Chapter 14
While looking at the lineup of mysterious and striking designs, Julia felt something stir inside her, something she thought had died long ago.
Her passion for art was waking up.
“Now you realize how much you’ve missed, huh? Haley teased gently from the side, catching the way Julia looked like she might dive straight into a
sketchbook
“Come on, let’s go to my office.”
Julia reluctantly pulled her gaze away. The pieces on the gallery wall had sparked a sudden, overwhelming urge to create again.
As they walked and chatted about how much the company had grown in recent years, the two entered Haley’s office one after the other
Julia glanced around it was decorated in Haley’s signature style.
If she hadn’t chosen marriage and life as a homemaker back then, her office might have looked like this.
“Oh, right. I wanted to ask if you could mentor someone for me. She’s a young woman, a top–tier university grad. Really promising and naturally talented,” Haley said.
She handed the file over casually, contiming, “It’s just a shame… She comes from a tough background. Her family favors boys over girls, and she worked her way through school on her own, part–time jobs and all.”
JJulia’s fingers paused mid–page. Something about that story hit too close to home.
“Did her family try to force her into marriage? Demand an expensive marriage gift or something?
Haley blinked in surprise. “Wait, you low her?”
Julia shook her head, but an old face surfaced in her mind–Penelope.
She remembered when Penelope had just graduated and kept getting rejected by every company. Julia bad interviewed her personally.
Penelope told her that if she couldn’t make it in the city, her father would force her into marriage
She was scared and insecure, but she had a deep stubbornness–a refusal to give up
Julia had felt a pang of sympathy. Out of all the candidates, Penelope had the weakest résurné.
But Julia had taken her in anyway and taught her everything–how to navigate the workplace, how to carry herself, step by step
Penelope did grow. People i in the company even started saying how much she resembled Jutla
But in the end?
She’d copied Julia’s every move with laser precision, only to scheme her way into Julia’s place.
“Have someone else train her,” Julia said flatly. “I’ll hold separate interviews for an assistant.”
After all, it was like the saying, “Once bitten, twice shy.!!
Haley didn’t press. She just nodded and let Julia handle it her way.
As the sky darkened, Haley still had a pile of work to handle, so Julia left the office alone
She had just stepped out of the elevator when she unexpectedly saw Sebastian waiting in the parking lot, clearly there to block her.
“Julia, I made a reservation. Can we talk over dinner?” he asked.
“Oh? Did you sign the papers?” she shot back coolly.
“Can we just talk like normal people?” Sebastian’s voice was tight with a mix of frustration and Tielplessness.
Was
the divorce really the only thing Julia was willing to talk about?
“Then there’s nothing to talk about.”
She moved to open her car door, bur Sebastian slammed his hand down on it, stopping her.
Irritated, she shoved him. “Let me say this again, unless it’s about the divorce, I have nothing to say to you. Now, get lost.”
Sebastian was tall and broad, and her push only made him stagger back a step.
“So that’s it? Just because Penelope works as my assistant? Because Xay likes her? That’s enough for you to throw this marriage away?”
They stood there, locked in a silent standoff. Julia tried to open the car door, but Sebastian held it shut with one hand.
Neither of them backed down.
Sebastian’s phone buzzed. His dark gaze stayed locked on her as he answered. “What is it?”
“Mr, Holt, I’m so scared. Can you come over, please? Penelope’s voice came through, raw and shaley, like she was trying not to cry.
There are
many of them… They’re pounding on my door… They said my dad owes them a ton of money and they’re here to take me instead”
Even through the phone, the sound of fists slamming violently against the door echoed loudly and clearly.
Then came Penelope’s terrified scream
