Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s cold gaze swept over Sloane\u2019s wronged, tearful face. Her voice stayed calm. \u201cShe can\u2019t even handle something as simple as serving coffee. Then, she should go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane\u2019s eyes reddened instantly, tears trembling on the verge of spilling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan frowned and didn\u2019t nod right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s lips curved slightly. She cut her eyes toward the man beside her, all chill and edge. What, you can\u2019t bear to let her go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s eyes held back something darker. He spoke quietly, his tone devoid of emotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVivian, you used to say you wanted Whitfield Group to be the kind of place with a good atmosphere, somewhere people felt supported and comfortable. If you fire someone over one small mistake, won\u2019t everyone start coming to work on edge?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was using her own words to shut her down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes cold and unreadable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t you just say she could leave anytime if I wasn\u2019t happy? Well, I\u2019m not happy now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan went silent, frowning. His dark eyes stayed locked on Vivian, impatience and hesitation flickering at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian looked back at him with a faint smile, not backing down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air in the conference room went still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane\u2019s sobbing broke the silence. She apologized in a small voice. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mr. Hartwell. I was wrong. I\u2019ll clean up right now. Please don\u2019t fire me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she spoke, she squatted to pick up the broken pieces from the floor. The moment her fingers touched the shards, a sharp edge sliced her skin, and blood welled at her fingertip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t dare ask Logan for help. She kept her head down and continued gathering the shards with the same injured hand, sniffling and sobbing softly, like some fragile little flower battered by the rain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s gaze slid to the man beside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The restraint in Logan\u2019s eyes was starting to crack, anger pressing close to the surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He finally snapped. \u201cVivian, do you have to be this cruel? She didn\u2019t make any real mistakes,\u00a0<\/p>\n
BC.GAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
and you\u2019re firing her without a solid reason! This is Whitfield Group, not Halcyon Group! I\u2019m not going to let you throw a tantrum and do whatever you want!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian only watched him rage, her lips faintly curved and her eyes calm. She looked like a spectator enjoying the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want me to remind you that there are cameras in this room? Should I pull the footage and let everyone in the company watch what she was doing to you under the table during a serious meeting?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s anger vanished on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane froze as well, clutching the broken pieces. Even her sobbing stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian let out a soft, mocking laugh. \u201cOr is it that you actually enjoyed it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane\u2019s face burned red with embarrassment. She scrambled to take the blame. \u201cMs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everhart, it was my fault. I was out of my mind. I just-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan cut her off, as if he was afraid she\u2019d make it worse. He shut his eyes briefly, then looked back at Vivian. \u201cEnough. I\u2019ll have her leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane went pale. She stared at him, stunned, tears gathering again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan didn\u2019t look at her. His tone softened, gentler than it had been a second ago. \u201cAre you not mad anymore?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian just felt tired. She was about to stand and leave when Sloane dropped to her knees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVivian, please don\u2019t fire me! My parents aren\u2019t well. They\u2019re on a lot of medication every month. And I have student loans from university. I have to pay a lot every month.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease! Let me keep working at Whitfield Group. I swear I won\u2019t do anything wrong again!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was crying hard now, looking pitiful and soaked in tears. It was nothing like the smug, taunting messages she had sent Vivian days ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Out of the corner of her eye, Vivian caught Logan\u2019s hand at his side tightening into a fist. His face stayed blank, but she could already imagine how angry he was on Sloane\u2019s behalf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan noticed Vivian watching, eased his posture, and reached for her waist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me take you home, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian shook her head. \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She brushed his hand away and walked out of the conference room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
BC.GAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
View\u00a0<\/p>\n
5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane crawled toward Vivian on her knees. \u201cMs. Hartwell\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian stopped, a faint smile curling at her lips. \u201cMs. Mercer. You\u2019ve overplayed your hand. You\u2019re clearly not fit for work. Why not just become a kept woman?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words made Logan\u2019s expression change.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane lowered her head and went silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s face went stiff. Guilt flashed in his eyes. \u201cVivian\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian just smiled, then let her gaze drop to Sloane\u2019s scalded, reddened hand. \u201cLook at your hand. It\u2019s already red. It\u2019ll swell even more later. How are you supposed to work over the next few days?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her gentle tone eased Logan\u2019s tension. He stepped to her side, slipped an arm around her waist, and coaxed her in a low voice. \u201cYou hardly ever come to the office, and I still upset you. That\u2019s on me. I\u2019ll cancel everything today and stay with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian didn\u2019t answer. She glanced back and saw Sloane slumped on the floor, pale and seething, staring at her with resentment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s fingers tightened slightly at Vivian\u2019s waist. He was afraid she\u2019d go after Sloane again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian raised her hand and knocked his arm off, then walked straight toward her office door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stopped there and gestured for Logan to open it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan sighed, looking as though he\u2019d decided to let her have her way, and opened the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian stood in the doorway, her gaze cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The layout hadn\u2019t changed much. The photo of her and Logan still sat on the bookshelf. But the room was filled with personal items that didn\u2019t belong to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She walked in, reached behind the door, and pulled out a golf club.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan frowned and moved to stop her. \u201cVivian\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian swung the club at him, then smashed up the entire office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan didn\u2019t try to stop her again. He pressed the ice pack Jack had brought against his face and stood off to the side, watching in silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only after the office was ruined beyond recognition did Vivian toss the bent golf club aside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way she did it looked careless, unbothered, like she had finally let something go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
BC.GAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
4\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s chest tightened. A sudden fear hit him that she was about to walk away for good. He frowned and asked, \u201cDo you feel better?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This time, he didn\u2019t come closer. He stayed back, watching her from a distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian smoothed a few strands of hair on her forehead and gave him a small smile. \u201cI do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked unbothered, as if a weight had finally lifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan stayed silent, his brow knitted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian walked out of the office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan followed at an unhurried pace. When he noticed a thin cut across her palm, he reached out and caught her hand. \u201cYou\u2019re hurt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe her nerves were still running too high; she hadn\u2019t felt a thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan held her hand and tried to pull her toward his office, but Vivian recoiled and yanked free, disgust flashing plainly in her eyes. She didn\u2019t want him to touch her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a small cut. I\u2019m fine,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something clogged in Logan\u2019s chest. He felt heavy and irritated all at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His face hardened. He stepped in close, possessive and overwhelming, frustration dark in his eyes. \u201cI let you vent and smash things. But don\u2019t ignore your injury. Do you really think walking away like this will hurt me? That it\u2019ll make me feel guilty?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian stared at him in silence, her expression cold, a trace of ridicule flickering in her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her firmly against him. \u201cVivian, don\u2019t do this. I already feel terrible for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 14\u00a0 1\/4\u00a0 Vivian\u2019s cold gaze swept over Sloane\u2019s wronged, tearful face. Her voice stayed calm. \u201cShe can\u2019t even handle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-i-cancel-the-engagement-and-level-way-up"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}