"Why should I apologize?!"
"Aren't these stamps something you had custom-made for me because you were afraid I'd get bored?"
"You were the one who said I could stamp anything—just for fun! And now you stand there watching her force me to apologize, humiliating me like this?!"
Andrew grabbed her wrist, his brows drawn tightly together.
"Hazel!"
Hazel shook him off hard, crying so violently her whole body trembled.
"Don't touch me!"
"You're ganging up on me! You just look down on me, don't you? It was just a joke, and suddenly everything was my fault!"
She sobbed uncontrollably, her words breaking apart.
"Fine! It's my fault! Someone ordinary like me doesn't deserve to joke around with big shots like you! I'll leave right now—is that good enough?!"
With that, she turned and rushed toward the door.
"Hazel!"
Andrew's voice turned sharp as he strode forward and pulled her back.
Looking at her tear-streaked face, his expression shifted several times before he finally sighed, his tone softening.
"Stop making a scene. It's such a small thing—look at how hard you're crying."
He turned to me, his brows still furrowed, fatigue creeping into his voice.
"Hazel is young and immature. She doesn't understand these things. I'll apologize to you on her behalf."
"Jade... don't dwell on it too much, alright?"
I curled my lips into a mocking smile.
The blue ink on my face felt as if it had seeped into my skin, burning hot against my cheeks.
Andrew released Hazel and walked toward me.
He pulled a few tissues from the desk, his voice gentler now.
"Alright, don't be angry anymore. Didn't you tell me before to take extra care of Hazel?"
"She's just childish—she likes to play around."
My nails dug into my palm. It hurt—but nowhere near as much as the pain crushing my chest.
Yes.
Back then, I was the one who pitied Hazel.
When she cried and begged me to sponsor her education, I softened. I pulled her out of that remote, patriarchal mountain village.
Not only did I fund her schooling, I even arranged for her to intern at Andrew's company.
During that time, Andrew complained to me more than once.
He said she couldn't even operate the copier properly, spilled coffee everywhere, and managed to deliver documents to the wrong floor.
Every time he mentioned her, he'd rub his temples and complain to me half-jokingly.
"Jade, you really handed me a huge problem. I spend all day cleaning up after her—I don't even have time to breathe."
I laughed back then, saying he lacked patience and was too harsh on newcomers.
I always believed lending someone a helping hand was a good deed.
But I never imagined—that the person I personally pulled out of the mud would one day step on my face to reach for things she never could have touched on her own.
Andrew sighed and stepped closer, lifting a hand to wipe the words off my face.
But the blue ink was oil-based.
The more he wiped, the worse it smeared.
The stain spread across my cheek, down to my chin, even brushing against my hair and the corner of my lips.
I could already imagine how I looked.
My carefully styled hair was a mess, my makeup smeared into blue-black blotches.
I must have looked utterly ridiculous—like a clown.
Hazel covered her mouth and let out a laugh, unable to hide the satisfaction on her face.
"Andrew!"
"I almost forgot—there are only twenty minutes left before the charity auction starts."
"We should get going."
Andrew's expression tightened. He glanced at his watch. Then he turned to me. "There really isn't time."
"Jade, I originally planned to take you to pick out some new jewelry, but it looks like we'll have to reschedule."
"Go home first, alright? When I come back tonight, we'll talk properly."
