Ch. 1441..1450

Chapter 1441 First Day On The Job

Nodding, Cecilia responded, "Understood, I'm ready for your instructions."

Upon seeing Lysanna, she immediately understood that this job was definitely not going to be as smooth as she had anticipated.

However, nothing ever came easy, and she was determined to work hard to keep her job.

Once she had a job, she wouldn't have to rely on Nicholas. This would also open up more social opportunities for her, instead of staying at home with nothing to do all day, When Lysanna heard Cecilia's response, she quickly assigned a bunch of tasks to the latter.

Despite it being work on the surface, they were essentially errands-fetching water for a particular employee and printing documents for another.

Privately, Lysanna had a word with her colleagues. "In the future, if you guys are swamped with work, you can always delegate some tasks to Cecilia."

This was a classic case of setting Cecilia up, and naturally, those colleagues were more than happy to oblige.

All of them passed their work to Cecilia, saying, "I heard you applied for the translator role. Could you please translate these documents for us? Make sure there are no mistakes." "I've some documents that need translation too. It needs to be done today."

Everyone promptly handed over their tasks to Cecilia, who was left dumbfounded.

With so much to do, there was no way she could finish everything. On top of that, she still had to attend dance rehearsal in the afternoon.

However, Cecilia did not reject them, agreeing to each request.

The colleagues had not anticipated that Cecilia was so easy to push around, and they discussed this fact amongst themselves privately.

"It turns out she's just a pushover. We'll just dump all our work on her from now on."

"Indeed, it would be a waste not to use free labor when it's available."

Lysanna watched Cecilia busily working at her desk, a satisfied smile on her face. "All she can do is dance. I'm telling you, she won't last long here." Everyone was chattering away, but Cecilia didn't care about what they were saying.

When it was time, she promptly gathered all her documents and headed toward the dance studio.

Lysanna saw her about to leave and immediately blocked her path. "Have you finished all your work?" she

asked.

"It's time for me to go downstairs for the dance rehearsal. It's in preparation for entertaining the clients later."

Chapter 1441 First Day On The Job

"Dancing isn't a job. Finish your work first, then you can go." Lysanna stood in her way.

Cecilia, however, stated, "I've already completed all the tasks."

"You're done?" Lysanna asked, somewhat incredulously

63%1

There were so many documents to translate that it would have taken at least three days if she had done it herself. However, Cecilia managed to complete it all in just one morning. "May I leave now?" Ignoring Lyanna's astonished gaze, Cecilia walked past her.

Lysanna watched her retreating figure, still finding it hard to believe.

"How did she manage to finish all those work?"

A colleague leaned in. "Is she using a translation software?"

"Can that thing even produce a readable translation?" mocked Lysanna with a cold voice. "I'm going to check her workstation. If she really used translation software, she can pack her things and leave."

However, upon arriving at Cecilia's workstation, Lysanna discovered that Cecilia had locked all the files, making them completely inaccessible.

Her colleagues also came over one by one. "I don't think she finished at all. Why else would she lock up the files? She must be afraid of being checked."

A smirk tugged at the corners of Lysanna's mouth.

"If that's really the case, I will get rid of her before the end of the workday."

While Lysanna and her friends were engaged in a lively discussion, Cecilia was learning dance moves from the Nadia.

She flawlessly executed every dance move in one go.

Not only were the other participating staff members amazed, but even Nadia had a spark in her eyes. "You didn't happen to have previous training, did you?"

Chapter 1442 The Amazing Cecilia

Cecilia spoke candidly. "I studied dance when I was in school."

"No wonder. I was wondering why your foundation was so solid. I've really struck gold," Nadia said, a broad smile on her face.

In the past, she had also organized the employees for dance rehearsals a way to curry favor with the

bosses.

However, all of the employees were rigid in their movements, making dance rehearsals quite a struggle. Cecilia quickly finished her practice and headed upstairs to wrap up her workday.

However, as soon as she reached the office upstairs, she found herself the focus of her colleagues'

attention.

The gazes held a variety of emotions. Some were nosey and hostile,, while others were filled with sympathy.

Cecilia was a bit puzzled as she walked toward her workstation. Before she could even sit down, Lysanna emerged from the boss' office.

"Cecilia, didn't you mention that you've completed your work? Open your drawer and hand me the documents. I need to show them to the boss."

Upon hearing this, Cecilia didn't hesitate. He took out her key, unlocked the drawer, and retrieved a stack of documents.

Lysanna took it, flipped it open, and her eyes widened in shock.

A moment later, she scoffed, "Really? Out of all these documents, you've only translated a couple. The rest are blank, and yet you claim to have finished your work? I always said those who relied on connections lack real talent. But now, it seems they're not only incompetent, but also prone to lying!" Despite what was said, Cecilia remained calm.

However, Lysanna was relentless. "Let's go, we should show the boss your masterpiece."

Lysanna, holding onto Cecilia's hand, headed toward the boss' office.

Since Lysanna had already spoken to the boss, she barged into the room with Cecilia without even knocking.

The boss was a foreigner name Thomas Stafford.

He didn't appreciate employees who were lazy and tried to shirk their responsibilities.

Upon seeing Cecilia and Lysanna enter, Thomas leaned back into his chair and asked in a foreign language, "Lysanna, did she really not finish her work?"

He initially didn't want to concern himself with such trivial matters. However, Lysanna mentioned that Cecilia had joined the company by pulling strings.

Chapter 1442 The Amazing Cecilia

assigned to her today. She didn't complete it at all, yet she claimed she did."

Thomas picked up the document and upon looking at it, his brow furrowed as well.

@63%

He looked up at Cecilia's beautiful face once again. "How could you do this? Even if you couldn't finish it, you shouldn't have lied."

When Cecilia looked at Thomas, she could tell that he was someone reasonable,

So, she stepped forward and responded in the same foreign language fluently. "Mr. Stafford, I have indeed finished the tasks assigned to me."

After speaking, she pulled out the two translation documents that Lysanna had specifically given her from among those files.

"These two tasks were assigned to me by Ms. Zabel, and I've completed them both. As for the other documents..." Cecilia held up one of them. "This is from Jake, this one is from Jaden, and this is from Colby..."

Cecilia had informed Thomas about all those who had dumped their work on her.

Then she said, "Mr. Stafford, so many people have dumped their work on me, expecting it to be done in a day. I'd like to know, who in this room could possibly complete all of these in just one day? I had a dance rehearsal scheduled for the afternoon, so I had to finish my own tasks beforehand. Also, I didn't deceive Ms. Zabel either, I truly did finish my assigned tasks. If you don't believe me, feel free to check these two documents for any errors."

Lysanna was taken aback by Cecilia's response.

Meanwhile, there were others eavesdropping outside the office.

These were the same people who had said in the morning that Cecilia was a pushover, even handing their own work over to the latter. Right then, they felt a chill run through their spines.

Chapter 1443 A Test Of Capability

The other employees could never have predicted that Cecilia would put their work aside and take her complaints directly to Thomas, the boss himself,

After listening to Cecilia's complaint, Thomas turned to the stack of documents she referenced. His brow furrowed as he realized the workload she was handling was far too extensive for an intern.

He glanced up at Lysanna and asked pointedly, "Lysanna, care to explain? Why is everyone else dumping their work on an intern? Should I consider hiring someone new to manage their tasks instead? Or are they paying this young lady out of their pockets for handling their responsibilities?"

Lysanna's face turned pale. "Mr. Stafford, please let me explain. I only suggested that if the others were overwhelmed, they could temporarily delegate some tasks to Cecilia."

Thomas' tone sharpened. "The work here is assigned fairly. This young lady managed to translate two documents in a single morning. Meanwhile, the rest of them seem incapable of finishing their own assignments. Maybe I need to reevaluate your performance." Lysanna felt a surge of frustration when Thomas placed all the blame on her.

She protested, "Mr. Stafford, there's no way Cecilia completed those translations accurately without using a translation software. A technical document like that would take an experienced professional hours."

Unmoved, Thomas picked up Cecilia's documents and scanned them briefly before handing them over. "Have a look," he said, his tone calm but firm.

Reluctantly, Lysanna took the papers. Her eyes widened as she read. The translation was impeccable-no grammatical errors, and no signs of software usage.

Doubting her first impression, she grabbed another set for comparison. To her dismay, the quality was equally flawless.

on pres

It dawned on Thomas that Lysanna had deliberately made things difficult for Cecilia. He spoke with an icy edge. "You've been here two years, Lysanna, and your translations have had their share of issues. This intern, however, produces perfect work. It seems she isn't the one relying on connections."

Lysanna was on the verge of tears as she realized she'd shot herself in the foot. Instead of undermining Cecilia, her actions had backfired, putting the intern in the spotlight while tarnishing her own reputation.

"That's enough," Thomas declared impatiently. "From now on, whoever is responsible for their tasks will complete them without pushing them onto others."

He turned to Cecilia and added, "Ms. Smith, excellent work. Focus on your own assignments. If anyone tries to burden you with theirs, inform me immediately. I don't keep underperformers here." "Understood, Mr. Stafford."

With that, Cecilia turned and left Thomas' office calmly though the tension among her coworkers was palpable.

Outside, the employees who had taken advantage of Cecilia exchanged uneasy glances as they lamented among themselves.

"D*mnit I should'en Inoum hatter than to hala Imman

I navne

0000000

hart ha co

Chapter 1443 A Test Of Capability

competent."

"Ugh, I wasted my time watching dramas instead of working. Now I'll have to stay late to catch up..."

"I should've just done the work myself."

Cecilia wasn't one to be trifled with. She knew that simply rejecting them wouldn't work, and she would need a far harsher approach to deal with them.

Sure enough, her colleagues wouldn't dare offload their assignments on her now.

After all the hassle, Cecilia returned to her desk, gathered her belongings, and prepared to leave for the day.

Lysanna, exiting Thomas' office with a dark expression, passed by Cecilia. She hissed under her breath, "Playing dirty, huh? Just you wait."

I've been with the company for two years. Getting rid of a rookie is well within my capabilities!

Cecilia didn't flinch. "Sure. I'll be waiting."

Chapter 1444 Jealousy And Unspoken Tensions

Cecilia went home. As soon as she arrived, she noticed a message from Nicholas asking how work was going.

She replied: It's going well.

Reading her message, Nicholas felt an unexpected wave of unease. He feared her,exposure to the world outside might bring back memories he wasn't ready for her to remember. Nicholas wrote: If anything feels off or makes you unhappy, just quit.

Cecilia typed back: Okay.

Despite her current challenges, quitting wasn't an option she considered. On the contrary, she found her job invigorating.

After a year cooped up at home, mostly alone, she relished the mental stimulation. Competing in the workplace made her feel sharp and focused in a way she hadn't felt in ages.

After exchanging a few more messages, Cecilia set her phone down and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Nicholas had hired a housekeeper to manage the chores, but Cecilia wasn't accustomed to relying on others for such things. With time on her hands, she preferred to clean and cook herself. Meanwhile, back at Rainsworth Manor in Tudela, Nicholas lingered with his phone in hand, staring at it for several moments before setting it down deliberately

As Cassandra made her way upstairs, Nicholas intentionally left his phone in plain sight before heading off to freshen up.

True to his expectation, Cassandra couldn't resist her curiosity. A message notification pinged, and she snatched the phone up to read it.

The sender was the same person whose profile picture she had noticed the day before. The message read simply: Thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to find this job. Cassandra frowned, puzzled. Just as she was trying to get a closer look, Nicholas' voice cut through her concentration.

"What are you looking at?" He had stepped out of the bathroom unnoticed and now stood behind her.

Startled, Cassandra quickly set the phone down. "Looks like someone sent you a message, thanking you for helping her find a job."

Nicholas shrugged. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just the daughter of a client I worked with before. She's studying abroad and needed a job, so I helped her out."

His explanation seemed straightforward enough, and Cassandra's doubts temporarily eased.

Yet, jealousy bubbled under the surface. As soon as Nicholas returned to the bathroom, she immediately asked someone to investigate which of their clients had daughters.

(

11..

401

Chapter 1444 Jealousy And Unspoken Tensions

days." Her focus on the situation was so intense that she didn't even notice her own daughter's cries.

Elena, hearing the baby's wails from downstairs, gestured to Theresa. "She doesn't even realize her baby's crying. Poor thing," Elena muttered. Sighing, she turned to Elliot and Jonathan. "All right, Eli, Jon, let's get you both home."

George had been calling incessantly, insisting on seeing Jonathan, so Elena had no choice but to comply.

"All right," the boys said in unison.

First, she dropped Jonathan off at Sinclair Manor. Then she headed to Daltonia Villa to leave Elliot with Nathaniel.

It wasn't that Elena didn't want to care for Elliot herself but Nathaniel's current state worried her. He was alone and withdrawn. Leaving Elliot with him seemed like the best way to bring some light back into his life.

At Daltonia Villa, Nathaniel was in his study, deeply immersed in his work. These days, his routine had become a dull cycle of eating, sleeping, working, and searching for Cecilia.

Even the arrival of Elena and Elliot didn't break his focus.

Elena climbed the stairs and knocked on his study door. "Nathaniel, I've brought Eli back."

Hearing her voice, Nathaniel finally looked up. "Let him stay with you for now," he said, his tone weary. "I don't have the time to look after him."

Chapter 1445 Only Half Done

Upon hearing these words, Elena couldn't help but feel angry. "What are you even saying? I've already been caring for two children, and now you want me to look after Eli as well? You're their father, you know." Nathaniel, who was typing, paused. "Then let him stay

After all, he didn't need to take care of Elliot with the housekeepers at home.

"That's settled, then. I'm leaving Eli in your care. I'm heading back now."

Elliot sat downstairs. Truthfully, he didn't want to come back at all.

Being with Nathaniel was truly unbearable. His mother was still missing, and he was required to do all kinds of homework whenever he was alone with Nathaniel.

"Grandma, are you leaving?" A pleading look filled Elliot's eyes when he saw Elena descend the stairs.

In his heart, he was silently pleading. Take me with you.

Unfortunately, Elena didn't understand his intentions. "Yes. I'm going back now. You should stay home and keep your dad company. He's been acting as if he's lost his soul." With that, Elena let out another sigh.

Seeing how troubled Elena was, Elliot had no choice but to stay. With a heavy heart, he walked Elena to the

front door.

Once he returned, he was just contemplating heading to his room to play some games when he heard Nathaniel's icy voice echoing from downstairs. "Elliot."

Elliot couldn't help but feel a chill in the air. He forced a smile and looked up.

He saw Nathaniel standing on the second-floor corridor, looking at him. "Come up."

Elliot reluctantly headed upstairs. "Sc*mbag daddy, what's the matter?"

"Let me check your homework." Nathaniel sternly extended his hand toward him. "Where are the two papers I gave you before we went to Rainsworth Manor?"

At that moment, Elliot truly wished he could find a hole to crawl into as he was terrified of being hit.

"Um, I forgot to bring it back," he explained, somewhat stuttering.

Surprisingly, Nathaniel didn't get angry. "In this case, follow me to the study."

"Oh, okay." Elliot cautiously followed Nathaniel into the study.

Nathaniel immediately printed out two more sets of test papers for him. "Do it now. Since you've done it before at Rainsworth Manor, it should only take you half an hour to redo it." "Half an hour?" Elliot's eyes widened in surprise.

Nathaniel's icy gaze fell upon him. "Half an hour is too long, is it? Let's make it twenty minutes, then. I also

Chapter 1445 Only Half Done

Elliot's lips puckered.

63%

Nathaniel furrowed his brows. "Hold it right there. You're not allowed to cry." How could my son be so prone to tears? How can he protect Cecilia in the future?

Elliot was startled by Nathaniel's gaze, but he managed to hold back his tears. He took the test paper and sat down, starting to work on the questions.

He really missed Cecilia at that moment, aching for her presence. If only she was there, he wouldn't have to endure such hardship.

In no time, twenty minutes flew by.

Elliot hadn't finished even half of the questions when she approached Nathaniel. "Daddy, y-you're not going to hit me, are you?"

"You've only done half of the questions?" Nathaniel was in disbelief.

After such a long time, he had only managed to complete half of the questions.

"Yes." Elliot gave a frightened nod.

Nathaniel didn't show any signs of annoyance. He took the half page, scanned it briefly, and quickly spotted a few mistakes. "This part here is incorrect. Go check the answers and once you're done, write each question out a hundred times." Elliot pitifully took the test paper and began to transcribe it.

As the night progressed, it was already ten o'clock. Exhausted, Elliot fell asleep while writing.

Nathaniel saw him asleep, sprawled out on the writing desk. Rising from his seat, he walked over and picked Elliot up.

Seemingly frightened, Elliot murmured in his sleep, "Daddy, please don't hit me. Mommy, I miss you so much."

Chapter 1446 She Is Definitely Fine

Upon hearing that his son was even afraid of him in his dreams and that he missed Cecilia, Nathaniel felt as if he had been pricked by a needle in his heart.

He gently placed Elliot on the bed and then proceeded to continue with his work.

Unable to find Cecilia, he was not inclined to do anything else, nor did he feel any sense of fatigue.

Every time he lay in bed, it was difficult for him to truly fall asleep. Why can I find her even after searching for over a year? Where on earth could she have gone? Could she really be dead? At the thought of death, Nathaniel quickly dismissed it There's no way Cecilia is dead. If she's dead, what would I do?

In the wee hours of the morning, Nathaniel managed to catch a few hours of sleep. However, come dawn, he was awakened by the ringing of his phone.

He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Mason. He immediately answered it and asked, "Any leads on Cecilia yet?"

Upon hearing his boss' inquiry, Mason responded truthfully, "No."

"What's the matter?"

"Do you still remember Mr. Thomas?" Mason asked. "He invited you to travel abroad next week, mentioning he'd like to discuss some matters concerning overseas trade with us."

"Okay. You can make the arrangements." Before hanging up, Nathaniel asked, "How many places are left unchecked?" The world is neither vast nor small. If Mason plans to search the whole world, he might not have enough time in his lifetime. Mason replied, "We've basically checked most countries, but we haven't visited Mr. Thomas' hometown yet. We could look there as well."

"Okay. Deploy more people to the other areas," Nathaniel ordered solemnly.

""Understood."

After hanging up the phone, Nathaniel found sleep elusive. He got up and changed his clothes.

He appeared older now and somewhat unkempt.

Elliot was still asleep when Nathaniel left for his company. Before he left, he made sure to instruct the nanny to take good care of their child.

He didn't go to Imminence Corporation. Instead, he went to the company Ceci Corporation, which Cecilia

established.

Ceci Corporation had grown threefold in size compared to the past, with every department well-established. Everyone was working in an orderly and efficient manner. However, throughout that year, Charlotte and the others were quite disheartened. This was because Cecilia had disappeared and, to this day, her fate remained unknown.

Chapter 1446 She is Definitely Fine:

"Alas. Without Ceci around, there's nothing fun anymore," said Madeline.

It was only the fourth day of the month, yet she had already come to work.

Charlotte nodded. "Yeah. I really miss Boss."

When Cecilia was around, they lived together, including Eli. The atmosphere was as lively as it could possibly be.

As they chatted, Nathaniel walked over.

They immediately shut their mouths, not daring to speak another word.

After his arrival, Nathaniel went straight to the office, paying no attention to them.

Lucille sighed. "It seems like Mr. Rainsworth's spirits have been low these days."

"Yeah. Aside from work, he hardly ever speaks," Charlotte remarked.

Madeline also let out a sigh. "He must really be missing Ceci."

They were so engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to the fact that someone had approached them from behind. "Have there been any news about Ceci?"

Madeline shivered, turning around to see Eric standing behind her. "Why didn't you make a sound? You scared me to death."

"That's because you all were so engrossed in your conversation," replied Eric.

"There's still no news of Ceci," Lucille said.

A look of disappointment crossed Eric's face. "It's been so long, and we still haven't found her. Could it be that..."

He didn't dare to recklessly finish his sentence.

"Don't spout nonsense," Charlotte hurriedly said. "Boss is blessed with good fortune. She'll definitely be fine." "Absolutely. There's no doubt that Ceci is fine," said Eric

"That's right. Let's go, time for work." Madeline was working on several projects at the moment.

Ever since she found out that Darren had secretly taken her project, Madeline had begun to confront him head-on. With the help of Calvin, she was no less competent than Darren.

Occasionally, Calvin would also be there. Naturally, he was also deploying people to search for Cecilia's whereabouts.

Chapter 1447 Deliberately Tripping Cecilia

Meanwhile, abroad, ever since the last time when Cecilh taught the company staff a lesson through the boss, everyone was hesitant to entrust their matters to Cecilia.

Similarly, Cecilia found herself ostracized by her colleagues.

Everyone ignored her, and the tasks assigned to her by Lysanna were always the most challenging.

"Cecilia, you're competent, and the more capable a person is, the more responsibility they shoulder. Don't go telling the boss that this isn't part of your job," Lysanna said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Had it been any other intern, they would have been driven away by Lysanna long ago.

However, Cecilia was different. No matter how challenging the tasks assigned by Lysanna, she would always find a way to complete them.

Her colleagues here isolated her, but during the dance rehearsals in the afternoon downstairs, she got to know quite a few employees from other departments and managed to get along well with them. Unaware of these circumstances, Lysanna was under the impression that Cecilia would take the initiative to resign once she had had enough.

However, as the days rolled by, not only did Cecilia not resign, but she also executed her job flawlessly.

The boss complimented her several times. "She really doesn't seem like an intern. She's even more outstanding than the regular employees."

Jealousy was eating away at Lysanna's heart.

As the time to welcome the guests from Clusia was drawing near, everyone's workload seemed to increase significantly.

When Lysanna went to watch Cecilia and her group rehearsing their dance, she saw Cecilia, in her role as the lead dancer, standing at the forefront like a strikingly beautiful swan.

She couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy in her heart. If Cecilia truly becomes the lead dancer, catching the eyes of the bosses from Clusia, won't she achieve instant success if they see her potential?

Originally, Lysanna didn't care about the lead dancer's position. However, when she thought about how Cecilia had replaced her, she felt regret. "This spot should have been mine."

Lysanna sought out the dance teacher. "You had previously agreed that I would be the lead dancer, but now you're replacing me with Cecilia. I won't accept this. I demand to be reinstated as the lead dancer, and Cecilia should step down." The dance instructor had never seen such a shameless person before.

"Are you kidding me? The performance is in a few days. Can you do it if you were to be the lead dancer?" The dance instructor flatly turned down Lysanna.

A cold glint flashed across Lysanna's eyes. "Just you wait. You'll be begging for my help soon."

Subsequently, when Lysanna returned to the office, she saw Cecilia heading toward the restroom. Without

Wed, Jan

Chapter 1442 Deliberately Tripping Cecilia

Cecilia was about to leave the restroom after using the facilities when she was intercepted by the approaching Lysanna. "Ms. Zabel, is there something you need?" Upon hearing that, Lysanna chuckled. "The performance is in a few days. Are you all set?"

"Of course," replied Cecilia. "Is there anything else?"

63%

Finishert

"Nope." With her hands folded across her chest, Lysann watched as Cecilia walked past her. Unable to stop herself, Lysanna lifted her foot to block Cecilia's way.

Caught off guard, Cecilia was tripped by Lysanna, causing her to fall heavily onto the ground.

Lysanna herself had almost taken a tumble due to her unstable footing.

She quickly steadied herself against the wall, feigning concern for Cecilia. "Cecilia, are you all right? How did you end up falling all of a sudden?"

Having abruptly fallen hard onto the ground, Cecilia felt pain so intense that she couldn't even stand up.

She knew very well that it was Lysanna who had tripped her. After taking several deep breaths, she slowly got up with the support of the wall. Only then did she realize that her wrist and knee were injured and bleeding. "Ouch. Your injury looks pretty serious. You should probably get to a hospital." Lysanna feigned concern.

Cecilia looked at Lysanna coldly. She refrained from confronting the latter directly. "Fine. I'll take a leave then."

"Sure. No problem," Lysanna replied, her face plastered with a grin, and her eyes gleamed with

amusement.

Hobbling out of the restroom, Cecilia hailed a cab to head to the hospital.

The company's employees couldn't help but wonder. "What's wrong with her?"

Lysanna said with a smug grin, "Ah. She wasn't careful while walking and slipped in the restroom. It was quite a disaster. Maybe that's just karma."

Chapter 1448 Cannot Dance

Inside the hospital, the doctor had done X-ray of Cecilia's bones and conducted an examination on her. "Your leg injury is severe. You'll need at least a week of rest. It's best not to move around too much."

"Is it really that serious? Cecilia thought she had merely taken a fall and that it was nothing serious.

"Yes. That's what I've observed," the doctor affirmed:

"But I have a dance performance in a few days. Is there any way I can recover sooner?" Cecilia asked anxiously.

She definitely couldn't let her dance teacher, who had brought her into the company, down.

Moreover, she had spent so much time rehearsing. Giving up now just didn't sit well with her.

"No. Your injury might not look severe on the surface, but it has actually damaged your muscles and bones. You need to rest at home and avoid any unnecessary movement. How can you possibly dance in such a condition?" The doctor prescribed some medication for Cecilia and then advised her to go home and rest.

On the way back, a look of worry was etched all over Cecilia's face.

She gently touched the spot on her knee, and the pain was particularly intense.

Lysanna did that on purpose, yet she had the audacity to call Cecilia. "Cecilia, how did your check-up go? I hope you didn't get hurt too badly. If it's severe, you should take a few days off and rest at home. You had quite a nasty fall earlier."

Cecilia clenched her fist. "It's indeed quite serious. The doctor advised me to minimize my movements,

but I can

still manage to work."

"Oh no, what are we going to do? You're injured, so how can you lead the dance?" Lysanna feigned surprise, but inside, she was secretly thrilled. Now that Cecilia is injured, I'll be the lead dancer, right? After all, I'm the only other person who's learned the moves. Other people won't be able to take over the position so soon.

"I'm not sure either." Cecilia sighed. "It seems like someone else will have to replace me as the lead dancer."

Joy swelled within Lysanna after she heard that. Her voice was laced with cheer as she responded, "No worries. There will be plenty of opportunities like this in the future. I'll talk to the dance teacher on your behalf. You can just focus on healing your injury."

At that point, Cecilia finally understood Lysanna's intentions. Firstly, she was seeking revenge. Secondly, she wanted the lead dancer position.

Cecilia remained calm and collected. "Okay. I appreciate your help, then."

Then, she ended the call.

Lysanna impatiently shared the news with the dance teacher.

Upon returning home, Cecilia immediately called Nicholas, asking if he could help her find a renowned orthopedic specialist for a consultation.

Chapter 1448 Cannot Dance

"What happened?" Upon hearing that, Nicholas couldnt help but feel worried.

"It's nothing serious. I just had a fall. The doctors here Ivised me to rest properly for a week. However, I had promised my company that I would perform a dance on stage in a few days. I don't want to give up just like that." Cecilia thought that there must be quite impressive orthopedic doctors back in Clusia.

Nicholas let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, I'll get the doctor to come and check on you."

"All right."

After Nicholas made a phone call, a professional doctor arrived first thing the next morning to examine Cecilia. Fortunately, the condition wasn't too severe. Still, Cecilia was advised against any strenuous activities. "Can I really not dance?" Cecilia asked.

The doctor helped her apply some medication before replying, "Try to rest more in the next couple of days. You can perform briefly on the day of the show, but it might cause some pain."

"It's fine. I can endure it." Cecilia had no intention of letting Lysanna have her way.

"Let me prescribe some more painkillers for you. I'm afraid you might not be able to bear it," the doctor said.

"Okay. I appreciate it," Cecilia agreed.

After the doctor had prescribed the medication, Cecilia sent him off. Shortly after, she received a phone call from her dance teacher.

"Ceci, Lysanna said you were injured. Does that mean you won't be able to dance?"

Chapter 1449 Change Of Plans

To Cecilia's surprise, Lysanna was incredibly eager. Without any hesitation, she explained herself.

"So, you were able to lead the dance that day?"

"Sure, there won't be any issues on that day. It's just that I might not be able to train these two days," Cecilia stated.

The dance teacher, Nadia, let out a sigh of relief instantly. "That's fine. As long as you can perform on the day, it's all good. After all, you're already very well-practiced."

She felt that even if Cecilia didn't practice for a few days, she would still be better than Lysanna.

"Alright, then I'll take a couple of days off first."

"Sure, that works."

Cecilia seemed to have thought of something and said, "However, could you possibly refrain from telling Lysanna for now? Could you tell her you've found another dance student?"

Nadia was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Why?"

Cecilia then told Nadia about her fall and the hospital.

Upon hearing this, Nadia was filled with righteous indignation. "How could Lysanna behave in such a way? I was wondering why she approached me about leading the dance, and then you ran into trouble in the afternoon. So it was her doing. Her character is seriously flawed."

After she finished speaking, she also understood why Cecilia had asked her to do this. It was nothing more than the fear that Lysanna might once again harbor ill intentions. After all, there were some things that were impossible to guard against completely. After discussing with Nadia, Cecilia applied for a two-day leave online.

Since Cecilia had ended up this way, Lysanna decided to stop making things difficult for her. She agreed to Cecilia's leave request, then returned home and began to diligently practice her dance routines.

She was determined to dazzle the audience on the day of her performance. She imagined she might even catch the eye of someone who'd take a liking to her.

Nadia had originally intended to follow Cecilia's advice, but her nature of despising evil took over, leading her to call Lysanna.

"Lysanna, Cecilia can't dance. Could you possibly be the lead dancer?"

Lysanna feigned reluctance. "Didn't you say I wasn't up to the task before? I'd better not lead the dance. What if I ruin your entire choreography?"

You sure do know how capable you are, huh?

However, Nadia said, "Hard work can make up for lack of skill. As long as you're willing to put in the effort, there won't be any issues with the performance. If you really don't want to, I can find a dance student from outside."

Chapter 1449 Change Of Plans

63%

"Uh, that's not it. I will be the lead dancer," she said, acknowledging the matter was, after all, about the company. "How could I not have that much understanding?" Seeing that she had made her point, Lysanna decided to stop there. After she hung up the phone, she immediately began practicing in front of the mirror, fearing any mishaps during her performance.

She was still unaware that she, too, had been played by someone.

A few days later, several business owners from within the country had arrived.

Cecilia had returned to the company, readying herself for the day's hosting duties.

She had no trouble walking with her legs now, but attempting a complex dance routine would cause her pain.

Nicholas had initially planned to return on the day of her performance, but Cassandra held him up, and he couldn't make it.

Nicholas: Ceci, remember to record your performance. I'll watch it when I'm back.

Cecilia: Okay.

Looking over, Lysanna curiously asked, "Ms. Smith, is that your husband?"

After hearing this, Cecilia couldn't help but shake her head. "No."

"So he's your boyfriend? When are you planning to get married? What does he do for a living?" Lysanna remembered that Cecilia was no longer young, and was surprised that she was still unmarried. There must be more to the story. Cecilia nodded, casually appeasing her without saying much more.

www

Guests at the event began to arrive one by one. Lysanna no longer had time to gossip about Cecilia, and instead went to change into her dance attire.

What she hadn't expected was Nadia apologizing to her "Lysanna, I'm sorry, but you can't be the lead dancer today."

Chapter 1450 A Surprise

"Why?" Lysanna asked, her face full of confusion.

She had poured so much energy into reclaiming her position as the lead dancer, and now they were just going to dismiss her like that?

"Because I found someone who dances better," said Nadia.

Nadia had initially intended to help Cecilia let off some steam, but unexpectedly, it only made Lysanna resent Cecilia even more. This nearly led to a mishap for Cecilia later on. "And who's that?" Lysanna's face had turned beet red.

"When she takes the stage later, you'll see. She truly dances better than you," Nadia said.

Lysanna stood frozen on the spot, all alone.

She had told everyone about her being the lead dancer. This was essentially a slap to her face,

She was determined to find out who had abruptly taken her place.

At the hotel, slowly, a considerable number of luxury cars rolled in, with a number of bosses stepping out.

Meanwhile, Thomas Stafford, the boss of Cecilia's company, had been waiting outside. He was expecting a particularly important guest that day.

At that moment, a modest Lincoln pulled up.

A glint of excitement flashed in Thomas' eyes. He strode over and personally opened the car door.

""Mr. Rainsworth."

Nathaniel stepped out of the car and courteously shook hands with him.

"Mr. Rainsworth, I've arranged a private room for you. It's a quiet place where we can talk at leisure."

"Okay."

Immediately, Thomas escorted Nathaniel upstairs to the private room.

The company employees couldn't help but be curious when they saw their boss being so attentive to a young foreign man.

"Who is this guy? Why is the boss treating him so well?"

While other bosses merely received a brief greeting from Thomas at the entrance, only Nathaniel had received a personal welcome.

"It seems like this man was Mr. Stafford's partner from a few years back, right? I heard the way he does things is quite something," someone quipped. "He looks so handsome. I didn't expect him to be a big-time boss."

14:31 Wed,

Chapter 1450 A Surprise

As Cecilia passed by them, she couldn't help but glance in the direction Nathaniel had left when she overheard their conversation.

She only caught a glimpse of the man's silhouette, a figure that felt strangely familiar, before it quickly vanished from her sight.

Upon arriving at the private room, Nathaniel was promptly ushered by Thomas to commence the business banquet.

Various programs prepared by the company gradually took the stage.

Nathaniel was seated in a private room on the second floor, from where he could clearly see everything that was happening downstairs.

He watched the performance downstairs, along with a few other acts, but he didn't find them particularly interesting.

Thomas had also noticed it and immediately discussed work with him.

Nathaniel was always known for his swift and decisive actions. In no time, he had finalized work matters with Thomas and was ready to leave. Thomas hurriedly asked him to stay, "Mr. Rainsworth, we have a lot more on the agenda later. How about taking a break before you leave?"

Nathaniel had only come over to discuss work. He had absolutely no interest in those shows. "No, I have other matters to attend to."

He came here with another significant purpose, which was to search for Cecilia.

Throughout that year, he had traveled to numerous places, all in hopes of finding Cecilia.

"Alright, let me walk you out," Thomas said, standing up to escort Nathaniel out.

It was at this moment when Cecilia and her colleagues' dance began.

Upon laying her eyes on the stage, Lysanna immediately spotted Cecilia leading the dance. Disbelief filled her gaze. Without delay, she sought out Nadia. "Why is it Cecilia?"

Nadia looked at her as if she were a clown, and retorted. "Why can't it be Cecilia?"

Choked up, Lysanna questioned, "Didn't she have a leg problem that prevented her from dancing?"

"Oh, the doctor mentioned that after a couple of days of rest, she could dance again. Judging from your recent performance, I must say she's better. I'd feel more at ease letting her take the stage," Nadia said in a calm and unhurried manner.

Chapter 1433 The Nightmare

Cecilia was so close to him that she could feel his warm breath, and she instinctively took a step back.

"I going to bed now."

"Alright."

Nicholas gradually loosened his grip.

Upon returning to her bedroom, Cecilia lay down once again to sleep.

When Nicholas left, he closed the door behind him.

Lying in bed, Cecilia could heard the sound of running water from the neighboring bathroom, and sleep eluded her no matter what.

"What on earth is going on with me?" she mumbled to herself.

For reasons unknown, she always felt a certain resistance toward Nicholas.

Ever since waking up a year ago, Cecilia felt as though she had forgotten many things. The only memories that seemed to remain were those related to Nicholas.

The latter mentioned that she had been in a car accident before, which had resulted in some memory loss. She spent the past year abroad, primarily to receive treatment. In the wee hours of the morning, Cecilia finally fell asleep.

Not long after she fell asleep, she experienced a nightmare. In her dream, a man bearing an uncanny resemblance to Nicholas appeared, but he had a terrible temper. Cecilia had walked over and asked him, "Who are you?"

With eyes rimmed red, the man looked at her. "Have you forgotten who I am?"

There was only confusion in Cecilia's eyes.

Suddenly, the man embraced her. "Do you have any idea how long I've been searching for you?" he said.

After he finished speaking, he was about to forcefully do something to her.

Struggling, Cecilia demanded, "Let go of me, let go!"

She was jolted awake from the nightmare, her body drenched in a cold sweat.

"Why did I have such a dream?"

Cecilia took a deep breath, slowly calming herself down.

Once she had calmed down, she didn't dare to sleep anymore. She turned on the light and began scrolling through her phone aimlessly.

During that time, she had looked at quite a number of job advertisements.

Cecilia was proficient in foreign languages, although she couldn't recall the jobs she had undertaken. When she saw job advertisements

for secretarial and clerical works

well as for foreign language,

translation, she couldn't help but feel intrigued.

At that moment, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Nicholas briskly walked in.

"What's wrong, Ceci?"

Cecilia was first startled by the intrusion, but upon seeing that it was Nicholas, she quickly put away her phone.

"It's nothing. I just had a nightmare."

"What nightmare?" Nicholas sat beside her, patiently asking.

Cecilia didn't hold back anything, sharing with Nicholas everything that happened in her dreams, and the people she encountered.

She failed to notice the gradually darkening of Nicholas' expression. Instead, she asked him, "Isn't it strange? Why would I dream about someone who looks just like you?"

Nicholas reached out to tuck the loose fringes behind her ear, then slowly began to speak.

"Perhaps it's a recurrence of your illness," he suggested, concern lacing my voice. "Once dawn breaks, I'll call the doctor to come and examine you."

After hearing this, Cecilia dismissed the idea of seeing a doctor. "No need. Didn't I just see a doctor last month? I don't want to see the doctor again."

She underwent psychiatric evaluations monthly, but now, for some reason, she was feeling a sense of resistance.

“Listen, only by seeing the doctor can your illness be cured."

"But I don't feel there's anything

hme

wrong with me mentally now," said

Cecilia. Then, recalling the job advertisements she had seen online,

she pleaded, "Nicholas, I really,

to go out and work. Can I please look for a job?"

Cecilia sighed. "You're always going back to our home country for work, leaving me here all alone with no one to talk to. It's no surprise that I'm having psychological problems, right?" .

Nicholas saw the determination in her eyes, realizing that if he continued to stop her, it would only arouse her suspicion. "Alright." Nicholas changed the subject. "But we still need to see the doctor later, otherwise my mind won't be at ease." "Fine." Once Cecilia received his approval, her eyes lit up with delight.

Chapter 1434 The Job Interview

Once dawn broke, the doctor arrived to examine Cecilia. He then prescribed her medication, insisting she take it regularly and in the correct dosage.

Cecilia agreed, "Alright, thank you,

doctor."

After the doctor left, Nicholas went out to see him off.

Sitting in the car, he couldn't help but ask, "It's been a year already, why is she still dreaming about the past?"

"It's quite normal," the doctor reassured. "No hypnotic method can guarantee complete erasure of past memories." He continued, "But rest assured, given some more time, she'll reach a level of stability where she won't need monthly treatments in the future." "That's a relief." Nicholas sighed, his worries finally put to rest.

"However, you must bear in mind," the doctor cautioned, "avoid exposing her to familiar faces and events from her past. It could trigger her memory and undermine the effectiveness of the hypnosis."

Nicholas nodded. "Understood."

After seeing the doctor out, Nicholas returned to the room, watching intently as Cecilia consumed all the medicine.

After taking the medicine, Cecilia felt extremely drowsy, but she still managed to show him the job she had chosen.

Nicholas glanced over and saw that it was a local company, with no need for business trips or anything of the sort, so he didn't inquire further.

He wanted to spend more time with Cecilia, but the calls kept coming in one after another.

He picked up the phone, impatiently asking, "What's up?"

"Nicholas, it's St. Patrick's Day, why haven't you returned home yet? It's just me and Dahlia at home. Don't you want to spend some time with Dahlia?"

As Nicholas listened to the coquettish voice of Cassandra, yet his heart didn't soften one bit. "Cassandra, you know, my position at Orion Corporation isn't secure yet. It's not like I don't want to spend more time with Dahlia." Cassandra remained relentless.

"What kind of business is so important that it requires you to personally go abroad? When will you be able to return?"

Nicholas watched Cecilia as she slept soundly. "In a couple of days."

"No, you have to be back by tomorrow at the latest," Cassandra demanded. "My mom came over yesterday and she's worried about you not showing enough concern for me and our child." Nicholas's brows tightly furrowed.

"Understood, I'll be back tomorrow."

"Great, you're the best," she said.

Nicholas promptly ended the call.

Without leveraging the power of the Jamieson family, he had no idea when he would be able to gain complete control over Orion Corporation.

After Cecilia woke up, Nicholas told her that he would be leaving the next day, asking her to take good care of herself at home.

"If there's anything you need, just give me a call. And about the job, don't worry if you can't find one," Nicholas gently said. Cecilia nodded. "Alright, don't worry. I'll be fine."

"Okay."

The reason why Nicholas was giving in to Cassandra's demands was also because he feared arousing her suspicions.

At that moment, Cecilia hadn't fully accepted him yet. If Nathaniel and his men discovered her and helped her regain her memory, then all his efforts would have been in vain.

The following day, Nicholas boarded a plane, with Cecilia seeing him off at the airport.

When she was on her way back, she received a notification for a job interview for a translator's role.

Hurray! Cecilia couldn't contain her excitement. After confirming an afternoon interview with the other party, she couldn't wait to go over.

This was an international trading

company where the boss needed

more than just a translator. She was

to handle administrative tasks a

secretary was usually responsible for

The hiring manager looked at Cecilia's bewildered expression and asked with a touch of concern, "Have you ever done this type of work before?"

Cecilia didn't want to lie, so she shook her head. "No, but I can learn."

After hearing this, the manager couldn't help but ask, "What kind of work did you do before?"

This question left Cecilia stumped.

What kind of work have I done before? Why can't I remember?

Chapter 1435 Never Had A Job

The room fell into a deathly silence.

For some inexplicable reason, Cecilia's head started to ache.

Bearing her discomfort, she hesitated before admitting, “I've never gotten a job before.”

Upon hearing this, the manager was somewhat incredulous.

“Are you a full-time housewife?”

In the county, being a full-time housewife was also considered a job.

Cecilia found herself thinking about her unmarried status. Shaking her head, she said, “No, I just never had a job.”

The manager was even more dumbfounded. It would have made more sense if Cecilia was married, had kids, and then stopped working.

Could it be that she has been unemployed all these years since graduation? If it's not due to laziness, there must be some issue with her mindset.

The manager replied in a somewhat awkward tone, “You're very honest, but this job requires work experience. I'm truly sorry.”

When she heard the answer, a trace of disappointment flickered in Cecilia's eyes. However, she maintained her composure and simply shook her head.

“It's alright.”

Holding her resume tightly, Cecilia got up and started to head out.

In truth, she didn't quite understand herself. How is it that after graduation, I never got a job?

Nicholas said she was unwell, which was why she wasn't working. However, she felt that there was nothing wrong with her health.

Upon stepping outside, he saw a diverse group of interviewees. These individuals were well-educated, experienced, and some were even younger than her.

Cecilia wasn't ready to give up just yet. After going home, she planned to find a different job.

As she passed by a dance studio, she suddenly halted.

Inside, everyone was from the same country as she was.

Inside, a dance teacher, Nadia, was pointing at the lead female dancer and saying, "What's going on with you? You've been learning for almost half a month now, why are you still making mistakes? Do you realize that in half a month, you'll be performing for our overseas guests? How are you going to do that at this rate?"

The lead dancer wore a face of displeasure.

"We're here for work, not for dancing. I don't even have a background in dance, so to be able to dance like this is already quite an accomplishment. If you think I'm not up to par, feel free to replace me."

Nadia was left speechless by the criticism.

There were plenty of beauties in this company, but each one of them was proud and arrogant. Despite their incompetence, they were unwilling to learn and improve.

"I refuse to believe that I can't find someone who knows how to dance."

As she spoke, she noticed Cecilia standing at the entrance.noveldrama

Although Cecilia had given birth before, she had maintained an excellent figure. Moreover, she had learned to dance during her school days. Throughout that year, when she had nothing to do, she continued to dance.

Moreover, she could compose music. Be it in dance or feeling the rhythm, she had no equal.

Given her experience, Nadia could tell that Cecilia had prior training in dance with a single glance.

She found herself stepping out subconsciously.

Just as Cecilia was about to leave, she called out, "Miss, do you know how to dance?"

Upon hearing her words, Cecilia halted in her steps and turned to look at her. "A little, I guess."

"Come, come here," the teacher beckoned, mistakenly assuming that Cecilia was an employee of the company.

After Cecilia approached, the teacher scrutinized her closely.

Not only does she possess a great figure, but she also has an exceptionally beautiful face. It was just unfortunate that there is a scar on her right cheek. However, if she were to apply heavy makeup, the scare could be concealed.

"Shall we try this? I'll dance, and you follow along," suggested the teacher.

Observing from the side, the lead dancer noticed the teacher bringing in a new staff member. She scoffed, "Do they really think just about anyone can just waltz in and dance? I've been working hard for half a month and I'm still not done learning the routine."

The backup dancers behind her were also whispering amongst themselves.

"Yeah, we're not exactly born dancers, yet they insist we learn to dance to please those foreign customers. It's really annoying."

"If it weren't for the cash prize that comes with winning the dance competition, I wouldn't have bothered coming."

The dance teacher paid no mind to them. Instead, she performed a routine on the spot for Cecilia.

Chapter 1436 Cecelia Dances

"Can you manage it? All you need to do is get by," Nadia said to Cecilia.

Cecilia nodded. "Alright."

Then, she moved toward the open area.

There, the dancing employees turned their gaze toward her, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

The dance the teacher just performed was undeniably the most challenging part. They figured Cecília would be barely able to execute the moves and end up in a comedic spectacle.

However, they were quickly taken aback.

Not only did Cecilia perfectly replicate the movements demonstrated by Nadia, but she also executed them with remarkable precision. Despite her lack of familiarity with the routine, she surprisingly outperformed the teacher. "How did she manage to do that?" someone asked in disbelief.

The lead dancer couldn't believe it either. Despite practicing for half a month, she hadn't managed to master it.

"Since when did our company hire someone who could dance so well? Why has she been all this while?" another person muttered.

The dance teacher felt as if she had unearthed a rare gem.

"Miss, which department are you from? I'll inform your department manager that you'll be learning dance with us for a while. Once the performance is over, you'll receive a bonus."

Cecilia felt a bit embarrassed. "I'm not an employee of this company. I'm actually here for an interview today."

The dance teacher was momentarily stunned.

"Ah, so did you pass the interview?"

Cecilia shook her head.

The dance teacher, with a regretful expression, said, "How could they not accept you? You're such a good dancer and you're beautiful, you'd be perfect for the sales department."

Cecilia was well aware of her own strengths, but the lack of work experience was her undoing.

The dance instructor gestured for Cecilia to take a seat. Wait here for me, I'll be right back."

Cecilia was somewhat puzzled, but she agreed nonetheless.

"Alright."

After Nadia had left, the people around began to gossip, "I thought she was from our company, turns out she's not."

Chapter 1436 Cecelia Dances

"He didn't even pass the interview, yet she had the audacity to show off here."

"Exactly! There's nothing more annoying than people who love to show off."noveldrama

The lead dancer was talking behind Cecilia's back with the other women. Finished

Upon hearing this, Cecilia decided not to take it lying down. She retorted, "If one wants to show off, one still needs to have the skills to do so. Those without any ability can't do it even if they wanted to." "What are you implying? Are you suggesting we're incompetent?" The lead dancer was upset. "I happen to be the boss' secretary, you know."

Cecilia responded with a nonchalant "okay."

Faced with her response, the lead dancer was livid.

At that moment, Nadia came over and pulled Cecilia aside.

"Miss, I've spoken with the manager. He acknowledged that your resume is impressive, but unfortunately, you lack experience. If it's acceptable to you, you could start as an intern. What do you think? The dance teacher was the manager's significant other, and what she cherished most was being in the company of like-minded individuals.

Cecilia hadn't expected that she would be able to change her fortunes. She nodded repeatedly, saying, "Alright."

After all, she was truly desperate for a job.

"Well then, come over tomorrow to complete your onboarding process. Then, you'll work in the morning and spend the afternoon rehearsing dances with everyone else." "Got it." Cecilia nodded in agreement.

The employees who were just gossiping about Cecilia were dumbfounded. They were filled with jealousy, yet they didn't dare to comment.

Once Cecilia was gone, the lead dancer stepped forward.

"Miss, let's call it a day for the practice," she said.

Upon hearing her words, Nadia looked at her coldly and didn't hold back anymore.

"You can stop practicing here, but the rest of the staff must continue training."

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious? I've already found a new lead dancer," Nadia said, without mincing her words.

Chapter 1437 The New Lead Dancer Finished

"You mean the woman who just arrived? She's new here She's not even familiar with the entire dance routine yet," the lead dancer said in indignance.

It wasn't easy for her to secure the role as lead dancer. All she needed to do then was complete the performance and her achievements would be significant. But now, her position had been stolen by a

newcomer.

"Didn't you see it yourself earlier? She managed to pull off effortlessly the moves that you couldn't."

Nadia's eyes were filled with disdain. "Lysanna, didn't you tell me to get a replacement? Now that I'm doing it, why are you upset?"

The expression of the lead dancer, Lysanna Zabel, alternated between anger and embarrassment.

At this point in time, it would be humiliating for her to take back her words.

She gritted her teeth. "Fine, I quit. Do you think I enjoy this? But don't you worry, I'll definitely tell the boss about your attempt to pull some strings with the manager." Despite hearing the threat, Nadia was unfazed.

"Whatever, go ahead and tell him."

Faced with Nadia's defiance, Lysanna could only clench her fists in frustration before storming off.

Nadia called out to her again, "Hold on, leave your dance costume behind."

Lysanna had no choice but to comply, cursing Cecilia under her breath while doing so.

Upon returning home, Cecilia couldn't help but sneeze.

She texted Nicholas: Have you arrived home? I just wanted to tell you that I aced my interview today, but it's just an internship position.

Meanwhile, Nicholas had just returned to the country, and was compelled by Cassandra to look after their child.

He could only carry her to the side.

Cassandra watched the father and daughter, then returned to her room. She noticed that Nicholas' phone screen had lit up.

Curiosity piqued, she wandered over and found herself looking at a text message sent by Cecilia.

Nicholas didn't leave a caller ID for Cecilia, but her woman's intuition told Cassandra that the message was sent from a woman.

She picked up her phone, curious to see who could be so shameless.noveldrama

However, she didn't have Nicholas' phone password, so she couldn't unlock his phone at all.

Moreover, the text message vanished quickly before she could take a closer look.

Chapter 1437 The New Lead Dancer

In a fit of frustration, Cassandra blurted out, "Who the bell is it!"

No wonder he has always been going abroad. It turns out it isn't for work, but to meet other women.

""F*ck! F*ck!"

Finished

Cassandra was cursing under her breath, all the while plotting to have someone tail Nicholas the next time he went abroad. She was determined to find out who that woman was. Nicholas was not at all fond of Dahlia. The only reason he allowed Cassandra to have a child was because of his own ulterior motives.

After entrusting Dahlia to the nanny, he returned to his room upstairs.

Upon seeing him enter, Cassandra immediately concealed the emotions on her face.

"Nicholas, why aren't you spending more time playing with Dahlia?"

Nicholas didn't respond. His gaze shifted to the cellphone on the table, instantly noticing that someone had moved it.

His expression remained unchanged. "I still have something to do later."

After he finished speaking, he walked over and picked up his phone.

Cassandra couldn't help but look in his direction. Unfortunately, she didn't see anything.

Realizing what had happened, Nicholas grabbed his phone and was about to leave when Cassandra embraced him from behind. "Nicholas, can you please not leave? I want you to stay with me. I feel so lonely when I'm home alone."

As she spoke, her hands were already unfastening Nicholas' buttons.

Nicholas watched the pair of hands at his waist and slowly peeled them off.

"Listen, stop messing around."

After he finished speaking, he quickly walked away.

Once outside, he immediately unlocked his phone to read the text from Cecilia.

Chapter 1438 Cassandra Vents Her Frustration

Cassandra watched as Nicholas resolutely walked away, her eyes instantly reddening.

She couldn't help but chase after him but saw Jocelyn waiting for him.

As a woman, she was not oblivious to the fact that Jocelyn harbored feelings for her husband. A raging fire of jealousy ignited within her. Overwhelmed by the intense emotion, she stormed over and, right in front of Nicholas, she slapped Jocelyn across the face. "Today is the second day of the New Year. What is so important that you can't handle yourself and need Nicholas to step in personally?"

Jocelyn's face throbbed with a fiery pain, yet she couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.

Only then did Nicholas notice what had transpired. He quickly stepped forward, grabbing hold of Cassandra.

"What are you doing?"

When Nicholas questioned Cassandra, she instantly assumed an innocent demeanor.

"Nicholas, I'm just heartbroken. You leaving me and Dahlia behind on such an important day..."

Nicholas gripped her wrist tightly. "So, is that your justification for striking someone innocent?"noveldrama

His gaze was icy cold, his usual patience nowhere to be found.

Cassandra was startled by his intense gaze. She felt a shiver down her spine, while her wrist throbbed with pain. "Nicholas, you're hurting me," she said.

Nicholas, however, did not let her go. Instead, he said, "Apologize to Jocelyn."

Cassandra's pupils contracted.

"You want me to apologize to a subordinate?"

"She isn't just a subordinate of mine, but also a friend. Apologize!" Nicholas firmly repeated.

With that, Cassandra reluctantly addressed Jocelyn saying, "I'm sorry, Ms. Wright."

Jocelyn bore the sting on her cheek, not wanting to put Nicholas in a tough spot,

"It's okay."

"Satisfied now?" Cassandra looked at Nicholas once again.

Only then did Nicholas relax his tight grip.

Immediately, Cassandra massaged her own wrist. Nicholas has gone too far by squeezing my hand until its red.

She truly hadn't expected that Nicholas would actually lay a hand on her over an assistant.

Nicholas didn't pay her any mind. Instead, he looked apologetically at Jocelyn. "Let's go back to the office."

Chapter 1438 Cassandra Vents Her Frustration

Jocelyn nodded. "Alright."

Once they got into the car, the vehicle drove off.

Finished

Nicholas said to Jocelyn, "I brought you back to the country but failed to protect you. You've suffered as a result."

Jocelyn shook her head wryly.

"It's alright. It's no big deal."

To her, the slap was nothing in comparison to Nicholas standing up for her and treating her as a friend.

Nicholas, however, felt increasingly guilty.

"If she ever lays a hand on you again in the future, you don't have to hold back, understand?"

"Alright." Jocelyn forced a smile.

She was truly perplexed. She couldn't understand why Nicholas insisted on being with Cassandra when he clearly didn't care for the latter. Moreover, they even had a daughter together. Also, where on earth has Cecilia gone? Is she really dead? Why doesn't Mr. Nicholas seem worried at all, despite her not being found for over a year?

Jocelyn couldn't make sense of all that, so she simply decided not to dwell on it any longer.

Nicholas was sitting in the back seat, replying to Cecilia's text message: Congratulations.

After sending the message, he added: If you're not happy at your job, don't hesitate to quit. Never let yourself be mistreated.

Upon seeing his message, Cecilia responded: Alright, I got it.

She felt that Nicholas still treated her like a child. I'm all grown up now, how could I ever let myself be bullied?

Cecilia asked again: When will you be back?

When Nicholas responded to her message, a smile was playing at the corners of his mouth, making him look particularly handsome. Nicholas: It might be a while this time. I'm not sure, but I'll try to get back as soon as possible.

Cecilia: Alright, I'll be waiting for you.

The corners of Nicholas' mouth widened further.

Chapter 1439 Confronting Jocelyn

Seeing how happy Nicholas looked, Jocelyn couldn't help but want to see who he was chatting with.

Nicholas wasn't wary of her, so Jocelyn merely caught a glimpse 20

of him chatting with another woman.

However, she immediately averted her gaze, not daring to look again.

Jocelyn found the sight hard to believe. In her mind, Nicholas had always been a truly good person. Why is he cheating?

She knew for certain that the person chatting with Nicholas was not Cassandra.

Who exactly is she?

Jocelyn had always believed that Nicholas was loyal man when it came to love and his heart had been captured by Cecilia. She never imagined that he would now be intimately conversing with another woman.

She felt a pang of disappointment in her heart, hung her head low, and said nothing.

That evening, when Jocelyn was heading home after work, she was blocked by a car.

The car window rolled down, revealing Cassandra's proud face.

In reflex, Jocelyn took a step back.

Observing her demeanor, Cassandra couldn't help but chuckle. "Ms. Wright, you have nothing to worry about. I won't harm you. Right now, I mainly want to ask you about something." "What is it?" Jocelyn asked, her face expressionless.

"Let's talk in the car," said Cassandra.

Jocelyn, however, remained rooted to the spot, refusing to get in. "If there's something you want to discuss," she insisted, "let's talk about it right here."

She was well aware that Cassandra was no saint. Now that Nicholas had forced her to apologize, she was certain that the latter wouldn't let her off the hook easily. However, Jocelyn guessed wrong.

Cassandra noticed her reluctance to get in the car and knew the latter was being wary of herself. Consequently, she took the initiative to step out of the vehicle. "Let's find a place to talk. Don't worry, I'm not one to hold grudges. I won't seek revenge on you," Cassandra reassured her, patting her shoulder.

From Cassandra's reaction, Jocelyn was certain she wasn't there to cause her trouble. Thus, she followed Cassandra to a quiet restaurant nearby and took a seat. Cassandra had even gone out of her way to ask the waiter to bring over the menu, handing it to Jocelyn. "Take a look and see what you'd like. It's on me," she offered. Jocelyn had no idea what Cassandra was up to. She didn't order anything and got straight to the point.

14:30 Wed,

Chapter 1439 Confronting Jocelyn

"Ms. Evans, perhaps you should first tell me what you really want to talk about," she said.

Finished

In response, Cassandra decided not to beat around the bush. "Has Nicholas been seeing another woman?" she asked.

Jocelyn's expression stiffened.

After observing her expression, Cassandra more or less had her answer.

"Tell me, who is that woman?" Cassandra gently placed her hand on Jocelyn's face. "As long as you tell me, I promise you'll be rewarded."

Instinctively, Jocelyn stepped back, evading her grasp.

"I'm sorry. I truly don't know anything about this."noveldrama

"You don't know?" Cassandra's suspended hand fell limply to her side. She pulled out a card from her bag and presented it to Jocelyn. "There's half a million in here. If you tell me who that woman is, it's yours. Of course, this is just an advance. Once I find out who she is, you'll get another half a million."

Cassandra knew that Jocelyn's monthly salary was no more than twenty thousand.

The latter would have to work for several years to earn a million, so she believed that no one could resist the windfall.

Regrettably, Jocelyn wasn't the person Cassandra had assumed her to be, as she didn't take the card.

"I genuinely have no idea if Mr. Nicholas is seeing someone else, and I certainly don't know who this woman you're talking about is.".

Even if she had known, she wouldn't have shared it with Cassandra.

Cassandra's grip on the card tightened subconsciously. "Are you sure about this, Ms. Wright? Have you really decided not to tell me?"

Chapter 1440 The Steadfast Jocelyn

Jocelyn maintained her stance. "I truly don't know who it is."

"Fine." Cassandra abruptly stood up, her face brimming with arrogance. "Let me warn you, if 1 find out that you know something, you're as good as dead."

After leaving the threat, Cassandra quickly walked

away

Jocelyn remained seated, hesitating for a long while. Eventually, she decided to tell Nicholas about Cassandra seeking her out.

Upon seeing the text message sent by Jocelyn, Nicholas couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Cassandra almost found out. Thankfully Jocelyn doesn't know who it is.

Nicholas: Jocelyn, thank you. If something like this happens again, let me know right away.

Jocelyn stared at the message from Nicholas, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

From the looks of it, Mr. Nicholas is seeing someone else.

She couldn't help but sigh, standing up and walking out.

Outside, the snow had started to fall without her realizing it.

Jocelyn stepped into the heavy snow, her silhouette emanating a sense of loneliness.

A few days ago, she received a phone call from her mother, urging her to come home for a blind date.

"You're not getting any younger; your career is mediocre; and yet you're still unwilling to get married? What's the reason behind all this? Don't tell me you're not into men? You must come home and find someone to marry. Otherwise, how can I face your late father? If you don't agree to my proposal, I might as well kill myself now rather than watch you end up alone in your old age."

Jocelyn pondered over the words her mother had spoken, and once again dialed Nicholas' number.

""Mr. Nicholas."

"What's the matter?"

"My mom asked me to come home for a while, so I'd like to take leave," said Jocelyn.

Without a moment's hesitation, Nicholas agreed, "Alright."

Before hanging up, he couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen at home?"

After a moment of hesitation, Jocelyn didn't tell the truth.

"It's nothing. It's just that my mom misses me and wants me to come home for the holidays."

Ever since Jocelyn started taking care of Nicholas, she seldom went home.

She hadn't gone home for the New Year celebrations that year too.

63%

Chapter 1440 The Steadfast Jocelyn

Finished

Upon hearing these words, Nicholas couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "Alright," he responded, "Safe travels. Spend more time with your mother." "Okay."

Jocelyn gave a nod before ending the call.

Soon, she noticed a million transferred into her account.

The accompanying inessage from Nicholas read: This money is for you, transferred from my personal account. Go back to your hometown and celebrate the New Year with your family. If you need anything, just let me know. Jocelyn was fixated on the screen, unable to tear her gaze away for a long time.

Nicholas had always been generous toward her. Perhaps it was because of this that her feelings for him had grown so deep.

Thank you. Jocelyn responded before turning her attention away from the screen.

She hailed a cab, her gaze transfixed on the swirling snowflakes outside. She couldn't help but wonder who exactly was Nicholas seeing.

She must be a very beautiful and gentle person.

Meanwhile, Cecilia had woken up early and headed to the office.

She went to the top floor as advised by the human resources.

"Ms. Zabel, this new intern will be reporting to you," the HR manager called over a woman.

Upon seeing her, Cecilia immediately recognized her as the lead dancer from the day before.noveldrama

The HR manager told Cecilia, "This is Ms. Lysanna Zabel. From now on, you'll be learning the ropes from her."

With that, Cecilia nodded. "Alright."

Lysanna scrutinized Cecilia from head to toe. As soon as the HR manager left, she

declared with an air of superiority, "Your name is Cecilia, right? If you're working under me, you'll need to rely on your skills. I won't tolerate anyone who knows nothing and only relies on connections."