LOGINAt that moment, the relationship between Quentin and Kathryn was strictly professional.Quentin said firmly, "Kathryn, get your position straight. It's not off-hours yet. Right now, you're my secretary. Whatever I ask, you do."He wasn't being rude, but their dynamic had always been this way.After hours, they could be friends or the dutiful children their families expected them to be. But during the workday, he was the boss, and she was the secretary.Kathryn's eyes were filled with tears. Without hesitation, she refused. "I refuse to make it."Quentin instinctively opened his mouth to reprimand her, but Talia gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Quentin, I don't want coffee. Don't make things difficult for her."Although Talia spoke in a mere whisper, Kathryn had navigated the intricacies of this social circle for years. Even if she couldn't catch the exact words, one look at Talia's expression was enough to tell her that Talia was standing up for her.Kathryn wasn't ha
Talia wasn't surprised when she heard Quentin answer that they were just friends. She knew exactly why he would say that.Although the employee could tell that Quentin wasn't being entirely truthful, he didn't press the issue. Instead, he complimented, "Your friend is really beautiful, Mr. Henderson. I wonder if I'll ever get a chance to—"Before the employee could finish speaking, Quentin cut him off, asking, "Are you done with your work?"The employee immediately sensed the shift in his tone and knew this was a warning sign of his rising temper. He quickly said, "I'll get back to work, Mr. Henderson."With that, he hurried off.Quentin didn't linger in the lobby. He knew all too well that the more time he spent there, the greater the risk of someone gossiping.Once they stepped into the private elevator, Quentin's attention shifted. No longer focused solely on Talia, he turned to his phone to deal with some urgent matters.Talia didn't say anything, just watching him quietly.
Talia didn't say anything. She just stubbornly fixed her gaze on Quentin.After a long silence, he finally gave up and said helplessly, "Never mind. I'll be yours eventually."With that, he released his hold on Talia's chin. After straightening up, he closed the passenger-side door.Once he shut the door, Talia turned to watch him. She saw the confident way he moved, and it made her feel uneasy.He was such a great guy. How could she possibly deserve him?Just as Quentin closed the door, he saw Lucas walking out while helping Willow along."Quentin, I'm taking Willow home. You should take Talia back. Text me when you get there. We should grab dinner when you're free," Lucas said.Quentin nodded. "Okay. Drive safe. Let me know when you arrive."Lucas smiled lightly. "I will. See you.""Take care," Quentin replied, watching as Lucas and Willow left. Then, he slid into the driver's seat.But once he was in the car, he didn't start the engine right away.Talia turned to look at
Quentin held Talia effortlessly in one arm, the other arm cradling her crutches.Once they were outside the hospital, he placed her in the front passenger seat of his car.After settling her inside, Quentin didn't straighten up. With one foot on the door frame and his hand braced against the headrest, he loomed over her, effectively pinning the petite Talia within the shadow of his embrace.He leaned down, his gaze sharp and piercing as he locked eyes with hers."Why didn't you call me?" he demanded, his voice low and laced with simmering irritation.He was pressuring and almost overpowering her.Since they were so close, Talia could hear Quentin's heart beating steadily in his chest. She looked into his eyes and could clearly see the anger burning behind them.She turned her face away, offering him only a profile. "I forgot."The excuse was flimsy, but Quentin didn't press any further.He stared at her for a long moment before suddenly reaching out. "Give me your phone."Tal
After a moment of thought, William wondered if what Talia had said might actually be true.Talia knew that William didn't believe her, but she never considered trying to prove anything to him.But to her surprise, William actually seemed concerned for her. "How's your recovery going?"Talia blinked in surprise but nodded. "I'm doing much better."He looked at her with a mix of concern and sympathy. "Ms. Stewart, actually, Chris…"He hesitated, unsure whether to continue.Talia looked at him and asked, confused, "What are you trying to say?"After a long pause, William sighed and finally spoke. "Chris has always had more on his plate than others. His family, his career—everything had been planned for him from a young age."He didn't get much love. That's why he's cold and doesn't know how to treat a woman well. But I believe that if he married you and had Yvonne with you, it means he must care about you."Talia heard his words, but she felt nothing.If she had heard this befor
Christian and Nancy both froze in place, their eyes fixed on Talia and William.After carefully placing Willow in the backseat of the car, William turned back to look at Talia. "Ms. Stewart, you…"He reached out, unsure whether to carry her into the car or support her in some other way.Seeing his flustered expression, Talia said, "I can get in by myself."With her crutches in hand, she hopped over to the side of the car. William instinctively reached out to take her crutches.Once Talia was settled, he placed the crutches in the passenger seat.Even after he drove off, he didn't notice Christian and Nancy standing nearby.At that moment, his heart was consumed by nothing but dread. He feared that Willow's injury would worsen.The car sped up as William drove away quickly.Watching him care for Willow and Talia made Nancy feel an uncomfortable twist in her chest.When she turned around, she saw that Christian's expression had darkened even further.Curious, she asked, "When
Felix's call gave Willow an excuse, and his mention of wanting food meant he'd be home for lunch. To her, it was proof he still wanted their relationship to work.Hearing how quickly Willow forgave him, Talia paused while cleaning up her medical tray. It was like she was seeing her former self when
Talia had most likely sprained her ankle since she couldn't get back on her feet for a long time. She looked back to the person who came to help her and was startled to find that it was Henry.Her eyes instantly welled with tears, her nose stinging as they spilled the moment she lowered her head. "
Talia didn't feel the need to explain herself to Henry, though. She merely smiled and said to him, "Thanks for the compliment, but I'm well aware of my own worth."Henry was stunned, realizing just how much Talia had changed. He saw genuine self-doubt in the eyes of the woman who used to be so radi
"Willow, what... what happened to you?" Talia asked, her voice shaking.Willow's face was covered in bruises. One of her eyes was so swollen that she couldn't even see out of it. She also removed her hat, revealing bloodstains on her head and several bald patches.Talia walked over to Willow, angr







