Chapter 60
Monica could already feel the heat of everyone’s eyes on her the moment she walked inside the building. She lowered her head and adjusted her shades, which already covered half her face.
Monica could feel the murmurs as she walked through the lobby Heads turned, and people quickly whispered to one another, pretending not to notice her as she passed by. She kept her head down, her hands clutching her bag tightly. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet space, making her feel even more exposed.
When she reached the elevator, she froze. It was crowded with employees, some looking down at their phones, others blatantly staring. Monica’s stomach twisted. She clenched her jaw, spun on her heel, and made her way to the stairwell instead. Each step felt heavier than the last as she climbed. The cool metal of the railing pressed against her palm, grounding her as she ascended.
Her thoughts churned with anger, bitterness rising in her chest. This is all Izzy’s fault, she thought, her grip on the railing tightening. If she hadn’t made that scene, none of this would’ve happened. She wanted this. She wanted to humiliate me.
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By the time Monica reached her floor, she was breathless–not from exertion, but from the storm raging inside her. She pushed open the stairwell door and stepped into the hallway. A group of coworkers stood near the break room, their conversation halting as she appeared. One woman quickly looked away, while a man near the vending machine smirked, leaning slightly to say something to the person beside him. Monica’s cheeks burned, but she didn’t stop walking.
“Morning,” one of them said half–heartedly as she passed.
Monica didn’t respond. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her steps quickened. She reached her desk and dropped into her chair, her bag landing with a dull thud on the floor. She opened her laptop, pretending to focus on the screen, but her eyes darted to the edges of her vision. She could still feel their eyes, their judgment.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, the screen lighting up with another notification. Monica snatched it up, her anger bubbling over as she read the latest message in the group chat.
Did you see her walk in? The audacity…
Monica slammed the phone down harder than she intended, drawing a glance from a passing intern. She forced herself to take a deep breath, her nails digging into the armrests of her chair. She wouldn’t let them see her crack. Not here, not now.
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A shadow loomed over her desk, and she looked up to see one of her colleagues, Anna, standing there with a coffee cup in hand.
“Rough morning?” Anna asked, her expression unreadable. However, it was pretty clear that she was mocking her!
Monica forced a small smile, though her jaw tightened. “Just busy,” she replied shortly, not meeting Anna’s eyes.
Anna lingered for a moment before shrugging. “Well, HR is looking for you,” she said, placing the coffee on the desk beside her. “Good luck.” With that, she walked away, her heels clicking against the floor.
Monica stared at the coffee cup, her anger simmering just below the surface. Luck? she thought bitterly. What I need is for this nightmare to end. She glanced at her phone again, the group chat was still open. The messages continued to pour in, each one like a knife twisting deeper.
She leaned back in her chair, her nails tapping rhythnically against the desk. This isn’t over, she thought. If Izzy thinks she’s won, she has no idea what’s coming.
She didn’t linger for too long and immediately went to the HR department’s office. Almost immediately, she started apologizing.
“This is my first offense, and 1 really didn’t mean it. It was just a mistake, something that would never happen again,” Monica
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Chapter 60
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Monica sat stiffly in the chair, wringing her hands as she finished her rehearsed apology. The HR manager, a middle–aged woman with glasses perched on her nose, adjusted a stack of papers and opened her mouth to respond. Before a single word was spoken, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the room. The door swung open, and Cecil entered, flanked by two bodyguards dressed in sleek black suits.
Monica’s head whipped around, her heart pounding as Cecil strode in with purpose. The bodyguards positioned themselves near the door, their imposing presence adding tension to the already charged atmosphere.
Cecil didn’t waste a moment. She dropped a folder onto the HR manager’s desk with a sharp motion.
“Your job is simple,” she said, fixing the manager with a steely gaze. “Why are you even letting the mistress speak? This woman has embarrassed the company and its soon–to–be CEO. Naturally, she should be fired and fined immediately.”
Monica’s mouth fell open. She shot up from her chair, her face pale.
“Fined?” she blurted out. “What do you mean, fined?”
Cecil turned to Monica, her expression cold. “Did you even bother reading your contract?” she asked. “It clearly states that in the event of a scandal caused by your actions, you are responsible for covering any damages incurred. Legal, financial, or otherwise.”
Reaching into the folder, Cecil pulled out a document and slapped it onto the desk in front of Monica. “Here,” she said curtly. “Take a good look. Our lawyers will be contacting you soon to ensure the terms are enforced.”
Monica’s hands trembled as she picked up the contract, her eyes scanning the fine print. She flipped through the pages, her panic rising as she found the clause Cecil mentioned. Her knees felt weak, and she gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself.
“Wait,” Monica stammered. She turned to Cecil, desperation etched on her face. “You can’t do this! I didn’t know–this wasn’t intentional!”
Cecil didn’t even glance at her. She adjusted the cuff of her blazer and turned toward the door.
“You should’ve thought about that before getting involved in something this reckless,” she said flatly. “Now you’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
Monica rushed forward, reaching out toward Cecil. “Please, Cecil, wait! Let me explain!” she pleaded.
Cecil didn’t stop. One of the bodyguards shifted slightly, stepping between them as Monica approached. She froze, her outstretched hand falling back to her side. Cecil walked out without a backward glance, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she disappeared down the hallway.
Monica stood frozen for a moment, her breath coming in short gasps. She turned to the HR manager, who was now avoiding eye contact and meticulously organizing her papers.
“What am I supposed to do now?” Monica asked.
The manager didn’t answer immediately. She looked at Monica, her expression carefully neutral
The legal team will be in touch,” she said simply. Then, she gestured to the door. “You should leave.”
Monica’s legs felt like jelly as she stumbled out of the office, the contract clutched tightly in her hand. Her thoughts spiraled as she headed back to her desk. This can’t be happening. This can’t be real. Her mind raced, searching for a way out, but every thought ended with the cold reality of the document in her hands.
Wisen she reached her desk, she collapsed into her chair, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Her phone buzzed, but she ignored it, too consumed by the weight of what had just happened. Her breath came in shallow bursts as she stared at the contract, the words blurring in front of her eyea.
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For the first time, she felt truly cornered. No escape, no options. Just the sinking realization that everything was crumbling around her.
Monica got up, her legs shaky as she tried to steady herself. She clutched the edge of her desk for support, her breathing uneven. The world around her seemed to spin, her vision narrowing as dizziness took over. She tried to take a step, but her knees buckled, and the last thing she felt was the cold floor against her cheek before everything went black.
Monica blinked, her vision blurry as she slowly regained consciousness. The sterile white of the hospital ceiling came into focus. She heard the steady beeping of a heart monitor nearby and the faint shuffle of activity outside her room. She shifted slightly, her body aching, and let out a low groan.
The sound of footsteps brought her attention to the nurse entering the room, carrying a clipboard. The nurse walked over to her bedside and adjusted the IV line connected to her arm. “You’re awake. Take it easy,” the nurse said as she glanced at the monitors. “You fainted, and your body needs to recover.”
Monica frowned, her hand instinctively moving to touch her forehead. Her head throbbed as she tried to push herself up on the bed. “Who brought me here?” she asked, her voice hoarse. Her eyes darted to the door, half–expecting Calen to appear at any moment.
The nurse flipped through the clipboard and scribbled something down. “You were brought in by a company ambulance,” she replied without looking up. “They didn’t leave any information about you or your emergency contacts. We’ll need to get that from you.”
Monica’s heart sank at the mention of the company ambulance. Her fingers gripped the hospital blanket tightly. Not Calen? She clenched her jaw, trying to push back the wave of disappointment and anger building in her chest. She forced herself to ask, “Do you need me to call someone?”
The nurse paused, glancing at her. “If you have family or someone to notify, I can help. We need the contact information for your next of kin since the one who dropped you off didn’t provide anything.”
Monica’s frown deepened. She shook her head. “No, I’ll handle it
The nurse nodded and left the room, leaving Monica alone with her thoughts. The silence pressed against her ears as she reached for her phone on the bedside table. She unlocked it quickly and scrolled through her contacts, her finger hovering over Calen’s name. Her chest tightened as she tapped it and waited for the call to connect.
Instead of hearing the ringing tone, a message popped up on the screen: Blocked.
Her breath caught in her throat, and her grip on the phone tightened. She stared at the screen, her mind racing with disbelief. He blocked me? After everything? Her frustration boiled over, and she threw her head back against the pillow. Her hands trembled as she clenched the phone, the emotions spilling out all at once.
Monica let out a sharp scream, the sound piercing the quiet room. It was raw, a mix of anger, frustration, and despair that echoed off the walls.
The nurse rushed back in, her clipboard now held at her side. She approached quickly, her eyes scanning Monica’s face.“You need to calm down,” she said, stepping closer. “Stress isn’t good for you. And it’s definitely not good for your baby.”
Monica froze, her eyes widening as her head whipped toward the nurse. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.“What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her fingers splayed across her abdomen, her chest tightening as the words sank in.
The nurse glanced at her chart, flipping through the pages before nodding slightly. “Yes, you’re pregnant. That’s why it’s importam you rest and avoid stress. Your body is already under strain. Also-
Monka’s world seemed to tilt on its axis. The rest of the nurse’s words seemed to turned into a blur. Her mind raced. struggling to process the revelation. Her hand reinained on her stomach as she stared blankly ahead, her thoughts colliding
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