When she went downstairs, Eve walked a little behind and to the side, watching Stellan's back.
The cheers from her former colleagues in the secretarial department were still echoing in her ears.
"So handsome! That old pervert has finally been kicked out, I've really had enough these past weeks!"
"I want to go to Hess too! I want a boss who actually respects women like that!"
She let out a breath, refocused, and met Stellan's gaze head-on.
"You're my assistant now, representing Hess, and only need to pay attention to me. If you run into something like this again, don't be afraid—I'm your boss, I'm always on your side."
"When you're tempted to keep up appearances, first look at whether the other person is worth the effort."
Eve's nose stung at his words.
Women face too many struggles in the workplace.
Prejudice, discrimination, harassment... the list goes on.
It's so rare to come across colleagues and superiors who truly respect you.
Thinking about all she'd been through, she pressed her lips together and nodded hard. "I understand."
Stellan noticed her eyes were red, blinking fast like she was trying to calm herself down. He smiled gently and said, "Of course, if you can't handle it, you can always come and complain to me."
"Thank you, President Sutton." She smiled at Stellan, hurried forward and opened the car's back door for him.
As soon as Stellan got in the car, his phone started ringing.
He glanced at the caller ID and shook his head helplessly.
"Grandpa."
On the other end, Sutton's furious voice exploded, "You brat, why is your phone never reachable? All you do is work, work, work, I'm sick and you still don't come home! If I die, you won't even make it in time to see me!"
Stellan looked down and chuckled, "I was just in a meeting. Judging by your loud voice, you don't sound sick to me. What's wrong?"
"Stop playing dumb! Where's my granddaughter-in-law? You've been back for days, why haven't you brought her home? Hurry up and hold a wedding, bring her in already!"
Stellan's eyes dimmed slightly.
Granddaughter-in-law…
"This is outrageous, got the certificate and just keep her hanging? Who knows if I'll see my great-grandchild before I die! I'm done talking, I'm too mad!"
After hanging up, Stellan thought for a bit, then opened iMessage.
The reply was just four icy words: Who is this, please?
She didn't even remember him anymore.
Even if she didn't want to waste time and wanted a divorce, at least she should contact him, right?
Whether to keep going or to end things, she could've just been clear about it, instead of moving in with another man without a word, making him feel like he was being cheated on.
How could anyone not be upset?
He gripped his phone and said in a low voice, "Cancel my appointments for tonight."
Eve nodded. "Okay."
Stellan didn't mention where he was going. After asking Lucas to drive Eve back to Hess, he left on his own.
Near the end of the workday, Eve got a message from Skye Sherman, asking her to come home for dinner.
Eve had been busy these days and hadn't been back to the Sherman Family house for half a month. Since Stellan wasn't around tonight, she could go back to eat and catch up with them.
"Dad, my studio just landed a big project. I transferred you some money, move Grandma to a private hospital. She'll get better care there, and she'll be more comfortable,"
Eve said quietly as she massaged Grandma Sherman's legs while she lay in bed.
Skye immediately shook his head. "Brooke, I can still work. I can't always take your money. Besides, you're married now—it's not right to keep giving us money."
Eve waved her hand. "It's fine, my husband hasn't said anything. Anyway, it's money I earned myself, not his."
"A married couple should plan together and talk things over. You're married now, what's the point of separating mine from yours? Draw the line too sharply and there'll always be a barrier."
Eve nodded.
She hadn't even seen her so-called husband's shadow once.
If she could even find the husband who'd been too busy to show up for two years, she'd definitely discuss everything with him.
"How's work been going lately?"
Since Eve obediently got married, the Shaws had kept Skye on as their driver and never mentioned firing him again.
Eve knew keeping Skye was just so the Shaws could keep squeezing her soft spot.
But it didn't matter. As long as she worked hard and made enough money, she'd support the Sherman Family herself, let Skye retire and rest at home, free from their crap.
"Everything's fine. You don't need to worry about me." Skye grinned at her. "But you—when are you bringing your husband home to meet us? You've been married so long, and we haven't even seen him! Grandma talks about it every day, keeps wondering if she'll get to see him before she goes…"