Arthur’s tone turned gentle while trying to coax Clarice, “I’m telling you the truth, there’s a lot of work piling up now, and we can’t afford any delays. Why would I lie to you just to avoid firing a secretary?”

She was insistent, “Even if you can’t fire her, at least punish her by making her kneel at the company entrance for a day. Can you do that?”

This time, Arthur caved in.

He turned to Anise, “Those documents are very important for sustaining our key collaborations, but you failed to look after them. You have two choices. Either pay fifty million dollars for the damage or kneel at the entrance for a day.”

Anise knew he was only forcing her to do this because Clarice wanted to take it out on her.

There was no way she could come up with fifty million dollars on the spot. With that, she staggered to her feet before making her way to the entrance to suffer the humiliation of kneeling there.

She lowered her head to the ground so nobody would see the troubled look in her eyes. The entire time, she heard the whispers of her passing colleagues.

“Isn't she Mr. Renault’s most trusted secretary? Why is she kneeling here? It must be embarrassing with so many people watching!”

“I saw what happened. She didn't do anything wrong. She only got punished because Miss Reid took offense.”

“Miss Reid is Mr. Renault’s teenage crush after all. Even after all these years, he still couldn’t forget her. Anise should have known better than to step on Miss Reid’s toes. She had it coming!”

Everything they said added insult to injury. Anise felt like she was getting choked out of her breath.

Suddenly, she remembered an episode from her younger days when several boys at school were picking on her during Clarice's birthday. They were calling her names, saying that she looked like a piece of dung when compared to Clarice, who was as beautiful as a rose.

Their comments had everyone erupting in laughter. She ended up fleeing the room and ducking aside to the stairway to get away from them.

It was Arthur who went to her and handed her a pack of tissues.

“Don't worry about them and just focus on yourself. You’ll be fine.”

To this day, Anise remembered what he told her.

This whole time, she was convinced Arthur stayed by her side because he recognized her inner strength. That was the reason she dedicated herself to working for him without any complaints.

As soon as Clarice returned, he dismissed all her effort and sacrifices she had made for him. He did it all just for Clarice.

She was nothing more than a secretary he could fire at any time he wanted.

Now that he no longer had any use for her, it was time for her to leave.

She had been kneeling all day until her knees chafed and bled. She was in so much pain by the end of it that she could barely walk.

When it was time to clock out, she limped back to the office to get her bag, only to run into Arthur.

He noticed her injuries and regarded her with a faint frown.

“I’ll give you a few days off. Get some rest and come back to work once you're healed.”

Anise grumbled in acknowledgment without looking at him. Then, she silently turned around and left.

Upon returning home, she immediately treated her wounds before beginning to pack up.

When news of Clarice's return reached them, Arthur immediately ordered her to move out of the villa.

Everything happened so quickly. She only managed to chaotically stuff all of her belongings in a suitcase before leaving.

Now that she was about to return to her hometown, it was time to sort her belongings.

She threw away the necklaces and jewelry Arthur had given her over the years, along with the photos she had snuck of him sleeping. She also tossed out the old diaries from her younger days, filled with entries about her crush on Arthur, along with other scattered mementos.

While all this was happening, she would gloss through the various gossip her colleagues shared in the company's group chat.

That was how she found out Arthur got on his knees to massage Clarice’s legs after she went on an extended shopping trip. When she complained about the office lights being too bright, he had the entire building's lights replaced overnight. When she was in a bad mood, he canceled all meetings and put off his work to be with her…

As she silently read the text, she kept repeating the same thing to herself.

‘Soon. Just a little longer, and it will be all over.’

She recovered in time for the company's annual party.

When Arthur showed up with Clarice, the entire room erupted in applause. Everyone showered them with compliments about how they made the perfect couple, like a match made in heaven.

When he stepped off the stage with Clarice, he helped straighten her dress and even took off his coat to drape over her shoulders. He even drank her toasts for her so she wouldn’t have to…

Meanwhile, Anise hid in a corner and watched the way Arthur’s eyes creased from smiling. She slowly averted her gaze.

Soon, it was time for the awards ceremony.

Anise received the Best Employee Award just as she did in previous years.

She stepped onto the stage under the watchful eyes of the audience. Behind her was a projected slide showing her achievements over the past year.

She fiddled with the microphone and prepared to give a customary acceptance speech when a round of commotion suddenly started within the crowd.

Everyone was exchanging whispers and casting strange looks at her.

Anise felt her eyelids twitch and had a premonition that something was wrong. She turned around sharply to see the slides switched out to something else.

It was projecting a collection of foul and unflattering photos of her during her time in university.

There were also pictures taken in the bedroom that had been blurred out except for her face.

Anise recognized the pictures immediately. They were pictures taken from the security cameras at Arthur's villa.

She felt her blood run cold and her mind turning blank in succession. Her instinctive response was to turn toward Arthur’s direction.

He was wearing a frown when they made eye contact. Meanwhile, Clarice, who was next to him, wore a contemptuous and challenging grin.

Anise immediately knew Clarice was the one behind this. A surge of blood rushed to her head.

She marched straight toward Clarice and wanted to ask what it would take for her to be left alone.

Arthur's expression changed the moment he noticed her approaching. He got up to shield Clarice.

His tone was severe, “What do you think you’re doing? Haven't you had enough of embarrassing yourself? Don't forget your place, you're just a secretary!”

Anise looked at him through tears, “Mr. Renault, I may be a secretary, but I'm also a human! Don't I deserve respect? She intentionally released these pictures…”

“Have you made enough of a scene already? Behave yourself!”

Arthur shouted at her authoritatively as color drained from his face as well. Then, he had the bodyguards kick her out of the venue.

She was dragged by the hair out of the venue with countless onlookers surrounding her. Then, she was flung down the stairs in a disheveled state.

After she tumbled down the steps, her body was bruised all over, while drops of her blood stained the floor.

Every muscle was aching, and her nerves were pulled taut.

At last, she could no longer hold back her tears. The floodgates had burst open and blurred her vision.

She curled up in a ball and wrapped her arms around herself while feeling her consciousness slowly fade…

After what seemed like ages, she opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital.

She stared vacantly at the ceiling for a while before reaching for her phone. Her colleagues were fervently discussing what happened during the annual party.

Some of them even shared pictures and videos taken during the event. They made a ruthless mockery of her.

“Anise isn't even that good-looking. Who would have known she was such a vixen? Looking at her, you would think she was some kind of ascetic but no, she sure knows how to throw herself at men! I wonder which man she’s involved with. Look at all these pictures they took! How scandalous!”

“I never got the impression that she was an ascetic. Haven’t you noticed how she’s always trying to seduce Mr. Renault at work? She's always hanging around him and waiting for a chance to strike! Too bad for her, Mr. Renault only has eyes for Miss Reid and wouldn’t even spare an ounce of attention for a cheap woman like her!”

“She’s a disgraceful fox who tried to use her body to climb the corporate ladder. How dare she compare herself to Miss Reid? How insulting of Miss Reid! I hope she has some sense and quits instead of stinking up the whole place with her presence, what a joke!”

Each comment they made only increased the hurt she felt. It felt as if her flesh was being gouged out and the pain was excruciating.

She clenched her palms so tightly they bled. Even her teeth were aching from her jaw tensing. She had to force herself to swallow the lump in her throat.

After what seemed like an eternity, the door to the ward opened.

She looked up to see a male colleague from the marketing department entering with a cup of water.

“Hey Anise, you're awake! How are you feeling? Would you like me to call the doctor over for you?”

Anise paused for a moment, then shook her head.

“I’m fine. Were you the one who brought me here?”

Klay Rodger scratched his head sheepishly before flashing a shy smile.

“Well, I found you unconscious at the entrance and was worried something bad might happen to you, so I brought you to the hospital. Luckily, the doctor said it was only because you had been under a lot of pressure lately.”

It was only upon hearing that she was found unconscious that she remembered what had happened at the annual party. She suddenly froze.

Klay realized he had misspoken and wisely kept his mouth shut.

A long and brooding silence filled the room before he smacked his lips and continued.

“Anise, don’t take those rumors to heart. I know a lot of people are hostile toward you, but it’s not because you did anything wrong but because they are prejudiced against you. I know someone is trying to set you up and whoever it is has intentionally edited those pictures to make you look bad.

“You can consider calling the police. If you feel like it’s too much pressure for you, I can help you. Maybe you can tell them you’re in an ordinary relationship…”

Upon noticing how Klay’s earlobes turned bright red, it suddenly occurred to Anise that Klay was always the one initiating conversations with her. Every now and then, he would bring her coffee and snacks as well.

It was only now that it occurred to her that Klay had a crush on her.

This entire time, she had only thought of him as a regular colleague. Besides, her mind was set on leaving already.

With that, she had to strain a smile and politely decline his veiled confession.

“Thank you for your kind offer, but I can handle this myself.”

Disappointment flashed in Klay’s eyes but he refused to give up.

He suddenly produced a bouquet of roses from under the bed and handed it to her. He was stammering when he spoke again.

“To tell the truth, I’ve had a crush on you for a long time, but I was too scared to confess. I know that now isn’t the best timing, but I’d like to give it a shot. Please give me a chance, maybe we can try seeing each other…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the door was brutishly kicked open.

Both of them were startled and turned around at the same time only to meet Arthur who wore a brooding expression.

Arthur shot a grim look at Klay before unleashing a terrific, commanding roar.

“Get out of here!”

Klay was no match for Arthur’s commanding presence. He shot up straight and sheepishly bowed before excusing himself.

Arthur slammed the door shut before backing toward Anise. The first thing he saw was the bouquet she held.

“So, he has a crush on you and confessed?”

Anise met his gaze but did not provide an answer.

In the face of her silence, Arthur snatched the bouquet of roses from her and tossed it out the window.

Although Anise had rejected Klay’s confessions, it was not her intention to hurt his feelings like this.

She removed the IV drip strapped to her so she could go collect the roses. Before she could proceed, Arthur grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the hospital bed.

He glared intently at her with a glacial look in his eyes.

“What do you think you’re doing? What’s the point of picking up a spoiled bouquet? Are you telling me you’re into him?”

Anise pushed him away and spoke in an indifferent tone, “Mr. Renault, you're just my boss. It is not in your place to decide who I can get involved with.”

Arthur's expression was becoming increasingly grim. His grip around Anise’s wrist tightened, leaving marks.

“That may be true, but don’t you forget that office romances are not allowed in the company. If you’re going to date him, I’ll have him fired first thing tomorrow morning!”

Anise was aware that he was a man who did not issue blank threats. Because she did not want to undermine Klay, she answered frankly.

“I don’t have feelings for him and don’t intend to date him.”

Arthur’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this. Then, he suddenly released his grip and revealed the real reason for his visit.

“Clarice was the one who edited those pictures you saw during the annual party. I don’t blame her for being upset after she found out about what happened. We’re going to wait until the entire thing blows over, then I’ll promote you to head of the secretarial department and double your salary.

“Just keep your head down and focus on your work. Clarice has promised me this is the last time something like this will happen and that she won’t antagonize you anymore, so don’t hold any of this against her.”

Though the terms of his offer were tempting, Anise was unaffected.

She took a deep breath and braced herself to tell him about her resignation.

Just as she was about to speak, Clarice called.

“Arthur, I’m planning to go to the beach for a few days. Will you come with me?”

Arthur entertained her offer in a pleasant tone and seemed to have forgotten about Anise entirely as he turned to leave.

He was in such a hurry that he barely heard what Anise told him.

“I don't need a promotion. I already submitted my resignation letter.”

Anise lowered her eyes as the door shut.

Never mind. He would find out eventually.

Arthur spent the following period with Clarice and was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Anise returned to work as usual.

As for Klay, he was transferred to another branch in his hometown the following day. Anise did not even get to see him one last time.

Although there were still people casting her the occasional strange look, nobody brought up the events at the annual party.

After the entire thing seemed to have blown over, Anise went to HR to ask if she could expedite her resignation.

HR appeared troubled by the request, “Miss Buccaneer, if you want to expedite your resignation, you’re going to need the direct approval of Mr. Renault.”

Anise nodded and proceeded to prepare an application for early resignation.

Just as she was about to go to Arthur for the signature, the man himself called her.

She was given an address and was instructed to head there immediately.

Soon, she found herself inside a private room in a club. Arthur, his friends, and Clarice were in the middle of a drinking game and seemed to be in high spirits.

Upon noticing her, Arthur gestured at the glasses on the table.

“Clarice has lost a few rounds and has to drink these as punishment, but she’s on her period today. Drink them for her, I’ll pay you ten thousand a glass.”

Anise was aware Arthur had a bout of excessive drinking a while ago that ruined his liver, so he could not handle another drop of alcohol.

Otherwise, he would have gladly drunk them for Clarice.

She glanced at the dozen or so glasses of whiskey on the table before stating faintly, “Mr. Renault, it’s already past working hours, and I have the right to refuse this task. If you do insist that I do it, I don’t need the money. All I ask for is a signature.”

Arthur frowned, “A signature? What for?”

Anise produced the application form and handed it to him.

Just as he was about to go through the form, Clarice took his hand and began to flirt with him.

“Arthur, I lost again. Hurry up and make her drink.”

Arthur obliged tenderly and proceeded to skim through the document.

After scribbling his signature, he tossed the pen back to Anise.

“There. Now drink.”