“What a disgrace!”
“Damn it, I can’t hold it in anymore!”
“Even if Mr. Parker is my boss and gives me my paycheck, I still have to say it—he’s cold-blooded!”
“I’m standing with Mrs. Parker!”
…
Sophia Reed and Lucas Bennett exchanged a glance, and a faint, almost imperceptible gleam of satisfaction flickered in their eyes.
“Everyone, please don’t say that,” Sophia said softly. “Ethan used to treat me very well.”
“Maybe the pressure from the company going public has just been too much lately. Once I’m feeling better, I’ll have a good talk with him.”
Hearing her still speak in my defense only stoked the crowd’s outrage further. My parents’ hearts grew heavier with guilt and resentment toward me.
Finally, my father, Richard Parker, took her hand and made a solemn promise.
“Don’t worry, child. I’ll stand up for you and make sure that brat gives you an explanation.”
The next morning, just after I got out of bed, I received a message from my father:
“Get yourself to the hospital right now and apologize to Sophia, or your mother and I will issue a public statement cutting ties with you.
When that happens, don’t say we didn’t warn you!”
I read it and tossed my phone aside without a second thought.
So they were pulling that card—harsh, but useless.
I went about my usual breakfast routine: shrimp omelet, clam stew, pan-fried mackerel, seafood and pork congee…
Only after setting everything on the table did I realize there was no one sitting across from me anymore—just me, alone.
These were all Sophia’s favorites. No matter how busy I was before, I’d make them for her every morning, switching up the dishes every day. It had become a habit—a sign of how deeply I’d loved her.
But now, everything had changed.
After a moment of staring blankly, I quietly picked up the only seafood-free item—a slice of toast, since I’m allergic to shellfish—and ate in silence.
An hour later, when I arrived at the company, I noticed employees giving me strange, sidelong glances.
No need to ask—my so-called “jerk move” at the hospital yesterday had clearly spread through the entire office.
I ignored them and headed for my office. As the elevator doors opened—
It was Sophia.
She was still in her hospital gown, her face pale as paper. Her back was slightly hunched, and she walked with visible difficulty.
“It’s Mrs. Parker!” someone called out.
Immediately, a crowd swarmed toward her, with several female employees carefully supporting her.
The affection and concern they showed her instantly made me, their boss, look like the villain.
“You’re so badly hurt—what are you doing out of the hospital?”
“Exactly, Mrs. Parker. If you need anything, just call us—we can take care of it for you.”
“No need, I can manage.”
Sophia smiled kindly, then lifted the fruit basket in her hand toward me.
“Ethan, I noticed you had a small cold sore yesterday. You must be stressed lately, so I brought you some fruit to help cool down your system.”
“Make sure you eat it—don’t neglect your health.”
“Wow!”
“How sweet is that!”
“Mrs. Parker, you know there are plenty of single people here—are you sure it’s okay to flaunt your love like this?”
“Boss, come on—the basket isn’t just full of fruit, it’s full of her love for you.”
“Sigh… after everything she went through yesterday, she’s still dragging herself here to offer you a way to make peace. If you don’t take it now, you really will be in the wrong!”
I said nothing.
But as soon as I accepted the fruit basket, Sophia’s gentle smile vanished, her eyes widening in sudden anger.
The next second, she yanked open my shirt collar and exclaimed furiously—
