Chapter 5

Callum said, "Ariel is being targeted in the company after what happened last night." I couldn't even bother to look up at him as I scooped some soup. "So? Can't a CEO's secretary handle something so trivial?" "I'm telling you to keep your people in check and stop making things difficult for her," Callum elaborated. As part of an unspoken rule in the business world, we had each placed our subordinates in the other’s companies. Callum was trying to say that my subordinates were picking on Ariel for my sake. After all, last night's gala was attended by the employees from both companies. Thus, it was inevitable for Ariel's behavior to be criticized. I stirred my spoon and took a sip. "Firstly, I never instructed anyone to target your secretary. You should know that's not something I would do. "Next, she has herself to blame for what happened. She crossed the line and had no sense of boundaries. "Callum, you don't understand human nature well enough. The way you go out of your way to accommodate her will only earn her more enemies. In the end, it won’t be me who hurts her—it'll be you." Ariel, who had stayed quiet the entire time, said anxiously, "It's not Mr. Lawson's fault. My poor judgment is to blame for what happened yesterday. "It was my first time receiving something so expensive, so I got carried away and crossed a line. I'm really sorry if I offended you." I paused for a moment before smiling. "Callum, your secretary is quite something. She doesn't understand what's going on, but she protects you more fiercely than anyone else." I didn’t accept her half-hearted apology, nor did I intervene to stop my people from giving her a hard time. It was clear that Ariel's pitiful expression and tears struck a chord in Callum's heart. He lost control of his temper for the first time, shattering a soup bowl at my feet and demanding I apologize to Ariel. I did nothing wrong, so I refused to apologize. In the end, Callum and I left on a bad note. By afternoon, Callum had brought Ariel on a business trip and left all the mess behind. … When I went drinking with Nina that night, she scolded me for being too shrewd. Otherwise, Callum wouldn't have fallen for such a foolish beauty like Ariel. Growing up, I had been raised as the successor to the Jennings Group. My mother died young, and my father never remarried. Thus, I was burdened with this responsibility since I was young. I believed that being weak only held me back. I could stick to my principles for 30 years, so why couldn't Callum? In the end, I knew the answer—he just fell out of love with me. However, I wouldn't care less about snatching someone who didn't belong to me. "I even went to the Lawson Group to see what she looks like. Honestly, she looks like your mini figure, especially her eyes and dimples. She looks exactly like you. "What exactly is he thinking? He has the real deal at home, and he’s out there sweet-talking a knockoff." Nina's words sobered me up instantly. It was no wonder I felt a sense of familiarity with Ariel. I sneered. "Who knows? Perhaps the knockoff is more obedient and understanding." Nina sent me back home as I had a pounding headache. Afraid I would feel uncomfortable, Nina drove slowly for the entire journey. "I've finished drafting the divorce agreement. When are you planning to break the news to Callum?" "Probably in the middle of the month. He'll definitely return home to eat with his parents." Both of us would return to the Lawson residence during this period to accompany his parents for a meal. As divorcing Callum wasn't a trivial issue, I had to consider my backup plan by then.