Chapter 3

My assistant looked between us. "Ms. Hart, he is your boyfriend?"

Cole answered before I could. "Yes, she's my girlfriend."

He straightened slightly.

"During the stampede, she threatened to break up with me unless I rescued her first. As a senior manager, I had to uphold fairness and prioritize the guests."

He spoke with conviction, as if he had rehearsed it.

My assistant frowned.

"To my knowledge, Ms. Hart was also attending the event that night in a personal capacity. She was a guest as well."

Cole was momentarily speechless.

Vivian quickly cut in. "Selena… she was actually fine."

"She only fell because she saw Cole rescue me first and felt upset. I saw it with my own eyes."

She glanced around nervously.

"She came here today… probably because she wants Cole to change his mind and get back together with her."

The employees nearby immediately started murmuring.

"So that's what happened! Mr. Cole is really impartial."

"Exactly. Putting guests before his own girlfriend, that's professionalism."

"His girlfriend is too selfish. Causing trouble at a time like that, even pretending to fall. She probably made the stampede worse."

Cole's eyes lit up, as if he had found a way out.

"That's right!" He pointed at me sharply.

"A big reason the situation became so chaotic was that she was making a scene and deliberately falling to obstruct the rescue!"

He glared at me.

"Selena, if your actions delayed the rescue and caused deaths, I would personally send you to prison!"

"And now you still have the nerve to come here asking to get back together?"

Pierce stepped forward.

"You must be Mr. Quinn.

"Ms. Hart is indeed here today because of you–but not for reconciliation."

Cole looked at him coldly.

"Not for reconciliation? You seem to know a lot. What, are you her new boyfriend?"

I took a deep breath and met his gaze.

"Cole, today's accountability hearing cannot proceed without me.

"Are you sure you want to keep blocking the way?"

He froze for a moment, then burst into exaggerated laughter.

"Can't proceed without you? Selena, who do you think you are?

"Today's hearing is being chaired by major shareholders. It's just a formality!

"What status do you have? What gives you the right to talk like that?"

The mockery on his face deepened, his tone turning condescending.

"Selena, I don't have time to deal with your nonsense.

"If you really want me to forgive you, get out of that chair right now and kneel in front of Vivian. Apologize."

As he spoke, he actually reached out to grab me from the wheelchair.

My assistant immediately stepped in front of me.

"Mr. Quinn, don't you dare!"

"Get out of my way!" Cole shoved her aside and roared.

"What wouldn't I dare do? I'm the general manager of this mall!"

"Today, I've found the person responsible for the stampede. Making her kneel and apologize is already being lenient!

"If anyone had died and the mall's reputation was damaged, I'd make her pay with her life!"

His hand reached toward my collar.

At that moment, the boardroom door opened, and my father's cold, authoritative voice rang out.

"You dare lay a hand on a Hartline shareholder? I'd like to see who has the death wish."