Chapter 1

"Ms. Scully, Mr. Quinlan has approved your resignation, but he didn't notice that you were the one who was resigning. Should I remind him?"

Jasmine Scully lowered her gaze slowly when she heard the voice over the phone. "It's okay. Let it be."

"But you've been working as his assistant for four years. He likes you the most, and he wouldn't be able to go on without you. Are you sure you don't want to give it a second thought?"

The human resource staff's words were heartfelt and earnest, but Jasmine merely chuckled.

"He can move on just fine. My parents are ill, and I have to get back to my hometown, so I can go on blind dates and get married. Since Mr. Quinlan approved my resignation, I'll follow the procedure and do a proper handover. I'll leave after a month. Thanks."

Jasmine ended the call and continued packing her personal belongings. She had stayed in this villa for three years, and a lot of her stuff was there. She dumped everything in the garbage bag except the essential things.

Her room got emptier as she threw more stuff away. Seeing the sight made her zone out for a second, and her memories flashed in her mind.

Eight years ago, Jasmine got into Harrington College. She came from an ordinary family, yet she became good friends with Nora Quinlan, the heiress of a wealthy family in New Jarlsburg.

Despite their drastically different family background, they found a kindred spirit in each other and spent every single day together, be it in classes, during meals, or going shopping.

Gradually, Jasmine was led into Nora's life. She knew her family and fell in love with Martin Quinlan, her brother. However, she buried her feelings deep and told no one about it.

When they graduated, Nora studied abroad. Jasmine stayed behind in New Jarlsburg and sent in her resumé. She became Martin's assistant just so she could see him every day.

Somewhere down the line, an accident happened, and he got drugged. Jasmine was about to call an ambulance, but he could no longer control himself and pinned her to the wall, kissing her relentlessly.

After a night of sensual passion, she woke up to the sight of him sitting by the window. His sharp features were blurred by the swirling smoke, looking composed with a touch of solitude.

When Martin heard the noise, he turned and asked bluntly, "Do you love me?"

Jasmine instinctively wanted to deny it, but he went on nonchalantly, "You blushed every time you saw me. You remembered everything I liked and disliked. The moment you graduated, you worked as my assistant. Are you going to tell me it's all a coincidence?"

Every word he uttered made her cheeks turn completely red—whether it was embarrassment or guilt, she wasn't sure.

Amid the awkward silence, Martin suddenly handed her a bank card.

"What happened last night was an accident. My heart belonged to someone else. I won't reciprocate your feelings or take responsibility for you.

"Nora told me that you came from an ordinary family. There is enough money in this card for you to have a comfortable life. Whatever happened, just let it sink into your memory and stay buried."

Jasmine was surprised. She finally recalled that Martin had been calling out the same name over and over last night—Alessa Shaughnessy.

To him, Alessa would always remain a first love that was etched deep into his mind. His love for her was so great that it never fizzled out, even if she broke up with him and went overseas. Despite the never-ending scandals with her boyfriends, he insisted on waiting for her to return.

Jasmine recalled what Nora said when the latter grumbled to her.

"Everyone in the Quinlan family is cold and aloof. I have no idea who my hopeless romantic brother takes after. For years, he had been waiting for Alessa, and he even said that getting together with someone else would just be settling. Apparently, that wasn't what he wanted."

Jasmine resonated deeply with the last part of Nora's words. With this exchange flashing in her mind, she suddenly mustered up her courage and called out to Martin, who was on his way out.

"I don't want money. All I want is for you to give me a chance. Mr. Quinlan, please be with me and see where our relationship goes. If she doesn't come back, or…" Jasmine trailed off before she went on, "If she comes back, and you still haven't moved on from her, I'll leave willingly."

Martin saw the love flashing in Jasmine's eyes, and he was stunned for a few seconds. Then, he walked away, saying, "Suit yourself."

From that day on, Jasmine worked as Martian's assistant during the day, and his personal mistress at night. They had indulged in intimacy countless times in his office, his Maybach, even up against the floor-to-ceiling window.

Four years, and still no one knew about their relationship, but that didn't stop her from falling hopelessly in love.

However, all that changed one day.

A few days ago, Jasmine prepared a lot of surprises for Martin's birthday, intending to throw a celebration for him. However, she waited until after midnight and still didn't see him. Instead, she saw something else in her Instagram feed.

"The best birthday present is getting back what was once lost."

Martin had never posted anything on Instagram, but he had just done that. Above the caption was a picture of him and Alessa kissing under a sky of dazzling fireworks.

All the color drained from Jasmine's face, and her heart clenched when she saw the picture. Holding onto the last sliver of hope, she gave Martin a call.

Alessa was the one who answered it. She said "Hello?" a couple of times and still didn't get an answer. She turned to him and asked, "Martin, who's Jasmine? She called you but just kept quiet."

A brief moment later, his deep, nonchalant voice drifted into the phone. "She's a nobody. Ignore her. Come on, get back to sleep."

At that moment, Jasmine knew that it was her cue to back out of her relationship with Martin. She wanted to leave once she was done packing her personal belongings, but she ran into him at the door.

Before this, they would be intimate almost every day. To make things easier, she had been sleeping in his villa, but it all ended today. She couldn't stay there anymore.

Martin's gaze froze for a second when he saw Jasmine with her stuff, but he didn't ask her to stay at all.

"Found a place?"

"Yeah. It's the rented place I used to stay in. I've talked it over with the landlord, and he agreed to rent it to me for a month."

Martin frowned slightly. "A month? Why?"

Jasmine was about to explain, but he didn't seem interested in finding out. His voice was deep as he went on. "I'll give you a ride."

She wanted to reject him, but he stood his ground.

"The snow is heavy, and it's late at night. Nora is going to be upset if something happens to you."

Flat out of options, Jasmine got into his car. They used to indulge in their intimacy countless times in here, but she could barely recognize it now.

Adorable plushies were everywhere in the car, the seat cover was swapped for Hey Cat ones, and the snacks were stuffed in every nook and cranny.

It was hard for Jasmine to accept that someone as vigorous, resolute, cold, and unapproachable as Martin would decorate his car this way.

Noticing the look in her eyes, he said, "Alessa loves it this way."

Jasmine caught the hint in his words and fell silent. After a long time, she responded softly, "The years of waiting paid off. She's finally back in your arms. Mr. Quinlan, I'm very happy for you."

Martin didn't expect her to say something like that. His gaze darkened a little, and he stopped speaking altogether.

They were halfway to her place when Alessa gave him a call, saying that she wanted to make a snowman with him. He pulled over by the side of the road, fully intending to rush to her side immediately, but he hesitated when he looked at Jasmine.

Jasmine knew what bothered Martin, and she opened the car door. "Mr. Quinlan, I'll just call a cab."

He hummed in response, got out of the car, and helped her move her stuff out. Her hands slipped, and the suitcase fell, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

Martin bent down to help pick them up. Through the glow of the streetlight, he saw the scattered stuff lying on the ground, and his body immediately stiffened.

There were unsent love letters with his name on them and some pictures that were secretly taken. There were even some things that he casually threw away, but were retrieved and kept as if they were treasures.

Jasmine's heart raced as she frantically picked everything up. "I'm sorry."

Martin didn't say another word. He got into his car and drove away.

Jasmine waited for a long time in the snow, but no cabs passed her by. She decided she would just carry her suitcase and walk back to her place. However, an electric car crashed into her, leaving a ten-inch gash across her calf. A big patch of the road was stained with her blood.

As the driver drove away in panic, she gasped through the pain and sprawled in the snow, unable to get up for a long time. Once the pain subsided, she took out her phone, only to find that Martin had texted her after he left.

"Do not stupidly get devoted to a man like this ever again. There are a lot more choices out there. Don't waste your time on me."

Jasmine stared at his text, reading it over and over.

When the sun came up, she lit a match and set everything in the suitcase to flames outside her place. Her love for Martin had been unyielding for the past eight years, but that too was fed to the flames and turned to ashes.

Jasmine swore she would give Martin exactly what he asked for.

Chapter 2

Jasmine took a rest over the weekend and went to the company on Monday, showing up for work on time. She handled her work as usual and went to inform Martin that he had a meeting at hand.

Once she arrived at his office, the door was ajar, and she saw Alessa.

Alessa was sitting in Martin's arms, feeding him a cookie that she had already taken a bite of. He was usually very particular about hygiene, but he merely smiled and ate it.

He kissed her finger fondly, his voice tender as he spoke. "You said you wanted to try the desserts in this bakery, and I was standing in line for three hours this morning, just to buy it for you. Is it good?"

"It tastes great, just as sweet and smooth as before. You used to go somewhere far to buy me food every now and then, but you're a CEO now. Why did you go there yourself? Just get your assistant to do it."

Martin rubbed Alessa's ankle, his eyes brimming with love. "If it's about you, I want to handle it personally. It doesn't feel right to let anyone else do it."

A hint of tenderness flashed across her face. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed his lips. He held her back and returned the kiss, utterly losing himself in it.

Jasmine's breath caught in her throat when she saw it, and a stinging pain spread from her chest. She clenched her hands tightly, her fingers turning pale. She dug her nails so deep into the heart of her palm that she drew blood.

Seconds dragged on, stretching into minutes. And the meeting was about to commence.

Once Jasmine composed herself, she knocked on the door. "Mr. Quinlan, the meeting's about to start."

Martin was stunned slightly when he heard Jasmine's voice. He was about to get up, but Alessa held him down. "I don't want you to leave. Stay with me a little longer."

His heart melted when he saw her acting so sweetly. "Push the meeting back by two hours."

Several major group companies collaborated on the project in this meeting. It was a pivotal part of his company's future development.

Jasmine was aware of how much it meant for the company. So, she couldn't help but remind him. "The CEOs from Loughlin Group, Gilroy Group, and Sloane Group are already waiting for you in the conference room…"

"Gosh. Martin, this assistant of yours is annoying. Just how clueless is she?"

Martin's expression turned cold when he heard Alessa grumbling. "I told you, push the meeting back by two hours. Nothing is more important than Alessa, not even my work!"

Jasmine felt this tightness in her chest, and she was having trouble breathing. In the end, all she could do was close the door and quietly turn away.

Everyone in their social circle knew that Martin was a workaholic. It didn't matter how busy things got in his private life. Even if he had just gone through surgery, he would still finish his work despite his condition.

Now, he had just postponed an important meeting, taking a risk to tick off his collaborative partners. This had never happened before.

Did Alessa mean this much to him?

Jasmine lowered her gloomy gaze, pulled herself together, and walked into the conference room to apologize to the other CEOs.

The Quinlan family was prestigious and powerful. Even if they had grievances, they would never talk badly about Martin. So, they lashed out at her instead.

Jasmine didn't dare to talk back at all. Lowering her head, she quietly endured as they tore into her. She doggedly withstood the tormenting cries for two hours before Martin finally came in.

She dragged her sore, numb legs as she walked out of the conference, only for Alessa to call her over again.

"Are you Jasmine? Martin told me the coffee you make is excellent. Everyone in the office seems tired. I want you to make a cup of coffee for all of them. Some ice cubes and no sugar for me."

Jasmine was aware that Alessa was throwing her weight around because she had Martin's backing. So, she didn't dare to disobey her orders and quickly went to the break room.

It took her two hours to make over 400 cups of coffee and serve them one by one.

Alessa had just taken the first sip, but her expression immediately changed. Grabbing the mug, she mercilessly smacked Jasmine with it.

The hard ceramic mug split open Jasmine's forehead, leaving a bloody gash that looked terrifying and gruesome. She let out a muffled grunt, clutching her wound as she fell to the floor, her face twisted in pain.

Alessa wasn't done taking her frustration out on Jasmine, though. She grabbed one mug after another and ruthlessly smashed it on her.

Jasmine's body was covered in blue and purple bruises. The ceramic shards left bloody gashes, and the coffee completely soaked her, mingling with her blood before dribbling to the floor.

She was subjected to unimaginable pain, but all she could do was curl up into a ball in an attempt to protect her head and chest.

Everyone in the office kept quiet, not daring to break up the two of them. They simply stood far away and watched as Alessa lashed out at Jasmine.

Very soon, the commotion drew Martin's attention. He looked at the mess on the floor and the battered and bruised Jasmine, his brow furrowing.

"What happened?"

Alessa noticed that he was there, and she immediately put on a pitiful expression. "Martin, I asked your assistant to make me a cup of coffee. I'm having my period, and yet she added some ice cubes into my mug. I'm in so much pain now."

Martin's expression immediately darkened when he saw her eyes reddening. "You've been working for me for four years. How can you make such a rookie mistake, or did you do it on purpose because you didn't like Alessa?"

Jasmine raised her pale, ashen face, intending to explain herself. But Martin didn't even give her a chance to speak. He called another assistant over and barked an order.

"Jasmine has violated company regulations. Her salary and quarterly bonus will be forfeited, and I want this incident to be announced publicly to the entire company. She will be subjected to official criticism at the general meeting next week."

Then, he took his coat off, draped it over Alessa, and left with her in his arms.

Chapter 3

Jasmine had been holding her tears back for a long time, but she finally let them fall as Martin walked further and further away.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to get up to her feet. Fighting the pain, she got a broom and a mop to clean up the shattered ceramic mugs and pools of spilled coffee.

Some of the more kind-hearted colleagues came over to help, their eyes laced with sympathy as they looked at Jasmine.

"I heard the lady asking for ice cubes and no sugar in her cup of coffee earlier. Why did she turn around and say completely different things? Jasmine, did you somehow offend her?"

"Jasmine didn't have to offend her for her to behave this way. It's well known that she's arrogant and overbearing in the first place. She would throw a tantrum at the slightest irritation.

"A lot of people in their social circle didn't like her, but Mr. Quinlan doted on her. So, no one dares to cross her."

"Sheesh. I've never seen Mr. Quinlan love someone this deeply. Jasmine, you'll have to watch your steps now. Ordinary folks like us can't compare with heiresses like them.

"What's more, Mr. Quinlan has her back. Yeah, she might mistreat you, but you can't do anything except take it."

Jasmine could tell that they said what they said out of good intentions, but it made her feel all sorts of emotions at once, and she simply couldn't say anything.

There was once when there was an issue with a contract she handled. It was the other company's fault, but they pinned the blame on her.

However, even when she was up against the accusation and pressure, Martin refused to believe that it was Jasmine's fault. He defended his ground with strong reasoning and eventually cleared her name.

Now, however, Alessa just casually made up a lie, and he didn't hesitate to pin the blame on her, not doing any investigation or giving her a chance to explain herself.

Jasmine dedicated herself to her work and handled many problems for him. At the end of the day, however, he didn't even have a shred of trust in her.

Was it because the truth didn't matter to him whenever Alessa was in the equation? Was her happiness the only thing that mattered?

The thought sent a bitter ache into Jasmine's heart, the pain sharp and unbearable. It took her a long time to clean everything up. Then, she went back home, feeling utterly exhausted.

She had just taken a shower when Martin's phone call came in. "Take some chamomile tea and a heating pad to my place now."

Jasmine wasted no time in preparing them. Then, she drove to his villa. It had only been two or three days since she last saw the place. The simple and classy villa was barely recognizable now.

Seamus Quinlan had planted some peach trees with his own hands, but they were relocated and replaced entirely with garden tulips.

The black and white furniture in the room was swapped with yellowish pink sets as well—a color that Martin disliked the most. The display shelves were filled with jewelry, handbags, and gifts.

It didn't take long to realize that it was Alessa's style.

Jasmine took it all in quietly as she walked to the bedroom with its lights on and knocked on the door. Shortly after, Martin opened the door to take the things she brought over, finally taking a glance at her.

With the coffee washed off, her wounds looked that much more frightening, immediately shocking him.

"You're hurt very badly. Did you go to the hospital?" he asked.

Jasmine didn't say anything and merely shook her head in response. Martin rubbed his eyebrows, and his tone softened at last.

"Alessa wasn't feeling too well. She didn't mean to take her frustration out on you. Don't take it to heart. The salary I forfeited will be added to your year-end bonus.

"Swing by the hospital and get it checked. Take a couple of days off if it's too serious. I'll approve them. You don't have to go through the leave application."

"It's fine. Once the month ends, I'll—" Jasmine wanted to tell Martin that she was about to leave the company, but he didn't let her finish.

He handed her a card and cut her off, "Do as I say. You have to get some rest because I need you to organize a welcome home party for Alessa."

Just like that, Jasmine's words remained unspoken. She hummed in response, took the card, and left the villa.

When the bedroom door closed, she heard Alessa's voice, sulky yet playful. "Martin, is the chamomile tea ready? I want you to rub my tummy."

"I'm coming right now. You have to stay in bed and not move around."

Hearing his tender tone brought a wry smile to Jasmine's face, and a hint of self-deprecation flashed in her eyes.

She, too, had severe period cramps. She even passed out at the company several times, and her colleague had to take her to the hospital.

When Martin learned of it, he merely approved her day off. He never visited her once, let alone prepare chamomile tea or heating pads.

Jasmine had always thought he was just too busy and couldn't pull himself away from work. From the looks of things, however, he simply didn't care about her because he didn't love her.

After she left his villa, she swung by the hospital for a quick dressing. After she took a few days' rest at home, she received the party proposal from Martin's other assistant.

Everything was held to strict standards, including the floral arrangement, desserts, and the waiting staff's uniform. She only had three days to act on it, too. Perking herself up, she started making preparations for the party.

Jasmine toiled away for a long time, and the party she organized finally commenced at 7:00 pm sharp.

Alessa wore a custom-made dress and appeared before everyone's eyes. The guests huddled around her and complimented her so much that her heart soared.

"It's been years, Ms. Shaughnessy, but you're still as elegant, graceful, and mesmerizing as ever. What a grand and splendid welcome home party this is. It looks like Mr. Quinlan's love for you hadn't lessened one bit."

"Back in college, someone confessed to Alessa, and Mr. Quinlan immediately made it so the guy had to transfer to another college. Every time someone wrote her a love letter, he'd tear it to pieces. And if anyone badmouthed her, he would teach those pesky guys a lesson, beating them to a pulp."

"Everyone in our social circle knows that Alessa was his first love and his precious little angel. Just look at the jewelry on her neck. It has got to be worth tens of millions of dollars.

"The dress she's wearing is also custom-made and one of a kind. Mr. Quinlan had always gone all out to make Alessa happy."

Chapter 4

Jasmine was standing nearby quietly as she listened to the banquet guests showering Alessa with compliments. The latter walked over smugly and looked at her with disdain.

"Great job with the party, but you still overlooked something. You forgot about the carpet in the main hall, and my dress is dirty. I expect you to make up for this mistake by lifting the hem of my dress."

Jasmine lowered her head and responded calmly, "Please give me a minute. There are carpets backstage. I'll get someone to lay it out now."

Alessa's face immediately darkened when Jasmine rejected her. As it happened, Martin saw the displeasure on her face the moment he entered the hall, and he quickly came over.

"What's the matter?"

"Martin, I didn't want my dress to get dirty, and I asked your assistant to lift the hem, but she just wouldn't do it. Is she holding a grudge against me because of what happened before?"

Martin saw the pitiful look on Alessa's face, and he immediately pulled her into his arms, gazing at Jasmine grimly.

"All she's asking is for you to lift the hem of her dress. It is your duty to do so, and you've been working as an assistant for a long time now. Is it that difficult of an ask?"

The banquet guests around them also muttered among themselves, their tones sarcastic.

"How dare the assistant give Ms. Shaughnessy attitude? Who does she think she is?"

"Not everyone can be treated the same way. Ms. Shaughnessy is meant to be doted on her whole life. It's an honor to be lifting the hem of her dress. That assistant really doesn't know what's good for her."

Hearing the sarcastic remarks, Jasmine's gaze darkened. She shoved the misery deep into her heart, bent down, and lifted the hem of Alessa's dress.

Looping her arm around Martin's, Alessa strolled back and forth between the first floor and the second floor, deliberately torturing Jasmine. Her dress was very heavy because of all the gems embedded in it.

Jasmine's hand was sore from lifting it, but she had no choice but to bear with it.

Alessa was far from done, though. She ordered someone to pour glasses of wine before gesturing at Jasmine, beckoning her.

"I don't want to drink any alcohol today, but my friends came to my party, and I'd hate to turn them down. So, you're going to drink all of these on my behalf."

"I'm allergic to alcohol, and I—"

"Martin, she's rejecting me again!"

Jasmine was about to explain, but Alessa was already pouting and acting spoiled.

Martin was also aware that she was allergic to alcohol, but he would have to take Alessa's side if he wanted to keep her happy.

"Don't you have your medication? Take it before you deal with the alcohol. You'll probably be fine."

His tone left no room for discussion, and Jasmine's heart sank. Her face grew pale as she quietly took her medication out and swallowed some of it.

Soon, the banquet guests came forward with a wine glass in their hands, chatting with Alessa. Jasmine grabbed the glass and poured the wine down her throat.

She emptied one glass after another, and her stomach churned violently as a strong sense of nausea overwhelmed her. Her head was swimming, and her vision blurred.

Jasmine's world was spinning endlessly when she heard Alessa screaming.

"Martin, the necklace you gave me is gone. Your assistant is the only person who has gotten close to me before. She must've stolen it!"

Jasmine sobered up for a short while when she heard the blatant and baseless accusation. "Mr. Quinlan, I didn't do it."

Martin looked at Alessa's reddened eyes before turning his gaze to Jasmine, who was completely drunk, and his face darkened. "There were a lot of people around here earlier. Perhaps it's just lost. How about we search the hall first?"

Alessa wouldn't have any of it. She flung his hand away fiercely and asked, "Who else could it be? I'm this anxious because the necklace is a gift from you, and yet you're defending her. If you're not going to pat her down, you can forget about seeing me ever again!"

She walked away in a huff as she spoke. Martin frantically held her in his arms and summoned his bodyguard in an icy voice.

At the next second, several bodyguards pinned Jasmine to the floor and tore her clothes apart. A loud buzzing filled her head as she struggled desperately, but she was overpowered by their brute strength.

Her blouse was torn into strips, and her skirt was shredded. Blue and purple bruises covered her skin, and her body was stained with blood. Waves of despair and humiliation overwhelmed her, spurring her to cry out desperately for help.

"No! I didn't do it. It wasn't me!"

Yet, her anguished cries only provoked them to be more brutal. The bodyguards clutched her bra and were about to rip it off her body.

Martin couldn't stand it anymore. Just as he was about to stop them, several waiting staff ran over, shouting, "We found it. The necklace fell on the stairs!"

In a matter of a second, everyone in the main hall turned their gaze to the dazzling diamond necklace in the waiting staff's hand.

Martin's furrowed eyebrows relaxed a little. With a wave of his hand, he signaled the bodyguards to back off.

Then, he took the necklace and put it on Alessa, his tone softer than before. "They found it. Don't be mad, okay?"

Alessa finally stopped crying and smiled. She looked at Jasmine, who lay on the floor miserably, looped her arms around his hand, and started acting spoiled again.

"It's a good thing they found it. I would've been heartbroken for a long time otherwise. But your assistant suffered a lot because of this incident. Should I apologize to her?"

Everyone in the main hall looked at Jasmine instantly, whose clothes were torn to shreds. Faced with those malicious gazes, she couldn't do anything but curl up into a fetal position, hugging herself desperately.

Just as it felt like she was drowning in a bottomless pit of sorrow, she heard Martin's cold, indifferent voice.

"You don't have to apologize. She's just an assistant. A little humiliation is nothing."

Chapter 5

It was a brief, simple response, but Martin's words cut deep into Jasmine, shattering her heart into a million pieces.

The emotional pain was so unbearable that death would've been more merciful. Her ears were ringing, and her gaze was hollow.

By the time she realized it, the people in the party hall were gone, leaving her with a blinding light that exposed every wound on her body.

Fighting the pain, Jasmine climbed to her feet and wrapped herself in a jacket that a kind-hearted person dropped next to her. Then, she stumbled her way out of the venue.

It was pouring outside, and she stepped into it without even noticing. The cold rainwater splashed against her face, trailing down her cheeks like tears.

But Jasmine could no longer shed any tears. She had no idea where to go. All she could do was wander the streets aimlessly.

Before long, a car ground to a halt next to her. The window was lowered, revealing Martin's cold, stunning face.

"Get in."

Jasmine seemingly didn't hear him and just shuffled forward in the rain, every step heavier than the last.

Martin frowned, and his voice deepened. "Get in the car."

She stopped walking and raised her head, revealing her pale face. Looking at him, she said, "I don't need your concern, Mr. Quinlan. After all, I'm just an assistant."

The iciness in Jasmine's tone made Martin's heart clench fiercely. He opened the car door, braved the rain, and walked over to her.

Gripping her hand tightly, he said, "I handled tonight's incident poorly. I'll admit it, but I've lost Alessa once, and I can't let it happen again. Whatever you suffered tonight, I'll think of a way to make it up to you. Just don't get mad at me over this."

This time, Jasmine decided she was done complying. Using her last bit of strength, she broke free of his restraints and took several steps back, her tone laced with desolation.

"Mr. Quinlan, you must be joking. An ordinary person like me wouldn't have the guts to get mad at heirs and heiresses like you and Ms. Shaughnessy. I was too naive and absurd in the past, failing to recognize my humble status.

"From this point on, I will always remember that I'm just an assistant and that there's nothing special about me. I will not bother you anymore. Are you happy now? Will you please let me go?"

The more Jasmine talked like this, the angrier Martin became. His expression turned frigid, his emotions boiling beneath the surface.

"You know damn well I didn't mean it like that! I've never looked down on you. I said what I said because I have to soothe Alessa. You and Nora are both…"

Jasmine didn't hear a word he said after she heard Nora's name. Her vision became blurrier as seconds went by, and her eyelids felt as heavy as lead. As the last sliver of her energy drained away, her body tilted to the side, and darkness took her.

It wasn't certain how much time had passed. By the time she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital.

Someone changed her out of her wet clothes and dressed her wounds. There were also medications and a glass of warm water on the side table.

The nurse was hooking up the IV drip. When she saw Jasmine waking up, she flashed her a warm smile. "You're awake. Your boyfriend stayed by your side for an entire night, but he had just left a minute ago."

Jasmine parted her dry lips and spoke in a hoarse voice. "He's not my boyfriend. He never was."

What happened between her and Martin was just a joke from the very beginning. To him, she was just an assistant. Nothing more, nothing less.

In the past, Jasmine fooled herself into believing that they had a future together. Now, the only thing she desperately wanted was to wake up from pathetic delusion, walk away, and never come back.