Cathy's words echoed in Adrienne's mind, striking a painful chord of truth. She had been a fool, allowing herself to be hurt and trapped in a fantasy that would never come true. For years, she had been blind to the pain that stabbed her heart each time she saw Pedro with someone else. Perhaps her heart had turned to stone, or maybe it had all been an illusion because now she felt an intensified pain and jealousy coursing through her.All she had wanted was to enjoy a simple seafood meal, but instead, she found herself witnessing a scene that pierced her heart with anguish. The jealousy consumed her, drowning her in its suffocating grip. She had grown accustomed to the feeling, or so she thought, but the hurt still lingered.The next day, she woke up early, finding her boss absent once again. He had likely spent the night in another bed, with his flavor of the day. Adrienne couldn't decide if she should be hurt or not. After all, she wasn't the type of woman Pedro Lassiter would be int

PEDRO was not asleep at that time. He heard his secretary's confession to him. But he knew he couldn't reciprocate her feelings. He might just end up hurting Adrienne in the end. His secretary was one of the women he valued and respected. There was no reason for him to do anything that would harm her.His mood improved because he closed his deal, again, thanks to his secretary. It's as if Adrienne had become his lucky charm. He didn't know how he would function without his versatile secretary.Pedro also treated Adrienne to a meal. It was simple, but he knew it made the girl happy. It was just a simple way of expressing his gratitude for how diligent, loyal, and important Adrienne was to him.Pedro suddenly left, but he saw a woman. She was easily tempted, so he gave her a passionate kiss. It lasted a few minutes, and when he returned to the cottage, Adrienne was no longer there.He thought about returning to their room, but the woman wasn't there either. He decided to wander into a b

The following evening, Adrienne and Pedro found themselves still in the office, engrossed in their work on their laptops. As the clock struck 8 pm, their gazes met, a silent acknowledgment of their shared fatigue."How about dinner?" Pedro suggested, breaking the concentration."Okay, sir," Adrienne responded, accepting the invitation.Pedro reached for his car keys, ready to leave, but Adrienne halted him, saying, "I actually have some food with me, if that's okay with you."Adrienne felt a surge of gratitude as Pedro didn't refuse her offer. She didn't want to expose her lack of culinary skills and potentially embarrass herself further.To her surprise, Pedro ate heartily, clearly enjoying the meal. Overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment, Adrienne watched him savor each bite."This tastes divine! Did you cook this?" Pedro asked, genuinely impressed.Adrienne nodded, her cheeks tinged with a blush. "Yes, Sir. I'm glad you find it delicious."For the first time, Pedro's smile reac

It was around eight in the evening, and Adrienne found herself standing in a convenience store. She gazed sadly at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes still swollen from tears. In her hands, she held a pair of chopsticks and a cup of noodles, contemplating her next move.Just then, Cathy arrived, still wearing her jacket but clearly disturbed by something. Concern etched on her face, she approached Adrienne and inquired about her puffy eyes."What happened, my friend? You were so happy earlier. Why do your eyes look swollen now?" Cathy asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.Overwhelmed by her emotions, Adrienne couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Cathy instinctively patted her, trying to offer comfort and reassurance."Stop crying, girl. People might think you're being mistreated!" Cathy urged, hoping to ease Adrienne's distress."I'm sorry, Cathy. If I could handle this on my own, I wouldn't bother you," Adrienne managed to say between sobs."Oh, Adrienne! You're no di

Adrienne found herself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She couldn't quite determine how she should feel about the unexpected attention and longing glances she received from Pedro. Was it a cause for happiness, or should she be concerned about the possibility of falling even deeper for the man she cherished the most?She had grown tired of false alarms and the pain of being misunderstood and hurt. Adrienne yearned to release herself from the grip of her emotions, even if it meant making a questionable choice. Despite her enduring love for Pedro, she felt an undeniable need to break free.Letting out a sigh, she closed her desk and prepared to head home. Upon checking her bank account, she was pleasantly surprised to find a significant amount of money saved. It signified that in just one month, she would be bidding farewell to the company she had dedicated so much time and effort to. It was time for Adrienne to redirect her focus towards a new direction in life.Just as s