Chapter 11

Justin replied, "Computer password." The two stark words on the screen felt cold and distant, much like Justin himself. "Why does he have to be so mysterious, even when he's just giving me a laptop?" Lorraine muttered as she unpacked the box and set the laptop on her desk. Sensing the subtle, curious looks from her coworkers, she deliberately slowed down. The laptop was from a brand under Fordwell Group. Lorraine searched it online and discovered that this model hadn't even been released yet. She was genuinely surprised and sent Justin a message to thank him. … After lunch break came the department meeting. As the newest member, Lorraine introduced herself to everyone. No sooner had she finished than hushed whispers spread through the room. Lorraine merely looked at them. She had never attempted to hide her relationship with Justin. It was only a matter of time before everyone found out. The project team leader was Lena Johnson. She had a lovely name and was just as beautiful. Her voice was soft and gentle, yet she handled work decisively. The 30-minute meeting nearly overloaded Lorraine's brain. By the end of the afternoon, she was already comfortable handling the simpler tasks of the project. … Justin stood outside the glass doors of the office area. Liam hurriedly asked, "Mr. Ford, would you like me to transfer Ms. Neale to work directly under you?" Justin arched his brow and looked at him. "Sure, she can take over your role." Liam immediately fell silent. Justin spun on his heel. "Cancel tomorrow night's plans. I'm picking up Professor Neale with Lorraine." Liam silently noted it down and followed Justin into the meeting room. "Should I help you contact a bridal boutique?" he asked cautiously. Justin didn't respond. Liam thought he had spoken out of turn and was about to apologize when he heard Justin's apathetic voice. "I'll let Lorraine decide." … Two hours before the end of the workday, Lena suddenly assigned Lorraine a task. Initially, it didn't seem like much, but once she started working on it, time slipped by. When she finally checked the time, it was already 8:00 pm. Lorraine was starving. So, she hastily packed up her things and hurried out of the office. The elevator was descending from the top floor, and she had a strange feeling. Sure enough, it stopped on her floor. The doors opened, and Justin met her gaze. "Why are you only getting off now?" Lorraine stepped inside. "I was familiarizing myself with my responsibilities." In truth, she had already gotten the hang of things that afternoon. Lena wouldn't have given her so much work otherwise. Compared to the relaxed atmosphere in the rest of the office, it was obvious that she was being tested as a newcomer. Lorraine swallowed her frustration. "Did you drive here?" Justin asked out of the blue. ' Lorraine lowered her head, exhausted. "Yeah." "My car's in for maintenance. Let's take yours." Lorraine was about to nod when it hit her—she hadn't even agreed to go back with him. Besides, their homes were in completely different directions. There was no way they were heading the same way. Just then, her stomach growled loudly, echoing in the empty elevator. Her face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly clutched her stomach. Lorraine was about to explain when she heard a soft chuckle beside her. "Let's have dinner first. I'm hungry as well." Hence, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright…" By the time they arrived at the restaurant, Lorraine dropped all pretense and made up for the lunch she'd missed and dug in as soon as the food arrived. "Professor Neale is coming back tomorrow." "Huh? He didn't tell me that," she responded, dumbfounded. For some reason, she thought Justin seemed more like her father's son than she was his daughter. The two of them were in closer contact than she was with her own father. "He just needs to tell me." Justin took a sip of his drink. He ate leisurely, making Lorraine look as if she had been starved for days. Right then, she suddenly heard Ambrose's voice from the booth next to theirs. "Don't be mad at me, Roxanne. I'll definitely accompany you when I'm free next time." Lorraine paused and looked toward where his voice was coming from. Justin lifted his gaze, a dark undercurrent stirring in his eyes. "How many times have you said that already, Ambrose? Are you already having second thoughts?" As soon as her words fell, Lorraine stuck her ears out, waiting for Ambrose to answer. She had half her face pressed against the booth, curiosity written all over her face. Justin's brows knitted together as he slowly set his cutlery down. Lorraine was so focused on eavesdropping that she didn't notice the cold look on his face. "I'm sure you know how awkward my situation is right now, Roxanne. All my projects only worked because Professor Neale funded them. Now that he's pulled out, all my efforts are wasted." Roxanne snorted. "This is all Lorraine's fault!" Ambrose fumed, "So, I'm not letting her off." Lorraine gritted her teeth. Every time she thought he couldn't get any worse, he proved her wrong. This shameless gold-digger… "Don't worry, Roxanne. You're still the one I love most. I just need to placate Lorraine right now. Once I marry her and settle everything, I'll move out and live with you." Lorraine bit down hard on her lip, the color draining from her face. In her previous life, this was exactly how Ambrose ruined her life. "What if you go back on your word?" Roxanne knew him all too well. Her voice was choked full of emotions as she said, "I can't wait around for you my whole life, and I don't want to be a mistress forever. If you want me to wait for you, you have to give me some kind of assurance." "I'll leave you everything in my name," Ambrose promised, as if he had anticipated this. "Once I have Lorraine where I want her, I'll move into the Neale residence and become Frederick's live-in son-in-law." He wanted to be a live-in son-in-law? Enough was enough. Lorraine picked up the glass of orange juice on her table, stormed over to Ambrose's table, and emptied it on his head. The sticky, sweet juice ran down his face. Ambrose froze, while Roxanne let out a shrill scream. Ignoring her, Lorraine grasped Ambrose by the collar and slapped him hard across the face. "You want to be my father's live-in son-in-law? Do you think a pig like you is worthy?" "Are you out of your goddamn mind, Lorraine?" Juice dripped from his hair, soaking his white shirt and staining it yellow. He looked like a filthy vagrant. "Who do you think you are, you pathetic leech? I can't believe you think you're fit to marry into my family. If you don't have a mirror, take a piss and take a good look at how disgusting you are!" Ambrose wiped his face before glaring at Lorraine with bloodshot eyes. "What? Am I wrong?" Lorraine sneered, planting her hands on her hips. "Next time you plot against someone, remember to keep your voice down, or you'll be struck by lightning!" His gaze was menacing as he gritted out, "No man in his right mind would marry a woman like you, Lorraine!"