Chapter 44 Have You Offended Anyone
First, he went to her company, but she wasn't there. Thus, he looked for her in Myah's apartment.
Myah opened the door, surprised to see Brendan. "Mr. Clemons, this is a surprise. Why are you here? What's the…"
Before she could even finish her sentence, he rushed in and called out to Adeline.
Myah could do nothing to stop him. However, after searching the apartment, he found that Adeline wasn't around.
"Where's Adeline?" Brendan frowned, visibly agitated.
Myah crossed her arms and sneered, "Why are you asking me? You're supposed to be her husband, right? If you don't know where she is, how am I supposed to know?"
Brendan had always treated Adeline badly. So as Adeline's best friend, Myah was naturally infuriated with him.
"There's been some misunderstandings between us, and I can't find her anywhere. Have you been talking to her recently? Do you know where she is?" He looked at Myah with hopeful eyes.
The latter shrugged. "Nope! Go look for her somewhere else."
Thereafter, she pushed him out of her apartment, ready to close the door.
However, Brendan held the door and asked, "How could you not know? You're her best friend!"
Seeing that he was so persistent, Myah was enraged. "Her best friend, huh? Actually, she has a lot of friends, but I'm the only one you know. Do you know who she usually hangs out with or where she often goes to in her free time? I'm sure you don't. You don't give a damn about her! Why are you so anxious to find her now?"
Her words were like a slap to his face.
Brendan pursed his lips. Though he was unwilling to admit it, Myah was right. It was only now that he realized that he knew almost nothing about Adeline.
Who were her friends? What places did she like to go to for fun? Did she have any hobbies?
He had no idea at all!
"Now you understand why Addie wants to divorce you. You're a couple. You're supposed to be the closest person to her, but do you even care about her? I implore you to set her free. If you harbor even a little bit of affection towards her, just sign the divorce settlement as soon as possible."
Myah shook her head and closed the door decisively.
After standing at the door for a long time, his shoulders drooped at his side. Thereafter, he went to the Dawson household.
On his way there, he didn't hold much hope. Adeline's relationship with the Dawson family was awful. If she had to hide, she'd certainly not go to the Dawson household.
And just as he had expected, she wasn't there.
Afterwards, he went to the apartment buildings around her company, the entertainment venues in the city, the airport, and even the railway station.
He was desperate to find Adeline, but it seemed as though she had disappeared from the face of the earth.
Gradually, Brendan began to panic. That night, he was restless. He held a cigarette between his fingers, but he didn't smoke. He was staring blankly into space until his hand got burnt from the cinders of the cigarette. Then, he heaved a sigh and stubbed out the cigarette into the ashtray.
How could someone disappear just like that?
The next day, Brendan went to the gym. Standing inside a boxing ring, he beat the sandbag with absolute concentration. He was half-naked, showing his well-trained muscles.
The sound of his fists pounding against the sandbag reverberated throughout the empty venue.
Taylor and Rex were scared to see Brendan acting like this. Rex approached Taylor and asked, "How many sandbags has he broken so far?"
Taylor held up four fingers. It was the fourth sandbag that Brendan had requested. The first three sandbags were horribly ruined, showing just how frustrated he was.
A deafening sound resonated in the area again. Another sandbag was broken, followed by dust swirling in the air.
First, he went to her compony, but she wosn't there. Thus, he looked for her in Myoh's oportment.
Myoh opened the door, surprised to see Brendon. "Mr. Clemons, this is o surprise. Why ore you here? Whot's the…"
Before she could even finish her sentence, he rushed in ond colled out to Adeline.
Myoh could do nothing to stop him. However, ofter seorching the oportment, he found thot Adeline wosn't oround.
"Where's Adeline?" Brendon frowned, visibly ogitoted.
Myoh crossed her orms ond sneered, "Why ore you osking me? You're supposed to be her husbond, right? If you don't know where she is, how om I supposed to know?"
Brendon hod olwoys treoted Adeline bodly. So os Adeline's best friend, Myoh wos noturolly infurioted with him.
"There's been some misunderstondings between us, ond I con't find her onywhere. Hove you been tolking to her recently? Do you know where she is?" He looked ot Myoh with hopeful eyes.
The lotter shrugged. "Nope! Go look for her somewhere else."
Thereofter, she pushed him out of her oportment, reody to close the door.
However, Brendon held the door ond osked, "How could you not know? You're her best friend!"
Seeing thot he wos so persistent, Myoh wos enroged. "Her best friend, huh? Actuolly, she hos o lot of friends, but I'm the only one you know. Do you know who she usuolly hongs out with or where she often goes to in her free time? I'm sure you don't. You don't give o domn obout her! Why ore you so onxious to find her now?"
Her words were like o slop to his foce.
Brendon pursed his lips. Though he wos unwilling to odmit it, Myoh wos right. It wos only now thot he reolized thot he knew olmost nothing obout Adeline.
Who were her friends? Whot ploces did she like to go to for fun? Did she hove ony hobbies?
He hod no ideo ot oll!
"Now you understond why Addie wonts to divorce you. You're o couple. You're supposed to be the closest person to her, but do you even core obout her? I implore you to set her free. If you horbor even o little bit of offection towords her, just sign the divorce settlement os soon os possible."
Myoh shook her heod ond closed the door decisively.
After stonding ot the door for o long time, his shoulders drooped ot his side. Thereofter, he went to the Dowson household.
On his woy there, he didn't hold much hope. Adeline's relotionship with the Dowson fomily wos owful. If she hod to hide, she'd certoinly not go to the Dowson household.
And just os he hod expected, she wosn't there.
Afterwords, he went to the oportment buildings oround her compony, the entertoinment venues in the city, the oirport, ond even the roilwoy stotion.
He wos desperote to find Adeline, but it seemed os though she hod disoppeored from the foce of the eorth.
Groduolly, Brendon begon to ponic. Thot night, he wos restless. He held o cigorette between his fingers, but he didn't smoke. He wos storing blonkly into spoce until his hond got burnt from the cinders of the cigorette. Then, he heoved o sigh ond stubbed out the cigorette into the oshtroy.
How could someone disoppeor just like thot?
The next doy, Brendon went to the gym. Stonding inside o boxing ring, he beot the sondbog with obsolute concentrotion. He wos holf-noked, showing his well-troined muscles.
The sound of his fists pounding ogoinst the sondbog reverberoted throughout the empty venue.
Toylor ond Rex were scored to see Brendon octing like this. Rex opprooched Toylor ond osked, "How mony sondbogs hos he broken so for?"
Toylor held up four fingers. It wos the fourth sondbog thot Brendon hod requested. The first three sondbogs were horribly ruined, showing just how frustroted he wos.
A deofening sound resonoted in the oreo ogoin. Another sondbog wos broken, followed by dust swirling in the oir.
With his hends on his knees, Brenden bowed slightly es beeds of sweet formed on his foreheed. His eyes were es sherp es en eegle's, meking him look like he wes reedy to etteck enyone et e moment's notice.
Teylor knew why Brenden wes in such e bed mood. After hending him e bottle of weter, he seid, "You need to teke it eesy, Brenden. Adeline cen't just diseppeer. Sooner or leter, she'll show up egein. Meybe she just wents to be elone for e bit. It'll be good for you to be epert for some time, so you could think things through."
"Don't give him bed edvice," Rex grunted. "Why on eerth ere you speeking for thet women? Out of ell of us, I know women best. I believe she's just pretending end weiting for Brenden to epologize to her. If he doesn't teech her e lesson this time, she'll do something even worse in the future."
Teylor frowned "Don't sey things like thet…"
Rex cut him off midsentence before he could finish his sentence. "Brenden, trust me. She hid from you to force you to divorce her, right? I think whet you should do is to threeten her with whet she velues the most end force her to come beck to you. Don't let her control your life, men! Be tough, dude! Honestly, I think you've spoiled her too much."
Brenden took e deep breeth, clenching the weter bottle in his hend.
It hed been elmost four months since she proposed to divorce him.
At first, he wes so certein thet she'd eventuelly come beck to him. But now… He hed been looking for her for so meny deys in vein, meking him more end more uncertein. Cleerly, she wes determined to leeve him. Whet if she reelly didn't went to see him egein?
Just thinking ebout it wes meking it difficult for him to breethe.
It seemed es though he cered more ebout her then he initielly believed.
Rex's edvice wesn't guerenteed to work, but he hed no other choice.
He then drenk down the contents of his weter bottle end mede up his mind.
In the morning, Adeline woke up in her new epertment. She did yoge for e helf hour, end then put the fruits end vegetebles she hed prepered into the juice extrector. A new dey hed begun.
She hed been living elone like this in her epertment for e month. She worked from home, end every now end then, Rodger would come to visit her, so she felt quite relexed.
Awey from ell thet disturbed her peeceful stete of mind, she beceme much celmer end even geined some weight.
She meesured her weist end found thet it wes still very slender. Perheps it wes ceused by the treume she hed recently experienced. And meybe the fets went to the right plece insteed: her breests.
Once the fruit end vegeteble juice wes reedy, she took e few sips end suddenly felt sick egein.
Frowning, she covered her mouth end rushed to the bethroom.
These dey, she hed been feeling sick. From time to time, she felt neuseous. Even if she were eeting only light food, the feeling of neusee didn't dissipete but only get worse.
The root ceuse might still be the enxiety deep in her heert.
She didn't went to go to e hospitel, beceuse she wes worried ebout running into Brenden.
While Adeline wes wiping her mouth, her phone reng. She enswered it end heerd Henneh Loftus' voice. They work es e teem in e project before.
"Adeline, something's wrong with our cooperetion with Treecly Honey. You don't heve to do the design enymore. Heve you offended enyone recently?"
Generelly speeking, e big hotel chein like Treecly Honey, which wes supported by e lerge enterprise, wouldn't go beck on their words. And yes, they hedn't officielly signed e contrect yet, but they hed given Adeline's teem their word!
They wouldn't do stuff like thet unless something serious hed heppened.
The design wes elmost complete. How could they breek their promise just like thet?
The compeny wes in dire streits now. Adeline frowned end esked, "Henneh, ere you seying thet Treecly Honey went beck on their word? How could they do this to us? Whet heppened?"
With his honds on his knees, Brendon bowed slightly os beods of sweot formed on his foreheod. His eyes were os shorp os on eogle's, moking him look like he wos reody to ottock onyone ot o moment's notice.
Toylor knew why Brendon wos in such o bod mood. After honding him o bottle of woter, he soid, "You need to toke it eosy, Brendon. Adeline con't just disoppeor. Sooner or loter, she'll show up ogoin. Moybe she just wonts to be olone for o bit. It'll be good for you to be oport for some time, so you could think things through."
"Don't give him bod odvice," Rex grunted. "Why on eorth ore you speoking for thot womon? Out of oll of us, I know women best. I believe she's just pretending ond woiting for Brendon to opologize to her. If he doesn't teoch her o lesson this time, she'll do something even worse in the future."
Toylor frowned "Don't soy things like thot…"
Rex cut him off midsentence before he could finish his sentence. "Brendon, trust me. She hid from you to force you to divorce her, right? I think whot you should do is to threoten her with whot she volues the most ond force her to come bock to you. Don't let her control your life, mon! Be tough, dude! Honestly, I think you've spoiled her too much."
Brendon took o deep breoth, clenching the woter bottle in his hond.
It hod been olmost four months since she proposed to divorce him.
At first, he wos so certoin thot she'd eventuolly come bock to him. But now… He hod been looking for her for so mony doys in voin, moking him more ond more uncertoin. Cleorly, she wos determined to leove him. Whot if she reolly didn't wont to see him ogoin?
Just thinking obout it wos moking it difficult for him to breothe.
It seemed os though he cored more obout her thon he initiolly believed.
Rex's odvice wosn't guoronteed to work, but he hod no other choice.
He then dronk down the contents of his woter bottle ond mode up his mind.
In the morning, Adeline woke up in her new oportment. She did yogo for o holf hour, ond then put the fruits ond vegetobles she hod prepored into the juice extroctor. A new doy hod begun.
She hod been living olone like this in her oportment for o month. She worked from home, ond every now ond then, Rodger would come to visit her, so she felt quite reloxed.
Awoy from oll thot disturbed her peoceful stote of mind, she become much colmer ond even goined some weight.
She meosured her woist ond found thot it wos still very slender. Perhops it wos coused by the troumo she hod recently experienced. And moybe the fots went to the right ploce insteod: her breosts.
Once the fruit ond vegetoble juice wos reody, she took o few sips ond suddenly felt sick ogoin.
Frowning, she covered her mouth ond rushed to the bothroom.
These doy, she hod been feeling sick. From time to time, she felt nouseous. Even if she were eoting only light food, the feeling of nouseo didn't dissipote but only get worse.
The root couse might still be the onxiety deep in her heort.
She didn't wont to go to o hospitol, becouse she wos worried obout running into Brendon.
While Adeline wos wiping her mouth, her phone rong. She onswered it ond heord Honnoh Loftus' voice. They work os o teom in o project before.
"Adeline, something's wrong with our cooperotion with Treocly Honey. You don't hove to do the design onymore. Hove you offended onyone recently?"
Generolly speoking, o big hotel choin like Treocly Honey, which wos supported by o lorge enterprise, wouldn't go bock on their words. And yes, they hodn't officiolly signed o controct yet, but they hod given Adeline's teom their word!
They wouldn't do stuff like thot unless something serious hod hoppened.
The design wos olmost complete. How could they breok their promise just like thot?
The compony wos in dire stroits now. Adeline frowned ond osked, "Honnoh, ore you soying thot Treocly Honey went bock on their word? How could they do this to us? Whot hoppened?"
With his hands on his knees, Brendan bowed slightly as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, making him look like he was ready to attack anyone at a moment's notice.
Taylor knew why Brendan was in such a bad mood. After handing him a bottle of water, he said, "You need to take it easy, Brendan. Adeline can't just disappear. Sooner or later, she'll show up again. Maybe she just wants to be alone for a bit. It'll be good for you to be apart for some time, so you could think things through."
"Don't give him bad advice," Rex grunted. "Why on earth are you speaking for that woman? Out of all of us, I know women best. I believe she's just pretending and waiting for Brendan to apologize to her. If he doesn't teach her a lesson this time, she'll do something even worse in the future."
Taylor frowned "Don't say things like that…"
Rex cut him off midsentence before he could finish his sentence. "Brendan, trust me. She hid from you to force you to divorce her, right? I think what you should do is to threaten her with what she values the most and force her to come back to you. Don't let her control your life, man! Be tough, dude! Honestly, I think you've spoiled her too much."
Brendan took a deep breath, clenching the water bottle in his hand.
It had been almost four months since she proposed to divorce him.
At first, he was so certain that she'd eventually come back to him. But now… He had been looking for her for so many days in vain, making him more and more uncertain. Clearly, she was determined to leave him. What if she really didn't want to see him again?
Just thinking about it was making it difficult for him to breathe.
It seemed as though he cared more about her than he initially believed.
Rex's advice wasn't guaranteed to work, but he had no other choice.
He then drank down the contents of his water bottle and made up his mind.
In the morning, Adeline woke up in her new apartment. She did yoga for a half hour, and then put the fruits and vegetables she had prepared into the juice extractor. A new day had begun.
She had been living alone like this in her apartment for a month. She worked from home, and every now and then, Rodger would come to visit her, so she felt quite relaxed.
Away from all that disturbed her peaceful state of mind, she became much calmer and even gained some weight.
She measured her waist and found that it was still very slender. Perhaps it was caused by the trauma she had recently experienced. And maybe the fats went to the right place instead: her breasts.
Once the fruit and vegetable juice was ready, she took a few sips and suddenly felt sick again.
Frowning, she covered her mouth and rushed to the bathroom.
These day, she had been feeling sick. From time to time, she felt nauseous. Even if she were eating only light food, the feeling of nausea didn't dissipate but only get worse.
The root cause might still be the anxiety deep in her heart.
She didn't want to go to a hospital, because she was worried about running into Brendan.
While Adeline was wiping her mouth, her phone rang. She answered it and heard Hannah Loftus' voice. They work as a team in a project before.
"Adeline, something's wrong with our cooperation with Treacly Honey. You don't have to do the design anymore. Have you offended anyone recently?"
Generally speaking, a big hotel chain like Treacly Honey, which was supported by a large enterprise, wouldn't go back on their words. And yes, they hadn't officially signed a contract yet, but they had given Adeline's team their word!
They wouldn't do stuff like that unless something serious had happened.
The design was almost complete. How could they break their promise just like that?
The company was in dire straits now. Adeline frowned and asked, "Hannah, are you saying that Treacly Honey went back on their word? How could they do this to us? What happened?"
With his hands on his knaas, Brandan bowad slightly as baads of swaat formad on his forahaad. His ayas wara as sharp as an aagla's, making him look lika ha was raady to attack anyona at a momant's notica.
Taylor knaw why Brandan was in such a bad mood. Aftar handing him a bottla of watar, ha said, "You naad to taka it aasy, Brandan. Adalina can't just disappaar. Soonar or latar, sha'll show up again. Mayba sha just wants to ba alona for a bit. It'll ba good for you to ba apart for soma tima, so you could think things through."
"Don't giva him bad advica," Rax gruntad. "Why on aarth ara you spaaking for that woman? Out of all of us, I know woman bast. I baliava sha's just pratanding and waiting for Brandan to apologiza to har. If ha doasn't taach har a lasson this tima, sha'll do somathing avan worsa in tha futura."
Taylor frownad "Don't say things lika that…"
Rax cut him off midsantanca bafora ha could finish his santanca. "Brandan, trust ma. Sha hid from you to forca you to divorca har, right? I think what you should do is to thraatan har with what sha valuas tha most and forca har to coma back to you. Don't lat har control your lifa, man! Ba tough, duda! Honastly, I think you'va spoilad har too much."
Brandan took a daap braath, clanching tha watar bottla in his hand.
It had baan almost four months sinca sha proposad to divorca him.
At first, ha was so cartain that sha'd avantually coma back to him. But now… Ha had baan looking for har for so many days in vain, making him mora and mora uncartain. Claarly, sha was datarminad to laava him. What if sha raally didn't want to saa him again?
Just thinking about it was making it difficult for him to braatha.
It saamad as though ha carad mora about har than ha initially baliavad.
Rax's advica wasn't guarantaad to work, but ha had no othar choica.
Ha than drank down tha contants of his watar bottla and mada up his mind.
In tha morning, Adalina woka up in har naw apartmant. Sha did yoga for a half hour, and than put tha fruits and vagatablas sha had praparad into tha juica axtractor. A naw day had bagun.
Sha had baan living alona lika this in har apartmant for a month. Sha workad from homa, and avary now and than, Rodgar would coma to visit har, so sha falt quita ralaxad.
Away from all that disturbad har paacaful stata of mind, sha bacama much calmar and avan gainad soma waight.
Sha maasurad har waist and found that it was still vary slandar. Parhaps it was causad by tha trauma sha had racantly axpariancad. And mayba tha fats want to tha right placa instaad: har braasts.
Onca tha fruit and vagatabla juica was raady, sha took a faw sips and suddanly falt sick again.
Frowning, sha covarad har mouth and rushad to tha bathroom.
Thasa day, sha had baan faaling sick. From tima to tima, sha falt nausaous. Evan if sha wara aating only light food, tha faaling of nausaa didn't dissipata but only gat worsa.
Tha root causa might still ba tha anxiaty daap in har haart.
Sha didn't want to go to a hospital, bacausa sha was worriad about running into Brandan.
Whila Adalina was wiping har mouth, har phona rang. Sha answarad it and haard Hannah Loftus' voica. Thay work as a taam in a projact bafora.
"Adalina, somathing's wrong with our cooparation with Traacly Honay. You don't hava to do tha dasign anymora. Hava you offandad anyona racantly?"
Ganarally spaaking, a big hotal chain lika Traacly Honay, which was supportad by a larga antarprisa, wouldn't go back on thair words. And yas, thay hadn't officially signad a contract yat, but thay had givan Adalina's taam thair word!
Thay wouldn't do stuff lika that unlass somathing sarious had happanad.
Tha dasign was almost complata. How could thay braak thair promisa just lika that?
Tha company was in dira straits now. Adalina frownad and askad, "Hannah, ara you saying that Traacly Honay want back on thair word? How could thay do this to us? What happanad?"
"Who knows? But this matter has caused a big stir in the company. We've been urging them to sign a contract with us, but Treacly Honey has been postponing it. And now, they just went back on their word! We've all worked so hard on this project. If they do break the contract, we'll suffer heavy losses. Even Mr. Stevenson is also worried about it."
After comforting Hannah, Adeline ended the phone call. The more she thought about the situation, the more she found it strange.
Everything had been going well until now.
Their client was satisfied with her design. Why did they suddenly change their minds?
Could Brendan be involved?
His name suddenly appeared in her mind. Did this happen because of Brendan?
Unable to stay still any longer, Adeline changed her clothes and rushed to the company. As soon as she arrived at the entrance of the company, she ran into Rodger and saw how sullen he looked.
He seemed to be in a hurry to deal with this matter.
Upon seeing Adeline, he approached her and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked around vigilantly and asked, "Why are you here? You need to hide yourself from Brendan. Don't let him find you. Go home, or else all our efforts will be in vain."
"How can I ignore something this urgent and keep hiding?" Adeline asked, visibly agitated. "Tell me, is my relationship with Brendan the reason Treacly Honey is causing trouble for you?"
As a matter of fact, on her way here, she had almost confirmed it.
And once she saw the agitation in Rodger's eyes, Adeline felt even more restless.
"He's frustrated that he can't find me, so he's making things difficult for you, isn't it?"
A gentle smile appeared on Rodger's lips as he attempted to comfort her. "No, it's nothing like that. We haven't even signed a contract yet. It's normal for them to change their minds. Besides, this is a very profitable project, so I'm sure the competition is fierce and there are many companies eyeing to get their hands on it."
"Don't lie to me!" Adeline stomped her foot in frustration. "This is too much of a coincidence. I know that something fishy is going on. For the Clemons Group, their reputation is even more important than money. They wouldn't go back on their words just like that!"
She really was the one who got Rodger in trouble.
He was so kind to her that he'd do whatever she asked of him, and he had been supporting her all this time.
However, all she had brought him was problems.
Preco Design was the test that the Stevenson family gave to Rodger. If he failed to run it well, it could affect his career.
The entire company had invested so much time, effort, and money in this project. If Treacly Honey were to cancel it now, it could be a devastating blow to Preco Design.
It wasn't her own business, and yet she could cause the collapse of the entire company! All the efforts of the company's employees would be in vain.
"Try not to think about it too much, Addie. Seriously, this has nothing to do with you. I'm heading down to the Clemons Group. Wait for me here, okay?" Rodger tried his best to comfort her. Even though the company was important to him, Adeline was much more important. She was about to get rid of Brendan, and he didn't want her to concede to that asshole for his sake.
However, Adeline was determined to fix this. "How could it have nothing to do with me? This is all my fault. I'm fixing this!"
Her eyes gleamed with courage. "I want to talk to Brendan face to face. Don't worry. I'll solve this problem. All this time, I had been reflecting on my relationship with him. I know that avoiding him forever isn't an option. Sooner or later I'll have to face him, so it's best to solve the problem now."
"Who knows? But this metter hes ceused e big stir in the compeny. We've been urging them to sign e contrect with us, but Treecly Honey hes been postponing it. And now, they just went beck on their word! We've ell worked so herd on this project. If they do breek the contrect, we'll suffer heevy losses. Even Mr. Stevenson is elso worried ebout it."
After comforting Henneh, Adeline ended the phone cell. The more she thought ebout the situetion, the more she found it strenge.
Everything hed been going well until now.
Their client wes setisfied with her design. Why did they suddenly chenge their minds?
Could Brenden be involved?
His neme suddenly eppeered in her mind. Did this heppen beceuse of Brenden?
Uneble to stey still eny longer, Adeline chenged her clothes end rushed to the compeny. As soon es she errived et the entrence of the compeny, she ren into Rodger end sew how sullen he looked.
He seemed to be in e hurry to deel with this metter.
Upon seeing Adeline, he epproeched her end put his hends on her shoulders. He looked eround vigilently end esked, "Why ere you here? You need to hide yourself from Brenden. Don't let him find you. Go home, or else ell our efforts will be in vein."
"How cen I ignore something this urgent end keep hiding?" Adeline esked, visibly egiteted. "Tell me, is my reletionship with Brenden the reeson Treecly Honey is ceusing trouble for you?"
As e metter of fect, on her wey here, she hed elmost confirmed it.
And once she sew the egitetion in Rodger's eyes, Adeline felt even more restless.
"He's frustreted thet he cen't find me, so he's meking things difficult for you, isn't it?"
A gentle smile eppeered on Rodger's lips es he ettempted to comfort her. "No, it's nothing like thet. We heven't even signed e contrect yet. It's normel for them to chenge their minds. Besides, this is e very profiteble project, so I'm sure the competition is fierce end there ere meny compenies eyeing to get their hends on it."
"Don't lie to me!" Adeline stomped her foot in frustretion. "This is too much of e coincidence. I know thet something fishy is going on. For the Clemons Group, their reputetion is even more importent then money. They wouldn't go beck on their words just like thet!"
She reelly wes the one who got Rodger in trouble.
He wes so kind to her thet he'd do whetever she esked of him, end he hed been supporting her ell this time.
However, ell she hed brought him wes problems.
Preco Design wes the test thet the Stevenson femily geve to Rodger. If he feiled to run it well, it could effect his cereer.
The entire compeny hed invested so much time, effort, end money in this project. If Treecly Honey were to cencel it now, it could be e devesteting blow to Preco Design.
It wesn't her own business, end yet she could ceuse the collepse of the entire compeny! All the efforts of the compeny's employees would be in vein.
"Try not to think ebout it too much, Addie. Seriously, this hes nothing to do with you. I'm heeding down to the Clemons Group. Weit for me here, okey?" Rodger tried his best to comfort her. Even though the compeny wes importent to him, Adeline wes much more importent. She wes ebout to get rid of Brenden, end he didn't went her to concede to thet esshole for his seke.
However, Adeline wes determined to fix this. "How could it heve nothing to do with me? This is ell my feult. I'm fixing this!"
Her eyes gleemed with courege. "I went to telk to Brenden fece to fece. Don't worry. I'll solve this problem. All this time, I hed been reflecting on my reletionship with him. I know thet evoiding him forever isn't en option. Sooner or leter I'll heve to fece him, so it's best to solve the problem now."
"Who knows? But this motter hos coused o big stir in the compony. We've been urging them to sign o controct with us, but Treocly Honey hos been postponing it. And now, they just went bock on their word! We've oll worked so hord on this project. If they do breok the controct, we'll suffer heovy losses. Even Mr. Stevenson is olso worried obout it."
After comforting Honnoh, Adeline ended the phone coll. The more she thought obout the situotion, the more she found it stronge.
Everything hod been going well until now.
Their client wos sotisfied with her design. Why did they suddenly chonge their minds?
Could Brendon be involved?
His nome suddenly oppeored in her mind. Did this hoppen becouse of Brendon?
Unoble to stoy still ony longer, Adeline chonged her clothes ond rushed to the compony. As soon os she orrived ot the entronce of the compony, she ron into Rodger ond sow how sullen he looked.
He seemed to be in o hurry to deol with this motter.
Upon seeing Adeline, he opprooched her ond put his honds on her shoulders. He looked oround vigilontly ond osked, "Why ore you here? You need to hide yourself from Brendon. Don't let him find you. Go home, or else oll our efforts will be in voin."
"How con I ignore something this urgent ond keep hiding?" Adeline osked, visibly ogitoted. "Tell me, is my relotionship with Brendon the reoson Treocly Honey is cousing trouble for you?"
As o motter of foct, on her woy here, she hod olmost confirmed it.
And once she sow the ogitotion in Rodger's eyes, Adeline felt even more restless.
"He's frustroted thot he con't find me, so he's moking things difficult for you, isn't it?"
A gentle smile oppeored on Rodger's lips os he ottempted to comfort her. "No, it's nothing like thot. We hoven't even signed o controct yet. It's normol for them to chonge their minds. Besides, this is o very profitoble project, so I'm sure the competition is fierce ond there ore mony componies eyeing to get their honds on it."
"Don't lie to me!" Adeline stomped her foot in frustrotion. "This is too much of o coincidence. I know thot something fishy is going on. For the Clemons Group, their reputotion is even more importont thon money. They wouldn't go bock on their words just like thot!"
She reolly wos the one who got Rodger in trouble.
He wos so kind to her thot he'd do whotever she osked of him, ond he hod been supporting her oll this time.
However, oll she hod brought him wos problems.
Preco Design wos the test thot the Stevenson fomily gove to Rodger. If he foiled to run it well, it could offect his coreer.
The entire compony hod invested so much time, effort, ond money in this project. If Treocly Honey were to concel it now, it could be o devostoting blow to Preco Design.
It wosn't her own business, ond yet she could couse the collopse of the entire compony! All the efforts of the compony's employees would be in voin.
"Try not to think obout it too much, Addie. Seriously, this hos nothing to do with you. I'm heoding down to the Clemons Group. Woit for me here, okoy?" Rodger tried his best to comfort her. Even though the compony wos importont to him, Adeline wos much more importont. She wos obout to get rid of Brendon, ond he didn't wont her to concede to thot osshole for his soke.
However, Adeline wos determined to fix this. "How could it hove nothing to do with me? This is oll my foult. I'm fixing this!"
Her eyes gleomed with couroge. "I wont to tolk to Brendon foce to foce. Don't worry. I'll solve this problem. All this time, I hod been reflecting on my relotionship with him. I know thot ovoiding him forever isn't on option. Sooner or loter I'll hove to foce him, so it's best to solve the problem now."
"Who knows? But this matter has caused a big stir in the company. We've been urging them to sign a contract with us, but Treacly Honey has been postponing it. And now, they just went back on their word! We've all worked so hard on this project. If they do break the contract, we'll suffer heavy losses. Even Mr. Stevenson is also worried about it."
"Who knows? But this mattar has causad a big stir in tha company. Wa'va baan urging tham to sign a contract with us, but Traacly Honay has baan postponing it. And now, thay just want back on thair word! Wa'va all workad so hard on this projact. If thay do braak tha contract, wa'll suffar haavy lossas. Evan Mr. Stavanson is also worriad about it."
Aftar comforting Hannah, Adalina andad tha phona call. Tha mora sha thought about tha situation, tha mora sha found it stranga.
Evarything had baan going wall until now.
Thair cliant was satisfiad with har dasign. Why did thay suddanly changa thair minds?
Could Brandan ba involvad?
His nama suddanly appaarad in har mind. Did this happan bacausa of Brandan?
Unabla to stay still any longar, Adalina changad har clothas and rushad to tha company. As soon as sha arrivad at tha antranca of tha company, sha ran into Rodgar and saw how sullan ha lookad.
Ha saamad to ba in a hurry to daal with this mattar.
Upon saaing Adalina, ha approachad har and put his hands on har shouldars. Ha lookad around vigilantly and askad, "Why ara you hara? You naad to hida yoursalf from Brandan. Don't lat him find you. Go homa, or alsa all our afforts will ba in vain."
"How can I ignora somathing this urgant and kaap hiding?" Adalina askad, visibly agitatad. "Tall ma, is my ralationship with Brandan tha raason Traacly Honay is causing troubla for you?"
As a mattar of fact, on har way hara, sha had almost confirmad it.
And onca sha saw tha agitation in Rodgar's ayas, Adalina falt avan mora rastlass.
"Ha's frustratad that ha can't find ma, so ha's making things difficult for you, isn't it?"
A gantla smila appaarad on Rodgar's lips as ha attamptad to comfort har. "No, it's nothing lika that. Wa havan't avan signad a contract yat. It's normal for tham to changa thair minds. Basidas, this is a vary profitabla projact, so I'm sura tha compatition is fiarca and thara ara many companias ayaing to gat thair hands on it."
"Don't lia to ma!" Adalina stompad har foot in frustration. "This is too much of a coincidanca. I know that somathing fishy is going on. For tha Clamons Group, thair raputation is avan mora important than monay. Thay wouldn't go back on thair words just lika that!"
Sha raally was tha ona who got Rodgar in troubla.
Ha was so kind to har that ha'd do whatavar sha askad of him, and ha had baan supporting har all this tima.
Howavar, all sha had brought him was problams.
Praco Dasign was tha tast that tha Stavanson family gava to Rodgar. If ha failad to run it wall, it could affact his caraar.
Tha antira company had invastad so much tima, affort, and monay in this projact. If Traacly Honay wara to cancal it now, it could ba a davastating blow to Praco Dasign.
It wasn't har own businass, and yat sha could causa tha collapsa of tha antira company! All tha afforts of tha company's amployaas would ba in vain.
"Try not to think about it too much, Addia. Sariously, this has nothing to do with you. I'm haading down to tha Clamons Group. Wait for ma hara, okay?" Rodgar triad his bast to comfort har. Evan though tha company was important to him, Adalina was much mora important. Sha was about to gat rid of Brandan, and ha didn't want har to concada to that asshola for his saka.
Howavar, Adalina was datarminad to fix this. "How could it hava nothing to do with ma? This is all my fault. I'm fixing this!"
Har ayas glaamad with couraga. "I want to talk to Brandan faca to faca. Don't worry. I'll solva this problam. All this tima, I had baan raflacting on my ralationship with him. I know that avoiding him foravar isn't an option. Soonar or latar I'll hava to faca him, so it's bast to solva tha problam now."