Chapter 3

In the days that followed, I went about my regular duties as if nothing had happened, maintaining a calm demeanor.

Even when I saw Marcus Thorne, I remained respectful but distant as always.

Phoebe Sterling, however, developed an intense hostility towards me after seeing me emerge from Marcus Thorne's office a few times.

She had never known there was such a beautiful woman working so closely with Marcus Thorne.

I had never doubted my own beauty; from childhood, my looks had earned me a lot of preferential treatment.

And this beauty was a huge threat to Phoebe Sterling.

Because of this, whenever she came to the company, she would constantly make my life hell.

She'd order me to get her coffee, intentionally spill water on me, mess up my documents, and make me work late into the night.

These childish games, I never took to heart, nor did I ever mention her mistreatment to Marcus Thorne.

But, each time I was harassed, I would "accidentally" make sure he saw it.

This evening, after Marcus Thorne finished a meeting and left the office, he paused unconsciously as he passed my cubicle, watching the woman engrossed in her work under the lamp.

His eyes flickered, but he said nothing, simply walking away.

I allowed a faint smile to touch my lips. Phoebe Sterling's behavior these past few days had already planted a seed of doubt in his mind; now, I just needed to fan the flames.

The next day, as soon as I sat down at my desk, a stinging slap landed hard across my face.

I was knocked directly to the floor, my cheek burning with pain.

Phoebe Sterling's furious, cutting insults rained down on me from above.

"I knew you were a troublemaker. It's just as I expected."

"You're truly shameless, doing anything to hook Marcus Thorne. Today, I'll show you what it costs to cross me!"

I clutched my cheek, looking up at her with a pitiful expression.

"Ms. Sterling, I don't know what you're talking about!"

The more vulnerable and helpless I appeared, the more Phoebe Sterling's rage intensified, making her unable to control herself.

"Still playing innocent with me? You deliberately left that lipstick stain on Marcus's shirt, didn't you? Do you think I don't know?"

I shook my head frantically.

"It wasn't me, I didn't do it, Ms. Sterling, you've misunderstood!"

"Misunderstood?" Phoebe Sterling sneered, delivering another harsh slap. "You're the only one in the whole company who wears that shade! Still trying to deny it?"

"You dress so provocatively every day, just to seduce Marcus, aren't you? Why are you playing the innocent act with me now, huh?"

The commotion quickly attracted others in the company. People surrounded me, whispering to each other.

"I knew she wasn't any good, thinking her looks could hook Mr. Thorne. It's disgusting."

"Exactly, exactly! She probably just used her looks to get hired in the first place."

I feebly explained, "I really didn't. I have no designs on Mr. Thorne. Ms. Sterling, you truly misunderstood!"

Phoebe, blinded by rage, wasn't listening. She grabbed my collar and started dragging me towards the door.

"You're going to kneel right here and let everyone see what a pathetic slut you are!"

Then she ordered her bodyguards,

"Strip her!"

"She has no shame, so today I'm going to make sure she'll be too ashamed to ever show her face here again!"

With her words, two men immediately stepped forward and began to pull at my clothes.

Terrified, I curled into a ball, begging for mercy.

"It really wasn't me, Ms. Sterling..."

"Ms. Sterling, you truly misunderstood..."

But no matter how much I pleaded, Phoebe Sterling showed no sign of letting me go.

The men tugged at my clothes, and I struggled fiercely, my eyes burning red.

"Enough!"

A clear, calm voice suddenly interrupted the escalating scene.

The main door opened, and Marcus Thorne strode in, step by step, towards the crowd.

He exuded a powerful aura, making everyone involuntarily shiver.

I looked up at him, my eyes instantly clouded with tears.

"Mr. Thorne..."

My cheeks were flushed, and my clothes were disheveled and torn, but it only made me look more fragile and beautiful.

I hadn't said a word, yet it felt as if I had conveyed everything.

Marcus Thorne's eyes flashed. His assistant immediately took off his jacket and draped it over me.

Phoebe Sterling, seething, was about to speak, but Marcus Thorne cut her off. He pressed his fingers to his temples.

"Phoebe, the lipstick on my collar was accidentally transferred by one of the maids at home."

"If you don't believe me, you can check the security footage."

Phoebe Sterling froze, then blinked, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. She quickly tugged his sleeve, trying to appease him.

"Marcus, I'm sorry. I just care about you too much."

"I won't do this again, please don't be angry, okay?"

Marcus Thorne's gaze darkened, but perhaps because he loved her so much, he said nothing more, simply instructing his assistant to escort her back.

Once everyone had dispersed, he looked down at me, still kneeling on the floor.

"Come to my office."

###