Chapter 4
After our night of passionate reconciliation, most of my anger had dissipated.
The next day, the auction incident and my pointed Tik Tok post thade Bailey the laughingstock of the entire company.
Knox’s obvious efforts to distance himself from her became everyone’s cue on how to behave.
If there’s one thing corporate environments have no shortage of, it’s opportunists who know which way the wind blows.
Colleagues who had been fawning over her just yesterday were now, at minimum, giving her the cold shoulder.
Someone even plastered the bulletin board with photos of Bailey attending the auction in her janitor’s uniform.
In the pictures, her eyes were puffy and red, looking utterly miserable.
Others would pass by Bailey, pointing and commenting without bothering to lower their voices.
“That’s the shameless one who wore the CEO’s wife’s discarded dress.”
Bailey’s days at the company became increasingly unbearable.
The cafeteria staff would “season” her food, causing her face to contort after just one bite.
When she’d go to the restroom, someone would suddenly lock the door, trapping her there for entire afternoons.
Most ridiculous of all, everyone would pretend nothing had happened that day.
She called Knox for help, but he immediately hung up on her.
I heard about all these incidents from the executive assistant.
“Mrs. Blackstone, should I intervene?” he asked.
I shook my
head.
“Don’t overestimate my compassion, and don’t underestimate her ambition.”
“Since she chose this path, she must face the consequences.”
A week later, the assistant informed me that Bailey hadn’t shown up for work for three consecutive days.
I assumed she had finally given up and was preparing to resign.
But as it turned out, I had underestimated her.
That day, Knox had an extremely important international business negotiation–a project worth at least $100 million.
Twenty minutes before the meeting, Knox’s phone rang.
It was Bailey.
He rejected the call with a blank expression, but immediately after, she sent a message:
chapter
“Mr. Blackstone, I’m sorry to bother you at such a critical moment. I wanted to thank you personally, but one time
ends here. Thank you for your trust and guidance. Meeting you was the greatest blessing of my life. Fil repay your king my next life.”
Knox’s face instantly turned ashen.
He frantically tried calling her back, but there was no answer.
In desperation, he had his assistant use the tracking system to locate Bailey.
“Postpone today’s negotiation,” he ordered, rushing out without a second thought.
When Knox arrived at Bailey’s apartment, he found her unconscious in the bathtub.
Blood was seeping from a wound on her left wrist, turning the entire bath crimson.
Her face was paper–white, her breathing faint.
Knox frantically carried her out and rushed her to the hospital.
Fortunately, she reached the hospital in time and was saved.
After learning about the bullying Bailey had endured at the company, Knox was furious.
But I knew nothing about any of this at the time.
I happened to be at the same hospital for a prenatal checkup.
The results showed I was six weeks pregnant.
I couldn’t wait to share this wonderful news with Knox.
As I spotted him stepping out of the elevator, I rushed over excitedly.
Just as I was about to speak, Knox suddenly slapped me hard across the face.
I lost my balance and fell to the ground.
My cheek stung painfully. I was completely stunned.
In all our years of marriage, he had never laid a hand on me.
“Vega, how can you be so vicious?” Knox towered over me, his eyes filled with rage and disgust.
“I’ve already kept my distance from Bailey as you demanded. Will you only be satisfied when she’s dead?”
I looked at him, bewildered.
“She’s lying in a hospital bed, and you show up with a smile on your face? Why? To push her toward suicide again?”
“How did I end up marrying such a venomous woman?!”
I clutched my prenatal report tightly, wanting to explain.
But he didn’t spare me another glance before turning and walking away.
37.0%
Chapter 4
I watched his retreating figure, piecing together what had happened from his accusations.
Bailey had attempted suicide, and Knox blamed me for it.
Right after, I received a call from the executive assistant.
“Mrs. Blackstone, I’m calling to say goodbye. Mr. Blackstone just fired me for ‘abuse of power‘ and promoted Bailey to my position.”
“What?!” I exclaimed.
“It’s not just me. Anyone who ever had any friction with Bailey has been let go–almost everyone.”
While I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of our child…
Knox had made his position clear in the harshest possible way–he had chosen Bailey.
After hanging up, I was burning with rage. I tore the prenatal report into pieces.
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drops of blood falling to the floor.
I forced myself to calm down.
Knox, since you’ve taken things this far, don’t blame me for being ruthless in return.
The price for erossing me is more than you can bear!
Chapter 8
C
