Abigail approached Xander and greeted him with the utmost respect, "Good morning, Mr. Zane."Xander ate his breakfast with a refined grace, his icy gaze never leaving his plate.Abigail was no stranger to his cold demeanor, and she refused to let it affect her. She stood a few feet away and said, "Mr. Zane, I need to clarify something with you."At last, Xander finished his meal and graced her with a look. "What is it?"Abigail stood rigid, her hands at her sides. "Mr. Zane, my feelings for you are solely those of a subordinate to a superior. I swear I have no other intentions toward you."He was not a fool; he could see right through her intentions. A wicked grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, as he taunted her, "Do you honestly think I would have any interest in a married woman like you?"Abigail did not dare to think like that. "Mr. Zane, please don't mock me. I know my place. I'm saying this so that people around you won't misunderstand my intentions, making it unbearable

Xander had no choice but to first remove her right sleeve, then carefully take off the left one. The down jacket and sweater were easy to remove, but if he took off the layer beneath, she would be exposed. Xander looked at her. "I need to tear off your sleeve."Abigail blinked her moist eyes. "Can you?"With one hand steadying her injured arm, Xander used his other hand to forcefully pull, tearing the sleeve at the seam. His strength was far greater than Abigail had imagined. In an instant, the wound on her fair arm came into view. The injury was about the size of a fist, the flesh mangled, with blood continuously seeping out.Xander's face darkened at the sight, while Abigail still managed to smile, looking almost clueless about her pain. "Mr. Zane, you truly are strong."Without hesitation, Xander tore his own white shirt, wrapping it around her wound in layer after layer. Abigail gritted her teeth in pain, her eyes swimming with unshed tears, but she did not let out a cry.Xand

"I have the courage to be closer to Keith because, firstly, Keith is single, and secondly, no one is gossiping about me and Keith, so I don't have to worry about being smothered by rumors." Abigail desperately wanted to shout this at Xander, but in front of the powerful figure steering Zane Corporation, she was just a small, inconsequential assistant. He could obliterate all her efforts with a single utterance; she could not possibly challenge him. Abigail remained silent, her eyes locked with his.Although he had erupted at her without cause, his intense gaze seemed to convey that she was the one who had committed some wrongdoing, and she now awaited his merciless judgment. Even with several meters between them, Abigail felt as if she was being scorched by his seething rage. She silently returned to her seat, grabbing her cutlery and devouring her meal with haste.After an excruciating silence, Xander's voice resounded once more, but this time it held a trace of gentleness. "Finish

Abigail slept in a daze as her personal phone buzzed on the nightstand, signaling a video call from her grandmother. She answered immediately, "Grandma, it's so late, why aren't you resting?"Her grandmother's face was full of worry. "I've been trying to reach you and couldn't get through. I was terrified something happened to you."Abigail noticed several missed video calls. "I'm sorry, Grandma, I went out to buy something and forgot my phone."Cassandra sighed with relief. "Abigail, have you had dinner? Is the pressure from work too much lately? If it is, change jobs. Don't overwork yourself."Abigail's heart softened as she replied, "Grandma, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. What about you? Have you been tutoring lately?"Cassandra, a retired teacher, had been rehired by the school for a few years before truly retiring earlier this year. Unable to stay idle, she had taken up tutoring. "Well, I'd be idle otherwise. Tutoring not only pays, but it also keeps my mind active. It's pe

"I accept your apology." Abigail stared icily at Cleona, uncertain of her true intentions. "But Mr. Zane's decision to have you leave Zane Corporation is his own. You've been with him for many years; you should know better than anyone that once he's made up his mind, no one can change it.""Abigail, you can change his decision because everything he's doing is for you," Cleona pleaded, desperation etched on her face as she clung to Abigail's arms. One hand happened to grip Abigail's injured arm—whether intentionally or unintentionally. "Abigail, I'm begging you, help me. You're the only one who can. If you don't plead for me, I'll have nowhere to turn but be done for.""Ms. Sander, release me first. You're hurting me." Abigail tried to push her away, but the strength of a desperate person far exceeded that of a normal individual.She clung to Abigail, shaking her violently. "I won't let go. If I release you, I'm done for.""Let her go." Xander's deep, commanding voice suddenly fille