Covering Up For The CEO의 모든 챕터: 챕터 11 - 챕터 20

Brielle POV I grabbed a towel and quickly cleaned up the broken glass and blood, not wanting to leave any evidence of the confrontation. As I finished, I leaned against the counter, my mind racing. Whatever Diana was planning, I had to stay ahead of her.The soft rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling into the bedroom. Albert stirred awake, his head pounding slightly from the remnants of the previous night's drinking. Blinking a few times, he let his vision adjust before turning his head to the side, expecting to see an empty room.Instead, his gaze landed on me. I was curled up on the couch, still asleep. My arms were tucked under my head, and the peaceful expression on my face softened the lines of worry that had seemed permanent lately.A faint smile crept onto Albert's face as he watched me, his chest tightening with an emotion he couldn’t quite name. He couldn’t remember much of what happened after the bar, but seeing me there, knowing I had taken care o

Brielle POV As we pulled up to the office building, a familiar sense of nervous energy washed over me. It had been months since I’d last set foot here, and now, stepping back into the space where Albert and I had once built something together felt surreal.Albert glanced at me as the driver opened my door. “Ready?” he asked, his voice soft but tinged with curiosity.I forced a small smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”Walking into the towering office building alongside Albert felt different this time. His hand hovered near the small of my back, guiding me inside, and I caught the curious glances from employees. Some looked genuinely pleased to see me, while others whispered to one another, no doubt gossiping about my return.“Good morning, Mr. Carter,” one of the receptionists greeted Albert with a bright smile before her eyes landed on me. Her expression lit up. “Mrs. Carter! It’s so wonderful to see you again.”I nodded politely. “Thank you. It’s good to be back.”As we made our way

Brielle POV Albert sat beside me, his presence comforting but silent. He hadn’t said much since the assistant had ushered us into the room, but I could feel his tension simmering beneath the surface. I was on my own in this.“Thank you all for coming,” Rebecca began, her voice smooth as silk yet laced with authority. “I’ve called this meeting to discuss some important changes within the company.”The room fell silent, everyone waiting for her to continue. I gripped the armrest of my chair, bracing myself.“As you all know, Brielle has returned to the company,” Rebecca said, her gaze landing on me. Her tone was polite, but the venom beneath it was unmistakable. “And while we are all delighted to have her back…” She paused for dramatic effect, her smile never wavering. “…there are certain concerns that need to be addressed.”“Concerns?” Albert’s voice cut through the air, firm and unyielding. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing at his mother.Rebecca didn’t falter, though I

Brielle POV Albert rushed over to Diana, concern etched across his face as he bent down to help her up. She clung to him like a lifeline, pressing her body against his as if she could barely stand on her own.I clenched my fists, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. I knew exactly what she was doing, using every opportunity to make me feel like an outsider, to make it seem like she belonged by Albert’s side more than I did.“Albert, I’m sorry,” she whispered weakly, her voice trembling as she blinked up at him with fake, teary eyes. “I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time. I know how busy you are with work, and yet… you still choose to be here with me. Thank you so much.”I almost scoffed at how dramatic she sounded. She was acting like a helpless damsel in distress, knowing Albert had a protective instinct when it came to people in need.Albert sighed, his grip firm on her arms to steady her. “It’s fine, Diana. Just take care of yourself.”His tone was distant, but Dia

Brielle POV Albert opened the door, and standing there was the last person I expected to see, the man I saw with Diana at the hospital.A tall man with sharp features and a confident smirk, his hands tucked into the pockets of his designer coat. His eyes flickered to Albert, then to me. And then, he smiled. A slow, knowing smile.“I’m here to see Diana,” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with familiarity.Before Albert or I could react, Diana quickly rushed closer to the door, her face lighting up with fake excitement. “Oh, Nicholas! My dear cousin, how are you?” she exclaimed, linking her arm around his like they had been close for years. “I’m so sorry I didn’t make it to pick you up at the airport.”I froze.Cousin?Diana was a liar, but this was a new level of deception.Albert, however, didn’t seem to question it. He nodded politely, his expression neutral. “Nicholas,” he repeated, as if processing the name.Diana turned to us, still holding onto Nicholas’s arm. “Albert, Briel