Chapter 98


    Where else could he be if not in the dining room?


    Dawson felt a twinge of apprehension and sprinted upstairs. When he barged into the bedroom, he


    was greeted by a pungent haze of smoke that set him off into a coughing fit. Clutching his nose, he


    strode in and flung the windows open, inviting in a breath of fresh


    air.


    Turning around, he foundn sitting stoically on the couch, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from


    his lips. The ashtray was a small mountain of stubs, and the floor was littered with a graveyard of


    empty beer bottles.


    It clicked for Dawson in an instant. Ian was showing all the ssic signs of a broken heart.


    Dawson handedn a ss of water and said in a low voice, “Mr. Hayes, how about I clear your


    schedule for today? Why don’t you take the day off to rest at home?”


    “Mr. Hayes, it’s perfectly human to need a moment to process things. Besides, after spending three


    years with Ms. ra, it’s normal to feel a sense of loss now that she’s


    gone.”


    Dawson didn’t dare to point out the obvious–that his boss was unmistakably reeling from


    heartbreak. He chose his words to spare his pride.


    As expected,n managed a faint chuckle. “You think I’m mourning over her?”


    Dawson quickly agreed, “Of course not.”


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    He stole a nce atn, pulled out his phone, and tapped into a website. Handing it over, he


    remarked casually, “Since you’re taking it so well, Mr. Hayes, I figured you’d want to know about


    this–it’s no big deal.”


    As Dawson pointed at the clothes and jewelry on the screen, he added, “These items all seem


    familiar, don’t they? They look a lot like the things Ms. ra used to wear. She wouldn’t be selling


    the gifts you gave her online, would she?”


    His jaw clenched audibly. /ra, this is how you handle


    my gifts?”


    Dawson, feigning ignorance to his boss‘ ire, deliberately twisted the knife. “Mr. Hayes, no need to


    get upset. You and Ms. ra are done, and you let her take those things. Why


    would she keep them if not to sell? Who in their right mind clings to an ex’s stuff? Imagine If her


    new beau found them–talk about a recipe for a brawl. It’s smart, really. She’s


    avoiding waste and potential fights. She’s quite clever, Ms. ra.”


    Dawson was about to add more fuel to the fire when he realized the mangled device on the floor


    was his own. Rushing over, he gathered up the fragments, his face the picture of gloom. “Mr.


    Hayes, what about keeping your cool? That was a Valentine’s gift from my girlfriend. I’ve only had it


    for two days. I’m going to be on my knees scrubbing the floor tonight.”


    Cradling the broken pieces, he wore a look of utter dejection.


    Dawson’s pathetic expression lightenedn’s mood considerably. He raised an eyebrow and


    inquired, “How many hours of kneeling?”


    “It depends on the severity of the offense and the amount of money involved. She spent over a


    grand on that phone, and it was a Valentine’s special edition. I won’t be off the hook with just one


    night’s worth of kneeling.”


    With that, he strode off into the bathroom.