Chapter 227


    I stopped smiling the moment I found out the only person I had in mind wasn''t the one at the doorstep.


    Michael was the only person I wanted to meet. Nheless, I looked at Jackson in the eyes and


    asked, “What brings you here today?”


    Only a limited few were aware we had been residing at that particr ce. Therefore, I was shocked


    when Michael''s secretary showed up out of nowhere.


    As we weren''t really acquainted with one another, Jackson answered my query with a courteous smile,


    “Mr. Garcia, Mr. Shaw has sent me here.”


    I thought he has forgotten all about me, but that was never the case! He has sent his secretary over to


    check on me!


    As thrilled as I might be, I kept my emotions to myself and asked in a calm and collected tone, “Why


    has he sent you?”


    Since not many were made aware of our rtionship, I thought it would be better to keep our


    rtionship confidential from everyone, including Jackson.


    When he heard my query, he handed me a check, “Mr. Shaw wants you to have this.”


    Two million only.


    I gaped at the amount involved and lost myself in the process of thought at the presence of the check.


    Why has he asked his secretary to bring me a check? What exactly is he up to?


    Seconds after I returned to my senses, I took a peek at the check and stuttered my question at


    Jackson, “W-What is he up to? W-Why has he sent you over to hand me a check?”


    I couldn''t figure out the rationale behind Michael''s decision, but I had a bad feeling about it. In


    anticipation of Jackson''s uing reply, my mind was all over the ce.


    As much as I wanted to run away from the truth, it was only a matter of time until I had to brace myself


    through it all over again.


    After a few seconds of silence, Jackson announced, “Mr. Shaw wishes topensate you for your


    loss.”


    Jackson might not be aware of the loss that was mentioned, but I was well aware that was the thing


    Michael and I once talked about.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Is this the sort ofpensation he has been talking about? Is he trying to uphold his promise?


    I had my eyes glued to the check with my pursed lips shivering and my heart wrenching.


    Didn''t he turn me down when I insisted on leaving? Why has he changed his mind? Why has he sent


    his secretary to hand me a check?


    I refused to ept the check as that would put an end to our rtionship for real.


    Jackson urged with a frown, “Ms. Garcia?”


    I had no intention to reveal the things going on. Thus, I put on a strong front to deceive Jackson and


    answered while avoiding his gaze, “Mr. Goldstein, please send it back to him!”


    On the other hand, Jackson seemed to have gotten used to it. It might not be his first time dealing with


    the aftermath of Michael''s messed-up rtionship with others. He was able to remain a straight face


    until the moment I turned him down.


    “Is it because of the sum?” he asked with his eyes flickering.


    “No! Two million is a fortune I can only long for! However, I don''t need any sort ofpensation! When


    you go back, please tell Mr. Shaw that I don''t need anything from him!”


    It''s inappropriate and rude for someone to put a price on the affection others have for them! It feels as if


    he''s insulting me by trying topensate me with money!


    I was really against the idea of epting his offer. Michael wasn''t made aware of the sort of affection I


    had for him, but that couldn''t justify his action.


    “Ms. Garcia, are you sure you want me to return this to Mr. Shaw?” Jackson asked in a serious tone


    when I turned him down again.


    Judging by the fact he had his brows arched, it was safe to assume that he was impressed. He might


    have imagined me epting the check before showing up at my doorstep.


    “Am I supposed to repeat myself again?”


    Since Michael was nowhere to be seen, I had no intention to waste my time with Jackson anymore.


    Once I answered his query with another rhetorical question, I tried to close the door.


    He stopped me and asserted, “Mr. Shaw had made himself clear he wanted you to ept this. If you


    wish to return it to him, I think it''s better for you to meet him in person.”


    I thought Jackson would leave me alone after being turned down twice. To my surprise, he repeated


    himself and insisted on handing me the check.


    epting the check would make it seem as though money was the foundation of our rtionship. We


    started getting acquainted because of money, but I no longer wanted to base our rtionship on that


    foundation. Hence, I refused to ept it in spite of Jackson''s insistence.


    On the other hand, Jackson made it look as if I wasn''t in a position to turn him down.


    After giving it a thought for a few minutes, I took it over. I made up my mind to meet Michael in person


    just to return the check to him.


    Once I took it over, I told Jackson, “Mr. Goldstein, thank you so much for your time and effort. I''ll pay


    him a visit in person and return this to him tomorrow.”


    He responded with a nod and departed once he wrapped up the conversation.


    I returned to the living room and took a seat on the couch after sending him off.


    Michael had personally signed the check. He might have offered the fortune to ensure I could live a


    carefree life, but little did he know that would make me feel ashamed of myself.


    Is this the only thing left between us? Has our rtionship always been a deal?


    Over the past few days, I failed to show up for work as I was afraid of running into Michael in person.


    Unable to gather my thoughts, I didn''t want to embarrass myself in front of him anymore.


    I dressed up and got myself ready for work the next day. It wouldn''t do me any good to run away from


    Michael since I was a staff of thepany. Sooner orter, we would run into one another.


    Never would I forsake my job over our messed-up rtionship. After all, I would have to make a living


    and move on without him.


    Once I reached the entrance, I took a deep breath to calm myself. It took me a few minutes to muster


    the courage to step into thepany.


    I couldn''t stop myself from looking in the direction of Michael''s office once I returned to my workstation.


    When I recalled Michael was merely a few feet away from me, I couldn''t stop my heart from racing.


    Seated at my workstation, I just couldn''t focus on work. As soon as everyone started focusing on their


    respective tasks, I brought myself up and marched in the direction of Michael''s office.