Chapter 13: Affecting Her
Graduation Defense
Fletcher sat across from me in the office, cutting straight to the point. “Don’t you think this is a bit much?”
His voice was steady, but his commanding presence, like an invisible hand, gripped my heart.
I couldn’t help but wonder just how desperate he must be to rush from Lynton Group to here, just to stand up for Davina. And he came in person.
I took a deep breath, my tone neutral. “Please, Mr. Lynton, enlighten me.”
Fletcher glanced at me and said earnestly, “It was just a small mistake. A good team
1/14.
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… +5 Points
should be one that allows its members to
make mistakes. Besides, she hasn’t even graduated yet.”
A small mistake.
I forced a smile, finally realizing that all the hard work we had poured into the project over the past month seemed trivial to Fletcher, just a “small mistake.”
Suddenly, I recalled something from long ago–when I was trying so hard to please Fletcher, rushing to wash his clothes. But I hadn’t noticed the wool content, and when I washed it, the sweater shrank. He didn’t speak to me for a whole week.
Seeing that I didn’t respond, Fletcher
spoke again. “I’ll sign her up for a training course. And you, too–show her a little more patience.”
2/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio…
+ 5 Points
I lifted my head at the sound of his voice, wanting to say something, but my throat felt sticky, like there was glue stuck to it. I couldn’t speak.
A person who had been trying to please him for six years now being told to show more patience.
“Is there a problem?”
I fought to suppress the discomfort in my chest, replying in a neutral tone, “Mr. Lynton, you’ve clearly thought this through; I can’t compete with that.”
“You don’t look convinced,” Fletcher’s brown eyes remained fixed on my face as he pressed further, “Ms. Grande, are your dissatisfied with how I’m handling this?”
3/14
be for f
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… + 5 Points
I closed the chat window and returned to coding.
The next day, as promised, Davina really did put in the effort, even staying late to work.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the power of love.
At 9 PM, my stomach rumbled unexpectedly. I grabbed the cup noodles from the desk and headed for the break room.
As I was waiting for the noodles to cook, I heard some noise by the main door. I looked up, thinking I might have imagined it. But to my surprise, there stood Fletcher.
He was holding an elegant food box, with the logo of Savory Haven printed on it.
5/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… 5 Points
It was a stark contrast to the instant noodles in my hands.
Our eyes met, and I heard him ask, “Where’s Davina?”
Davina, hearing him, came out from the office, beaming with excitement as she looked at Fletcher. “Fletcher, I told you not to come. Won’t it interfere with your work?”
Fletcher smiled slightly and said warmly, “You must be hungry. Have a bite first.”
“Now that you mention it, I am feeling a little hungry!”
Davina, with that, looped her arm through Fletcher’s and walked into the office. After taking a few steps, she turned around and looked at me.
6/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… +5 Points
Her gaze fell on the cup noodles in my hand.
“Charlene, eating this isn’t healthy. Want to join us instead?”
She meant well, but my heart couldn’t help but tighten.
The noodles in my hand suddenly didn’t taste as good.
I didn’t know where the rebellious streak came from, but I blurted out, “It’s fine. My stomach isn’t that delicate.”
At my words, Davina’s smile froze at the corner of her lips, and her eyelashes lowered, like a hurt little kitten. She murmured, “Charlene, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Fletcher, standing beside her, furrowed his brows at the sight, his tone turning serious.
7/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio…
+5 Points
“Ms. Grande, Vina only meant well.”
Meant Well.
Yes, from the perspective of a pampered princess offering a candy to a beggar in front of the prince, that would be considered a noble act.
Who would care about the beggar’s dignity?
I suddenly realized I was a bit narrow–minded.
After all, maintaining a good relationship with investors was part of the job.
So, I lifted my cup noodles and said, “Lately, nothing seems to taste right. I just craved this.”
Davina’s face lit up with understanding. “Oh,
8/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio…. +5 Points
right, Savory Haven’s dishes are indeed a little too light for some tastes.”
A mismatch in flavor, that was a reasonable
excuse.
The matter was brushed aside, but I found myself eating the noodles with little enjoyment.
It wasn’t long before I started feeling something was off in my stomach.
A dull ache.
At first, I didn’t think much of it, but soon the sharp, cramping pain spread from all sides, attacking my nerves and making me break into cold sweat.
I grabbed some stomach medicine and, clutching my belly, made my way back to the
9/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… +5 Points
break room.
The pain was unbearable.
It hurt so much I almost couldn’t hold onto my glass.
With a sharp “crash,” the glass I had been holding slipped from my hand and shattered into pieces on the floor.
I gritted my teeth through the sharp pain, taking a step forward, only to feel my legs give way, and I lost control, fall forward. In a panic, I closed my eyes, expecting the sharp. sting of glass shards against my skin.
But the pain never came.
Instead, I felt a strong arm wrapping around my waist, holding me securely. The scent of a sharp, clean soap filled my nostrils,
10/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… +5 Points
instantly bringing up memories of a time. long ago.
This embrace felt so real, so tangible, it was almost unbelievable.
Cop opened my eyes and, lifting
my gaze slightly, found myself staring into Fletcher’s eyes–eyes as brown and deep as brown obsidian.
Under the harsh light of the overhead bulb, his gaze seemed veiled with a soft layer of concern, tender but unwavering.
He spoke softly, “Can you stand?”
It was only then that I realized I had collapsed into Fletcher’s arms.
I was about to say something when Davina’s sweet, soft voice suddenly cut through
11/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… + 5 Points
the moment: “Fletcher, what are you two… doing?”
I forced myself to pull away from Fletcher’s arms, offering a polite smile. “Thank you, Mr. Lynton.“”
Fletcher turned toward Davina, calmly explaining, “Ms. Grande is unwell and lost. her balance just now.”
He was explaining it to her.
Davina gave me a doubtful look before responding, “Should we take Charlene to the hospital?”
Her voice was light, clearly just a formality.
I pressed my hand against the bar, trying to ease the pain in my stomach, and quickly made up an excuse. “It’s just my period, I’ll
12/14
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… + 5 Points
be fine after taking some medicine. It’s not a big deal.”
Davina visibly relaxed, but Fletcher suddenly Spoke
again, his voice firm, “You can barely stand. You should go to the hospital for a check–up.”
His tone was unexpectedly resolute, as though he were genuinely worried about me. It felt out of place, strange even.
Davina seemed to notice this too. She bit her lip and looked at Fletcher timidly, saying, “Fletcher, you’ve really thought this through.”
Fletcher’s expression froze for a moment. He gave me a quick glance before walking over to Davina, taking her hand, and leading her out of the break room.
Probably to comfort her.
13/14
for awes
Chapter 13: Affecting Her Graduatio… + 5 Points
I seized the opportunity to swallow the stomach medicine, taking a moment to recover before stepping out of the break room myself.
As I walked a couple of steps, Fletcher’s low voice suddenly reached my ears. “She’s the project lead. If something happens to her, wouldn’t that affect your thesis defense next year?”
It was like a bucket of cold water was poured over me, numbing me from head to toe.
Only then did I realize: Fletcher’s concern. had nothing to do with me at all. It was all about Davina’s graduation defense. He was worried that my health could affect her graduation defense.
