The crowd fell silent immediately after Joanna’s words.


    With her cell phone in her hand, Violet returned to her seat with a nk expression.


    Joanna shot her a cold nce, let out a disdainful grunt, and rose to leave,


    As soon as Joanna departed, the people resumed their conversations. “When the cat is away, the mice will y.”


    “Yeah, ever since Gloria left, someone seems to think she’s the top dog in the Design Department.”This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    “| wonder when Mr. Brown will return. Otherwise, we''ll still have to contend with someone’s attitudes when we speak.”


    Violet absentmindedly doodled on the design with an expressionless face.


    She knew that no matter who it was, these people would gossip behind their backs.


    However, she was intrigued by Mr. Brown, whom they mentioned as the Director of the Design Department, a reputedly capable


    individual who had recently gone on a business trip.


    On the top floor, in the CEO''s office...


    Patrick’s cell phone rang. He nced at the caller ID, which read “Gloria Tyler.” After a moment of hesitation, he answered.


    “Patrick, what are you up to?” Gloria asked him with a tone of dissatisfaction.


    Impatience shed across Patrick’s eyes as he responded, “What’s the matter now?” Gloria’s voice trembled with a sobbing tone


    as she said, “You didn’t help me like this before. Do you really love her?”


    She had received a call from Joanna and learned about what was happening. She was on the brink of losing herposure,


    unable to believe that in just a few days, everything had changed.


    Patrick frowned. “Back then, online media wasn’t as influential as it is today.” Gloria couldn’t help but raise her voice. “But it’s


    different. I''ve been your girlfriend for six years, and she only has a marriage license with you.”


    Patrick’s expression soured. “As you said, we have a marriage license.”


    Gloria’s voice instantly took on a sorrowful tone. “Patrick, | love you so much. How could you do this to me?”


    Patrick remained expressionless. “You were the one who suggested getting a marriage license with me. You were the one who


    stood me up, and you were the one nning to leave, Gloria. No one forced you into this.”


    “That’s because | don’t believe you love me at all. | just wanted to prove that you do, but it seems you don’t care about me at all.


    Can''t you see that?” Gloria cried in despair.


    Patrick’s tone turned colder. “So, you repeatedly test my love for you by standing me up again and again? Gloria, your behavior


    is quite immature.”


    Gloria was anxious because she felt a growing distance between herself and Patrick.


    She was desperate to get everything back on track. She no longer wanted to pursue her career, nor did she want to ascertain if


    Patrick loved her or not. All she desired was to return to Patrick’s side. “Patrick, I’lle back right now. You divorce that woman,


    okay? Your family doesn’t even know about your marriage. Just divorce her, and we''ll pretend that none of this ever happened,


    okay?”


    Patrick coldly refused, saying, “That’s only your own wishful thinking.”


    Indeed, he had married Violet, and only Gloria and the Webb family were aware of it. Every time Gloria stood him up, she would


    have someone secretly observe him at the City Hall entrance, and he was well aware of that.


    As for his family and the Tyler family, they believed Gloria was abroad, and they didn’t have a marriage license. They were


    unaware that he had obtained the marriage license with someone else.


    Gloria was on the brink of a breakdown. She hysterically questioned, “Patrick, are you truly in love with her?”


    Patrick looked displeased and promptly hung up the phone.


    As soon as he put down the phone, it rang again.


    Patrick’s face grew even darker. He didn’t even bother to check the caller ID before impatiently asking, “Are you done?”


    The voice on the other end of the line sounded confused. “Tsk... Who’s got you so annoyed again? You''re in such a foul mood.”


    Patrick froze and nced at the iing caller, realizing it was Robert calling. He and Robert were close friends who had


    studied abroad together during their university years and returned home together. Their bond was strong.


    Rubbing his eyebrows, Patrick replied in a low voice, “I’m fine.”


    Robert sensed that Patrick didn’t want to talk further and didn’t press the issue. “I haven''t seen you in a few days. Let’s meet at


    Timeless Bar tonight and have a drink. What do you think?”


    Patrick considered it for a moment and replied with a grunt, “Alright, see you tonight.”


    After hanging up the phone, Patrick stared at hisputer, thinking about Gloria’s hysterical question, “Are you truly in love with


    her?” His expression


    darkened.


    Patrick had never been one to easily reveal his feelings or preferences.


    He had been a regr smoker for a few years but had eventually quit.


    He believed there was nothing in the world that could make him like it so much that he couldn’t give up.


    Marrying Violet had been more of a passive decision like going along with the flow.


    Just as Patrick contemted these thoughts, there was a knock on the door. Nelson came in and said, “Mr. Hersey, Miss Foster


    is here. She brought Benedict with her and said they came to apologize.”