Derek’s face was flushed with a mix of confusion and rage, the veins on his neck bulging as his frustration boiled over. He paced furiously, his mind racing in disbelief. “This is absolutely unacceptable!” he spat, glaring at the secretary and then back at Lily. “I got here first! I’m representing our family, not her! I deserve to be attended to first, not this... this nobody!”His voice cracked with indignation, and he jabbed a finger in Lily’s direction as if her mere presence offended him.He couldn’t wrap his mind around it—Lily, the one he had always dismissed as a burden, the adopted child he had treated as beneath him, was now walking ahead of him. It felt like an insult, a mockery of his entire existence.He sneered as the thoughts spun around in his head. “How is she getting priority? She’s worthless! I don’t get it—why would anyone treat her like she’s more important than me?!”Derek's voice had risen to a near-shout, his composure completely lost.Lily, trying to keep her o
Simon listened attentively, his smile reflecting genuine interest as Lily recounted their relationship. He could see the sincerity in her eyes and the affection she had for Robert. “That’s quite a story,” he said, his voice warm and encouraging. “It’s clear that you both care deeply for each other.”With that, Simon gestured for Lily to make herself comfortable as they continued their conversation, her nerves slowly calming under the gentle approach of Robert’s trusted friend.Simon leaned back in his chair, his warm smile never wavering. “Robert is indeed a great guy,”he said, nodding in agreement. “I’ve always enjoyed hanging out with him. It’s good to know that the two of you are getting along so well.”Lily felt a sense of relief at Simon’s words, but the lingering tension still gripped her. She shifted uneasily in her chair despite Simon’s kind demeanor. She had expected the director to be stern and difficult, yet here he was, smiling and being surprisingly friendly. Summoning h
Now, she could marry Robert, the man she truly loved, who had played such a pivotal role in helping her family land the contract. She knew that Robert believed in her, and with him by her side, she felt invincible.Meanwhile, back in the lobby, Robert sat calmly, seemingly unconcerned by the storm brewing around him. His fingers tapped away on his phone, the picture of composure.His face was neutral, as if he had no care in the world, not even acknowledging the tension building around him. His calmness stood in stark contrast to the fury simmering nearby.Derek, lurking with his entourage like a dark storm cloud ready to burst, couldn't take his eyes off Robert. His expression was a mixture of rage and disbelief. How could Robert sit there so composed, so unconcerned? Derek's men mirrored his anger, glaring daggers at Robert, their faces twisted in spite. Derek’s mind raced, consumed with jealousy and indignation. This man, this nobody in his eyes, was slowly becoming a threat, not
His outburst drew the attention of those in the lobby, but Derek didn’t care. He was too far gone, consumed by the need to tear Robert down. Meanwhile, Robert’s calm replies only fueled Derek’s fury, leaving him boiling over with frustration as he struggled to regain control.As the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, all eyes turned toward Lily. She stepped out slowly, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen. Derek immediately saw the tears and, without taking a moment to consider, assumed the worst—that things had not gone well for her inside the office.A smug, cruel smile spread across his face. He crossed his arms, his previous anger giving way to twisted satisfaction. “Well, well, well," Derek sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Look who’s come back with her tail between her legs. I knew it. You thought you could waltz in there and actually get something done? Pathetic.”He took a step closer, his grin widening as he continued to taunt her. “What h
Lily’s hands tightened around the file, but she remained calm, her gaze steady as she stared back at Derek. His words stung, but she wasn’t going to let him have the satisfaction of seeing her break.She took a deep breath and, without blinking or wavering, said quietly but firmly, "I got the contract back for the family."For a moment, Derek froze. The sneer on his face faltered as the words hung in the air between them, disbelief washing over him. His men, who had been laughing just moments ago, suddenly went silent, exchanging shocked glances. They couldn’t believe what they had just heard. Derek’s smirk disappeared completely as he stared at her, trying to process her words. His eyes darted to the file in her hands, then back to her face, searching for any sign of deception.He tried to lock eyes with her, hoping to catch a flicker of uncertainty or a lie in her gaze, but to his dismay, her expression remained unwavering. Her eyes, once filled with tears, were now sharp and full o
Lily's heart sank, and no matter how hard she tried, her efforts proved futile. Derek was stronger, more arrogant, and completely convinced of his superiority. He tucked the contract more securely under his arm, eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he announced, "I’ll be gone," and made his way toward the door.Before Lily could react, Robert stepped in Derek's way, his voice calm but deadly serious. "Give it back," Robert said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "I’d advise you to do that quickly before things get unpleasant."Derek paused, locking eyes with Robert, and for a split second, his confidence faltered. He knew full well that pushing further could cost him dearly. But instead of backing down, he made a quick decision. Without warning, Derek dashed out the door, clutching the contract tightly. Lily stood frozen in disbelief, her mind spinning. How could this happen? Her hard work, the chance to prove herself, the contract that would change everything—it was all gone i
Derek stepped forward, a smug smirk playing on his lips. “Come on, Lily,” he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “We both know it was me who secured the contract. You’re just trying to take credit for my hard work. I spoke with the director and used my business acumen to get this deal. Stop lying and claiming what doesn’t belong to you.”Lily’s eyes flashed with fury as she retorted, “That’s a lie, Derek! I was the one who got the contract back! This is my achievement, not yours!”The argument escalated quickly, their voices rising and overlapping as they began to argue more intensely. The room grew increasingly chaotic, with Lily and Derek’s shouting becoming almost deafening. Mr. Hartley, observing the escalating conflict with growing frustration, raised his hand to stop the commotion.“There’s no need for this bickering,” Mr. Hartley’s voice cut through the noise with authority. “The most important thing is that we secured the contract. All this fighting is unnecessary.”Rob
The comparison between her and Derek, where Derek was painted as the ambitious and successful one, while she was relegated to the role of a stubborn and capricious daughter, was a bitter pill to swallow.The crushing realization that her father and Derek saw her as a failure, despite her tireless efforts, was heart-wrenching. It felt as though all her hard work was being dismissed in favor of Derek’s manipulative success. The sight of Derek’s smug satisfaction, his demeanor radiating triumph, only intensified her sense of betrayal.Lily’s heart felt heavy with a mix of anger, sadness, and frustration. The weight of her father’s misplaced faith in Derek, combined with the pain of being unfairly judged, was almost unbearable. As Derek stood there, basking in the approval he had so deceitfully earned, Lily was left grappling with the reality of her shattered dreams and the painful recognition that her father’s trust had been misplaced in the very person who had stolen her hard-earned su