Ch. 1321..1325
Chapter 1321
Chapter 1321 Madam Carter angrily blurted out, “It’s been days! When is Odell coming back?”
Sylvia smiled and tried to calm her down. “Grandmother, he’s probably busy. Why don’t you get some rest first? I'll call him later.”
Madam Carter sighed. “I’m angry because he doesn’t
know the importance of coming back home to you and the kids.”
Sylvia maintained her smile. “I understand, but don’t worry about it.”
After calming Madam Carter down, Sylvia wheeled her back into the room to rest.
Isabel and Liam were obedient and smart enough to bring Flint upstairs before their mother even told them to. Sylvia called Odell, but the line rang continuously without any answer. Odell did not pick up her call at all. With a frown, she then said to Aunt Tonya, “Aunt Tonya, I'm going out and might come home late.”
“Go ahead. I'll take care of the kids.”
Sylvia went to the kitchen to pack some food before going out.
Half an hour later, Sylvia arrived at Carter Tower.
Most of the employees had gone home at this hour, and only several offices remained lit.
Sylvia looked up at the highest floor—it was still lit. She entered with the container of food she brought for him. Meanwhile, Odell had just finished a transnational conference and was going through the meeting minutes from the client. Knock knock
Knocks came from the door.
“Come in,” he said.
Shermaine entered. “Sir, Elysian House just delivered the meal you ordered.”
She came in holding an exquisite food container.
However, Odell's eyes were glued to his computer.” Hmm. Put it down.”
She put the container on the tea table. When she noticed he was still looking at his computer, she said, “Sir, you haven't eaten anything since lunch. It's getting late. Why don't you eat first and continue later?”
Odell glanced at her. “I'll eat later. You may leave now.”
Shermaine pursed her lips and walked out.
Odell continued reading the documents and used the next few seconds to finish all the necessary work. Finally, he went over to the tea table to pick up the food and started eating
Shermaine turned around after she left the office and saw Odell eating. Her eyes sparkled and her lips unconsciously curled as she returned to her workstation. She then tied her hair into a bun, pulled several locks of hair from her bangs to let them drape around her face, and then went to get a thermal flask for some warm water.
After that, she went into Odell’s office again.
When she walked into the office, the elevator from the lobby finally reached the highest floor.
Shermaine smiled as the man slowly and elegantly ate his dinner. She went over to his side with a bright smile. “Sir, have some water.”
Odell was slightly thirsty, so he reached out for the thermal flask.
Shermaine’s eyes twinkled. When he wanted to reach out to the thermal flask, she quickly put it on the table. His hand knocked into the flask, and the water spilled all over his pants.
Chapter 1322
Odell frowned.
Horrified, Shermaine immediately apologized, “I'm sorry, sir! | didn't... I'm so sorry.” She bent over, intending to wipe his pants. Odell bolted up immediately, causing her to bump into his crotch. The office went quiet.
“What are you two doing?”
A cold voice broke the silent atmosphere in the office.
Odell pushed Shermaine away and turned to the door.
Shermaine staggered backward and then nervously looked at the door.
Sylvia was at the door with the food container in her hand. Her hair was pulled back neatly, revealing her delicate and elegant facial features, but there was a brazen frostiness on her face.
Her body froze. She had come to visit and bring him
Odell frowned.
Horrified, Shermaine immediately apologized, “I'm sorry, sir! | didn't... I'm so sorry.” She bent over, intending to wipe his pants. Odell bolted up immediately causing her to bump into his crotch. The office went quiet.
“What are you two doing?”
Acold voice broke the silent atmosphere in the office.
Odell pushed Shermaine away and turned to the door.
Shermaine staggered backward and then nervously looked at the door.
Sylvia was at the door with the food container in her hand. Her hair was pulled back neatly, revealing her delicate and elegant facial features, but there was a brazen frostiness on her face.
Her body froze. She had come to visit and bring him dinner, but she found him alone with his secretary in the office. Odell noticed the frostiness, and his eyes narrowed. Just when he was about to speak, Shermaine beat him to it.
“Mrs. Carter! It’s not what you think! | was handing Master Carter the water and accidentally spilled it on him. | tried to help wipe it, but Master Carter stood up, and | bumped into him. It’s not what you think!” Her explanation was accurate, which relieved the nervousness on Odell’s face.
He thought Sylvia would accept the explanation, but it
only fueled her frostiness.
Sylvia scoffed. “You can’t even hold a flask of water properly? You just have to spill it on him and coincidentally bump into him?” Shermaine wore innocence on her face. “I... | really didn’t mean it.”
Sylvia glared at her. “Do you think I'll believe you?”
As the secretary for a multinational company CEO, she could not even hold a thermal flask properly?
No one would believe it, especially considering the fact that she ‘coincidentally’ bumped into him.
Shermaine pursed her lips. She tried to explain the situation but failed to find the appropriate words. All she could do was stand there helplessly with an innocent expression.
LUITIL The look on her face reminded Sylvia of Tara.
Disgusted , Sylvia turned to Odell. “She can't even hold a flask properly and affected your work. | believe that is sufficient for you to fire her.”
(ULL ULL,
Shermaine's expression shifted. She turned to Odell, her face thick with grief.
Odell frowned. He looked at Sylvia and said gruffly, “She didn't do it on purpose.”
Sylvia widened her eyes in disbelief. Shermaine bumped into him, yet he tried to defend her?
Was it because Shermaine was great as a secretary, or was it because he had spent too much time with her to the
point that he had developed feelings for her?
The coldness of anger spread across her body. Sylvia clenched her fists and asked, “Odell, are you really going to do this?
Odell answered, “I'm speaking the truth. She didn’t do it on purpose, whether it's the flask or bumping into me.” He appeared stern, especially with his gruff voice. It seemed like he was impatient because of Sylvia's distrust of him.
Sylvia further widened her eyes. It had been three years since they lived a good life together, and he had never once talked to her like that. Now, everything changed because he wanted to defend his little secretary!
Her body shook, and her expression turned icy cold. She gulped nervously and said, “Odell, | saw everything. Do you think I'm blind?”
Odell frowned. Shermaine immediately said, “It's my fault, Mrs. Carter.
Please don’t blame Master Carter for it. It was | who accidentally spilled water on his pants. I'll resign. immediately and leave as long as you don’t blame Master
Carter for it.”
“Shut up!” Sylvia shouted. “I’ve come across people like you before. If you really don’t want me to misunderstand, you would have gotten the hell out!”
Shermaine’s expression shifted and her eyes turned watery. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I'll leave immediately . Please don’t be mad.”
Shermaine made the motion of wanting to leave the office.
“Stand right there!” the man shouted.
Shermaine froze all of a sudden.
Odell turned to Sylvia with furrowed brows. He was
clearly holding back his frustration and anger. With a deep voice, he said, “Sylvia, can you stop being unreasonable?”
Unreasonable?
Hvis summer. ”
Chapter 1323
Odell pursed his lips in silence.
Anger rushed into Sylvia‘s mind and broke her rationality. She asked, “Odell, did you just call me unreasonable because of her?” Odell's lips remained pursed, but the veins started to pop on his forehead.
Sylvia shouted, “Say something! Have you fallen for her?!”
“Enough!” he shouted back. His powerful shout echoed throughout the entire office, as though a clap of thunder sounded right in front of them.
The whole office plunged into silence. Shermaine was stunned and terrified as it was her first time seeing Odell this furious. TU
Sylvia‘s face turned pale, but that was soon replaced by boiling anger. Her eyes became watery, and she tossed the food container on the floor to express her vexation.
She then spun around and left.
The elevator had not moved since she came out, so she got in and went downstairs. Right after she came out of the elevator, she ran out of the building.
Winter had arrived, and the weather was rather chilly. The moment she ran past the door, the chilly breeze assaulted her body.
As the grief and depression that had piled up in her over the past few weeks burst and drowned her, her tears uncontrollably rolled down her cheeks. She sobbed and _ nervously wiped her tears away.
She quickly got into the car and said to Ben, “Go home.” Ben turned around when he noticed her sobbing tone, but Sylvia buried her face behind her hands. He did not say anything and quietly started the car to drive home. The lights in the office remained bright when one looked 1. in. Odell stood on the spot like a statue.
Shermaine carefully sized up his expression and said in a small voice, “Sir, it was my fault. I'll resign, and you won't see me tomorrow.”
“That won't be necessary.”
“But”
“Just get out,” he said.
Shermaine pursed her lips and walked out in silence.
Odell went over to the window and looked down.
The red car that Sylvia usually traveled in drove away, seeming to be going in the direction of their home. He sighed and then collapsed on his chair. His eyes closed in fatigue.
It had been a long day, and he had been through enough trouble, yet the woman came to his office, caused a scene, refused to believe in him, and did not even care to understand his situation.
The car soon arrived at the Carters‘ residence.
Sylvia got out and strode inside.
Aunt Tonya and Sebastian were still up in the living room. Sylvia entered their sights when she came in.
Aunt Tonya noticed the teary eyes at first glance. She bolted up and asked, “Syl, what happened? What's wrong?”
“I'm fine. You should go have some rest since it's getting late. Sebastian , too.” Sylvia then walked past them and headed upstairs.
Aunt Tonya and Sebastian exchanged a quick look. Both of them revealed a concerned and worried glance at each other.
Sylvia went back to her room, washed up, and went to bed.
Chapter 1324
It was a quiet night, but Sylvia’s mind uncontrollably replayed the scene she saw at Odell’s office where Shermaine had leaned against his body.
She did not want to dwell on the thought, but she could not help herself, even more so when he barely came home recently due to work, and it was his secretary that accompanied him day and night.
Ding! She suddenly received a text on her phone.
She picked it up, anticipating it to be the man, but it was actually a text from the teachers‘ group from the academy. She had been home for more than an hour now, and the man did not even bother to text her.
Did he not bother to even explain himself anymore?
Her eyes became watery again, but she rubbed them dry before she tossed her phone to the side and buried herself under the sheets.
At Carter Tower, the man had rested his eyes for quite some time after Sylvia left. After he got enough rest, he returned to his desk and continued his work.
LILL Shermaine was outside the door, peeking into the office. A while later, she came in with another glass of water. Odell glanced at her. “You can go home. | have no use for you at the moment.”
Shermaine pursed her lips into a forced smile. “Sir, | have nothing to do at home either, so why not let me stay here? | can help you if you need anything at all.”
Odell's eyes were glued to the document in his hand and did not reply. His frosty expression veiled his true emotions.
Shermaine assumed that he heard her and tacitly approved of her staying. Her eyes gleamed as she returned to her own workstation.
Then, she texted Ruth.
“Aunt Ruth, Sylvia came again tonight, but Master Carter told her off because of me!” The reply came instantly. “Really?”
“Of course!”
“Hoho? What did you do? | want stories.”
Shermaine explained how she purposely spilled the water on Odell and seized the chance to fall onto him all while being witnessed by Sylvia.
LU
She smiled and continued texting, “I didn't expect her to come in at such perfect timing and that Master Carter would scold her because of me. It seems like he’s getting fed up of that woman.”
Ruth replied, “You're right, but | think it's better for you to be careful. Try not to use your little tricks anymore, and avoid having any body contact with him.”
Shermaine frowned and disagreed with the suggestion.” Aunt Ruth, why not? | believe Master Carter has developed feelings for me. He even told me to go home and get some rest. You should know how cold he is to others, but he cares about me.”
Ruth went silent for a while before replying, “Sher, | just think he didn’t see through your little trick of spilling water on him. That's why he defended you. Besides, he’s been busy lately and must be overwhelmed with work.
Not only did Sylvia not console him, but she even suspected him of having an affair with you, which fueled his annoyance. That’s why he told her off.”
Shermaine got annoyed by the distrust, and she grumbled, “You're in another country, and you didn’t see it happening. What do you know?”
Nevertheless, she texted back, “Aunt Ruth, so do you. think Master Carter doesn’t have feelings for me? If not, then why did he defend me? Sylvia wanted him to fire me on the spot though.”
Ruth replied almost instantly, “It’s not that. You’re young and beautiful, and you’re his type. If he has no feelings for you, he wouldn't have defended you in front of Sylvia.”
Shermaine’s cold expression turned warm after the text.
Several seconds later, she received another text from Ruth. “I just want you to be more careful. Before Odell completely falls for you, don't try to approach him anymore. He's a cautious man.”
Chapter 1325
Shermaine scoffed. “Hmph. You say it as though you know him really well. If you really know him that well, why would he have fired you from the company back then, and why are you still staying abroad even now?”
If she had not taken the initiative to approach him, Sylvia would not have bumped into them having intimate contact. It would not have aroused his urge to protect her and scold Sylvia either.
Despite Ruth's constant reminders, which started to get annoying, Shermaine obtained her funding and aid to escape poverty and acquire her current position. Therefore, she was in no position to talk back.
With pursed lips, she replied, “I understand, Aunt Ruth. I'll be careful.” It was a sleepless night for Sylvia.
When the sky started to turn bright, she got up. She washed up, changed into some fresh new clothes, and went to the kids‘ room.
The three of them were still in dreamland. They looked extra adorable when they were sleeping. She kissed each of them on the cheeks before she headed down to the
living room. Aunt Tonya and Sebastian were already up. The two of them looked at her when she came down. “Syl, you look sick. Are you okay?” Aunt Tonya went up to her with furrowed brows. “Tell me what happened.”
“I'm fine. It’s just a little argument with Odell.” Sylvia curled her lips nonchalantly. “Aunt Tonya, | have a lot of things to do at the academy, so I’m leaving now.”
She had no class today, but after an irritated sleepless night, she wanted to go out for some air. Before Aunt Tonya could dissuade her, she already left.
It was chilly outside, and fallen leaves had scattered. across the porch. Sylvia felt refreshed.
She wandered along the road aimlessly for a while. Finally, she stopped by some random stall and got some breakfast before continuing her aimless walk.
Ding!
Her phone suddenly received two notifications.
‘Is it Odell?’
Sylvia’s gaze shifted. She pulled her phone out immediately, but the texts were from the teachers of the academy. She was disheartened. Just when she wanted to pocket her phone, she saw that Christopher had sent a message intended for the whole group.
“To the teachers who have registered for tomorrow's sketching trip at Meadow Hills, please be prepared. We are leaving today after lunch.”
Sylvia’s eyes flickered.
About two weeks earlier, Christopher had assembled a group for a sketching trip at Meadow Hills and had invited her to join them, but unfortunately, she rejected him due to her kids and grandmother.
Meadow Hills was located in the northern part of the city, where it was coldest, but it had the best scenery.
A quick thought later, Sylvia texted Christopher. “Mr. President, can | still join the sketching trip at Meadow Hills?”
Rather than waiting for the man to come home, she might as well use the chance for a short getaway. If he had really fallen for Shermaine, there was nothing that she could do to change his mind anyway. If this condition continued, it might devour her sanity and drive her insane. It was a good idea for her to leave the house for while.
Christopher replied, “Yeah, of course. Do you want to join us? | have a teacher who stood me up due to personal reasons, so you can fill her spot.”
Sylvia smiled. “Yeah, count me in. What do | need to prepare?” “Bring some clothes and your personal stuff. We'll be there for about two weeks.” “Noted.”
Sylvia went to the local supermarket to buy some clothes and daily necessities. She then arrived at the academy around noon.