His tone remained calm, but there was an unmistakable sense of determination and authority that left no room for refusal.I opened my mouth but found myself at a loss for words. Taylor smiled at me and said, "Ms. Middleton, there's no need to be polite. You're so familiar with Mr. Walker! It's rush hour, and finding a cab now is nearly impossible. Last time I tried, there were over a hundred people in line for an Uber."I forced a smile, feeling uncomfortable. It wasn't that I didn't want to ride with Luke; I just didn't want to inconvenience him. I had already burdened others enough during this time.After Taylor left, it was just Luke and me in the car. The driver was in the front with a partition up, ensuring our conversation remained private.Luke was engrossed in his tablet, seemingly reading an investment analysis report. His long, slender fingers glided effortlessly over the screen, and his sharp, stern profile was pleasing to the eye.I leaned against the window, watching

Luke had made arrangements for someone to help clean and tidy up the small villa. Even the hydrangeas and roses in the garden and on the terrace were thriving.Upon our arrival, a woman in her fifties was busy arranging the vases in the living room. As soon as she saw us enter, she quickly set down the scissors and sunflowers, came over to assist with the luggage, and warmly introduced herself. "Good afternoon, Ms. Middleton. I'm Marianne, Mr. Walker's housekeeper. He asked me to come and see if there's anything you need help with."After a short exchange of pleasantries, Marianne asked, "Ms. Middleton, how do you find the cleanliness of the house? If you have any requests, please let me know. Mr. Walker is currently out of town on business and he asked me to take extra care of you while you're here."I was about to decline her offer, but Wendy tugged at my arm and said, "I think Luke's arrangement is quite good. His housekeeper seems efficient and not too talkative. Just look at ho

Was there someone else at Luke's place, or had he returned from his trip early?At that moment, Marianne brought me some fruit and milk, so I decided to ask her. She glanced towards the house opposite, looked puzzled for a moment, and then explained, "It's probably Mr. Walker's assistant.""Assistant? Didn't they go on the trip together?""I'm not sure. His assistant, Calvin, often comes by to pick up or drop off documents," Marianne said thoughtfully. "Maybe Mr. Walker forgot something at home and sent Calvin to retrieve it. Look, the light is off again."I glanced over and saw that the light was indeed off, so I didn't think much more about it.In the following days, I was waiting for the court to notify me of the hearing date while also job hunting. I received a few interview invitations, but they all ended in disappointment.Whenever the interviewers asked why there was a two-year gap on my resume, I honestly answered that I had chosen to be a full-time housewife. They would

That night, as I lay in bed, thoughts of the failed interview and Luke's blunt honesty consumed my mind.I didn't need sympathy; I simply wanted fair and equal treatment. However, the reality is often harsh and doesn't align with such ideals.After discovering Max's betrayal, I responded in a normal manner. So, why was I accused of being "scheming" and "calculating"? I couldn't comprehend it, nor did I believe I was in the wrong.Feeling a hint of defiance, I told Wendy over the phone, "Even if the next interviewer asks me about this, I will still answer truthfully!"Wendy's view matched Luke's. She tried to console me by saying, "Jen, it's not that they want to label you like this. The interviewers have to consider how you might handle conflicts between your interests and the company's. Capitalists want their employees to be loyal and devoted solely to the company's interests, without any ulterior motives."In an attempt to soothe my wounded feelings, Wendy added, "Sweetie, think

At that moment, I felt weird, as if Luke and I belonged to two different worlds."Do you think Mr. Walker is single? I overheard some people from JL Capital talking while getting coffee. They mentioned that even his dog is male. Is he just very disciplined, or does he not like women?""Come on, with his looks, even if he liked men, I'd still ship that couple!""Yeah, he's cool and handsome! Such a perfect image!""If JL Capital's work wasn't so different from mine, I would apply there just to be around him!" The girl with long hair stared at Luke's back, her eyes shining."Forget it. Handsome and wealthy guys like him are rare. We mere mortals can only admire them from afar," another girl sighed. "I wonder what kind of woman a god-like man like him would be interested in?""Who knows? Definitely not someone as ordinary as us!""True! Just getting to see him every day is a perk of working here!""Let's go, it's time to clock in!"I couldn't help but smile. It turns out that the