Chapter 4
Tia Clark stood alone in the lake, a profound sense of melancholy washing over her.
She had been searching all night, and finally, she found the bracelet just as dawn broke. Trembling with cold, her skin tinged purple from the chill, she paid no mind to her discomfort and hurried back to Harrison Tower with the bracelet in hand.-
Sylvia was in her office when Tia arrived. Taking the bracelet, Sylvia looked at it disdainfully, “It’s filthy. I don’t want it anymore,” she said, tossing it into the trash without a second thought.
Nathan glanced over briefly and remarked, “If you don’t like it, forget it. I’ll get you a new one.”
Sylvia beamed, “You’re so sweet.”
Tia Clark left the office, disheartened and bedraggled. The staff at the executive suite were long accustomed to seeing her in such a state. Over the years, Tia had endured countless hardships, yet no one understood why she continued to stay.
Tia hadn’t taken a single day off, and after swallowing a couple of cold tablets, she once again accompanied Nathan on a site inspection. By the time they finished, it was already evening, and Sylvia showed up to join Nathan for dinner.
“Tia, why don’t you join us?” Sylvia said warmly.
It wasn’t until the dishes were served that Tia realized the real reason for the invitation. Nearly every dish was spicy, and the only dessert was mango ice cream, to which she was allergic.
In the past, if there was even a hint of spice in the food, Nathan would meticulously pick it out for her. But now, he seemed to have forgotten those days.
Nathan didn’t glance at Tia once, focusing instead on pouring water for Sylvia and serving her food.
Feigning innocence, Sylvia asked, “Tia, why aren’t you eating?”
Nathan looked up, a hint of coldness in his eyes. “If you’re not eating, why sit here?”
Tia had no choice but to pick up a fork and put a piece of spicy chicken in her mouth. After dinner, Nathan left with Sylvia.
Tia returned home alone, her forehead sweating from the spice, her stomach churning with pain. She lay on her bed, the pain so intense that no tears would fall from her dry eyes.
The years of suffering felt like penance for her past, a way to atone for Victoria. The more she hurt, the more she felt she could breathe just a little easier under the weight of her guilt.
As the pain blurred her consciousness, a faint, sorrowful smile tugged at her lips.
A few days passed.
Her condition worsened without proper treatment, exacerbated by her frequent drinking which further aggravated her stomach. Each time, she merely took a couple of pills to get by.
It was a weekend, and Tia lay on the couch, too pained to move.
She received a call from Nathan: “Sylvia wants some dumplings from Charlie’s Diner. Go get them for her.” As Nathan’s assistant, Tia never truly had a day off. Whenever he needed something, she had to be ready. But today, she could barely stand from the pain. “Could Assistant Daniel pick them up this time? I’m—” Nathan cut her off coldly, “Did I ever say you had a choice, Tia?”
Her breath caught, words failing her.
14:56
Chapter 4
“Either go, or don’t bother coming back.”
With that, he hung up.
Tia had no choice but to push through the pain, forcing herself to get up and stumble out the door.
