RedNovelBook7 Chapter4.
| had never been a drinker, but | got drunk and passed out again.
The next morning, | was awakened by a string of urgent phone calls.
| saw it was my boss, Austin Stevens.
"Ariella, shouldn't your vacation be over today? Why aren't you at the office yet?" "Sorry, Mr. Stevens. | was
planning to take one more day off, but | overslept..." "Do you remember when | mentioned opening a new
market in Crawford?"
Half a year ago, Austin saw my potential and wantedto be the general manager of the Crawford branch.
But the office was in Hawkin, and | carefully mentioned it to Xavier, who immediately rejected it.
He didn't giveany reason, just said he couldn't accept a long-distance relationship, let alone one in another
country.
He said if | decided to go, we'd break up.
| refused Austin without hesitation, choosing to stay by Xavier's side.
"I remember. Didn't you send Vincent instead? Why..."
"Sigh, just yesterday, Vincent suddenly passed away from an illness. It really caughtoff guard. | thought
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtabout it, and only you have the ability to take over the branch."
To be honest, | deeply regretted giving up that opportunity.
In the past six months, | hadn't made much progress at the head office.
| never thought I'd get a second chance. | wasn't going to miss it this time.
"Okay, Mr. Stevens. I'm willing to take it on. I'll cto the office right away to discuss it."
Austin gavea lot of business documents about the Crawford market from the past six months.
| threw myself into studying them, determined to master the business and get there as soon as possible.
After a long day, | finally went home, only to be startled by a dark figure on the couch.
"You're back? Why didn't you turn on the lights?"
| turned on the lights and saw Xavier's somewhat dazed face.
"| texted you, but you didn't reply, and you didn't answer my calls."
"Oh, | was busy all day. My new phone isn't working well after it fell."
Xavier was silent for a while, his expression awkward.
"Well... that day, Chloe and | met a driver while cutting through the
woods Chloe's face got scratch
by a branch, and | was worried it would scar, so..."
"So you took her back to the city overnight with the driver and leftalone in the foggy mountains?"
| was in agony, but all he cared about was a scratch on his childhood friend's face, more important than my life!
"Well... when we got back to the city, | heard the rescue team had already left, and
| couldn't reach you, so | just..."
| fought back tears and forced a bitter smile.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the jewelry show with your precious Chloe? How
did you find the tto check on me?"
Xavier looked a bit uneasy.
"We already finished the show."
"Isn't there an evening banquet? She just posted a photo on social media, with her arm linked with yours, looking
so sweet. You should go back to her."
| said it calmly, but Xavier was inexplicably angry.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
"Ariella! What's wrong with you? Do you have to bring up Chloe every time? | told
you, she's just a sister to me!"
Xavier grabbed my arm, his breath hot on my face.
| pushed his hand away, my expression still calm.
"Yeah, | believe you. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. By the way, I'm
sleeping on the couch. The rol net
mess.
a
If you want to stay, you'll have to clean it up."
With that, | pulled the blanket overand closed my eyes.
I heard Xavier curse under his breath, then storm into the bedroom and slam the
door.
Maybe my calmness, my refusal to argue, left him with no outlet for his anger.
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