CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 8: SICKENING GREEN TEA FLAVOR

An hour later, Sabrina returned to the company.

Jordan Hawthorne stood beside her, as if worried she might run away.

She lowered her head and rolled up her sleeve to find a ring of red marks at the spot where the man had grabbed her earlier, faintly aching.

At the office door, Jordan spoke in a stern and cold manner, like an emotionless machine, "This time, I will personally oversee you to complete the work transfer."

Sabrina felt a chilling frost in her heart, her hands and feet turning cold.

How could she not see Jordan’s intentions?

He was clearly worried his beloved would be ’troubled’ by her again!

Just then, Brooke Sinclairs also walked in.

She quickly approached Jordan and chided lightly, "Jordan, your attitude towards Sabrina is a bit too harsh. Be a little gentle and talk nicely...I believe she didn’t leave things out on purpose!"

Jordan furrowed his brows, showing no signs of softening, and replied, "Only this way will she be obedient and earnestly complete the transfer! No need to defend her; if she were half as sensible as you, I wouldn’t have to waste time coming here!"

Listening to their conversation, Sabrina was so angry that her hands were trembling.

He really kept breaking her understanding of him time and again...

Brooke feigned regret and tugged at his sleeve, "Don’t speak of Sabrina that way!"

Then, turning to Sabrina in a friendly manner, she said, "Sabrina, don’t be mad at Jordan; you know his nature, he’s always meticulous with work! Just don’t overlook anything this time, and he surely won’t blame you!"

Sabrina was nauseated by the overwhelming green tea aura.

Especially this woman, who feigned innocence, but had a flash of mockery and smugness in her eyes.

She clearly anticipated Jordan wouldn’t see it and would protect her...

And indeed, Jordan was buying it, trusting her implicitly.

Sabrina, suffering injustice, couldn’t defend herself.

Because he wouldn’t believe it!

Saying more would only be wasting breath.

She didn’t want to stay there any longer.

To escape Jordan’s coercion, she suppressed her emotions and swiftly and efficiently completed all the work transfers.

Afterward, in a cold and distant tone, she asked Jordan, "Is that all now? President Hawthorne!"

Jordan was unfazed by her unfamiliar form of address.

After all, in the company, they were just a superior and a subordinate.

He didn’t find anything improper.

Jordan responded indifferently, "As long as there are no omissions, you may leave."

Upon hearing this, Sabrina said nothing more and turned to leave.

As she passed through the office area, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.

This place, where she had poured out sweat and countless efforts, had now become a stepping stone for others, and she was being cast aside like trash.

Her heart clenched with suffocating pain, and she couldn’t help but quicken her pace, wanting to leave as soon as possible.

While waiting for the elevator, her team members, who had been fighting alongside her, hurriedly came after her.

They all looked at Sabrina with expressions full of reluctance and pleading.

"Director Hayes, are you really leaving?"

"Please don’t go; we really can’t bear to lose you!"

"This new Director Sinclairs seems a bit arrogant; I really don’t like her."

"Lower your voice."

Other colleagues whispered a reminder, "She’s the Sinclair Family’s daughter, a childhood friend of the President, and their relationship doesn’t seem ordinary; even Second Young Master came to look after her this morning..."

"When I delivered files this morning, I heard the top-floor secretary say she’s the President’s sweetheart, potentially our future boss lady..."

"..."

Listening to their discussions, Sabrina wasn’t surprised.

Brooke had been here for only a day, with Jordan and Ethan rushing to protect her.

No wonder everyone was speculating like this!

And... perhaps, soon, those speculations might indeed come true.

Sabrina had no desire to respond, and only after they were almost done talking did she say, "I’m sorry, I can’t continue fighting alongside you. In the future, follow the new leader and do well. See you again, if fate allows!"

The gossiping colleagues immediately stopped talking upon hearing this.

Deputy Director Rhiannon Shepherd stepped forward, taking her arm, "Sabrina, with your abilities, you shouldn’t be stifled. Since the lab won’t keep you, at least let us see you off before you go. How about having dinner with us tonight?"

"Yes, Sabrina, you’re the best leader I’ve ever met, really reluctant for you to leave, please don’t refuse!"

"We don’t know when we’ll meet again after this goodbye, how about we gather tonight?"

"..."

At this point, Sabrina really wasn’t in the mood to eat.

But with her colleagues’ enthusiastic invitations, and a few even having teary eyes...

After all, Sabrina’s heart wasn’t made of stone.

Faced with such goodwill, how could she possibly refuse?

In the end, she agreed, "Alright, consider it a farewell meal together."

...

That evening, in a private room at The Lyra Port Restaurant.

After settling Zara, Sabrina arrived on time for the appointment.

When she arrived, her team members were already there.

As soon as they saw her, they were exceptionally enthusiastic, "Sabrina, you’re here? Come sit over here, we saved a spot just for you!"

Sabrina nodded and took her seat as directed by them.

However, she noticed there were still two empty seats to her left.

Looking around, Sabrina asked in confusion, "Is there anyone else who hasn’t arrived?"

At this question, her colleagues’ expressions turned awkward.

And right then, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

Following that, two unexpected figures walked in from outside.

It was Jordan Hawthorne and Brooke Sinclairs!

Sabrina was dumbfounded, and before she could react, Brooke had already charmingly greeted everyone, "Is everyone here? We shouldn’t have kept you waiting long, right?"

She even specifically looked towards Sabrina’s spot, smiling as she said, "Sabrina, you’re here too? I thought you wouldn’t come to my welcome party! It’s so great that you did!"

Jordan, standing beside her, merely cast a glance at Sabrina, his face showing little expression.

Sabrina’s face darkened instantly.

Brooke’s welcome party?

Wasn’t this supposed to be her farewell party?

She instinctively glanced around at her colleagues.

Their eyes avoided hers, their expressions awkward, as if they didn’t know how to meet her gaze.

Sabrina’s fingertips went cold as she struggled to suppress her roiling emotions, and she asked Rhiannon beside her, "Can you tell me what’s going on? Why is she here? Was the farewell party... a lie?"

Rhiannon quickly lowered her voice to explain, "It’s not like that, Sabrina, we didn’t expect things to turn out this way either..."