Chapter 145


    “If I were him, I’d choose you,” Estelle said, now more rxed and friendly with Violet. Her yful


    gesture elicited a chuckle from Violet.


    Her manager had be more sociable and casual around Violet since she got to keep her job.


    Violetughed as she made a humorous gesture where she did finger pistols.


    Her diligence was well known to Estelle, who advised, “I heard you’ve been working overtime every


    night recently. You can’t keep going on like this. Go home earlier tonight.”


    Violet agreed gratefully. She returned to her desk and began packing her belongings to leave the


    office.


    She ran into Oliver in the elevator. They had not seen each other in a long time, owing to her frequent


    Acknowledging him with a nod, she pressed the elevator button.


    Oliver followed her in as the doors opened. Violet nced outside elevator descended, Oliver’s


    expression was unreadable.


    noting Emily’s absence. As the


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Without looking at him, Violet kept silent, the air heavy between them.


    “What’s your real purpose for working here?” Oliver eventually asked, his voice gruff.


    “Purpose?” Violet almost burst outughing and responded, “Isn’t it to earn a living?”


    “Why pick the samepany as Emily?” Oliver pressed further.


    This moment left Violet in disbelief. She spun around to confront Oliver, her expression one of


    shock, “You can’t seriously believe that I chose to work here just because of her, right?”


    Oliver’s silence was confirmation to her.


    A deep spike pierced Violet’s heart, and she questioned him with a mix of anger and disbelief, “Is


    that what you really think of me, Oliver?”


    Her past efforts to protect him seemedughably pointless now.


    Oliver retorted sharply. “Then what should I think?”


    Violet was heartbroken by that usation.


    “You’ve harbored this idea of unfairness, and I’m aware,” he said. “But Violet, you can’t let these


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    S BONOS


    feelings influence your judgment of others. Emily is new here, she can’t match your experience and


    struggles with everything. Isn’t it unfair to use your strengths to overshadow her weaknesses?


    Violet was pained by Oliver’s misinterpretation of her intentions.


    Her eyes reddened, but she resisted the urge to cry.


    “Is this ‘unfairness‘ due to having feelings for you and you choosing Emily? Does that mean I’m acting


    out of spite, making Emily’s life difficult, hoping she’d back down?” Violet challenged him.


    Oliver’s eyes were filled with pain and disbelief. This was the first time Violet admitted to liking


    him.


    Violet became overly agitated and decided to unleash her rage.


    “Don’t worry. I’m not petty. My first concern is survival. Don’t you get that?”


    She reflected on how she ended up at thepany, ast resort after multiple rejections, unlike Emily,


    who had the support of their parents and Oliver’s love. She had nothing else but her job.


    Oliver’s next suggestion was a further blow to her, he said, “Get a new job.”


    Hisment was another letdown. Oliver seemed like aplete stranger to her now, and she


    nearly let out an angry re.


    “I understand it’s a lot to ask for, but it wasn’t easy for Emily to find a job. She faced numerous


    rejections before getting this one. When she was hired, she was so ted that she danced. It’s the


    happiest I’ve seen her since she lost her voice.”


    To Violet, it was absurd to think she should leave her job just for Emily’s sake. Oliver’s logic


    frustrated her immensely.


    Choosing silence over further arguments, Violet waited for the elevator doors to open and dashed


    out, just in time to avert further disaster.


    Behind her, Oliver wrestled with his emotions. His mind lingered on Violet’s admission of affection for


    him. If she had feelings for him, why had she left him when he was in aa and needed her


    the most?


    His hand clenched in frustration, trying to gather the strength to meet Emily, who was returning from the


    lobby.


    Later at home, Violet reflected on Oliver’s hurtful words.


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    Although Oliver’s remarks had stung her, she discovered she no longer cared. Perhaps time had been


    her healer, or maybe she became Immune after going through so much, or maybe…


    Violet dared not dwell on thest possibility that crossed her mind, one that involved Lucius.


    She scolded herself for even thinking of him. They were worlds apart, after all.


    Determined, she purged his name from her thoughts.


    In the following days, both Oliver and Lucius became absent figures in her life.


    She immersed herself in work, finding sce in hermitment to her job, which had be


    her biggest assurance.


    Naomi’s care for her was unwavering. They resembled two birds lost from their flock, each other’s


    allowing harsh words between them.


    Violet did her best at home to divide household responsibilities with Naomi.


    Naomi’s affectionate gaze did not go unnoticed.


    “You’re such a wonderful child,” she remarked. “I am blessed to have crossed paths with you.”


    Violet paused, her emotions almost surfacing.


    It made her wonder why, if she was indeed such a lovely child in Naomi’s eyes, why had her own


    mother never sought her out? Why had her father never ced his trust in her?


    She mustered a smile with a heavy heart, though it carried more sorrow than joy.