it didn't immediately shatter after the first strong gust.

Everyone started cheering. "We're really okay! This is great!"

"If Ms. Stafford hadn't suggested coming back, Mr. Stafford wouldn't have thought to reinforce the windows! She deserves all the credit!"

Shane took Mom's phone and grinned at the camera, speaking directly to me, "See that? Just wait until after the hurricane. You'll be getting on your knees for Isabel and..."

Before he could finish, the second gust began its violent assault. A massive boom split the air.

Without warning, the glass exploded instantly. The tremendous impact sent shards flying in all directions at terrifying speed.

The entire office descended into chaos.

Then came Isabel's terrified screams, "Get off me! Don't grab onto me! We're going to fall!"