The top floor of the Li Corporation was a world of glass walls and sharp stares. Lena walked beside Adrian, her heartbeat loud in her ears. His cold aura silenced the staff instantly; no one dared breathe too loudly when their CEO passed.
But once Adrian entered his private office, leaving Lena to "wait outside," the atmosphere shifted.
The whispers started immediately.
"She doesn't even look like she belongs in that dress."
"How long before she gets kicked out?"
"Xinyi was perfect for him. This one? Pathetic."
Lena sat quietly in the leather chair outside his office, her palms pressed together in her lap. She could feel their eyes crawling over her like she was a strange animal on display.
Then, as if on cue, a young woman with sharp heels and sharper eyes walked over. Her nametag read: "Fang Mei – Executive Secretary."
Fang Mei's smile was sweet—but her gaze was filled with poison.
"So, you're Mrs. Li," she said, her voice dripping with false politeness. "I suppose congratulations are in order."
Lena forced a polite smile. "Thank you."
Fang Mei tilted her head, feigning innocence. "You must find this place overwhelming. After all, you're… what was it? A bookstore cashier?"
The words cut like glass. Snickers echoed from the nearby staff.
Lena straightened her back. "I'm adapting."
"Oh, but we're all so curious," Fang Mei continued, her voice rising just enough for others to hear. "Tell us, Mrs. Li—what exactly made the CEO choose you over Miss Li Xinyi?"
The question was a trap, and everyone knew it.
Lena's throat tightened. Her instinct screamed at her to stay silent. But silence would only make her look weaker.
So, she met Fang Mei's mocking eyes and said softly, "Perhaps he chose me because I'm not afraid to be myself."
The room fell quiet.
Fang Mei's smirk faltered for just a second. Then, as if to recover her pride, she "accidentally" tipped her cup of coffee forward—spilling it across the table and splattering Lena's dress.
Gasps filled the air.
"Oh no!" Fang Mei said in mock horror. "I'm so clumsy. Please forgive me, Mrs. Li."
Lena froze, heat rushing to her face. The coffee soaked through the thin fabric of her skirt, staining it. Snickers turned into muffled laughter.
And that was the moment Adrian's door opened.
His gaze swept the scene in an instant—Lena standing with a stained dress, Fang Mei's fake smile, the smothered laughter around the room.
The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
"Who," Adrian's voice was soft but lethal, "thought it wise to humiliate my wife in my company?"
No one dared breathe. Fang Mei paled.
Lena's heart raced. She didn't want him to defend her—not like this. Not with fear and power alone.
But Adrian's hand was already at her waist, pulling her close, his glare burning into the crowd. "Let me make this clear," he said coldly. "The woman beside me is Mrs. Li. Disrespect her… and you disrespect me."
The silence was absolute. No one dared move.
For the first time that day, Lena felt the cruel whispers fade. But deep inside, she knew this was only the beginning.
If she wanted to survive in Adrian's world, she couldn't always rely on his shadow.
She would need to find her own strength.
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