CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: TONIGHT LET ME ATTEND TO TIMOTHY XAVIER

I listened to her incoherent defense, and let out a cold laugh, saying: "Earlier, you mocked my love-struck mindset. I really don’t know which one of us is? With such a great scoop and headline, you choose not to publish it just to protect your worthless boyfriend? Such an academic background... someone as smart as Victoria Monroe finds it appealing."

"Zoe Ellison!"

Victoria Monroe seemed to lose face and interrupted me: "We are not doing that news report! If you wish to do it, then quit and find another company. However, with your bachelor’s degree, it’s unlikely you’d get into other companies’ news departments."

After finishing, she shot me a glare and walked towards her office.

I suddenly noticed that even though Victoria Monroe usually loved wearing high heels, today she was only wearing flats.

However, looking at the thick pile of documents in front of me, I didn’t have the mind to think further, so I braced myself and began translating.

I worked until dusk, while my colleagues had already gone home. I had only translated half of it.

Having no choice, I stayed in my seat to work overtime.

Victoria Monroe also didn’t leave; she has always been passionate about her work.

It was the first time I saw her use her power for personal gain to protect a man.

At that moment, a young man entered from outside, looked straight ahead, and headed directly for the Director’s office.

I initially thought he was an employee from one of our company’s departments.

Before long, I seemed to hear the sound of argument and crying from Victoria Monroe’s office.

Then, the man came out of her office with a grim expression and left quickly.

Recalling the photo I searched yesterday of Miles Sawyer, it seemed to bear some resemblance to this man.

I had a vague sense of foreboding as I hurried to Victoria Monroe’s office.

Unexpectedly, when I opened the door, Victoria Monroe was painfully clutching her stomach, leaning on her desk.

"You... what’s wrong?"

I was startled, quickly supporting her upright.

She spoke weakly, almost inaudible, "Don’t let it leak out, take me to the hospital. Please... please don’t let anyone know!"

With difficulty, I helped her reach the parking garage.

After getting in the car, I drove swiftly towards the hospital.

On the way, she clutched her stomach in pain, and I held back the questions I wanted to ask.

Upon reaching the hospital, the doctor made a quick assessment and sent her to obstetrics.

Only then did I learn that Victoria Monroe was pregnant!

No wonder she didn’t want me to let it slip at the company.

Thankfully, the doctor said it was only emotional agitation causing fetal distress, but the child in the womb was still somewhat healthy at the moment.

I looked at Victoria Monroe’s pale face on the hospital bed, my heart was filled with complex emotions.

Although our relationship wasn’t great, as a mother who has lost a child, seeing her like this made me feel very uneasy.

I asked, "What did he say to you earlier? Why suddenly fetal distress?"

"He told me to abort the child."

After those few words were spoken, tears rushed out of Victoria Monroe’s eyes.

It was the first time I saw her cry.

Previously, when her family conditions were poor, eating free soup and rice in the cafeteria each day, she never cried.

When her troublemaking brother came to school to ask her for money and slapped her face, hurting her dignity, she never cried.

But now, she was crying so sorrowfully.

I handed her a tissue and asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Victoria Monroe pulled a miserable smile, looked at me, and said: "Ever since entering the workplace, I’ve worked hard to package myself as a city white-collar worker, no one knows my family is like that. But you know, you’ve seen it yourself, haven’t you?"

"Hmm."

I said: "But you’ve already fought your way to this position in the workplace, you’ve managed to free yourself from such a family. Besides, how does this relate to your relationship with Miles Sawyer?"

Victoria Monroe sniffled and said: "If I can marry Miles Sawyer, that would mean truly achieving a class leap. Although I always competed with you during college, do you know how much I envied you? Zoe Ellison, you’re a pampered young lady and can never understand me."

I looked at her with resignation, partly understanding yet not completely.

"I remember telling you that Serena Sawyer was the third party between me and my husband. You should know about Miles Sawyer’s academic background; it’s all fabricated. A family that produces such siblings—you truly dare to marry into it?"

I advised: "I understand your desire to achieve class ascendancy, but does it have to be The Sawyer Family?"

Victoria Monroe wiped her tears and said self-mockingly: "Do you think achieving class ascendancy is easy? I’m already 26, all of my youth was spent with Miles Sawyer. He’s currently the best marriage prospect I have! If we break up, where can I find another with similar conditions?"

I sighed softly, reminding her: "But about the child in your womb, he doesn’t want to take responsibility. What are you still hoping for?"

"I want to give it a try, what if he changes his mind?"

Victoria Monroe’s tone was pleading as she said: "Can you help me keep it secret? I don’t want the company to know. Our department now has many eyes looking at my position. If they find out I’m pregnant, I’ll soon be replaced."

I had never seen her so vulnerable before, and with her plea, I couldn’t refuse.

"Alright, I promise you."

I nodded, saying: "However... your stack of English documents..."

Recalling her difficulty this morning, she was embarrassed and apologized to me.

I accompanied her to finish the drip infusion, then took her home before heading back myself.

Before leaving, she looked at me pitifully and said: "Zoe, you are actually quite nice."

I was speechless.

Love can truly change a strong woman into this.

I finally understood the look Victoria Monroe gave me when I gave up my graduate school spot back then.

...

The next day, Victoria Monroe appeared at work as if nothing had happened.

At work, she was still decisive and vigorous.

In the afternoon, she called me into the office and requested: "Zoe, could you do me a favor? Tonight our company’s Vice President wants to take me to an event, but I’m pregnant... I can’t drink alcohol. Could you attend on my behalf?"

Actually, I don’t like social engagements.

But with her humble request, and the fact she’s pregnant.

"Alright, send me the address."

I agreed.

After losing a child, I naturally feel a close connection to expectant mothers or moms.

That evening, as I got off work, Vice President David Bowman’s car was already parked downstairs.

"President Bowman, I’m Zoe Ellison from the news department. Director Monroe asked me to come."

I introduced myself.

David Bowman was a man in his forties, with the greasy aura of a middle-aged man who had let himself go.

He looked me up and down, then smiled and said, "Your Director Monroe told me about you. Nice, she always has a good eye for people!"

The driver took the car to a high-end hotel in Veridia.

When we arrived, David Bowman sat in the seat next to the main one.

I, on the other hand, was placed next to David Bowman, in an even lesser seat.

It wasn’t long before other guests arrived one after another.

Earlier on the road, David Bowman told me that this dinner was to convince the client to give our company a project.

If this project went through, the news department’s bonus this quarter could multiply several times over.

One could imagine how determined he was to win this project.

We waited for over half an hour before the person for whom the main seat was reserved arrived leisurely.

As the carved door of the private room opened, my mind buzzed.

Why was it Timothy Xavier?

"President Xavier! President Xavier, you’ve finally bestowed us with your presence!"

David Bowman hurriedly went over to greet him, bowing and scraping in a manner that made the large man seem almost groveling.

Timothy Xavier gave a dignified ’hmm’, his indifferent gaze skipped over David Bowman, then landed on me.

David Bowman, long accustomed to the social scene, noticed Timothy Xavier’s gaze immediately.

Subsequently, as he escorted Timothy Xavier to the main seat, he quietly told me, "Go sit next to President Xavier."

Naturally, I had no desire to sit close to Timothy Xavier.

He had glanced at me a few times just now, perhaps with the eyes of a former husband looking at an ex-wife.

I’d already signed the divorce agreement and given it to him. Now that he’s all over Serena Sawyer, how could he possibly have any interest in me?

David Bowman’s move was truly unwise.

I sat in my seat without moving, a silent protest.

Unexpectedly, David Bowman directly pulled me up and swapped places with me.

He smiled ingratiatingly at Timothy Xavier and said, "President Xavier, this is our new recruit, Zoe Ellison, here to attend to you today, pour your drinks."

David Bowman’s words made me feel disgusted.

I immediately stood up, ready to leave.

But then, Timothy Xavier suddenly grabbed my wrist.

I frowned at him, wondering if, when we were married, he kept things hidden, and now that we’re divorced, he intended to be open about it?

But I still overestimated Timothy Xavier’s feelings for me.

He had already gone public with Serena Sawyer, and everyone considered them a couple. How could he possibly acknowledge me in public?

He gripped my wrist, his dark eyes giving no hint of emotion, and said coolly, "Miss Ellison, am I a man-eating tiger? Is it that hard to pour me a drink?"

His tone was displeased, and everyone present dared not even breathe loudly.

David Bowman whispered in fear in my ear, "Zoe Ellison, you better attend to President Xavier properly. If you ruin this for me, you and Victoria Monroe can pack up and leave!"

I took a deep breath.

Losing the job didn’t matter to me. Victoria Monroe was already pregnant, and with her family background, it wasn’t easy for her to reach her current position.

So, gritting my teeth, I sat down with a forced smile worse than crying, and poured a drink for Timothy Xavier.

Timothy Xavier’s well-defined fingers lightly held the wine glass, handing it to me.

He didn’t need to say a word; David Bowman naturally read the room.

"Zoe Ellison, aren’t you going to propose a toast to President Xavier?" David Bowman quietly reprimanded, "You really have no sense!"

At this moment, someone unknown jeered, saying, "President Bowman, you’ve let President Xavier hold the wine glass for so long. One toast isn’t enough, at least start with three!"

David Bowman laughed and said, "Of course! As long as President Xavier is happy, any number of glasses is fine!"

After he spoke, he gave me a meaningful glance.

I took the wine glass from Timothy Xavier’s hand, steeled myself, and drank it down in one go.

The liquor burned as it went down my throat, the fiery pain seemed to seep down into my heart.

I choked, tears welling up at the corners of my eyes.

The jeers around me kept urging me to drink the second glass.

I couldn’t understand why a table full of men had to torment a single woman.

Feeling incredibly wronged inside, I poured myself the second glass, just wanting to quickly finish three glasses and have Timothy Xavier let me go.

But David Bowman, intent on pleasing Timothy Xavier, took the glass from my hand and replaced it with a larger one.

Such a large glass was equivalent to the previous three glasses.

Timothy Xavier watched me with a half-smile.

I knew he wanted me to ask him for something.

But I didn’t want to ask for anything from him!

Just then, the door to the room opened again.

I thought it was the waiter bringing food, but to my surprise, it was Serena Sawyer.

"Miss Sawyer?"

Everyone at the table quickly stood up, after all, everyone knew about Serena Sawyer’s relationship with Timothy Xavier.

They already considered her the mistress of Xavier Group.

Serena Sawyer seemed to relish this feeling, smiling as she said, "Am I interrupting? I was just having a gathering with friends here and heard Timothy was around, so I came to see."

David Bowman hurriedly replied, "Not at all! Miss Sawyer is a big star; we usually only see you on TV! It’s our honor to have you here today!"

Timothy Xavier said to Serena Sawyer blandly, "Come, have a seat."

Serena Sawyer smiled slightly and walked towards Timothy Xavier.

Just then, I felt someone pull my arm hard, almost making me fall over.