Unlike me, who lost my mother in that kidnapping case when I was young, I was strictly required according to the standards of heirs, and everything I did was for the family business and revenge.
But Giovanna wouldn’t speak loudly to Carl or insistently demand that he read financial magazines and learn other languages.
She would quietly stay by his side, looking at him with a gentle smile.
She would be willing to cook for him and spend countless hours attending classes she couldn’t understand, just to be with him.
All these things she did for him, I couldn’t do.
My upbringing taught me to weigh costs and benefits.
It wasn’t until Giovanna argued with Carl over his wealth, saying she could never fit into his world.
After turning away, she left for a foreign country, and Carl didn’t chase after her.
I knew he had grand ambitions, he wanted both of our family.
Before securing both of the Families, he wouldn’t give me up for Giovanna.
So, when Carl proposed to me, I didn’t hesitate to accept.
Carl provided me with all the romance money could buy.
I enjoyed it with peace of mind, knowing more than anyone that the Families would ultimately be mine.
All the beauty he created with money was simply an advance taste for me.
I ate my meal, quickly reviewing my plan in my mind, which I had been planning for over a decade, not allowing any mistakes.
Perhaps because I was too quiet, Landin Curry couldn’t stand it anymore and slammed his hand on the table, standing up.
"Sis! You’ve never been soft on any woman who appears by my bro’s side!"
"Why are you backing down today?"
He brought up the wrong topic.
The dinner table suddenly fell silent.
I smiled and said, "Because it’s Giovanna."
The power of angle can be devastating.
I took out my phone, its screen clean without any calls or messages.
I thought, by now, Giovanna’s wounds should have healed.
As expected, Carl didn’t return all night.
I spent the night in the living room, quietly watching the city from midnight until 7 AM.
I knew that my time had come.
When the hour hand pointed to 8, I dressed neatly, covering the dark circles under my eyes with thick foundation, and sat in the car that came to pick me up for work.
I never thought I would see Giovanna at the office.
She was wearing a new business suit, sitting outside Carl’s office.
Seeing me pass by, she stood up, smiling and greeting me.
"Mr. Madden, good morning."
Her lips curved upward in a smug smile, which paired with her non-threatening face, was quite irritating to me.
I scowled, calling over the HR manager on the spot and loudly questioning him about what was happening, whether just anyone could be hired.
Giovanna was mortified, wishing she could bury her face in the ground. Her face flushed red, tears in her eyes, she couldn’t utter a word under my relentless questioning.
I got angry, and no one dared to provoke me.
I said a few harsh words, then suddenly felt disinterested. Waving my hand, I told the HR manager, "Dismiss her. Give Ms Weber all the compensation due."
Giovanna, who had been demure and obedient, suddenly looked up at me, tears falling like broken pearls.
"Ms. Madden, please, I really need this job. Please, don’t dismiss me."
"Your world is high above, and I can only survive on your charity. Even this small right of mine, Ms. Madden, are you going to take it away?"
Such familiar words, full of hidden meaning.
I raised my eyes, looking past her slender shoulder to the door behind her.
As expected, the door opened, and Carl appeared at the entrance with a cold expression.
"Sasha, you come from a good background, but that’s not a license to bully others."
"This is my special assistant, not yours."
With just one sentence, the importance and hierarchy were clear.
He stepped forward, took Giovanna’s hand, and looked around the room, speaking in a solemn voice,
"Starting today, She is my special assistant. Whatever she says and does, I take full responsibility."
Is this what it means to be an exception and receive special favor?
I didn’t say anything, took two steps back, and turned to return to my office.
Just before leaving work, my assistant reminded me that I was supposed to attend an important dinner with Carl tonight.
Whether the project I had been working on for six months would succeed depended on tonight.
I took deep breaths, mentally preparing myself, changed into my evening dress, reapplied my makeup, and went to find Carl.
Just as I was about to knock, the door opened from inside. Giovanna, dressed in an evening gown, was on Carl’s arm, and they were laughing and chatting as they came out.
I froze in place.
It was early autumn, and a breeze blew in from the window, chilling my bare shoulders.
Carl stopped, giving me a cold glance.
"In the future, for these kinds of social events, she will accompany me."
"There’s no need for you."
The two walked past me, heading toward the elevator.
"Carl, this is the project I’ve been working on for six months."
Carl’s voice faded as he moved further away.
"Starting today, it’s handed over to her."
