I fell asleep in Andrew's office.
When I woke up, I realized there were several large characters stamped across my face.
[Pork Quality: Grade One.]
Andrew's secretary, Hazel, was holding a pork inspection stamp, smiling at me with open provocation.
"A pampered socialite like you should just stay at home and be a decorative vase," she sneered. "Stop coming to the company and interfering with our work."
I smashed the cup on the spot.
Shards of porcelain scattered through the air like starlight, flying straight toward Hazel.
The very next second, Andrew rushed in almost at a run, pulling her completely into his arms to shield her.
He frowned at me, impatience tightly restrained in his voice.
"Jade! Hazel is still young. She was just joking with you. Is it really necessary to get this angry?"
My gaze locked onto the open collar of Andrew's shirt.
On his collarbone was a faint but unmistakable red mark.
And he hadn't come home for three consecutive nights, claiming to be working overtime.
Hazel peeked out from behind him, stuck out her tongue, and spoke in an innocent tone.
"Andrew was worried I'd get bored, so he specially had people make lots of stamps for me to pass the time."
"I was just joking with Ms. Jade. She wouldn't be so petty, right?"
——
I didn't respond to Hazel.
I kept staring at the red mark on Andrew's collarbone, feeling as though all the blood in my body had turned ice-cold.
I opened my mouth, but my throat was dry.
"Andrew," I asked hoarsely, "what is that?"
He froze for a moment, then followed my gaze downward. His expression changed instantly.
Almost instinctively, he took a step toward me. His lips parted, about to speak—
"I did it."
Hazel's voice cut in—quick, crisp, carrying a hint of coquettish complaint.
Andrew stopped in his tracks. But his eyes stayed on me as he raised his brows and smiled.
"The last time Andrew had a meeting that lasted four hours, I was so bored waiting beside him."
"So I stamped him too—as punishment."
Somehow, Andrew was amused. He lifted his hand and patted Hazel on the head helplessly.
"You still have the nerve to say that? You did it right in front of the entire board of directors. You nearly made me lose all face."
The office suddenly became eerily quiet.
All I could hear was the buzzing in my ears.
Andrew had always indulged me in everything—except for one thing he never compromised on.
Work.
His attitude toward work was nearly ruthless. He never allowed anyone to interrupt him.
And now, he had learned to break his own rules to amuse another girl.
Bitterness spread from my chest to my throat.
Before I could speak, soft chatter drifted in from outside the door.
"They say President Martin's wife is in the office. I really want to see what she looks like!"
"I heard when President Martin proposed, there were flowers stretching for ten miles, and 520 drones turned into a meteor shower spelling out her name in the sky."
"I'm so jealous. President Martin has treated her the same for ten whole years. I happen to be delivering documents—maybe I can sneak a peek!"
The girls reached the doorway and were surprised to find the door wide open.
When they lifted their heads, they saw my face.
The meticulous makeup I'd put on before coming out was probably completely overshadowed by those humiliating characters stamped across my skin.
The chatter came to an abrupt halt.
Their smiles were still frozen on their lips, but their eyes had gone stiff.
The entire room fell into a terrifying silence.
Only Hazel let out a soft laugh.
Andrew frowned, as if only now realizing just how insulting those words were.
Instinctively, he stepped in front of Hazel.
"Hazel," he said, "apologize."
Hazel's eyes instantly reddened. Her voice rose sharply, trembling with tears.
